Bouldering vs top rope reddit.

Bouldering vs top rope reddit V5/6s is where I am at right now. I will occasionally lead in the 5. Sport climbing includes top rope and lead climbing for indoor and outdoor since they both use the North America YDS (Yosemite Decimal System). A lot, a lot. Most of them had the body before they started climbing. I can throw for a huge dyno with only two pads underneath me and have no fear. I feel a mix of top rope and boulder has been the perfect combo of fun and training benefits for me! What I gain from bouldering translates into better strength and climbing past cruxes during top rope. They can even get as tall as the giant 541-feet high CopenHill rock climbing wall in Switzerland. I typically go to the Hanger in Orange (formerly Factory Bouldering years ago) and they are bouldering only. Top rope climbing is still climbing. Rope should be worst. If you are talking about toproping in the gym vs. 8-9 range and top rope with friends outdoors, but in the gym I mostly boulder V3-V4. Velcro if you want to be able to put your shoes on and take 'em off really fast, lace if you want a more customizable fit. The difference between a skinny and a fat single rope might only be 7 g/m - just about 500 g over a 70 m rope. Climb a lot. Of course there are other ways to build power and endurance if you find you actually dislike one school or the other. . If you want flexibility to go to many places then Hanger is the one. Have always started slow, trying not to push myself too hard and listening to my body. 10c? To answer this, I plotted the best top-rope route people could climb against the best bouldering problem they could climb. Yet, I can lead 5. My 945 got replaced as the Bluetooth no longer works reliably, so it is now a rock watch. I've lead and top rope climbed with my grigri and yeah, it is a touch annoying when the cam catches your rope and you short your climber but honestly if you do it enough, it's not that bad. So bouldering and has really made it easy for me to solve cruxes in my I started climbing 9 months ago started with bouldering first and gradually to top rope and now sport. Mission Viejo I believe is bouldering only too. With lead climbing, the rope starts at the bottom of the climb, with one end tied to the climber and the belayer attaching a short Catastrophic on top rope? Near impossible. e. I'm team grigri on this. CC and TRS are both great for those, and especially with newer climbers, a lot of top rope routes can offer a challenge while not feeling completely impossible (as with some bouldering routes that you can't even figure out the start for). I feel much more confident bouldering than roping. Lastly, you’ll meet a great community of people who are way more interesting than the average gym bro. Do you recommend doing both bouldering and rope climbing on the same day, or should each have its own day? I have been going 3-4 times a week doing mostly bouldering. But then augment at the rope gym to get route endurance before the outdoor season. This has actually helped quite a bit, especially when I can just go up/down/up/down on easy routes. Dec 5, 2024 · What’s the main difference between bouldering and top roping? Bouldering is climbing shorter walls or rocks without ropes, typically with a crash pad below for safety. I started out bouldering and have recently been getting into sport climbing. Some people at the gym recommended top roping more to build that endurance for all the "problem areas". Is a 500 g savings worth it for a rope that will wear quicker and possibly cut easier Both are strictly bouldering though, but they have tons of great climbs and some workout areas as well. , bouldering is typically graded using V-scale, while top rope climbs are graded using the YDS scale (Yosemite Decimal System). The Southie one has bouldering and top rope, I think. The rare individual might lead and top rope the same grade, but in my experience most people will get a clean top rope ascent at least two letter grades harder than they redpoint. Bouldering grades vs YDS grades aren't really super comparable all around the globeespecially in gyms. My question is why do I struggle so much when sport climbing compared to bouldering. Just wanted to chime in that no climbing will ever be “risk free”! It’s all about the kind of risk that one is assuming: bouldering has a high risk of decking, but can generally be low consequence if proper measures are taken; top roping has a low risk of decking, but pretty high consequence if things go wrong. There is a correlation of 0. Bouldering attracts a certain type - young (quick adrenaline rush, videos with dubstep soundtracks), social (short attempts, lots of chatting in between), broke (all you need is shoes). Even a bowline is safe A grigri is extremely safe and takes a special moron to drop someone on top rope. Top rope I can do 11d/12a with some rest on a 50 ft wall. In top rope im doing consistent 5. see the rest of the conversation below, but lead climbing is both psychologically and physically more difficult than top roping. Bouldering is just a different style of climbing from ropes (generally). Also I spend vast majority of time