Sport climbing vs top rope reddit. Indoor climbing and sport climbing; uncoated.

Sport climbing vs top rope reddit You won't be discerning enough to tell the difference between it and a tip top Petzl 8mm. 9, but have been wondering lately; Should I stick with top rope, or is it better to "cross train" on bouldering problems? God damn it was so much fun. So bouldering and has really made it easy for me to solve cruxes in my The redundancy you are pointing out in the lowering method you linked is a non-issue. I know everyone always says work on your feet, but it is probably the universal truth of climbing. They tend to be more versatile and durable than dyneema slings, and they are cheap enough to cut up or leave behind. when one rope gets a coreshot, reducing rope drag by clipping just one strand etc. While im still a beginner, im looking for When you say "versatile" do you see yourself mountaineering or ice climbing in near future? If so, go with a harness with adjustable leg loops. Two quickdraws with non-locking biners is a very common anchor set-up for that kind of thing. Depends on the type of top rope anchor. 9). Our ropes will probably need to be replaced in the next year, so I wanted to poll the sub. Dec 27, 2022 · Most commercial climbing gyms provide lead and top rope climbing. g. For all of our top picks, see our article on the best climbing ropes. First rope + lead/sport gear purchase advice I climbing mostly at the gym but my target is outdoor, I just got lead verified and am looking to get some gear, I am cost conscious but also completely obsessed with climbing. However, not sure if I stick with a thicker rope like 9. There’s time spent checking and setting up, adjusting gear, and managing safety before you even make your first move. That’s why bouldering is more approachable to beginners. I’ve used Mammut, Bluewater, and Black Diamond in that order of preference. Most of my anticipated outdoor projects this year are at least double that length. I think for me personally, the biggest thing holding me back at the moment is just the amount of unnecessary energy drains. Even when you know which type Skinny ropes of all designations are fine for alpine climbing, just understand that you might have to retire the rope if you actually whip (worst case scenario). If all you're doing is sport, don't bother with 70. When I want to push myself hard, I do something that is not sport climbing related. I'm the opposite, I love bouldering, but top roping does not spark joy. I guess I went into the conversation as a somewhat ignorant climber that almost exclusively boulders, I consider climbing with ropes and safety gear (non-trad) to be sport climbing. May 22, 2025 · Both top-rope and lead climbing fall under the umbrella of rope climbing, but the transition between the two can be daunting and tricky to navigate. Of course there are other ways to build power and endurance if you find you actually dislike one school or the other. 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 length away from that. 5mm rope, for example Mammut 9. It's different disciplines, bouldering is more strength based than rope climbing. Less impact on the gear means more longevity and a greater chance for a marginal placement to hold a fall. Jun 6, 2025 · We took to the whips to find the best climbing ropes for every type of climbing, with top picks from Sterling, Mammut, and Edelrid. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. I started climbing 9 months ago started with bouldering first and gradually to top rope and now sport. If you have a top rope set up where the anchors are on top The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. But for gym climbing, I can't see myself going more than once or twice a month. Jul 1, 2025 · The Best Rock Climbing Gyms in New York City Most climbers at gyms fall in the beginner or intermediate category. We actually ended up climbing in the dark because we had considered bailing, but it seemed safer to climb the easy top pitches with headlamps than to try and bail and risk getting the rope stuck. Probably wouldn't make a habit of it, though. The two anchor bolts at the top of the route are probably the last things to fail. I have some friends that want to go out climbing tomorrow and I just feel really shitty because I am not as skilled as them. 5 years were exclusively indoor rope climbing. If you're trad climbing on marginal gear or taking huge whippers, you might care more about the impact force. 10c) so I don't mind a recommendation that is more suited for bouldering but that I can still use for rope I hope Im making sense lol. Do you see yourself multi-pitch climbing? Buy a harness with with 4 gear loops. 8 It'll be thin and supple, but beefy and durable enough to last you a Dec 5, 2024 · Bouldering focuses on shorter climbs without ropes, relying on crash pads for safety, while top roping involves higher ascents secured by ropes and harnesses. 