Feeling pumped out before the end of a climb? Struggling to get over the crux of that last overhang? The sport climbing tips and hints on Trails.com might be able to help. We have advice on setting cams, climbing cracks, dynamic vs. static climbing, and setting anchors on just about everything. Our free articles and videos can help improve your smearing technique, your grip strength, your gear placement and even the way you butterfly coil a rope. So check us out before you head out for your next climb.
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Climbing through an overhang takes strength, commitment and good technique.
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Chimney climbing is often required on longer traditional climbs. It's a valuable skill to have for classics and big walls.
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Whether you've mastered all the walls and boulders at your indoor rock climbing gym or you've just begun to learn how to handle the ropes, climbing quickly becomes a sort of addiction. For those who want to transition their need to reach great he...
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Beginner climbers or climbers who put their hands in a lot of rough, rocky cracks often find the rock surface less than kind to their bare hands. While you can purchase climbing gloves at outdoor stores, it's cheaper and sometimes more practical ...
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A stopper, otherwise known as a wire, nut, or wedge, is a passive chock used as artificial protection while rock climbing. A stopper is a tapered block designed to fit into cracks in the rock. It sits passively until weight is applied then wedges...
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Rock climbing can get you into a lot of tricky situations, and sometimes you need to be able to use your holds creatively. A lie back or layback is one way to utilize cracks or other vertically-oriented holds as well as combine the strength of yo...
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Improving your grip for rock climbing will help you to become a more confident, stronger and safer climber. Of course rock climbing is great training for ice and mixed climbing as well. There are several ways you can improve your grip strength. M...
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Ridiculous looking, uncomfortable, and completely impractical for daily wear, the climbing shoe sacrifices any semblance of aesthetic and comfort in favor of pure functionality on the rock. But regardless of all the cons of the climbing shoe, it ...
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Caving, or spelunking, is a sport that shares some skills, gear and circumstances in common with mountain climbing. The sport is unsafe or impossible without a complete set of gear. Even more so than with mountain climbing, the best sites require...
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Indoor rock climbing gyms offer climbers excellent opportunities for honing your climbing techniques. Route setters set routes (designated holds that you must follow as you climb up the wall) and mark them with different colors of tape. Because t...
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In rock climbing, smearing is the act of creating friction between your shoe and the rock by placing the sole of your shoe directly against a flat rock face, rather than on a defined hold. Smearing requires a great deal of balance and flexibility...
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Overhang climbs are ones that are angled at more than 90 degrees (like angled or vertical roofs). They often seem intimidating to the uninitiated, but there are some neat techniques that make this process much easier. There are also some myths su...
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Colorado climber John Gill introduced the use of chalk (a.k.a. magnesium carbonate) to the climbing world in the 1970s. A former gymnast, he decided to try using chalk to absorb sweat while climbing. It worked well and caught on quickly. Unfortun...
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A climbing rope is your lifeline, so you should be constantly diligent in maintaining it. When it becomes too old---one to three years depending on how much you use it and the environment in which you are using it---or if it has too many "soft" s...
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Climbers utilize dynamic climbing techniques when they face a rock wall with holds low to the ground and holds high above, but nothing in between. In order to get from the lower to the higher holds, they must "dyno" (or fling themselves) to the h...
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Climbing holds at your home gym can get caked with chalk, skin, blood and grime, which makes them slick and difficult to hold onto. Thus they should be cleaned regularly.
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When ascending a crack, climbers utilize various techniques to ensure they stay in the crack. While face climbing, a climber's center of gravity changes frequently as he reaches and stretches her arms and legs to grab holds all over the wall. Cra...
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Rock climbing is a sport that Americans are embracing to such an extent that gyms dedicated to the hobby are opening their doors around the nation. This hobby is a mix between extreme sport and afternoon fun, making it perfect for the whole famil...
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It has been said that climbing is one of the best exercises in the world. Not only does climbing offer a great cardio workout in comparison to running, it also works nearly every muscle in the body from the fingers to toes. While most muscles in ...
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Climbing harnesses are designed in a variety of weights, sizes and thicknesses, but all share common characteristics and parts. Climbing harnesses are specifically rated for strength and to hold a certain amount of weight. Only strength-rated har...
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Climbing for sport and recreation is a great way to stay in shape and learn new skills. But one important aspect climbers often overlook is the health of their rope. This important lifeline can get black with dirt and grime quickly. It needs a th...
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There are four basic shapes to a carabiner: oval, D-shaped, asymmetric D-shape and pear or HMS. While shape once defined a carabiner, modern safety codes and design features have altered the way carabiners are categorized. Carabiners are now most...
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A Tyrolean traverse is a mode of transportation used in rock climbing, river crossings or technical tree climbing. In rock climbing Tyrolean traverses are used mostly for returning to a main wall after climbing a pillar and in river crossings use...
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A carabiner is your lifeline when climbing. Carabiners attach your rope to the mountain, they attach your belay device to your harness and they keep all of your crucial gear attached to you when taking longer climbs. Without a working carabiner, ...
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A harness is a crucial piece of equipment for a climber. If a harness fails, the chances of surviving a fall are slim. Knowing exactly when to retire a harness can be the difference between life and death. However, harnesses can also be expensive...
