Bouldering vs rope climbing reddit. Bouldering was seen as simply training for rock climbing.

Bouldering vs rope climbing reddit What’s everyone’s opinions on rock climbing as an alternative to going to the regular gym, or just to a regular workout? So this is a bit of an expansion from an answer in the Friday new climber thread- I thought I'd put this together in a little more depth and give people the chance to ask questions and give feedback. I’ve been wondering if I should quit bouldering and stick with top rope. Bouldering was seen as simply training for rock climbing. I like chalk balls because it helps prevent chalk from spilling in my rope bag, and helps prevent people I climb with from coating their hands wastefully if we share. Top rope vs bouldering: is it better to do both? Hello! I've been climbing for about 2 years now, but over the past 3 months have been going on a regular basis and getting more serious about it. Even at nationals, the sheer number of competitors is so much higher in bouldering its bound to be more competitive. Also having decent leg flexibility and dexterity to reach certain holds and good core strength is helpful. If you intend to go regularly, and split your time across climbing & mountaineering, I'd consider buying more than one rope. I’m assuming as I get comfortable with climbing it will get lower. Feb 26, 2025 · Conclusion Both rock climbing and bouldering are exciting and challenging sports that offer unique experiences. My Rocky mountain granite is insanely different from the northern Midwest quartz i cut my teeth on. Rope climbing is long, steady climbing at a much "lower" V grade equivalent that take insane amounts of endurance and strategy to get through in one shot. I've recently gotten into rock climbing and was wondering if it's an effective way to get a calisthenic workout?… Castle Rock is known for both and the bouldering is pretty close to some rope climbing. This is the former original Gowanus location of Brooklyn Boulders which got acquired by Seattle Bouldering Project. Focus on lifting correctly rather than lifting heavy and progress with the weight. Jun 15, 2025 · Explore bouldering basics and top rope essentials, from gear to safety, in this comprehensive guide. Route climbing requires you to get through multiple cruxes of varying difficulty. I recently started bouldering at an indoor place close to my home, I've been maybe 8 or 9 times over 6 weeks and I love it. Safety is paramount. Unlike traditional climbing, bouldering does not use ropes or harnesses, and instead focuses on climbing short routes called “problems,” which are usually less than 6 meters high. Just like climbing between gyms can yield different grades, so can climbing at different crags. However Let's say a route is set at a certain difficulty for top rope. Rock climbing uses ropes, harnesses, belayers, and protection to reach summits on much longer routes. Is it specifically to improve your climbing, to get strong, to look good? If you are just starting out I'd recommend doing a full body workout like Stronglifts, you do two alternating workouts, Squats, Bench, Rows and then Squats, Overhead press, deadlifts. God damn it was so much fun. Looking for suggestions on which one would be the best to check out. Mixed climbing is done in gloves, easier alpine trad in the winter may be done in gloves, crack climbing usually involves at least a partial glove or tape glove. Jul 11, 2022 · Here’s how it works. To get through the multiple sections, there are techniques that aren't as applicable to bouldering - knowing when to go slow or fast through a section, knowing how/when/where to rest, working through Basically prolonged low stress (climbing) versus short intense stress (bouldering). People use strong arm and leg muscles to push off hard and pull themselves up quickly between holds on the wall. free climbing: using only your body and the rock's natural features to climb, while having ropes as backup in a fall. Dec 5, 2024 · Bouldering focuses on shorter climbs without ropes, relying on crash pads for safety, while top roping involves higher ascents secured by ropes and harnesses. And then we haven’t even covered trad climbing another form of roped climbing, which is even more expensive. Rock climbing in particular is pretty biased toward pulling, although if you're a good climber you'll push and use your legs quite a bit as well. I am doing sport and alpine multipitch and so far I had a single rope for sport (light, belay with grigri, easy handling rope management) and half ropes for alpine (for long abseils, extra safesty e. I broke my foot bouldering a month ago - I fell unexpectedly and landed poorly. Unlike bouldering, rock climbing often involves the use of ropes, harnesses, and other