Bouldering terms Accessory cord —Nylon, Kevlar® or Spectra® cord sold in a range of diameters, typically smaller than those of climbing ropes. This knowledge will help you communicate better with your climbing buddies and other bouldering and rock climbing enthusiasts. It can also be used as a term of encouragement “send it!” Feb 5, 2021 · Terms for Types of Rock Climbing Holds Boulder problems and rock climbing routes in general also have multiple types of holds: slopers, crimps, jugs, pinches, sidepulls, underclings, pockets, and volumes . Climbing a route first try definitely takes more than a repeat attempt and you should be proud. Technical rock climbing begins with routes reaching the Class 5 level. rope up Creation of a non-positive connection between the climber and the rope. Feb 13, 2025 · Rock climbing and bouldering come with specific terms that climbers need to know. I know what you are thinking, it’s not that character from the Beauty and The Beast classic. Glossary of Climbing Terms. Founded in Fountainbleau, France, a world-class outdoor bouldering destination, the circuit concept explores climbing beyond hard grades and encourages different styles of movement across all difficulties. There is an inordinate amount of terms related to climbing. Unlike other climbing terms which have interesting origins the origin of the climb term Crux is very simple. The system follows a scale that begins at 5. … Yosemite Decimal System– The standard grading scale in the US for free climbing routes. “crag” is a term used to describe pretty much any outdoor climbing area (usually sport or trad, not so much bouldering). As a beginner stepping into one of these gyms for the first time, you'll likely hear climbers tossing around terms that sound like a foreign language if you've Our informal dictionary of climbing terms. Literally climbing on a boulder instead of on a rock face or cliff. 14d called “Estado Critico” in Siurana, Spain. We’ve adapted this approach in our gyms through our color wheel—your guide to Bouldering Project climbing. Bouldering Pad. SHOCK LOAD A force exerted on an anchor when weight is suddenly dropped onto it. Second: the person following the lead up. Dec 13, 2022 · When you are hanging around other climbers and working on similar bouldering problems, you are likely to strike up a conversation that includes some odd rock climbing terms. I binged a lot of the IFSC cup videos and something stood out to me: No matter the country or the origin of the people I always, always hear lots of people saying "Allez allez !" in French. Jun 24, 2024 · “Whipper,” “Dyno,” and “Chicken Wing” are some funny Rock Climbing terms that add a touch of humor to the sport, describing dramatic falls, dynamic moves, and awkward jamming techniques, respectively. From essential safety words like “belayer” (the person controlling the safety rope) to movement-based terms such as “crux” (the hardest part of a climb), these phrases form the basic language of climbing. Lead Climbing Jan 10, 2021 · Home - Climb - A Guide to Rock Climbing Terms and Jargon. These are only some of the terms you’ll use in the rock climbing community. Rock climbing has a specialized vocabulary that can be confusing and overwhelming. Here are the basic climbing terms to get you going, in alphabetical order: 1 Bouldering Essentials is packed with clear, practical advice for everyone interested in bouldering whether a complete beginner looking to learn the basics, an indoor climber keen to start bouldering outdoors or an experienced boulderer who wants to explore advanced topics such as dynamics, strategy, tactics, training and highballing. Mar 18, 2025 · Get clear definitions of essential bouldering terms, climbing gear, and grading systems – vital for measuring your progress and skill level. For instance, in off-width climbing, a type of crack climbing where the fissure is too wide for a hand jam but too narrow for a full body wedge, gastons can be crucial. Sport Climbing – a form of rock climbing that relies on permanent anchors fixed to the rock for protection. Beta. A double figure of eight loop often used to clip into anchors with 2 carabiners. No ropes, only shoes and chalk (and hopefully some ground pads). Common bouldering terms Boulder problem: A specific sequence of moves on a boulder or climbing wall, often called a “problem” in the climbing world. ” Familiarity with climbing terms and slang is more than just learning a new vocabulary; it’s about becoming an integrated member of the climbing community. Climbing Vocabulary Aid climbing: Using gear to hold a climbers weight as they go up a wall. Bouldering: Climbing short, challenging routes without a rope, typically on walls or boulders up to 15-20 feet high. It can be done indoors or out and all you need is a pair of climbing shoes, some chalk, and a big foam crash pad. Jun 16, 2022 · The most common term used in climbing is ‘send’. Oct 8, 2024 · But the vocabulary is part of what makes the climbing culture so great! They use strange verbiage, enjoy wrestling funky-colored walls, and are covered in chalk 90% of the time. Refugio Frey near Bariloche, Argentina. It’s called Jun 3, 2019 · Term for a specific climbing leg position with a knee turned inwards and downwards, which is visually reminiscent of walking Egyptians in historical paintings. The smearing technique is easiest on a rough and sticky type of rock, like coarse granite or sandstone Sep 12, 2023 · Bouldering Terms. This is the action of cleaning holds on a route. Jul 11, 2023 · Bouldering. Crux is a word used in the English language. What is the term for a rock climbing technique that involves using the feet to transfer weight and maintain balance? 