It's the elephant in the closet when it comes to chalk products. Grip enhancers. Almost every liquid chalk out there has some form of enhancer, but no one really wants to talk about them.
The most common form of enhancer is rosin / resin, which also goes by the names colophonium, styrax benzonin gum and pine resin, among others. In France, the common name is “poff” and has had extensive use in areas like Fontainebleu. It's basically hardened tree sap which is ground down to a fine powder and added to the mix - and while it may help you "stick" that problem, it is likely also slowly damaging the rock in the process - and that never sat well with us.
The general consensus is that the overuse of rosin leads to polished holds that are nearly impossible to clean - especially when the residue embeds in softer rock such as sandstone.
In addition, rosin is also a common skin irritant, which can lead to allergic contact dermatitis in its use. It’s the same ingredient that causes some individuals to get a rash after using certain types of band-aids or tapes.
It is for these reasons that we have decided to remove all forms of rosins / resin from our ingredient list, effective immediately. We have also done so while retaining the great climbing qualities of Midnight Lightning liquid chalk. We can work together to help protect our sensitive climbing areas and ensure that our sport is accessible (and fun) for future generations.
