Cedar Wright on “The Value of a Good Sandbag”
Wright recounts that time he and Alex Honnold were sandbagged
Climbing Grades
“Don’t Be a 5.13ahole”—or—Why Downgrading Sucks
"Grades don’t matter as much as we tend to think they do, but at a certain point they have an impact."
Is the British E-Grade Broken? And Can an Algorithm Fix It?
Neil Gresham explains the often-baffling British grading system—and why the “eGrader” app can keep it afloat.
Point-Counterpoint: The Grade Debate
"Notice I didn’t mention aesthetics. I’m not climbing a painting. The only aesthetics I worry about are the graphs of my sends on 8a.nu and the topography of my chiseled back muscles."
I Have No Idea How Hard I Climb
After climbing every bolted route below 5.9 in Boulder Canyon, Kevin Corrigan learns an essential truth about rock climbing.
Bigs Sends (and Send Advice) From Jonathan Siegrist
Climbing caught up with Jonathan Siegrist to talk about his sends, his training tips, and the importance of downgrading.
Should Everything be Downgraded?
Knee pads, better shoes, better chalk, internet beta, and other reasons you might be tempted to downgrade a climb.
Grading Systems Are Stupid. But If You Use One, Use Ours
Tired of bickering over climbing grades? Then check out this new, streamlined rating system.
Grant Alert: The American Alpine Club Wants to Fund Your Next Adventure
Check out American Alpine Club's author page.
Why Grades Matter—The Essential Truth About Climbing Ratings
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Watch Buster Martin Climb Hubble, the World's First 8c+ or 9a
Check out Climbing Staff's author page.
Open Book: The Story of the First 5.9 Rock Climb
Check out Climbing Staff's author page.
Ask an Editor: How Hard Do You Have to Climb to Work at Climbing Magazine?
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Adam Ondra: How I Grade Routes
Check out Climbing Staff's author page.
Are Climbers Today Better Than They Were 50 Years Ago?
Check out Corey Buhay's author page.
Crusty Corner: Why Grades Matter—9 Essential Truths About Climbing Ratings
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Off Route: 7 Climbing Links From Around the Web
Check out Climbing Staff's author page.
Inflating Grades and Egos: A Climbing Difficulty Discussion
With the world’s first proposed V17, is climbing reaching a new level or becoming a numbers game?
Unsent: Understanding Climbing Grades
Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.
Climbing Magazine Introduces New Objective Climbing Grade Scale
Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.