bouldering vs top rope. A partner controls the rope from below. Even though arguably, my Fenix 7 Pro sapphire is better built for bouldering/climbing then my forerunner 945, I'm not risking a new top of the line watch. You mostly use all your strength to go up. Top rope is like endurance running, you’re not climbing at max but you go for a much longer time. I don’t have enough money to train both rope and bouldering indoors as down here they are in two separate gyms. Now you have to transition everything to rope climbing, which happens with a lot of rope climbing and there are much more variables into the equation when talking If you look at a grade conversion chart a 5. Absolutely. Outdoors is rock/projects. Free solo: Same as free climbing but with no ropes and no partner (i. Top roping involves climbing taller walls or outdoor routes using ropes attached to the top for safety. However that means that I’m always climbing slightly below my top-rope ability. You can do more hard moves at a building gym and have more control over rest and difficulty. Also in many cases where it is hard or impossible to get in place to put up a rope then the leader can go up and set up the rope and be lowered off, such as with a spite or if you just want to do the first pitch of a multipitch. 10d and 5. Never climb on a top rope. I'd rather spend my time/energy doing tries on individually harder stuff at the bouldering walls than climbing easier but more physically exhausting things on rope. Now: obligatory 'top rope is useful in some situations' and 'bouldering is just different not less hard or less scary' comments commence. Boulder can have traverse, slabs, balance and fun move. I've worn a HR monitor a few times while bouldering and toproping out of curiosity. Jun 16, 2021 · Bouldering vs. Bouldering is the best training for sport climbing if you're a sport climber. Feb 2, 2025 · In the U. In my opinion, yes bouldering is rated harder. They use completely different systems. I, for instance, am much worse at bouldering. Personally, I don't really notice a huge difference between lace and velcro, so I've got a pair of velcro miuras. However, I realize now that the data from this subreddit is very much skewed towards advanced climbers, so I'll probably just stand outside my gym and ask every other Oct 12, 2020 · The French Scale is much more convertible between its top-rope and bouldering equivalents, while the YDS and American bouldering scale, the V scale, are not as convertible. The "V" scale is used for bouldering routes, with V0 representing the easiest and V17 meaning the most difficult. Feb 17, 2014 · What's the top-rope equivalent of a V4, or the bouldering equivalent of a 5. The durability of the rope is pretty much driven by how much nylon there is. On top of circuits and 4x4s, when I focus on PE I like to incorporate it in other elements of my workouts as well. Indoor bouldering. definitely not my new one. 11 is in the V5 range. Chalk sock means it doesn't spill. 9/10s typically top roping. I think bouldering grades are more difficult than top rope in a gym, and outdoors, it's amplified. I top rope occasionally and use my chalk bag, no need to buy redundant gear. But they are different in styles and approaches. Feb 21, 2025 · Bouldering is the practice of climbing short and challenging routes without the use of ropes or other safety equipment. But when on a rope which is inherently safer, Im literally shitting myself in a roof climb. But It seems that regularly bouldering in itself is helping with the fear aspect of it as I get more confident with my climbing and take accidental falls somewhat . I think I'm definitely going to want to dry all forms of climbing in the future, in particular outdoor rope assisted rock climbing. 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. For example, take shoe stiffness. 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. Whereas on top rope/lead there are usually only a few moves where I have to focus on technique. I wouldn't worry about it. I like to sit and analyze my movements on the wall and come up strategies to defeat the problem. I want any amount of experience I can get competing in climbing sports so here I am asking for tips, how different is it really compared to bouldering and how can I maximize my next training session (luckily I have a few friend who will try to catch me up with top rope stuff next week). I don't boulder over V2s outside, I have to project those. Rock Climbing. I think the comparisons in the article are fine assuming you're a comfortable sport climber with a lot of experience. At a rope gym, you are climbing at most 50% of the time (belaying 50%). I climb about v3-4’s. Hard routes with long rests often burn a lot less than easier routes with shorter rests. As I’m trying to get in shape to send some sport climbing routes at Sandrock, AL this summer I’m trying to get better about incorporating rope climbing in my gym training. I've bouldered/climbed a couple of times before but I want to commit to going more often, and I'd like to make use of the regular amenities as well (gym, yoga classes, fitness classes, etc. When roping, it's me, the harness, the