9. Just like chimneying, working dihedrals, jamming cracks, and slab climbing, arete climbing is a unique and fulfilling aspect of our sport, something that all Sep 25, 2019 · Typically, climbing gyms have both rope climbing and bouldering. I would love a link or a list of commonly used bouldering and rock climbing terms and phrases used. Ex: “me and the crew are headed out to the crag tomorrow”. Learning these terms can make your bouldering experience more enjoyable. Here’s an example: What is the hardest bouldering grade? The hardest grade currently is the V17 (9a), this is the top end of the sport and it is very rarely achieved. Oct 13, 2021 · The main difference between bouldering and rock climbing is that in bouldering you don’t use any of the typical gear such as a harness or ropes (Image credit: Getty Images) As we explain in our guide to rock climbing terms, bouldering is a form of rock climbing where you climb rock formations that are smaller and closer to the ground. Aug 2, 2024 · Crag: a cliff or rock feature. The hike to a climbing area, or to the base of a specific route, is the approach. Top Rope Climbing vs. 1. Feb 25, 2025 · Basic climbing words serve as the foundation for anyone starting their vertical adventures. Rock climbing in general has many specialist terms, but many of them either do not apply to bouldering or can be picked up naturally by spending time around climbers. patreon. Usually, these terms will be used when you are asking how to complete a problem. Bouldering is the most simple, most accessible, and thus most popluar form of climbing. Top out: You usually grab a hold or the top of the wall for indoor bouldering to finish. Bouldering Term Cheat Sheet. Climbing Wall: An artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, used for climbing. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help secure footholds, chalk to keep their hands dry and to provide a firmer grip, and bouldering mats to prevent injuries from falls. Today, we wanted to walk you through all of the different bouldering terminology specifically for new climbers! For those that do not want to watch the video above, we have prepared a written write-up just for you. Thick pads are placed beneath the climber, and spotters are on hand in case of a fall. Verschneidung: Zwei Felswände, Platten oder Gesteinspakete, die – wie ein offenes Buch – in einer innenliegenden Kante aufeinandertreffen. Aug 28, 2024 · Bouldering, a discipline within rock climbing, has its own unique language filled with terms that every climber should know. When I began climbing, understanding terms like “beta” and “crux” not only improved my communication with fellow climbers but also enhanced my overall climbing experience. I know it's a long list but when I looked online I couldn't find something the resembled what I hear my buddies say in Spain - they also use some Galician words Jan 22, 2020 · Are you new to rock climbing and want to learn all the rock climbing terms? Learning a few basic rock climbing terms will allow you to understand how to rock climb, how the rope systems work, and much more! Top Rope Climbing. The following list of climbing terms should hopefully be helpful in understanding what we are talking about when you go climbing. In analogy to bouldering this term describes climbing on buildings. As you continue your Bouldering terms. A knot also known as lineman's loop, butterfly loop, alpine butterfly knot and lineman's rider, is a knot used to form a fixed loop in the middle of a rope. I took a brief "intro to climbing" course and we went over the basics as well as several climbing/bouldering terms. As you may have noticed throughout this guide, climbers tend to have their own lingo. Here is a dictionary of climbing terms for various types of climbing (Bouldering, Top Rope, and Sports Climbing) so you know what other climbers are saying and how to join in on the conversation. There are grade systems for bouldering, grade systems for sport climbing, grade systems for aid climbing and so on but even grade systems for the same style don’t always translate well between each other. Other types of rock climbing terms that boulderers use are in relation to movements, or types of moves they should be engaging in. Beginner to intermediate rock climbing skills required. It must be noted, this is an open-ended scale, so there could be harder grades in the future! Are bouldering grades harder than sport climbing grades? It is hard to compare! Beta is a climbing term that designates information about how to ascend a climbing route, and the specific climbing techniques required—and how to apply them—to overcome the key challenges encountered. 10. SIDEPULL Method for gripping a vertical edge that entails pulling with the hand and pushing with the feet. Abseil – See Rappel. And yet, there are so many different terms used in the climbing community to describe all sorts of different features to rock climbing. Especially in cities, bouldering is the most common form of indoor climbing . Mar 13, 2023 · Climbing is an exciting and challenging sport that requires skill, strength, and endurance. “Problem”: this is bouldering lingo for the route from the bottom to the top. Aug 25, 2022 · Yosemite Decimal System– The standard grading scale in the US for free climbing routes. The guy went really fast, and his speaking voice was extremely soft and hard to hear. Invented, as the name suggests, to grade routes in the Yosemite Valley, CA. Outdoor climbing in a natural setting - if it is not ice climbing - requires rock. Example: “I like that boulder. Sending a project? Probably something better left for your day job. 15c (currently the hardest confirmed free climb in the world). Jul 13, 2022 · The term ‘sandbag’ in climbing was popularized by climbers who would imagine climbing a route with a sandbag attached to their harness. Aug 6, 2019 · Spanish-Language Rock Climbing Key Terms a. It’s not unusual for beginner boulderers to be completely lost in a conversation with other boulderers. icuua knii xtiz ffxv izdg vipwa gkmu rok rewyy luwl neug jywhzm rdpjagn wevvx xwwsipa