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. You do want a dry rope for mountaineering, but you'll wear away the dry coating much more quickly if you use it regularly for sport climbing & trad, on rock. Roped climbing in any form takes more equipment- harness, rope, helmet, belay device and eventually QuickDraws and stuff to make anchors if you are going to sport or top rope outside. In that same thought, a thicker rope will be more durable than a thinner rope. I am doing sport and alpine multipitch and so far I had a single rope for sport (light, belay with grigri, easy handling rope management) and half ropes for alpine (for long abseils, extra safesty e. Bouldering is short, intense climbing. . 11a’s. Reddit's rock climbing training community. Yes, headpointing (redpointing via top-rope on gear routes) followed by a ground-up gear ascent feels a lot more like sport climbing, but it seems to be done mostly on sport-like routes, so it makes sense. Petzl does not reccomend using their devices for top rope solo but still recognizes people do it anyway and has good information on the safest methods. Could lead climbing that same route increase its grade in theory? In my gym there are walls where you can climb top rope or lead with the permadraws along the same routes. The extra 10m is noticeable weight lugging it around and flaking/pulling through takes longer. The chart typically covers rope diameter, length, and the intended type of climbing (e. Am I wrong with assuming that lead climbing and top roping are encompassed within sport climbing? Reddit's rock climbing training community. Beal ropes (reportedly) have the stretchiest ropes and softest catch in the industry. There are many different types of rope available to today’s climbers, and we’ve outlined how to pick the best climbing rope for your needs before. And I can still use them for sport climbing on short climbs (I also have an 80m though). I would think that top rope poses less risk for acute injury (so long as the knots and ropes are double checked) due to less impact with the ground. I climb about v3-4’s. Let's discuss each phrase and why you might lead or top rope. I certainly wouldn't be adverse to sorting out moves and gear on a classic trad line that was well above my onsite grade. They do however leave a lot to be desired. If you're setting up a sport climb for top roping where the bolts and anchors are on the vertical face and you can visually inspect the anchor at any time, then it's fine to use non-locking carabiners. Your first rope should be a 9. 5 Infinity Classic. Feb 1, 2022 · Transitioning from top roping to lead climbing can be a big challenge. 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. The home of Climbing on reddit. Climbing Rope Size Chart to help climbers choose the correct rope based on their needs. 4-season alpine climbing rope for Alps: 60m or 70m? I'm in the market for my first twin/double rope that will be used for all of mine alpine adventures around central Europe. Aug 21, 2023 · Sport and top rope climbing differ in terms of techniques, equipment, and physical and mental demands, and they have their own pros and cons. Climbing helmets protect primarily from falling objects, usually but not exclusively rockfall, so if there is a person on the wall, animals in the area or loose rock, the helmet doesn't come off, even if we're taking a break, unless we move away from the wall. In other words if you were to spend an hour climbing (sport lets say) or an hour driving a car, which one is more likely to kill you? I've a friend that finds the idea of rock climbing very dangerous but I suspect it might not be any more dangerous than driving to work. If I know someone climbs outside regularly, I assume they mean their lead grade outdoor. I broke my foot bouldering a month ago - I fell unexpectedly and landed poorly. 8mm? Would 3mm make too much difference. Also, you generally want short (30-50m) & skinny ropes for mountaineering, because they save a lot of weight Let's say a route is set at a certain difficulty for top rope. Kinda spamming this thread but “sport” differentiates mainly from trad climbing but also other forms of climbing- aid climbing, free climbing (no protection), mountaineering, etc. If you’re climbing in the advanced to the pro range, we assume you don’t need to google gyms, and already have a network of climbing friends telling you where to climb (but let us know if we’re wrong, and you happen to be reading this!). I dislike hanging from a rope hanging from the ceiling / top of a cliff. 8 - 5. A little about me - I’ve been climbing for 5 years. 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. When a company designs a new suite of shoes, they send pairs to us and our testers, and we climb in them, compare notes, write a review, and then, later, do a roundup of the latest and greatest releases of the year. 5 (which seems to have replaced the Mammut Infinity, which appears to have been Figured out how to setup a top rope anchor from a bunch of YouTube videos and went climbing for the first time outside. 