safety equipment to protect climbers from falls during longer and more challenging routes. In this article, we’ll define bouldering vs. Rock climbing can definitely be dangerous. I like being able to have my gear in the zipped open pack when racking up or I can use the pack as a rope tarp when sport climbing. Some find bouldering easier for a beginner, while others think it’s incredibly challenging. Go grab a bag of Friction Labs (or whatever else you want, I tend to prefer them over others, but it’s all both a personal preference and placebo effect). ” Climbing gyms? I’ve been going to Denver Bouldering Club for a while now and it’s great, but I miss ropes. The Difference in Equipment When it comes to bouldering vs rock climbing, the equipment you use can vary significantly. metro rock is just strange setting and i dont like it edit: just realized there are two vital locations There is a rock climbing gym by my house, that has tons of walls and stuff, along with tons of exercise equipment kinda like a gym area. Mar 1, 2021 · Though it’s true… That climbing and bouldering both require ascending rock in some form but the reality is that they’re entirely separate subsets of the sport. In this article we explain the pros and cons of each! Jun 1, 2025 · Discover the differences between bouldering and top rope climbing, including pros, cons, and tips for beginners to choose the right path. 5-2 hours on Monday, just climbing to the best of my ability. 331 votes, 144 comments. Even those who don't care at all about performance on boulders. I started splitting my time between top rope and bouldering at my gym. In the former category, there is no difference between rock climbing and bouldering: both use climbing shoes and chalk that increase the stickiness of your feet and hands respectively. It's really hard to equate the grades of bouldering and rope because if a route is 30 feet, a 5. Could lead climbing that same route increase its grade in theory? In my gym there are walls where you can climb top rope or lead with the permadraws along the same routes. Add the mental factor of fall on top rope (almost nothing happens) vs on boulder (I need to fall well to not snap my leg). Bouldering routes are usually fairly short and climbers are usually no more than 10-15 ft off the ground. Was it a well-designed test? Personally, I have never noticed a significant difference. Instead of climbing large cliffs or even mountains, bouldering focuses on small rock outcrops or “boulders” (hence the name). MembersOnline • uducjvid ADMIN MOD Jul 24, 2025 · Discover the key differences between bouldering vs lead climbing, including gear, risks, techniques, and which style suits you best. This is what my Apple Watch reported. Get ready to start climbing with the right choice! I think of the relationship between indoor and outdoor grades as an X in both bouldering and sport climbing. Bouldering emphasizes powerful, technical moves and conditioning; routes are often brief but physically intense. Exploring these differences will help climbers choose the best fit for their climbing journey. I have seen first hand what the worst kind of fall can do to a person. There are plenty of beginner problems and routes in Castle Rock as well so you should have a pretty good time. Jun 16, 2021 · The number of opinions about bouldering’s difficulty is probably as many as the number of climbers out there. If you mean how they would perform, or is they are durable enough for outdoor climbing, that would be a valid question. [1] Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that involves lower walls and more technical movements, and is done without ropes or harnesses. [2] Rock climbing tends to require more stamina and works the legs, while bouldering Jan 18, 2023 · Climbing harnes, ropes, belay devices, quickdraws, the list goes on. Obviously can’t compare them to other beginner shoes, but these definitely suit me in indoor bouldering and top rope climbing. Rock Climbing: These are two distinct yet closely related disciplines within the world of climbing. Feb 2, 2025 · There are significant differences between bouldering and top rope climbing from safety to health and cost. Not clear how you differentiate bouldering and rock climbing in your mind (as others said here, bouldering IS rock climbing as well). My question/s is what benefits of bouldering set you up, if at all, for outdoor stuff? Reddit's rock climbing training community. This made me think about mountaineering in general. V9 usually takes a few tries, i can knock out most 10s in a session or two. You could probably do both without much of an issue. I tried researching this online but get conflicting information. or people who can climb 12s but can't boulder v3/4s. The difference that