Climbing at the Gym for the First Time? Here Are 7 Things You Should Know.
Critical tips you probably won’t see in your gym’s FAQs section
Gym Climbing
Gym Climbing
A Climbing Graphic Novel? Competitive Climbing Becomes Art in This New Book.
A competitive gym climber stars in "Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love)"
The Rocky Emotional Aftermath of My Gym Climbing Accident
A stranger he met at the gym dropped him to the ground. In the aftermath, the author had to relearn how to climb—and to trust.
Ask a Gym Bro
New to climbing? Gym bro, the shirtless dude who's constantly filming himself and campusing, can help.
The Checklist That Could Save Your Life
How many pitches do you climb in a year? For many of our readers it's probably close to 1,000. If you make a critical error one out of a thousand times, the outlook is bleak.
The Perils of Plastic: Gym Climbing’s Most Common Accidents
And how to prevent these simple mistakes.
Weekend Whipper: Over-Confident Belayer Gives Uninspiring Catch
There’s plenty to learn from this one.
Welcome to Sendhaus™—America’s Hippest New Climbing Gym
Sendhaus™ is the premier facility for affluent millenials that heard rock climbing was a great workout.
4 Ways to Train Smarter in the Gym to Climb Harder Outside
Coaches Justen Sjong and Juan Usubillaga offer tips on how to train on plastic to become better climbers both outside and in.
The Seven Deadly Sins of the Climbing Gym
Because I care about your soul—but probably mainly because I’m old, grumpy, and easily annoyed, especially when I’m just trying to get in a quick, hassle-free workout.
Could This Be 2022’s Best Gym Shoe? La Sportiva Mantra, Reviewed
Gym-climbing movements are more varied than ever. And amidst the deadpoint hucks and run-and-jump dynos, the Mantra is perhaps the best new shoe to take on such limitless variety.
The Most Dangerous Thing About Bouldering (Isn’t What You Think)
An experience on the purple boulder problem at the gym altered the author's life course in an unexpected way.
Want to Improve Your Onsighting? Try This.
How personality traits and hangdogging can be leveraged to make you a better first-effort climber.
Do Climbers Have Expiration Dates? A Lifer Contemplates His Old Age
Most walls will stand the test of time. We as climbers will not.
Can You Recycle Climbing Holds?
Plastic holds are either made from polyester resin or polyurethane. Neither material is simple to recycle.
The Top 5 Honest, Ironclad Excuses for Climbing Poorly at the Gym
These are the kinds of excellent excuses we’d make if we were really being honest about our climbing performance.
Are you a Gumby, a Regular Joe/Jane, or an Elite Climber? Take Our Quiz and Find Out
We climbers love our labels, but figuring out just what type of climber you really are begs defining.
First Time Going Outside? Here are Tips for Safety (and Etiquette)
Here are 23 tips from veteran climbers for going outside. Whether you're new to the scene or a pro, they still apply.
How the Legendary School Room Gym Helped Ben Moon and Jerry Moffatt Push 5.14
Sheffield's legendary training facility changed the history (and future) of our sport.
How Climbing Holds are Made
A photo by photo look at how the grips we love are made.
Master the Most Critical Knot in Climbing: The Figure Eight Follow-Through
Master the standard knot for tying in to the rope
Toenail Clipping And Other Gym Grossouts
A climbing gym isn't your home, so exactly what is cool and not cool to do there?
What Is It Like to Train With a Legend? Find Out For Yourself.
"My talent is being a masochist. My training totally breaks your body and your mind. But it’s worth it to be a champion.”
How to Toprope Belay
Get the safest method and helpful tips for giving the best toprope belay, whether you're using an ATC or a grigri.
Everything You Need to Know to Boulder Safely
Prevent injuries bouldering by learning to fall, place pads, spot, and customize landing zones.
Gym Bouldering Grades Vs. Outdoor Grades: 11 Reasons Why Outdoor Climbing Feels Hard
So how does that pink V5 in the gym’s corner stack up against outdoor boulders?
Home Wall Primer: Part 3—Route Setting
Check out Rich Crowder's author page.
Home Wall Primer: Part 2—Choosing Holds
The balancing act of choosing home wall holds, according to one rain-soaked Oregon climber.
Home Wall Primer: Part 1—Planning and Construction
Check out Rich Crowder's author page.
When the Pandemic Hit, Gym Members Came to the Rescue
After coronavirus swept the United States, gym members across the country stepped up by buying punch passes or maintaining their memberships despite closures. This community, however, went the extra mile to support laid-off gym employees.
For Safety’s Sake, Don’t Do This: Speed Lowering
Gyms have a lot of rules and some of them might irritate you, but speed lowering is never a good idea
Could this epic LED wall be the cure for auto-belay burnout?
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Janja Garnbret and Domen Škofic Climb 360-Meter 5.14a Smokestack (Story + Photo Gallery)
The Slovenian competition climbers sent the longest man-made climb on Earth
Crux: A Climbing Game for Your Phone
Check out Bennett Slavsky's author page.