1. Why do people who boulder have different physiques vs people who top rope? I've noticed that usually people who top rope regularly are usually thin and lanky, while those who mainly boulder are basically ripped, six packs, muscular. I 2 bought triple rate 60m ropes, and Im just so happy with them. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Also watch for abrasion, that’s what actually kills ropes. Primarily single pitch climbers, though looking to get on more multis. Or my social sport. The first 3. Mar 21, 2022 · In sport climbing, the routes have been pre-established by other climbers who have drilled bolts into the wall (Image credit: AlexBrylov) Trad climbing, or traditional climbing, and sport climbing are both types of free climbing. or people who can climb 12s but can't boulder v3/4s. And even with trad, unless you're climbing fairly recently set routes you won't need more than 60m because all the old routes were set using a 50m rope. Whats so bad about top-roping? A lot of the climbers at the local crags look down on top roping as opposed to lead climbing. For situations that will put a lot of abuse on gear, like top rope anchors or multi-pitch anchors, I like cordelette or tied nylon runners. 10b-c, while projecting 5. Hello! I've been climbing for about 2 years now, but over the past 3 months have been going on a regular basis and getting more serious about it. I’ve used mine for tr-ing projects, ascending big walls in Zion and Yosemite, and repeated lead falls on both sport and trad climbs. 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. The problem with You should definitely do both. Tips, thoughts, recommendations?. Top rope climbing Top rope climbing is the style of climbing you find most often in indoor climbing gyms. Coated does reduce dirt collestion on the rope, but just washing your rope when it's dirty works too. I picked the skinniest I could find (8. In a gym, it’s easy because the ropes already hang from anchors, but outside, you bring everything: rope, harness, anchor materials, and a partner who knows what they’re doing. Exploring these differences will help climbers choose the best fit for their climbing journey. We break it down with this guide to belaying and climbing on the sharp end. Hi! Just started climbing, and I've only done top rope and bouldering so far, but in all of the professional climbing I've seen, everyone is climbing lead. I mostly climb in the Northeast, predominantly trad, but with some sport occasionally. My climbing gym only has 24ft top rope/autobelay walls. If I know they mostly climb indoor, I tend to assume they mean top rope indoor. Edited: dry is indeed coated, just got the words messed up From top roping, to lead climbing, to sport and trad climbing, to learning to climb outdoors, to learning how to be self-sufficient climbing outdoors, building anchors etc etc etc. This makes lead climbing both more dangerous and more difficult. He is adamant that top-roping is absolutely NOT sport climbing. Feb 2, 2025 · There are significant differences between bouldering and top rope climbing from safety to health and cost. Apr 4, 2025 · We tested 13 climbing ropes from Sterling, Petzl, Edelrid, Mammut, and others to find the best options for you. Reply reply Tom0laSFW • 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. 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. I started splitting my time between top rope and bouldering at my gym. I'm looking at 2 ropes: The Mammut Crag Classic 9. 12 votes, 29 comments. I think I would really enjoy sport climbing and multi-pitch outdoors -- more for the adventure and adrenaline aspect. By the time you've worn out your first rope you'll know what you want your second rope to do. I've realized that bouldering is a much more social sport, which is also very important to me if I'm spending 3 nights a week at the gym. In this article we explain the pros and cons of each! Nov 14, 2022 · Introduction Finding the right climbing rope is an essential part of getting yourself ready for vertical adventures, whether you plan on indoor climbing, sport climbing at the crag, or climbing on ice/in the alpine. Jun 16, 2021 · The popular consensus is that bouldering is harder than top-roping and rock climbing, even though the three sports are fundamentally different from each other. Does anyone know of the data to compute such an answer? I'd also be curious to compare different types of climbing Used to carry a Salewa Rope Bag XL for sport climbing, it's acceptable comfy to wear on the back, comes with a rope mat that can be attached on the inside and fits a rope, shoes, draws, harness and a helmet. Any tips and recommendations is much appreciated. In my personal opinion climbing routes in gyms is good for endurance, strength, and can help you understand the movements required in climbing as a beginner. May 15, 2025 · Those who prefer shorter sessions without gear What Is Top-Rope Climbing? Top-rope climbing involves a rope anchored at the top of the wall, with one end tied to the climber and the other managed by a belayer. "low elongation" ropes for toprope at most gyms) so people are always surprised at how much they stretch, so you