Different types of rock climbing holds. Running water, wind erosion, rock fall, etc.
Different types of rock climbing holds Aug 29, 2025 · In this guide, we’ll break down the most common types of rock climbing holds you’ll find in a climbing gym, and how understanding them can support your growth – whether you’re new to climbing, coming in from hiking, or chasing new goals on your climbing journey. Learn where to find the best climbing holds for your next adventure! Jan 31, 2023 · To master that latest project or maybe stick to the wall longer than two moves, it’s essential to know how to use different types of rock climbing holds. Start reading this guide. Typically, they Jun 23, 2024 · When setting bouldering routes, the placement of different types of holds is crucial in creating a challenging and engaging climbing experience. In this article, we’ll touch on five categories of climbing holds, go over how to identify them, and offer some general guidelines for using proper technique on each. On top of climbing holds, there are several different body positions that will help with climbing ability. Discover the different types of climbing holds and how to use them effectively. From holds for bouldering to hands-free grips, there are a ton of different types of climbing holds available. Here you can find some of the most common types of holds, their uses, and how to hold them. This article provides that overview and, more importantly, explains how to use each hold. Perfect for beginners and seasoned climbers alike! Nov 4, 2025 · Climbing holds are critical for vertical movement, influencing difficulty and climbing technique while creating intricate design challenges. If you want to make significant improvements in your climb, then learning the tackling techniques of holds is a great way. Major categories include jugs, crimps, slopers, and pockets, each serving specific training purposes and demanding unique skills. One critical piece of information that will help you become a successful climber is the different hold types. Where else but on theCrag you can search for climbing areas by your preferred rock type? The information presented here was compiled by Dipl. The Five Main Types of Rock Climbing Holds Jugs The easiest rock climbing hold for beginners to use is the jug. How to Do a Crimp While Climbing Different Climbing Crimp Positions There are two main types of crimping in rock climbing: the full-crimp grip and half-crimp. Of Jul 13, 2021 · By the way, there are different types of crimp grips and gripping techniques for different holds, and we’ll dive into it more below. Jul 18, 2022 · Sometimes you have lovely big slabs to grab onto with your entire hand, and other times you need to get creative with tiny holds and reach down rather than up. All the different types of holds are words you will recognize, and once each hold is explained, you will hopefully have an “oh…that makes sense” moment. On the other hand, credit card crimps, for example, can feel torturous and make you question why you even like climbing. Sep 27, 2022 · Rock climbing holds, especially unusual ones, may confuse beginners. Below is an introduction to some of the basic terms used to describe the different styles and techniques of rock The following article gives an overview about the many rock types that are out there for climbing. Learning the different types of climbing holds is the first step in grasping the climbing language. Sep 21, 2022 · That said, all of the lower body strength in the world won’t help if you don’t know the main rock climbing grips and finger holds. Aug 1, 2023 · Once you start to travel for rock climbing, however, you’ll soon discover that different types of rock behave differently and you might find yourself almost back at the beginning as you grapple with surprising slick surfaces, unpredictable crumbly holds or challenging overhangs you haven't experienced before (kind of like a Colorado skier hitting the icy slopes of the northeast for the first Building a home wall? Get the right Climbing Holds! Our 2025 guide covers types, materials, selection & setting basics. Nov 5, 2025 · Explore 12 rock-climbing hold types, including jugs, crimps, pinches, and slopers, and see how each one builds grip strength, confidence, and motor skills. Climbers use a combination of these holds to navigate routes up climbing walls. Feb 2, 2025 · Ready to take your climbing skills to the next level? Check out our guide on the different types of climbing holds, and learn how to use them like a pro! May 8, 2023 · Uncover the secrets of indoor climbing holds! Learn how to conquer jugs, slopers, pinches, pockets, & footholds like a pro with our comprehensive guide. For all the holds listed above, the distribution of your weight will affect the effectiveness of each hold the most. Apr 17, 2016 · From the looks of this data, it appears that granite — the stone found in legendary rock climbing areas Yosemite and Joshua Tree — is the most popular type of rock to climb in the United States. Learning climbing holds names and types is essential to improving your climbing. May 16, 2023 · Rock climbing holds are the grips or handholds that climbers use to ascend a wall or rock face. I am pretty new to bouldering/rock climbing and I often hear people talking about different types of holds at my indoor gym I go to. But there are subtle differences between the individual types that can end up being the deciding factor between success and failure on a route. Remember to prioritize safety, take it one step at a Sep 9, 2020 · If you are collecting holds for your first at-home wall, make sure to grab some pinches of varying widths to practice each type of hand position. Aug 21, 2024 · The types of climbing holds you’ll find in a gym are inspired by natural features found in rock. In doing so it tries to bridge the gap between the scientific view of a geologist and the information needs of an interested climber. The minor distinctions climbers make between different ways of getting to the top of a cliff can seem unnecessarily arcane. Here are some common types of rock climbing holds: Nov 24, 2024 · Types of Climbing Holds: A Comprehensive Guide Climbing holds, also known as climbing grips or handholds, are the artificial rocks attached