rope, the pro, the belayer, his harness, etc. Bouldering shoes tend to lean towards softer rubber because bouldering usually has more volume walking, might need more sensitivity, and a long route can be tiring on the feet with soft shoes. Go for the bouldering gym with day passes at the rope gym. For pull-ups I’ll take off the weight and start doing frenchies. You have to go out of your way to increase risk so have an incident top roping. IDK just didn't appeal to me almost at all. Do what you enjoy. A figure eight is extremely safe and extremely easy. Bouldering is a much different type of climbing than sport climbing and can your experience may vary quite a bit depending on many factors. Chalk bag is smaller and easier to keep in my backpack. Depending on the features of the shoe, some shoes can be considered more of a bouldering shoe than a sport or trad shoe. I got really into outdoor climbing having gone the first time and gotten all the equipment last summer. I suppose it's due to the fact that when bouldering, it's just me and the rock. 13 would have maybe v7-8 moves, but a 60 foot 13 would have v4-5 moves. So you must have a good base of climbing strength. My question/s is what benefits of bouldering set you up, if at all, for outdoor stuff? I typically climb V2s/3s and very few 4s, and I'll climb 5. And I'm only satisfied after forcing myself to top out. The Watertown (and I think Stoneham) CRG has bouldering, top rope, lead, and auto-belay too! Rock Spot is also a great one too. Got my top rope belay cert, and ended up climbing top rope or autobelay a total of like 3 times in the following 6-7 months. I mainly top rope and i boulder with my friends as well, but i prefer top rope. It all depends on the height of the route. Top rope is by far the safest discipline in climbing. The major difference between bouldering and rock climbing is the height of the rock. "solo") to protect you if you fall. In other places, a V1 could be a staircase. Additional Toe Rubber increases durability and toe-hooking capabilities, and an updated heel helps facilitate heel hooking. 10s outdoors. 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. So that's about the same range in sport vs bouldering. I guess it boils down to the fact that I spend a larger percentage of my time focusing on technique when bouldering, compared to top rope/lead. I love my grigri and love the assisted locking and the extra layer of security it provides. 10b-c, while projecting 5. For me at least, I had to focus on technique (still have to) for almost every move on a bouldering problem. It would definitely take me about a week or more to finish those. I prefer a chalk bag with a chalk sock. Bouldering focuses on power and technique, and allows you to repeat the same movements easily (from the ground, rather than climbing to a crux half way up a route). "Rope I started on top rope and ended up switching bouldering exclusively after a couple months. My arms usually feel pretty good while top roping but always feel like they're on the brink of injury while bouldering. So I went out to buy some climbing shoes. Mostly top rope (2x/week) but try to boulder at least once a week as well. You should definitely do both. Top rope climbing, on the other hand, involves ascending a route while being secured by a rope. To me, staying calm on a rope and executing hard moves high off the deck with the risk of taking big falls is half of the battle. I tried different entry level shoes - since my main goal is a shoe that is reasonable comfortable for a 3h session, has good grip and has a good amount of rubber, will last a good amount of time and I should feel The best-selling Tarantula climbing shoe is reinvigorated with additional features to help beginner climbers focus on bouldering and more complex climbing movements. These walls are made out of panels of wood, adhesive coatings, or even precast frames of real rock walls. I can boulder v4s pretty easy some on the 1st try and some takes a few tries. Starting bouldering opens a lot of doors to great experiences and personal growth. I've only tried top rope once around 7-8 years ago. A 55 g/m skinny single has a lot less to wear than a 65 g/m workhorse. Is top rope climbing just like belaying or is it different somehow? With top rope climbing, the anchor is at the top of the climb, with the rope going down one side to the belayer, and the other side to the climber. I have a conundrum. It's true that it is safer but lead climbing is both more challenging and more impressive, which attracts the videographers and the athletes. For my stats class final project, I wanted to see if my bouldering level is statistically significant from my top rope level (which I suspect it is), and I wanted to pool data. Here to offer a different take on top rope (as someone who favors rope). If you are not quite sure and curious to know more about bouldering, sport climbing, or any of the terminologies above, please visit my following articles for more detailed information: I started bouldering like 3 weeks ago and I usually go for 2x3h sessions per week. 89 between the ratings of the best bouldering and top-rope routes that people climbed, evidence that bouldering Jul 11, 2022 · However, for the purposes of the question at hand, we’re separating bouldering from other forms of rock climbing that involve climbing up a crag using technical gear like a rope and harness, which you’ll use in all types of rock climbing except for free soloing – and if you’re reading this article, that’s probably a long way off. Hello all! Ive been climbing in Evolv Kronos and while they are great, im wanting something more for top rope, for the small footholds and overhang/slight overhang. In some places, a V1 is roughly a stout 5. I’ve been going to Denver Bouldering Club for a while now and it’s great, but I miss ropes. 