Eldorado Becomes Exclusive Distributor for the Crax Modular System From Jam Walls
The adjustable, interchangeable, and versatile volumes are available to order.
Researchers Prove 80-Percent Ethanol Liquid Chalk Kills Coronavirus on Surfaces
A team at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus tested 80-percent ethanol liquid chalk on SARS-CoV-2 and found that it cleared 100-percent of the virus within five minutes
The Life of a Routesetter
Check out The Editors's author page.
Opinion: I Went to a Reopened Rock Gym During the Coronavirus Pandemic…and It Was Just Fine
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
How Climbing Went From Fringe Activity to Sport
Check out Chris Van Leuven's author page.
Gear Guide 2020: Gym and Training Kit
Our top seven picks for the best gym and training gear of 2020.
Climbing Gyms Close Across US Due to Coronavirus
Check out Kevin Corrigan's author page.
Review: Fixe Solution M1 Wire Gym Draw
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Unsent: Sendhaus™ Is a Premier Indoor Climbing Facility —and Birthday-Party Center
Please peruse our Kinder-Klimberz party packages
Quick Clips: 4 Quick Fixes for Common Climber Problems (July 2019 Edition)
Check out The Editors's author page.
Tired of Dirtbagging? How to Go from Crag to Gym
Rock climbing is hard. If you're tired of toughing it out in the great outdoors, here is how to acclimate to gym life.
Cragsters: Meet the Gumby
Presenting Cragsters, a series of illustrations and descriptions by Adam Nawrot of climber-types. Cut ’em out, collect ’em, laugh, cry, or rage—just remember, don’t judge, because we’ve all been one type of Cragster or another.
The Secret to Productive Climbing Sessions (Hint: It's Warming Up)
Stop wasting your time (and skin) by skipping the warm-up.
Gym to Crag: How to Rock It Outside
Make the most of the strength you've gained climbing inside with these tips for transitioning to real rock.
Free Solo Parody Trailer: Expensive Membership
Check out The Editors's author page.
Crusty Corner: Choadspotting—A Gym-Season Primer
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Three DIY Bouldering Workouts
Check out Julie Ellison's author page.
How Competition Climbing is Pushing Standards for Outdoor Climbing
"But it's not real climbing..."
Sending in Color: How One Group is Bringing Diversity to the Chicago Climbing Community
Check out Pat Nabong's author page.
“Skate-Style” Route-Setting: How World Cup Climbing Affects Your Local Gym
Check out Amanda Ashley's author page.
Unsent: 18 New Climbing Slang Terms
Check out The Editors's author page.
Crusty Corner: The Top 10 Perma-Gumby Behaviors and How to Cure Them
Check out Matt Samet's author page.
Interview: Coach Justen "The Sensei" Sjong on His Training Philosophy
Coach Justen Sjong shares his journey and unique approach to training climbers.
Urban Jungle Gyms: 5 Abandoned Structures Turned Climbing Walls
Check out Allison Ong's author page.
Watch How a Climbing Volume is Made
Check out The Editors's author page.
The Crack Generator 3000
Check out The Editors's author page.
Training With Adam Ondra: Bouldering as a Training Tool
Check out The Editors's author page.
3-D Printing: The Future of Climbing Holds?
Check out Zoe Gates's author page.
Unbelayvable: Bad Motivation
SCARY (AND TRUE) TALES FROM A CRAG NEAR YOU
Peaches Preaches: Hardtimes on the Moonboard
Globalization on a sheet of plywood
Funny: How to Be a Strong Gym Climber
Check out The Editors's author page.
Re-Gram: 9 Climbing Training Photos
Check out The Editors's author page.
Interview: Augmented Reality Climbing Games
Check out Brendan Blanchard's author page.
The Wright Stuff: Finding the Value of Climbing in the Olympics
Check out Cedar Wright's author page.
The Brothers of Climbing
Check out The Editors's author page.
Chris Sharma and Friends: Gym Training Day
Check out The Editors's author page.
Video: Insane, Hilarious Double Dyno
Check out The Editors's author page.
Forever: 80-Years-Old and Still Climbing
Check out The Editors's author page.
Cat Sends Gym Boulder Problem
Check out The Editors's author page.
America's 10 Best Climbing Gyms
Check out Shannon Davis and Elliott Natz's author page.
Re-Gram: 10 Home Climbing Walls
Check out The Editors's author page.
No Belayer Necessary: Understanding Autobelays
A look into the inner workings of the popular gym belay system
Learn to Climb: Clipping Basics for Sport Climbing
Learn two common techniques for clipping on lead
The Wright Stuff: Old Cranks in the Gym
Check out Cedar Wright's author page.
Ask Answer Man: Belay Responsibly
Answer Man discusses the crappy belayer (From 2016)
Grasping at Draws: Defining Climber
Check out Andrew Tower's author page.