to climbing walls. Learning the names of holds and how to spot each one is fundamental to your progress as a climber. Climbing styles and sub-disciplines, in particular, can be especially confusing. A helpful guide for beginners in rock climbing! Ever wondered what types of climbing holds exist in the gym or how to hold them? Then this is the guide for you! I'll go over each type of hold and show you pictures of each. Feb 1, 2025 · Rock climbing holds vary in size, texture, color, material, etc. The rock climbing holds set on walls (by incredibly talented route setters) are made to challenge you similarly to outdoor climbing. They come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: they’re meant to be climbed! To help you get started on your first climb or master the art of crimping, here’s an introduction to each type of climbing hold: Crimp Crimp holds are the smallest of all the climbing holds. With this short guide, you’ll be able to spot and call out many different types of rock climbing holds, just like a Learn everything you need to know about climbing holds in this comprehensive guide! We look at all the different types of holds, how to hold the hard ones like slopers and crimps, and technique May 17, 2024 · Discover the variety of climbing holds available for indoor and outdoor climbers. The free coach-led introduction that’s available to every newcomer at The Climbing Hangar will walk you through the basics of holds and grips, so you’ll feel confident hitting the wall. Climbing hold A competition climber using fiberglass macros climbing holds on an artificial wall during a bouldering event A climbing hold is a shaped grip that is usually attached to a climbing wall so that climbers can grab or step on it. Whether you are a beginner or advanced climber, having a good understanding of the different types of holds and their uses can greatly improve your climbing performance. No home climbing wall is complete without climbing holds! Make sure you understand the different types of climbing holds so that you have a nice variation and understand how to use them. By understanding the different types of climbing holds, selecting the appropriate sizes, and installing them correctly, you'll be well on your way to creating exciting climbing routes and improving your skills. From jugs to crimps, slopers to pinches, and the materials they're made of, this guide dives deep into the evolution, types, and intricacies of climbing holds, helping climbers and enthusiasts better understand their indoor climbing experience. I was wondering if anyone would be able to highlight some of the basic common types of holds. Oct 10, 2022 · If someone asks you for beta, understand the names and shapes of climbing holds to discuss climbing terminology. Now that you know the list of materials and the entire building process, let’s get to decorating it…with climbing holds. Climbing lingo is like speaking another language. May 31, 2024 · Discover 12 different rock-climbing hold types—from jugs and crimps to slopers and pinches—and learn how each one builds strength, and coordination. Elevate your climbing game with these top-rated holds. This is because different rock types can be sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. Hold names and shapes help climbers communicate and avoid damage. If you’re new to climbing, you may be puzzled by some of the terminology. Nov 19, 2025 · Learn about the types of climbing holds and how they differ from one another. Because of this, it’s important to understand the main types of handholds you will use climbing. On most walls, climbing holds are arranged in paths called routes, by specially trained route setters. Jul 30, 2017 · The different types of climbing holds and how to use them. They can also be placed on the wall in any orientation, so before we learn Oct 23, 2015 · The rock climbing tower at Refreshing Mountain offers a physical challenge with the reward of spectacular views at the top. Nov 4, 2022 · Once you know how to recognize and respond to different holds, you will be prepared for many different types of climbing, including sport climbing, bouldering, and top rock climbing, indoors and out. Climbing holds are the actual rock that you use to grip and pull yourself up on. These holds come in various shapes and sizes, each serving a specific purpose to challenge climbers of different skill levels. Training for pocket holds involves developing targeted finger strength and dexterity. Indoor rock climbing holds come in all shapes and sizes. Each different climbing hold has a unique shape and requires a different technique In this article, you learned about the different types of holds. Not after this! Understanding the types of climbing holds and how to use them will Jan 5, 2024 · An experienced climber will be able to recognise different bouldering holds and know how best to use them from just looking at the wall. What’s your favorite way to climb? Leave a comment to let us know! Traverse Climbing Traverse climbing is horizontal climbing where the goal is to make is across a Traverse Wall Discover the ultimate grip with my first-hand experience testing Rock Wall Hand Holds. Understanding the different types Jul 10, 2023 · When you start your climbing journey, there is an overwhelming amount of information to learn, including safety, movement, lingo and much more. Sep 25, 2023 · Explore the diverse world of indoor rock climbing holds. Once you understand these techniques, your climbing experience will change completely. Knowing the names and characteristics of different holds will help you understand and effectively describe different climbing routes and problems. But which one is right for you? Learn all about the different types of climbing holds, the benefits and drawbacks of each type, and how to use them to enhance your climbing skills. It would still help if you learned how to grip various handholds you will encounter in the vertical world. May 24, 2023 · Climbing holds are the gateway to an exhilarating climbing experience, offering endless possibilities for climbers of all levels. While rock climbing, you will use handholds and footholds to push and pull your body to the top. Dec 5, 2021 · In the previous guide to this three-part series, I discussed