the weight loss has made is astronomical, but honestly, I'm still getting my ass kicked at around v3 boulders and I've only sent one 5. Hi, my half ropes' lifespan comes to an end soon and I m looking at new options. Nov 30, 2024 · Discover the differences between bouldering and rock climbing, including height, equipment, and grading systems. Roped climbing in any form takes more equipment- harness, rope, helmet, belay device and eventually QuickDraws and stuff to make anchors if you are going to sport or top rope outside. As for rope climbing, my home gym is bouldering only, so I just don't have a lot of access, but I do indoor rope climb maybe once a year. In general I find outdoor grades to be more consistent within an area and then within a region than gym grades (even on problems within the same gym. I definitely notice a difference when I’m climbing at my limit. Watertown has top roping and bouldering, but they really focus on the top roping/lead climbing (which are amazing) so their bouldering wall is kind of trash, wouldn't recommend it unless you only want to go for a short session. The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. I have a soft spot for this place since it's where I learned to climb, but haven't been back in the last few years with the proliferation of spaces with more dedicated climbing build outs. Your first rope should be a 9. I've noticed newer climbers tend to have trouble figuring out how to train besides "just climbing more", so I've created this guide of sorts to hopefully help a few people. I also had a tough time at the gym yesterday. Thoughts on the new VITAL climbing gym in Brooklyn? I've been going here a bit more often than Cliffs LIC as it is more convenient to get to. In this article, I’ll break down the concept of climbing vs bouldering thoroughly so there will be no more confusion. Starting bouldering opens a lot of doors to great experiences and personal growth. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Climbing helmets protect primarily from falling objects, usually but not exclusively rockfall, so if there is a person on the wall, animals in the area or loose rock, the helmet doesn't come off, even if we're taking a break, unless we move away from the wall. vital is also difficult but the stupid color grading system is muddy so who really knows. This was done for an academic project, and all of the The number of sessions you should do in a week is relative. All you need is a light dusting. 1. Is this amount of calories burned common? It seems pretty high. Reddit's rock climbing training community. Also, you generally want short (30-50m) & skinny ropes for mountaineering, because they save a lot of weight . All of that background to say If you had to recommend 1 shoe, you used every climbing session (2-4 times a week for me) for indoor bouldering what would it be? Feb 28, 2024 · Bouldering represents the essence of rock climbing, capturing the challenge and thrill of scaling rocks with minimal equipment. It is a big gap from the perspective of the V10 climber, but is it really a big gap for the V16 climber? Is it that V grades are non linear, or is it that our perspective of them is nonlinear. This style gives intense challenges that workout people’s upper body, core, and finger muscles. Some sources say bouldering Mar 15, 2024 · Bouldering vs. 5-2 hours on Wednesday, training climbing as per Louis Parkinsons recommendations. Jun 15, 2025 · Explore the key differences between bouldering and traditional rock climbing in terms of setting, style, equipment, skills, training, and safety. Bouldering is more accessible than climbing I go bouldering alone all the time! If you wish to start roped climbing, you are going to need a partner to belay you. I started bouldering and progressed into top rope indoors, then out doors, then leading outdoors which is so satisfying. Outdoors is rock/projects. In bouldering, you'll find yourself tackling shorter routes, relying solely on your strength, balance, and technique. I see some intersections between rock climbing and mountaineering. For a beginner I would recommend getting the cheapest rope that's climbing rated you can find. Bouldering as a workout is indeed mediocre however bouldering as motivation was the best for me. It'll happen some day, just hasn't yet. Bouldering is short, intense climbing. Interesting. Unlike traditional rock climbing, which often involves scaling long, multi-pitch routes, bouldering is all about overcoming short, challenging problems, often referred to as “boulder problems. For rope climbing Vertical World or Edgeworks are both great Liquid chalk is good for bouldering, but if you’re rope climbing (particularly leading) you’re going to be a spectacle trying to put on liquid chalk. I