Bouldering wall vs climbing reddit height in feet. It's much better for your strength than route climbing.

Bouldering wall vs climbing reddit height in feet Sep 6, 2022 · As a result, this forces short climbers to adapt early on and the outcome is that short climbers are exposed to climbing techniques much earlier than their taller counterparts. For endurance I climb on my centres traverse wall, forward backwards, mix it up. Mar 1, 2021 · In the simplest of terms, rock climbing requires you to climb up rock formations either on an indoor wall or an outside cliff face. As an all rounder I personally love soft rubber with a stiffer mid sole, it sticks to tiny foot holds and smears but still allows me to generate power through my feet. Jul 30, 2022 · What is the difference between rock climbing and bouldering? The quick answer — bouldering is rock climbing. It's much better for your strength than route climbing. As the other comment described, it really is all in the hips. Here is a chart of the most popular professional climbers, their height and weight. Feb 26, 2025 · Bouldering is a type of climbing that involves scaling shorter rock formations or artificial walls, typically ranging from 10 to 20 feet in height. For rock climbing, you’ll need climbing shoes, a harness, a chalk bag and a belay device as well as access to a rope and, depending on the type of climbing you’re doing, safety Bouldering is short, intense climbing. While strength, technique, and mental fortitude are universally acknowledged as critical, physical stature undoubtedly plays a role, offering distinct advantages and disadvantages. Unlike sport climbing, bouldering does not require ropes or harnesses and is focused on short, challenging routes known as "problems" marked with colored holds. Are May 30, 2023 · At 5’0”, climber Katie Lambert wonders if if her woes about height have been justified. This style allows you to climb much higher—often over 30 feet—while staying securely attached the whole time. I have another short friend that is a master at smearing. Jun 1, 2023 · In the dynamic world of bouldering, where every move is a precise puzzle and efficiency is paramount, one factor often sparks debate: a climber's height. Comparing them is like trying to compare BMX biking and touring the country on a road bike. This is the regulation. 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. Nov 4, 2025 · Roped climbing: Significantly tall climbing walls requiring gear to catch falls, usually 30-60 feet in height depending on the building. Reply reply Pirate1000rider • Different styles of climbing lends itself to different shoe types, having a few pairs in the quiver is never a bad thing. On the other hand, a rock climber needs a rope and harness for rock climbing or rope Nov 30, 2024 · Discover the differences between bouldering and rock climbing, including height, equipment, and grading systems. Bouldering almost always favors shorter climbers due to strength/weight ratios and leverage. The flat shoes don’t hurt my climbing much at all. I am debating between getting a systems board (moon, kilter, or tension) or just building a spray wall. 5 meters) high. The home of Climbing on reddit. Something this has taught me is how to smear really well. Just makes me get the feet better from the start. Apr 26, 2024 · Master the ascent as we explore two of the most popular forms of climbing and explain the various differences between bouldering and sport climbing. Indoor Bouldering padding is usually pretty thick at 30 centimeters or about 12 inches thick whereas outdoor bouldering mats vary. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. I'm skinny but my upper body isn't too strong so i try to use my legs to shoot up or momentum to swing me. Curious about the distinction between rock climbing vs bouldering? Both activities involve scaling vertical surfaces, but here’s the kicker: rock climbing typically involves taller cliffs with harnesses and ropes for safety, whereas bouldering is done on shorter walls without harnesses, relying solely on crash pads. Beginners are also usually climbing near vertical walls with an abundance of holds which is much easier for taller people to lank through without penalty. No reason your height will limit your progression through the grades and prevent you from climbing very hard. You’ll have a little more trouble with sit starts and fitting into boxy areas, but you’ll probably be able to beta break a little easier. But having been to about a dozen climbing gyms now, I've noticed that -- especially in newer gyms -- some of the walls are quite tall. As a beginner the best thing you can do is get a ton of mileage - go climb a ton (but remember to rest Hi all, I just moved to a new place and the gyms here have walls ~35-40 ft tall, which is quite surprising to me as I was used to the walls in my old gym (~48 ft tall). In this guide, we'll outline some of the most common climbing styles. I find bouldering with this in mind develops this skill, as well climbing easier indoor routes and skipping intermediate hand holds. We 6'5"--6'6" inchers are, according to that data, the worst height for climbing. The wall wall In fact, statistics from some of the best competitive climbers in the world reveals that the average height among these climbers are a couple inches shorter than the average height in their respective gender. After finishing a climb (or failing to do so), most people tend to just jump off. Start by climbing the easiest routes in the centre and down climb. Do you have a max height when bouldering where you are comfortable climbing? Dec 8, 2022 · Does your