the general idea and requirements to make a DIY rock climbing wall at home (indoor or outdoor). This is because there are different ways to tackle different types of holds. A lot of it needs to make more sense to the common ear. I'm also going to show you my hand placement so you can get a good idea on how you can hold them. Remember that you must use your legs to climb the wall. In this article, we take a look at 9 different rock types of climbing holds you’ll encounter as you start to get better at rock climbing. As soon as you get your climbing shoes on you might feel like you’re being bombarded with jargon and lingo you’ve never heard before! But don’t let that scare you off. ! When you’re rock climbing outside in multiple locations, you may notice one type of rock has different attributes to the other. Create your perfect wall! Jun 30, 2021 · Different Types of Rock Climbing Explained There are many different types of rock climbing and it can be confusing, especially for new climbers. Running water, wind erosion, rock fall, etc. How do climbing techniques take advantage of the rock’s natural features? Scaling a vast rock face is much more involved than simply climbing a Jul 23, 2024 · If you look at the different types of holds for the upcoming Olympic climbing events, the climbing holds will consist of the following type of holds: jugs, crimps, slopers, pinches, and pockets (Figure 3). Commercial climbing gyms offer a lot of different kinds of climbing holds to practice on. -Geologist Harald Rost May 19, 2025 · Climbing gyms are full of holds of various sizes, shapes, and colors, but did you know that almost all of these holds actually fall into several categories of types of holds? Understanding the types of rock climbing holds in your gym and knowing the lexicon can help you talk about routes and understand better how to send. May 17, 2023 · Bouldering holds come in various different shapes, sizes, textures, and functions. Apr 4, 2024 · Understanding the different types of climbing holds is not only important for improving your technique, but it also allows you to communicate and share beta with other climbers. Aug 15, 2017 · While there are only a couple of types of holds in the climbing gym, they come in thousands of shapes and sizes which affects the way you are going to use them when climbing. Plus, get tips on how to choose the best hold for your specific style and experience level. Feb 16, 2024 · This article is designed to guide you through the different holds categories that cover the walls of indoor climbing gyms, shedding light on the terms used and offering a few useful tips. Our visitors are beginners just getting introduced to the sport… so to help them get started, here is a list of some of the basic rock climbing holds to try out on our Learn and Practice Using Different Handholds While handholds are key to rock climbing movement, how you use those handholds ranks below your footwork and body position for successful climbing. Jan 12, 2022 · New to climbing? Our beginner's guide to climbing moves, holds, & technique provides the information you need to improve today. , have shaped natural climbing holds for millions of years! If you’re new to climbing, you might get confused when you hear somebody talk about a sloper or a jug. Mar 12, 2025 · Some rock climbing holds are friendly, like those nice ergonomic jugs. Once you know the basic hold types, take some time to learn how to use them. Holds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and you’ll need to learn how to identify each kind so that you can grip it correctly. It will also help you communicate to other climbers Rock climbing holds come in a crazy variety of different styles so when you start climbing at an indoor wall it can be pretty confusing to figure out which of the multicoloured lumps of plastic you should grab first. By strategically incorporating various hold types such as crimps, slopers, pinches, and jugs, route setters can cater to climbers of all skill levels and provide a well-rounded climbing experience. Knowing the names and how to use them will help you read the climb before you get started. When you're out there climbing, whether it's at the climbing gym or out at the crag, knowing the different rock climbing hold types is essential. Below is 14 of the most common climbing holds that you’ll see indoors and outdoors as well as the ideal technique for using them. May 1, 2024 · Crimp Climbing 101 covers the essential techniques and training tips for using crimps. There are generally three types of pockets: one-finger, two-finger, and three-finger, each requiring different levels of engagement and grip strength. Jun 23, 2018 · Learn here the nine different types of handholds that you'll encounter on cliffs and how to use each with specific hand movements and techniques. Plastic holds have different textures and features. These are the main types of holds that you find in rock climbing gyms. Aug 20, 2025 · These holds demand significant finger strength and technique, depending on the number of fingers used. Jun 5, 2025 · Whether you’re rock climbing indoors or outdoors, it’s important to recognize the various types of holds you will encounter. Here’s an overview of the different styles of rock climbing. I’ll tell you about the difference between hold types and the correct ways of plotting a climbing problem. They come in various shapes, sizes, and textures, providing different challenges and techniques. From crimps to slopers, undercuts to side pulls. Your first time in a rock climbing gym can be intimidating, even if you go with a seasoned climber. . All the different types of holds are words you will recognize, and once each hold is explained, you will Jun 23, 2024 · In conclusion, indoor climbing holds come in a variety of types and serve different purposes to enhance climbers’ experience and skills. Jan 6, 2021 · The key to any climbing hold is knowing how to use it. Jan 31, 2023 · Discover the different types of indoor climbing holds so you can practice various grips and determine how to use certain types of holds based on their appearance. And understanding that will make your climb a lot easier. From the three types of crimps, when to use them, and how to improve your crimp strength.