10, so that falls in line with your top rope capability. 11a’s. I also assume that since rope routes are higher, getting accustomed to finishing routes on belay walls would increase my endurance and help desensitize me to that hear of heights. Top roping and bouldering are not really that similar (unless you are talking highball bouldering). I started bouldering and progressed into top rope indoors, then out doors, then leading outdoors which is so satisfying. Jul 1, 2024 · Limestones and volcanic rocks can also be utilized for bouldering. My question is would it be better for me to train ropes rather than bouldering indoors in prep for next summer? Hi! I'm moving to the Cambridge/Somerville area and am interested in signing up for a bouldering gym membership. And my habits in top roping have made me boulder in a "power-saving" way. Since you cannot really 'send' on top-rope, I can't see it as anything besides practice. Initially when I was just beginning, I didn't find sport to be very engaging. The gym juggles the now-usual brand of offerings: birthday parties, youth camps, and adult classes, plus a multitude of top rope and lead routes alongside a small bouldering area. I am looking for a more aggressive style shoe as I've heard that these will give me the best performance, but I would like the freedom to go top rope for a few hours here and there. Boulders used in bouldering are generally 13 – 16 feet high while the walls in rock climbing can be 100-feet high on average. I preferred the mental and more playful/gymnastic aspects of bouldering. Toproping is usually fairly consistent, but boudering (for me) can be anywhere from 250 cal/hr to around 600 cal/hr. bouldering in the gym, just do what you enjoy. Overall, the YDS and the French Scale are fairly easy to convert between, but since they are used in different regions, you are likely to see large regional differences 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. From the abstract, emphasis added: Overall, climbing sports had a lower injury incidence and severity score than many popular sports, including basketball, sailing or soccer; indoor climbing ranked the lowest in terms of injuries of all sports assessed. Indoor bouldering often entails riveting bouldering progressions in an indoor environment utilizing artificial climbing walls. 9 is about a V2 or V3 and a 5. In general, bouldering is more about bursts of strength and precise, dynamic movement and roped climbing is more about endurance and - at a gym - sustained climbing. So, yes, you will likely improve if you add bouldering to your session. BONUS - Try some of the top-rope gyms as well. They have one in South Boston and one in Dedham. It's really hard to equate the grades of bouldering and rope because if a route is 30 feet, a 5. For hang boarding I’ll transition into doing 7-3 repeaters, and throwing in a couple max time hangs on an edge and a bar to finish the workout. Orange has god awful parking though Hawthorne and Long Beach have top rope and lead. Very few of them seem to climb on rope indoors indoors is bouldering/hangboard. S. If you’re doing overhang climbing (cave), you’re working your strength a lot more because you have to hold yourself up with your arms, engage your core (abs, chest, and back) and maintain tension through your feet to stay on the wall. Feb 21, 2025 · When it comes to indoor climbing gyms, Seattle’s Vertical World launched the concept in 1987, attaching holds with glue to vertical pieces of plywood. I think the difference for me is that bouldering is a "sprint" and top roping is a more sustained form of climbing, and I struggle getting back onto a climb once I fall - I call it and try something else (unlike bouldering where I work a problem until it goes). You usually do it on boulder formations or artificial climbing walls. If there is lots of crimps on a sport route, I can stay on the route for so long and keep trying the same crimp until fingers are dead or I stick the move. Free climbing: using only , while having ropes and a belay partner as backup in case you fall. It really only seems concerned with breaking routes into boulders, sections, and what you're capable of based on max boulder strength So one of the things I decided was not to do top-rope at all, only lead (the only exception is when I do laps but those are always easy routes that I up climb and down climb for endurance). Any recommendations for climbing gyms with good top rope… Yes. ). 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