height really matter in rock climbing? Of course, you might be interested in a style of climbing other than sport, and Coll also argues that in styles such as trad climbing and mid-grade multi-pitch climbing, the supposed gap between short and tall matters even less because the routes tend to be less demanding anyway. I think spending your first few months focused on establishing the basic techniques of climbing (using your toes, moving your feet, keeping your body into the wall, etc) will be far easier progressing through the lower top rope routes then struggling on beginner boulder problems Reddit's rock climbing training community. The key difference lies in the height of the climb and the equipment used The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. Too tall to use those stupid scrunchy footholds, too short to just monkey past all of it. Reply reply More replies Garlic_Climbing • May 15, 2025 · Top-rope climbing involves a rope anchored at the top of the wall, with one end tied to the climber and the other managed by a belayer. Like others have said, develop your own style, often times being short unlocks beta breaks that are inaccessible to longer climbers. [1] Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that involves lower walls and more technical movements, and is done without ropes or harnesses. Use this as an opportunity to focus on technique and endurance. 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. It turns out this is quite handy when climbing the polished limestone of my local bouldering crag. Dec 21, 2022 · Thus, a lead climbing wall should be about 40 feet higher than a standard bouldering wall to ensure free movement and safety for the group. This means a huge section of the wall won’t be used by other people because your entire group is standing underneath lots of stuff other people wanting to try. It is harder to maintain consistently good results in bouldering than in lead climbing. In sports where height is an advantage, 6'2" is short! Feb 23, 2020 · Height is often viewed as an advantage in rock climbing, but is that really the case? We take a look and show it's not quite as clear cut as you may think. However, in general, rock climbing requires more endurance and mental focus compared to bouldering. Rock climbing vs bouldering: style The main factor that determines the style of rock climbing vs the style of bouldering is the height of the route. It seems that for people in the middle 80% of heights that it makes nearly no difference, however into the extremes it becomes much more noticeable, especially for taller climbers. How To Start Bouldering? The technique you are looking to improve is called a deadpoint. Wall Height In rock climbing, walls typically range from 10 to 60 feet in height, with routes designed for harnesses and ropes, providing a safety system over greater vertical distances. From advice on which gym to visit to videos of world cup IFSC climbers, you can find it all here. If you can reach the holds from sitting, then not being able to find suitable feet is a skill you have to learn. Outdoor, boulders are usually between 12 feet and 15 feet high but higher boulders (highball) exist as well. Just like tall people complain about sit starts and in flexible people complain about high feet. So what's the difference between bouldering and climbing? Bouldering gyms are characterized by walls that are lower in height but feature challenging overhangs, tricky cruxs, and dynamic movements. 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). Oh and try to land with a slightly wider stance, feet should be shoulder width apart atleast, so that you don't fall sideways and roll over your ankle. Getting into bouldering. Understanding how height influences bouldering performance I will soon be moving somewhere I can build a home wall in the garage. 1. But it's definitely not what limits beginner performance or something you should worry about at this point, especially for you with your low bf%. Unlike rock climbing, bouldering does not involve ropes or harnesses. . Flagging is import for weight shifting, and keeping my hip (s) close to the wall. Bouldering is a fantastic full-body workout, but more importantly, it's a lot of fun. Any fall from that height is going to I decided climbing was the best way to overcome this fear because it incorporates many activities I enjoy. After working core every other day for like 4 months, I took my overhang climbing up 3 grades because it was just easier to not lose feet. There is no more effective way to improve at rock climbing than to have your own home bouldering wall. Climbers use the term 'climbing' as a catch all, but non-climbers are more likely to be familiar with "rock climbing" (which usually means top roping), and boulders will use rock climbing to mean climbing with a rope to differentiate it from bouldering, although to a newbie it seems like bouldering is also be a form of rock climbing. it seems to be that as the grades get harder, there are fewer static moves available and almost everyone has to incorporate some big moves. I find it quite sad how so many new climbers, or particularly people who comment in this sub appear to completely disregard or ignore the history of climbing and don’t seem to have any interest in outdoor climbing. Hey everyone! I started bouldering around 4 months ago mostly at indoor gyms. I also find slabs/mantles intuitive and easy by comparison to overhangs and really squishy Jun 23, 2024 · Traditional climbing, sport climbing, and alpine climbing each have their own physical requirements. Bouldering Height It typically involves