A crimp in rock climbing is a type of climbing hold that will only fit your finger pads. There are three different crimp grips, the open hand grip, half crimp and full crimp grip. Crimping ain’t easy. When I first started rock climbing, everything seemed so intimidating. Going to the gym by myself and being …
I’ve been there. I’ve been tired of my 9 to 5 and started daydreaming of how to make money rock climbing. I did some research and found a path that worked for me. But with the rise of Instagram and YouTube, being a professional climber looks different than what it did in years past. But …
Climbing Shoes: Laces vs Velcro! This debate might seem simple, but climbers tend to investigate all of the nuances of pieces of gear that seem simple. Climbing shoes have revolutionized the sport. The sticky rubber on these shoes helps us put our weight on the smallest of chips. But my favorite climbing shoes are the …
You can wear socks with climbing shoes, there’s no rule that wearing socks with climbing shoes makes you a worse climbers. I like to wear socks when I’m climbing outside to keep my shoes smelling better and my feet warmer in the winter. Ultimately the choice is yours if you want to wear socks with …
I remember the first time I went to the bouldering gym. I showed up in basketball shorts and sneakers. I was adamant that I did not need the climbing shoes and that I’d be perfectly fine without them. Eventually, one of the gym employees let me try a pair of climbing shoes for free and …
ATC stands for air traffic controller! If you just started climbing, chances are that you’ve seen, heard about, or used a Black Diamond tube-style belay device, but it’s been referred to as an ATC. How often have you heard someone say, “belay me with your air traffic controller”? I never have, but I have often wondered …
Route reading is a critical skill for rock climbing. If you’ve watched elite level climbers at competitions or the Olympics, then you’ve seen them performing what looks like air karate before they step up to send the route. What they’re doing is called “route reading”. They are miming out the hand and foot sequence for …
Tying a one handed clove hitch is a good party trick for your next multi pitch anchor party. The clove hitch climbing technique is one of the simplest ways we can connect ourselves to our anchors. Without it, we would have to buy another piece of gear, like a personal anchor system, to secure ourselves …
Sport climbing relies on pre bolted climbing routes while trad climbing requires the climber to carry and place their own protection as they climb the route. In the world of rock climbing, there are many different styles. You’re most likely already familiar with roped climbing and bouldering. But have you begun to venture into the …
Since the 3rd grade, I have been wearing glasses. I’ve played sports, outdoor sports, and gone rock climbing all while wearing my glasses. Yes, you can wear glasses when rock climbing! But we need to take a few precautions first. Here’s everything I’ve learned from wearing my prescription glasses while bouldering and rock climbing. Keep …
