At Midnight Lightning, we believe your chalk should help you climb, not harm the places you love. Rosin is an additive in many liquid chalk blends (and some dry chalks) that is made from pine tree sap, creating a “sticky” sensation that makes holds feel grippier. But while rosin may deliver short-term friction, the long-term effects on outdoor rock and indoor holds is unmistakably negative. It binds, coats, glazes, and eventually damages the surfaces that we rely on.
Rosin can be called many things on a label (sometimes to hide it):
We’ve seen the consequences firsthand. In Fontainebleau, decades of resin use (called "pof" there) has polished the fine-grained sandstone smooth, filling in the rock’s naturally porous texture and leaving behind a hardened, glassy surface that is nearly impossible to restore. The problem isn’t limited to sandstone either - gym holds suffer too. Rosin binds chalk, sweat, rubber dust, and dirt into a stubborn layer that drastically reduces friction and is more difficult to clean. So what feels like “extra grip” in the moment becomes a long-term issue for every climber who comes after.
Another exacerbating factor is that the use of liquid chalk has exploded since COVID, when most gyms required it for hygiene. While liquid chalk is an incredible tool for climbers, many formulas contain hidden resin to enhance stickiness. With many more climbers now using liquid chalk indoors and outdoors, the environmental impact has grown just as quickly. More resin use means more on our holds - and once it’s there, it doesn’t just wash away.
That’s why we made the conscious choice to ban rosin entirely from all our chalk formulations. Clean, high-quality magnesium carbonate provides reliable, predictable friction without coating the rock or clogging your gym’s holds. It also brushes off cleanly, washes off easily, and preserves the natural micro-textures that we love. By using clean chalk, we protect our entire climbing community.
Climbing is built on a simple ethic: protect the crags so that future generations can enjoy them as we do today. Rosin works against that ethic as it degrades climbing areas over time. We choose to climb with integrity and respect to others, because we are climbers who care.
Discover why our 300ml liquid chalk uses a thin-film pouch: less plastic, lower carbon footprint, and reduced product spoilage compared to traditional bottles.
The NEW Vegan Eco-Brush 2.0 delivers powerful cleaning with plant-based sisal bristles and a bamboo handle. A sustainable alternative to boar-hair climbing brushes.
Our solar-evaporated, traceable magnesium carbonate climbing chalk delivers exceptional feel and moisture absorption while reducing environmental impact. Better grip, better for the Earth.
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