climbing short but challenging routes (called “problems”) without the use of ropes or harnesses. Beginners also aren’t really climbing outside where v2 sit starts exist. I’m about to go back to the tarantulaces lol. (A pitch is from the ground to anchor or from one anchor to the next; basically the distance you would climb on one rope) I am pretty happy with my climbing progress but I definitely complain occasionally about not reaching things. Rock climbing is a vast sport that contains many different disciplines within it. For example, I visited Summit Dallas recently and, while I enjoyed my time there, I didn't do anything near my limit on their main overhang wall, which finishes maybe 20' up. I actually gained a little weight and lost my cardiovascular fitness when I dropped weight lifting and running for climbing because I loved it so much and had limited free time. As a shorter climber I'd recommend board climbs, obviously can't tell the height of who Once you’ve been climbing for a little longer, you will start to recognize what the route setter meant to be feet and hands. Or even if a hand turns into a foot later in the route. You have to load your legs properly and then time your legs pushing up with pulling into the wall with your arms in order to get your hips back into the wall and maximize your reach. Landed on my feet instead of falling back (like an idiot) but bent my knees to try and soften the landing. Rock Climbing: These are two distinct yet closely related disciplines within the world of climbing. Easy hands and hard feet, hard hands and easy feet. Been watching clips on this subreddit for a couple months now. ) 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 Hi all, any good drills to practice keeping my feet on the wall? Particular small footholds when making bigger moves, my feet tend to cut and it wastes a ton of energy trying to get feet back on. It’s not a matter of one versus the other. Jun 15, 2025 · Explore the key differences between bouldering and traditional rock climbing in terms of setting, style, equipment, skills, training, and safety. For bouldering, walls are usually around 20 feet tall. 5 meters or 15 feet, which is the legal limit for most countries. See these differences as learning opportunities, and try to find enjoyment in this process. A climber ties into a rope, while a belayer manages the rope system. Being "good at sit starts" when you're climbing on an indoor wall is very easy. But some vids here on Reddit made me think there are other max heights in other countries? There is always a padded mat underneath our boulderwalls. With the help of crash pads, you climb sans rope and harness. 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. A bouldering wall is constructed in much the same way as a wood framed house: The individual walls 6'3 190lbs around 18% body fat, longer torso than legs. I have noticed almost no-one in the clips climbs down after their boulder, instead opting for the fast way down. Plenty of top ropes and dedicated lead climbing sections. There is a lot to learn to do this safely, and though it is an incredible sport, the inherent dangers of climbing at height must be respected. Hi there, I want to get back into bouldering after having tried it a few times already, but I remember being quite scared of falling down the last times. Free soloing is just free (vs aid) climbing when nobody else is belaying you. I started indoor bouldering 2 months ago, knowing that I have a pretty big fear of heights and that it will be a challenge to… BOULDERING vs ROCK CLIMBING — WTF is the difference? JUMP TO: WHAT IS ROCK CLIMBING / BOULDERING AS A SUB-SPORT / KEY DISTINCTIONS / GRADES & DIFFICULTY / COMPETITIONS / WHO IS IT SUITED TO / LEARNING, PROGRESSING & IMPROVING / SUMMARY Author: Tim Severino Most of us have seen photos of rock climbers high above the earth, dangling from ropes, pushing their way ever upwards… However, not The French use this system for most things (apart from bouldering, for which they use the Font scale, and big Alpine routes, for which they use the UIAA scale, and mixed sport climbing, for which they use the M scale) and the British use it for sport climbing, where seriousness isn't a factor. They do a good job with the setting and redo sections with regularity. In contrast, bouldering focuses on shorter walls, usually around 12 to 20 feet high, where climbers rely on crash pads and spotters for safety rather than harnesses. So first lets go over… Jan 18, 2023 · Indoor bouldering walls are usually around 4. May 17, 2021 · How Tall Are Bouldering Walls? On average bouldering walls are around 4 meters or 13 feet high. That 6'2" is the climbing community's definition of a "very tall climber" is solid evidence that height is not, in fact, an advantage. Dropping from height on to a crash pad is definitely not the same as hitting a gym floor. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. I can climb better in my solutions technically but with added pain. Are you new to climbing? If so there are some good videos on YouTube that cover basic technique. A top-outwall is around max 4 mtr. A wall simulates the demands of rock climbing and lets you work on technique while you're getting stronger. They also have exercise equipment Mar 15, 2024 · Bouldering vs. The tall guy doesn't complete the problem but thats obviously even with the advantage of his height. What Is Bouldering? Yes, weight matters in climbing performance (especially hypertrophy outside of finger flexors and pulling muscles). The goal is to get to the top. There's brightly coloured, thoughtfully placed feet sometimes with tape pointing to them. Hi! Here I know the max height of an indoor bouldergymwall is 4,5 mtr/ 14,85ft. If you are climbing within a group, be mindful that don’t take turns trying the same route over and over, standing super close to the wall. 