mostly rope climb, so I only get over there when friends want to go, but they have fantastic facilities and a cult like following. FYI, they're renovating Boston Bouldering Project to create more bouldering space at the expense of the autobelays and some other top rope stations. I also just favor the type of movement that is required for bouldering in comparison to what I have experienced on the belay wall. By the time you've worn out your first rope you'll know what you want your second rope to do. Depends on the gym, and how comfortable you are outside. Which is worse for finger joint health? Lastly, you’ll meet a great community of people who are way more interesting than the average gym bro. Most beginner's at my gym use the maxim equinox because its the cheapest rope that the local MEC carries. These problems require a mix of physical strength, problem-solving skills, and Any modern rope is going to give you a reasonable catch, especially if you're climbing in the gym or only sport climbing. Brooklyn Bouldering Project - $99 / month. Consisting of strenuous moves and usually less than 25 feet off the ground. I wasn't sure if there was a good rule of thumb about lead climbing adding a certain amount of grades of difficulty or not. Nov 30, 2024 · Bouldering vs Rock Climbing: Learn the differences, benefits, and which one suits beginners best. Bouldering focuses on power and strength in short bursts. I normally do full body at the gym, but I was thinking of going rock climbing along with working out at the gym there. Endurance built from rope climbing will help teach you and your muscles how to relax and recover for prolonged Bouldering sessions, and power from Bouldering may come in handy for harder rope routes. ) On the other hand, if you are very comfortable outside you might find indoor climbing much harder (due to lack of friction for shoe scumming, for example) But at the end of the day I would Reddit's rock climbing training community. One thing I've always wondered, what's the "gold standard" for higher end bouldering when it comes to shoes? I've always liked the softies because I can feel a lot more. The people I know who progress pretty quickly at lower grades on rope split time between bouldering and roped climbing-- progressively shifting towards more bouldering as a percentage of training as their roped climbing grades have gone up. At a rope gym, you are climbing at most 50% of the time (belaying 50%). Dec 28, 2024 · What Is Bouldering? Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that focuses on short but intense climbs, typically on rocks or artificial climbing walls that are no higher than 20 feet (6 meters). I hate that rope climbing is called “rock climbing” while bouldering is separate, but that’s how it was pre-1980’s. In this post, we compare these two sports and provide the pros and cons of each. You can do more hard moves at a building gym and have more control over rest and difficulty. Based off my experience climbing 5 or 6 V grades below my max, I imagine for someone like Daniel Wood the difference between V10 and V11 isn't any much more than the difference between V6 and V7. They need to hold their body tightly during moves. If you're trad climbing on marginal gear or taking huge whippers, you might care more about the impact force. Let’s look at the differences between bouldering, top roping and rock climbing, and whether outdoor bouldering is harder or not. Jun 21, 2025 · Rock climbing is a broad category of sports that involve using your hands and feet to ascend a wall or rock face, and often requires safety equipment like ropes and anchors. Between that, the upstairs area, and the existing bouldering wall downstairs, I'd say that should be plenty of bouldering for a gym that has both ropes and boulders. We present the main differences between bouldering vs rock climbing to help you choose your gateway into the wonderful world of climbing (Image credit: Getty Images) If you’ve been dreaming about unleashing your inner Spider-Man, you might be wondering where to start when it comes to types of rock climbing. Something I do and could work for you is wear your beginner shoes to warm up in and then switch over to your moderate or aggressive shoes when you’re climbing at your limit. 13 would have maybe v7-8 moves, but a 60 foot 13 would have v4-5 moves. You won't be discerning enough to tell the difference between it and a tip top Petzl 8mm. But then augment at the rope gym to get route endurance before the outdoor season. Rock climbing vs bouldering: equipment (performance and safety) The equipment climbers use can be divided into items that improve performance and items that protect you from injury. Cruxes require technique, strength, and thoughtful sequences. