Arc’teryx Aperture Chalk Bag Review

Raise your hand if your stuff is forever covered in chalk. From early morning gym sessions to climbing trips, I’m really good at getting that good white stuff everywhere. This is when the Arc’teryx Aperture Chalk Bag comes in handy.

The twist closure makes the Arc’teryx Aperture chalk bag a godsend when it comes to keeping your items chalk free. A reinforced rim keeps the bag open and chalk easily accessible. The chalk bag has a little brush holder and the waist strap attachment also functions as a bottle holder. Polar fleece lines the interior chalk section, while the twist closure is made of nylon. The exterior is made of polyester ripstop. The bag comes in two sizes: small and large.

I was pretty undecided when I picked up the Aperture chalk bag. It seemed cool in theory; in practice, a little strange. I wouldn’t say I’m 100% sold forever, but I’m a big fan of this bag for gym sessions and single pitch sessions in perfect weather. The button is easy to unsnap if you start climbing and forgot about your chalk.

The chalk bag packs up tiny so you can fit all the snacks in your backpack. The reinforced rim keeps the bag pretty rigid and makes it difficult to mold into less circular positions. I found that the tag in the bag is the biggest pain in the butt. The flap covers almost the entire surface area of the bottom making it difficult to access chalk.

If it bugs you a lot, you can probably just cut it out, but I’m lazy and never remember. The Aperture sucks for multipitch days with a little bit of weather. The twist closure is really hard to close without looking at it and using both hands. I’ve caused many a snowstorm from the wind blowing all of my chalk away.

The Arc’teryx Aperture Chalk Bag is packable and keeps your bag (mostly) chalk-free. Buy the large for $35 or the small for $29 through REI, Amazon, CampSaver, or Mountain Gear.

Last updated on March 26, 2020.