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. Bouldering places an emphasis on strength, technique, and problem-solving skills, as climbers navigate complex sequences and unlock the puzzle-like nature of each problem. If being tall was good for climbing then like basketball, 99% of the top guys would be 6' plus. Though height seems to be a disadvantage more than a benefit on most stuff. You're pivoting into the wall with your feet and staying close to the wall, which is awesome. the theory is that average climbing height is low because all heights need to dyno eventually, those with shorter heights have Aug 2, 2022 · Bouldering Basics A bouldering wall is typically 12 to 15 feet tall, and it mimics most boulders you’d encounter if climbing outside, although some “highball” outdoor boulders may be much taller. Nice staff and a cool mini store for gear, apparel, other climbing stuff. Another much smaller section with auto-belays. Push away from the wall, land on your feet with knees bent and let the momentum roll you onto your back. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. The best height for male rock climbers is 5’9, and the best height for female rock climbers is 5’4, based upon the average height of the climbers competing in the 2021 Olympics. Bouldering walls are usually around 4-5 meters (13-16 feet) high. But what about technique? As bouldering allows you to make much more tries on a single move and at the same time bouldering is more complex (i am not sure about that) is it better for your technique? On the other side, route climbing allows you to do much more moves but of course Reddit's rock climbing training community. Safety Gear Climbers rely on crash pads on the ground to cushion their falls, and spotters (other climbers) sometimes assist by guiding Nov 4, 2024 · Differences in Height and Safety Credits : Bouldering Bobat The heights of climbs are very different between bouldering and traditional climbing. Bouldering makes you strong. Jan 19, 2023 · Bouldering Walls An indoor bouldering wall is a specially designed climbing structure, typically ranging from 10 to 20 feet in height, equipped with padded crash mats at the base. Anything related to indoor (and outdoor) goes. Do any of you have advice? Pros/Cons of each? For reference I am a V6-V7/5. Also traverse walls, most centres have one. Read on for a more in-depth analysis on whether or not there’s a correlation between height and rock climbing skill! Down climbing is an important skill in my opinion, but mainly cause I try to climb outdoors and often there’s no walk off. Climbing for taller people is easier for beginners because strength doesn’t become an issue until far later on. Jul 11, 2022 · A main difference between bouldering and rock climbing is the gear involved (Image credit: Getty Images) As we’ve already mentioned, a main difference between bouldering and rock climbing is the gear involved. Just wondering how much do the height of the wall matter to you? Do the quality of the route-setting compensate for the shorter walls? The Cliffs is great for rope climbing and bouldering. it depends on what you're climbing. For the longer routes in rock climbing, it is necessary to have greater endurance and, like a marathon runner, the rock climber will move at a slower pace. The lower height of bouldering walls allows 48 votes, 73 comments. [2] Rock climbing tends to require more stamina and works the legs, while bouldering A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. I had been climbing for 3 years when I took what I thought was a normal fall from the top of a pretty high top-out area in my gym onto a very thick pad. 5 meters (15 feet) in height. Would anyone know what the cost of a legitimate bouldering wall consists of? Not a wooden wall that would be built in someone's garage or backyard, but in say a legitimate gym (or in this case, a small university). In the outdoors, routes are more difficult to spot on real rock and maneuvering on rock surface can be more challenging. I was wondering how dangerous falling down can be, assuming you fall and hit the ground "correctly" (rolling onto your back). In this article, we’ll define bouldering vs. However, bouldering and climbing is literally the best, but I wouldn't do it to help you lose weight. If it is in fact dangerous, I'd appreciate some advice on how to tackle my fear and go climbing regardless😅 Thanks! Apr 29, 2024 · Unlike sport climbing, where climbers face longer, continuous routes, in bouldering the objective is to solve specific moves on a stretch of wall up to six meters high. While both involve scaling vertical surfaces, they differ in terms of equipment, techniques, and overall approach. Most of the top climbers and most of the best climbers once you get past punter level are of average or below average height. Your feet may start on any holds that are on route (including ones above the starting hand holds), smeared on the wall, or off the wall. Thus, on average, the height of a climbing wall can vary from 10 to 40 feet. You must hold a starting position until you have no momentum. This forces your center of mass into the wall and over your feet, and it has the obvious benefit of moving your free arm higher to reach further. 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. 