about about us:
practical started making unique and durable chalk bags and buckets (all handmade from start to finish in our pennsylvania workshop) in 2009. whether supporting the climbing community as a whole by providing schwag for comps, supporting gyms with team bags or by helping indivuals create their perfect bag, we aim to make happy climbers!
we use fleece made from recycled poly for our bag liners. our hemp chalk bags are made from scraps that have been reclaimed from an independent clothing manufacturer. we get the amazing fabrics for our sari chalk bags from a woman who buys unwearable saris at indian flea markets, cuts out the usable pieces and resells them. when we can get our hands on it, we use cordura that has been salvaged from a supplier who cannot use smaller cuts, but they're perfect for us!
climbwithkids.com
-kid size d chalk bag review
adventure inspired blog
-monster chalk bag review
elevation outdoors mag
our climbers devin cooley
he's young, he's eager, he's strong and best of all, he's always willing to share his food. he also has the power to bestow practical stickers so hit him up the next time you see him.
q&A
When did you start climbing?
Originally, I didn't intend to start climbing at all. I was deathly afraid of heights and pretty scrawny. My older brother, Matt, had been climbing on the youth team at our local gym for a few years and worked as a belayer at that same gym on the side. At the time, I felt I could use some spare change, so I had Matt teach me how to belay and I picked up a job belaying at the rock gym in the winter of 2008. During breaks, I would hop on easy boulder problems wearing my bright yellow skate shoes and flail around quite a bit. One thing led to another, and by the spring of 2009 I could be convinced to get on top-rope and I had invested in my own pair of climbing shoes. The following season I joined the local youth climbing team and the obsession began!
Day job?
I currently work as a routesetter at the Philadelphia Rock Gym
Fave local spot?
My favorite local climbing spot would definitely have to be Green Lane. The area is full of huge diabase boulders, many of which are untouched or have seen little traffic.
First place you'd head to for climbing if someone offered you a free plane ticket?
I would head straight to the Rocklands. Every time I so much as think about the bouldering there, my palms sweat!
Life outside of climbing and working?
When I'm not climbing or working, I enjoy drawing, slacklining, taking photos, and creating music as part of an experimental band that's made up of my older brother, Matt, and myself.
Favorite climbing blog?
My favorite climbing blog is by far http://aj-ontherocks.blogspot.com/. Alex is not only one of the strongest climbers I've ever met, but she's also one of the most fun to climb with and easiest to get along with, not to mention she provides a great perspective on her blog. That, and she gave me a callout on the blog a few months ago!
Tunes?
The Polish Ambassador (AKA Ample Mammal), Professor Kliq, Deadmau5, Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Flux Pavilion, Skrillex, and Metric
