As a seasoned adventurer who has spent countless hours scaling the sheer cliffs and rainy mountainsides of Hyrule, I can say with absolute certainty that reclaiming the Climbing Set in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most rewarding early-game detours you can take. I still remember the sheer frustration of slipping down a wet rock face in the middle of a thunderstorm, my stamina wheel flashing red while I desperately wished for just a little more grip. This classic armor set, which made its triumphant return from Breath of the Wild , was the answer to all my prayers.
The beauty of this particular collection is that it grants a passive speed bonus to Link whenever he scales a vertical surface. When I finally managed to track down all three distinct pieces, the stacking effect was an absolute game-changer. It felt like I had unlocked a secret ability that made the entire map open up in a way it simply hadn't before. Unlike some of the more esoteric armor sets scattered across the map, the Climbing Gear, Climbing Boots, and Climber's Bandana are positioned incredibly close to the starting area, making this an accessible early goal for any determined player. I decided to set out on a journey to gather them all, and along the way, I rediscovered exactly why exploration in this game is so magical.
Finding the Climbing Gear Chest Piece
My adventure began with the torso piece, which I had heard was the easiest of the three to acquire. I set my sights on the North Hyrule Plain Cave. To get there, I set out west from Lookout Landing, heading towards the sprawling, cold region of Hebra. The journey itself was relatively straightforward, but I had to remain alert. As I crossed a wide bridge, I spotted a massive Hinok taking a nap right in the middle of the road. With my heart pounding, I carefully crept around the slumbering giant, finally spotting the cave entrance on my right just as the road opened up toward the New Serenne Stable on the left.
Stepping into the dark mouth of the cave, I quickly realized this wasn't going to be a simple loot grab. The air was thick with the sound of slithering monsters. I encountered two Like Likes huddled close together. I knew from experience that engaging them both at once would be a nightmare, so I descended the ramp and drew my sword on the central one first. The positioning worked perfectly; by taking down the center target, the second creature couldn't land a hit on me from its angle. After they dissolved into a puddle of goo, I used my Ascend ability on the ledge where the central enemy had been perched. This vaulted me upward to a higher path. I pressed on, navigating the winding tunnels until I reached a stone bridge. Just as I crossed it, a nasty Horriblin dropped from the ceiling, but a few well-placed arrows made short work of it.
Once the beast was defeated, I caught sight of two waterfalls cascading down the rock on my left. I scanned the walls and noticed a path marked by glowing Brightcaps . Following the luminous trail, I walked directly through the waterfall. The rush of cold water was jarring, but on the other side, I found exactly what I had been searching for: a lavishly decorated chest. Popping it open, I pulled out the Climbing Gear. The weight of the fabric in my inventory felt like the first step toward becoming a true mountaineer.
Locating the Climbing Boots
With the torso piece secured, I set my eyes on the footwear. The Climbing Boots required a trip to the Upland Zorana Byroad cave, situated southwest of the Upland Zorana Skyview Tower. I input the exact coordinates into my Purah Pad: 2866, 0336, 0229. After reaching the elevation, I found the entrance and plunged into the underground network.
The cave system here was more intricate than the last. I navigated through the darkness until I arrived at a spacious room with a central pool of water. The area offered a branching path, splitting off to the right and the left. Remembering the tips I had read, I veered left and immediately came face-to-face with a stone Like Like. These camouflaged variants are trickier to spot, but a few swings of a heavy weapon shattered its rocky exterior. I continued down the path, dropping down a ledge into a room that looked like ancient, flooded ruins. On the far side, a massive sluice gate door blocked the flow of water.
This was where the game’s physics really shined. I used my Ultrahand ability to grip the metal gate and physically yanked it upward. The water drained out in a satisfying rush, revealing the damp floor below. With the water gone, I turned around from the gate and spotted a subtle opening in the wall to my left. I squeezed through, and there it was—a chest containing the Climbing Boots. Lacing them onto my feet, I could already feel the friction improving in my virtual soul.
Grabbing the Climber's Bandana
The final item on my list was the Climber's Bandana. I decided to tackle this one last for good reason—the environment here is notoriously slippery, and having the other two pieces equipped would drastically reduce my risk of falling. My destination was the Ploymus Mountain Cave, located east of the Domain and resting on a ledge below Ihen-a Shrine. The shrine sits near Mipha Court, a location steeped in melancholy history. I marked the cave coordinates at 3655, 0538, 0271 and began my ascent.
I was immensely grateful for the armor I had already gathered. The walls of this particular cave were slick with moisture, but my increased climbing speed and reduced stamina drain made the traversal manageable. Unlike the previous caves, Ploymus Mountain Cave is essentially one long, linear hallway. There wasn't much in the way of branching paths to confuse me, but the verticality was daunting. I carefully scaled the final ledge, my stamina bar dipping dangerously low before I finally pulled myself over the top.
At the peak, I turned to the right and saw a chest gleaming in the low light of the cave. I opened it to claim the Climber's Bandana. Tying it around my forehead, I felt a sense of completion wash over me. I now possessed the full set.
The Reward of the Complete Set
Walking out of that cave with the full ensemble equipped, I felt like I had broken the game in the best possible way. The triple-stacked climb speed bonus is not just a convenience; it is a liberation. No longer did I have to search for the long way around a mountain. I could simply point Link at the rock face and go. For anyone starting their journey in 2026 who wants to see everything Hyrule has to offer—from the Sky Islands to the Depths—I cannot recommend this scavenger hunt enough. It might seem like a detour, but it is one of the most practical and satisfying upgrades you can grab early on. Sometimes, the best adventures in Tears of the Kingdom are the ones you take before you even begin saving the world.
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