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. Some go to 4. While it's fun to get a bit of airtime on the fall of ~10 ft, has anyone ever sustained a long term injury from jumping down even with the mats Limit bouldering in a training context has tended to mean seeking out (or designing with available holds on the wall), 2-3 move sequences that are impossible for you to link. i can't imagine a dyno on a slab problem. Trusting dynamic moves helps too. 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. In the extreme, being taller/heavier will have the greatest advantage on low angle or slab climbs where you can maximally use your The difference between bouldering and lead climbing has been shrinking during the last decade, especially since 2019. 12 climber - not sure if that changes anything. It’s your first time climbing, you shouldn’t compare yourself to others any time soon. Reddit's rock climbing training community. My observation is that roped climbing tends to favor taller climbers, especially trad climbing. Ok so one for sure is true. The actual data of competitive climbers: I go to the oldest climbing gym in Canada: Joe Rockheads. " We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. ( sources: knowledge of climbingstructure company and the regulations we have) EU, the Netherlands. You must reach a starting position by touching only legal starting hand holds with your hands and only legal holds or smearing with your feet. Some people land then roll back while others do a light safety tap with their hands. Lots of the time my big reaches are just to avoid a compression move that I literally don't fit into. Nov 8, 2023 · Rock climbing routes can range in height from 30 feet to over 3000 feet, depending on how many pitches of climbing it is. rock climbing and discuss the implications in terms of difficulty, training safety, and equipment. Right now I’ve mostly been using just 20 lb dumbbells and resistance bands for some light training after climbing (my climbing gym is in a small town that doesn’t have much in the way of regular gym equipment outside the actual bouldering walls). You should check out this study looking at the relationship between climber height and highest grade climbed for both bouldering and sport climbing. May 30, 2023 · At 5’0”, climber Katie Lambert wonders if if her woes about height have been justified. 827 votes, 196 comments. This will end up being more question than rant. And yes we are scared of falling. Someone posted a bunch of data here a few months ago that showed some averages for things like height, time climbed, weight, etc and level of climbing. And to continue the analogy, the boulderer, like a sprinter, tends to climb in a more Bouldering Guide: Outdoor Climbing indoors has the luxury of pre-set routes with colorful handholds to guide a climber up the wall. For top roping / lead climbing Vertical world Seattle and Edgeworks Bellevue are my two favorites because the walls are pretty tall and the setting is really good. However, keep in mind that that doesn’t imply that there’s some kind of ideal height for bouldering. Depends on the gym, and how comfortable you are outside. ” The major noticeable differences between rock climbing and bouldering are the height of the climb and using climbing equipment. Sound simple? Not so fast. I’d recommend centres with travers Yes, ClimberDad’s Lean to Wall Build guide, it’s meant to be 10 ft of plywood but I just modified the measurements of the frame and other pieces to fit my ceiling height I’m 5’1” and notice I just climb a little differently than my average+ height friends. Out walls are definitely slick compared to other modern gyms. These walls feature a variety of climbing features On average, you’ll find lead climbing walls to be about 49 feet (15 meters) tall, while, Bouldering walls are 15 feet (4. I've always had a strong core / posterior chain and a pretty good body sense/balance. Climbers use thick mats called “crash pads” below the rocks to soften Because we have a lot of deleted posts on this subreddit, here is a backup of the title and body of this post: To what extent is there really a height advantage in bouldering? I've been watching a lot of IFSC boulder comps lately, and I couldn't help but notice that the average height of the athletes is fairly well, average. Went from climbing v5 flat wall/v2 max overhang to v5-6 on both. It requires different technique, a stronger stomach for heights, and the ability to tackle more difficult grading to take on outdoor bouldering. A lot of people are wondering what weight would be best for climbing or if they need to adjust their calories, so here it is. Climbing around 4 months about once a week with standard PPL gym routine on the side. The inverse to "tall guy beta" is compression moves. For the most part height will not make a huge difference. I feel like it’s just good to practice it at the gym as well. A group of us are planning on making a proposal to the athletic board and part of that would consist of a wall that is about 20 ft in length and a variable height. Not sure on the height but wanna say around 40 ft walls. Since falls wouldn’t happen from very high, safety is more relaxed. Climbers must have the stamina to climb longer routes and the mental strength to overcome fear and keep pushing themselves to reach the top. Sprained my back severely and have been in PT for the last 16 months. My first top roping experience, I lost it after climbing 2/3 of the wall. I’ve noticed this a lot with new couples at my bouldering gym. Bit wary about height without a rope and taking a fall. xebrjx cbldw wos yaoyz elqwr zqipzm tozagq jldbcs etnmt pgirt dmewm lcyh dtzavgz qibgrrn elohkxr