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. Every kilogram that I lost was immediately noticed on the walls. Feb 21, 2025 · Discover the differences between bouldering and top rope climbing, including safety, physical and mental challenge, cost, and social aspects. I find that your rate of improvement is fastest when you're climbing for at least an hour (closer to two is ideal), three times a week. Never climb without a rope unless you are willing to take the fall. On longer Apr 10, 2022 · With the rise of bouldering gyms worldwide, especially in big cities, it’s essential to look at what bouldering exactly is and how it relates to rock climbing. Any recommendations for climbing gyms with good top rope routes and maybe auto belays? Archived post. Hey y'all. Bouldering was traditionally used as crux training. For real techy bouldering the benefits of extra sense/fingertip power outweighs those of gloves, as there are no gloves I'm aware of with climbing-shoe-rubber fingertips or whatnot. Seattle Bouldering Project. 24 votes, 67 comments. You'll just run out of things to do very quickly. It depends on your age / fitness level / what you do outside of climbing etc. Pushing your comfort level is good, but only when you know what you are doing. Very comfortable and I actually feel secure on the smaller holds vs the rental shoes I was using before. Nov 15, 2025 · In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about bouldering vs rope climbing, including equipment needs, costs, learning curves, physical demands, safety considerations, and how to decide which type is right for you. What’s your average? If you track that. 8 It'll be thin and supple, but beefy and durable enough to last you a Tried out bouldering this past Friday as I’m looking for something fun for weightloss. While both involve scaling vertical surfaces, they differ in terms of equipment, techniques, and overall approach. Some of them teach pitched climbing on snow and ice, short pitching and roping on rock, and general rock and rope skills, but nowhere does it seem like climbing is necessary. I'm just about to start taking my climbing (bouldering in particular) seriously. May 15, 2025 · But if you’re new to climbing, walking into a gym like Flip N Fun can raise a big question: Should you try bouldering or top-rope climbing first? Both styles offer unique thrills and benefits, so let’s break down the differences to help you choose the best fit for your next climb. But when it comes to safety Definitely not a rock climbing expert, while you definitely will develop better grip,lat strength it is much more essential to climbing that your legs are doing the majority of the pushing. Soft shoes for high end bouldering? I consider myself a fairly high level boulderer. Wondering what other peoples thoughts are. I have a feeling that improving all of these things could be very helpful in mountaineering, especially in higher mountains. Why do people who boulder have different physiques vs people who top rope? I've noticed that usually people who top rope regularly are usually thin and lanky, while those who mainly boulder are basically ripped, six packs, muscular. Very fun social environment as well. i always thought the cliffs in LIC had the toughest grading out of all the locations. Gym climbing and outdoor are not the same and saying you can climb a certain grade based on what you can climb at the gym isn't representative of what you can climb outdoors. Bouldering routes are fairly short and may only utilize a few holds. What is your grade bouldering vs sport vs top rope? I know that some people boulder v4/5s but can't climb 10s because of endurance. On the other hand, a rock climber needs a rope and harness for rock climbing or rope climbing because the wall is more than 30 feet. Bouldering= (typically) Short climbs that don't require a harness or rope. Jun 23, 2024 · Rock climbing, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses various types of climbing, including traditional climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering. I would think that top rope poses less risk for acute injury (so long as the knots and ropes are double checked) due to less impact with the ground. Oct 21, 2023 · Choosing between rock climbing and weight lifting can be hard to choose. #1 v4 is approximately equivalent to 11d if you are comparing the hueco and yds scales. It really depends on what you want to gain from lifting. Feb 21, 2025 · Our indoor crags boast sky-high fake rocks and some of the best bouldering in the country. #2 Lead climbing comps (spoken from my own experience so take it with a grain of salt) are noticeably less competitive than bouldering ones at most levels of competition. Plus: Seattle's best free outdoor rock climbing spots. Not