Learn to climb
Climbing Guides
Climbers Delight guides are plain English explainers for climbers of every level. Learn how to start bouldering, how the grades work, what gear you actually need, how to belay, and how to keep getting better. They are the evergreen companion to the weekly newsletter, here whenever you want to learn something new.
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Bouldering for Beginners: How to Start Climbing Without Ropes
New to bouldering? Learn what it is, what gear you actually need, how the grades work, and how to send your first climbs. A plain English starter guide from Climbers Delight.
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Your First Time at a Climbing Gym: What to Expect
Nervous about your first visit to a climbing gym? Here is exactly what to expect, from check-in and rentals to your first climbs, so you walk in relaxed.
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Types of Rock Climbing Explained: Bouldering, Sport, Trad and More
Bouldering, sport, trad, top rope, free solo. Here is what each type of rock climbing actually means, how they differ, and which one is right for you.
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Trad vs Sport Climbing: What's the Difference?
Trad and sport climbing look the same but differ in who places the protection. How they compare on gear, shoes, grades and risk, and which one to start with.
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Indoor vs Outdoor Climbing: What to Know Before the Crag
Indoor and outdoor climbing look similar but feel worlds apart. Here is how they differ in skills, gear and mindset, and how to make the jump from the gym to real rock.
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Technique & training
How to Warm Up for Climbing
A good warm up is the cheapest way to climb better and stay injury free. Here is a simple climbing warm up for your fingers, shoulders and whole body.
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How to Train for Climbing as a Beginner
You get better at climbing mostly by climbing. Here is how to train as a beginner without hurting yourself, from smart sessions to your first strength work.
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How to Overcome the Fear of Falling in Climbing
Fear of falling holds back almost every climber at some point. Here is why it happens and how to train it down with safe, gradual practice.
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Gear
Essential Climbing Gear: A Beginner's Checklist
Not sure what climbing gear you actually need? Here is a clear checklist for indoor and outdoor climbing, from shoes and chalk to a harness, belay device and rope.
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What to Wear Climbing: A Simple Guide for Beginners
Not sure what to wear to the climbing gym? Here is what actually works for bouldering and rope climbing, what to leave off, and why you need less than you think.
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How to Choose Your First Climbing Shoes
Your first pair of climbing shoes matters more than any other gear. Here is how to pick the right fit, shape and type without overthinking it.
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When to Resole Climbing Shoes (and When to Replace Them)
Worn a hole in your toe? Here is how to tell when climbing shoes are worth resoling, when to replace them instead, and how resoling actually works.
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When to Retire a Climbing Rope (When in Doubt, Replace It)
How to tell when a climbing rope should be retired. A conservative, safety-first guide to rope lifespan, inspection and old or second-hand ropes.
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Chalk and Skin Care for Climbers
Chalk keeps your hands dry, but your skin is what actually holds the rock. Here is how to use chalk well and look after your climbing skin.
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Grades & vocabulary
How Climbing Grades Work: V Scale, Font, French and YDS Explained
Confused by V4, 6B or 5.11? Here is how climbing grades work across bouldering and roped climbing, and how the main grade systems compare.
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Climbing Terms and Slang, Explained
Beta, crux, on sight, projecting: climbing has a language of its own. Here is a friendly glossary of the words you will hear at the gym and the crag.
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Skills & outdoors
How to Belay: A Beginner's Guide
Belaying is the skill that keeps your partner safe on the rope. Here is how belaying works, the gear involved, and the habits that make you a trustworthy partner.
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How to Read a Climbing Topo
A climbing topo is a map of the routes on a crag. Here is how to read one, from the line and grade to the symbols for bolts, anchors and gear.
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Climbing Gym Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules
Every climbing gym runs on a few unwritten rules. Here is how to be a good climbing partner and a welcome regular, even on your very first visit.
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