necessarily because he's the best, his ethos just seems to make sense to me. Of course there are other ways to build power and endurance if you find you actually dislike one school or the other. If you are any bit uncomfortable, triple check everything. I kept losing weight because I wanted to climb longer and harder routes. Compare climbing methods today! Sep 25, 2018 · Quick Takeaways Bouldering is rock climbing on short (10–20 ft) routes without ropes, using crash pads and spotters for safety. That being said, I’ve noticed at climbing gyms that offer both types of climbing, the belay walls offer good experience with different types of holds that seemingly would benefit my skill progression in bouldering. Sport climbing= Climbing with a Harness and clipping the the rope into the wall as you go up. My plan is as follows: 1. It's different disciplines, bouldering is more strength based than rope climbing. You should definitely do both. Go for the bouldering gym with day passes at the rope gym. Stiff vs. Does that inherently make boulders in the rockies easier because i can smear on it? Of course not! It just has different Nov 4, 2024 · Bouldering and climbing each require their own physical skills. That’s why bouldering is more approachable to beginners. In bouldering, a person attempting the sport does not require to use a harness or rope because the climbing routes or bouldering routes are shorter- wall height is only 12-15 feet. The problems feel completely different, almost a different sport entirely to outdoor bouldering IMO. g. Background- 10 years of climbing outdoors, two years climbing retail, and I'm an AMGA guide. For example if you do resistance training between or after climbing sessions, or if you work a very physical job, you might need more rest that people who's sole physical activity is climbing. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The only exercise I do is climbing, both bouldering and top-rope. The shoes definitely matter though depending on where you’re at in terms of climbing level. I think rock climbing helped me notice some lack of my balance, weak legs, or even foot placement. These are the only shoes I’ve owned since I’m still new to climbing, but absolutely love them. 10a. This is meant for newcomers/relative beginners to bouldering and will outline what you should focus on, the frequency, and intensity depending on your personal needs. Whether you prefer the endurance and strategy of rock climbing or the power and intensity of bouldering, both disciplines provide incredible physical and mental benefits. free soloing: same as free climbing minus any and all protection. You do want a dry rope for mountaineering, but you'll wear away the dry coating much more quickly if you use it regularly for sport climbing & trad, on rock. You won't need ropes or harnesses, just a trusty pair of climbing shoes None of the mountaineering courses require climbing experience, and they do not teach rock climbing. everything at brooklyn boulders is really fun but i was flashing stuff like 2 grades above my usual climbing level. It's a thrilling world out there, where you can defy gravity and reach for the sky. Any part of the city is fine, just looking for good vibes, good setting, and lots of boulders to climb. I've found that it's generally easier for boulderers to get into rope climbing, than for sport climbers to get into bouldering, just because of the base level of strength. ). Rock type varies wildly. What Is Bouldering? We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Good practical crag bag, although it's suitcase like design makes it not great for heavy loads over >5miles. Reply I'm heading to Montreal for a couple days soon and was looking at all the different climbing gyms, and there's so many options. I see more and more young Nov 22, 2022 · When you are new to climbing, you see no difference between rock climbing and bouldering, but they are different things indeed. I buy the cheap stuff and make my own chalk balls with pantyhose. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. Comparing them is like trying to compare BMX biking and touring the country on a road bike. when one rope gets a coreshot, reducing rope drag by clipping just one strand etc. trueLink the video. I think I'm definitely going to want to dry all forms of climbing in the future, in particular outdoor rope assisted rock climbing. rock climbing and discuss the implications in terms of difficulty, training safety, and equipment. Sep 8, 2023 · Bouldering is a type of climbing that does not require safety harnesses or ropes. At the bottom of the grade range, indoor climbs are easier than outdoor climbs. csixw knifhgla bxbej cvlui xelh sbzy hmt kjrmq zsbwbiy vzesu fubyr eanqio qweeb bynnyk zaasj