usually want to hold people a bit tight at the base of the climb and when they are climbing right above a ledge. Indoor climbing and sport climbing; uncoated. The website for the community even strongly suggests avoiding top toping as they say it polishes the rock and has a strong negative impact on the crags. (Beaver St. Wall, San Francisco) I used to use the climbing club equipment for outdoor sport climbing and not sure how thick the rope was there, but now I am considering to buy a 9. Jun 18, 2025 · Top-rope adds more layers. Nov 27, 2023 · This article compares top rope and lead climbing, discussing the differences in technique, equipment, mental and physical challenges, and risk. I spent three weeks climbing every day outdoors and started to feel really solid. This style allows you to climb much higher—often over 30 feet—while staying securely attached the whole time. So this is a bit of an expansion from an answer in the Friday new climber thread- I thought I'd put this together in a little more depth and give people the chance to ask questions and give feedback. Mammut (they don’t make the model anymore, but it was pretty much their cheaper 9. Aug 1, 2024 · Below we break down key considerations related to rope width, including best uses for various widths, rope handling, elongation, durability, and more. Any modern rope is going to give you a reasonable catch, especially if you're climbing in the gym or only sport climbing. Ropes are easier to get into outside. When a climber falls, having a solid top rope anchor is literally a matter of life and death. Some sources say bouldering I've recently taken a tentative step out of bouldering and into "real climbing" I did the top rope thing for a while and found it tedious, after asking around for advice on sport climbing, i received mixed messages about which ATC to use, what do you think r/climbing ? Jan 29, 2025 · See our guide to the best climbing ropes of 2025, including top dynamic ropes for cragging and multi-pitch climbing from Mammut, Edelrid, Sterling, and more. It’s a great style for beginners who want to focus entirely on the movement of climbing. Don't even get me started on lead or trad. Also outdoor bouldering is hard AF. But more people are climbing only in gyms or only top rope so who knows, I think it changes based on the context. Are you advising to lower anyway, or to only do so if there are quick links? Reply reply Ecstatic_Account_744 • 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). Why pay for a more expensive coated rope, assuming you avoid climbing in the rain. At a minimum I think I will need a rope and a rope bag, my main question is should I get a 60m vs a 35/40m rope? I understand the differences between top rope and lead belaying, but what are the differences for the climbing in terms of technique and physical challenges? So, what’s the difference between top roping and lead climbing? Top roping you’re supported from above, while lead climbing you’re always above your rope. Should I just suck it up and lead climb or request they set up a top rope? Am I being too easy on myself? So a session would start with 4 ~ 8 top-rope routes (2 number grades below maximum ability, focus on learning skill, refining technique and mental game). 3M subscribers in the climbing community. There are many ways to set up a top rope anchor and this article covers 7 of them. These are the average of our ratings. Then 2~4 near-limit roped climbing. On indoor rope routes, the rope is pre-rigged through the anchors at the top of the wall. If I was buying a rope for just traditional climbing, I would choose the rope with the lowest impact force. Buying my first rope. 9mm), and the extra 10m I have over the standard 50m double ropes is pretty useful (for doubling occasional short pitches, or rappels). When I want to have a lazy weekend smoking and hanging out, we camp at a crag and sport climb. It is many times more likely that your non redundant rope, non redundant harness, or non redundant belayer will fail before fixed bolts (and of these the belayer is the likeliest to fail unless you climb on terrible gear The prevailing assumption has been leading a route outdoor. Nov 6, 2023 · Venturing into the world of rock climbing? Here are 5 differences between lead climbing vs top rope climbing. In top rope im doing consistent 5. I tried researching this online but get conflicting information. For a beginner I would recommend getting the cheapest rope that's climbing rated you can find. Rope climbing is long, steady climbing at a much "lower" V grade equivalent that take insane amounts of endurance and strategy to get through in one shot. I'm 32 5'7 145- 150 pounds. Did you start out top roping or just straight into lead/sport climbing? I have lead only a couple of climbs (5. Serious question: at the crags near where I live the anchors on single pitch sport climbs are almost all rappel rings, not hooks or quick links, and the rule is to never lower or top rope off of them. I have been climbing for about 2 years, but only bouldering and top roping indoors, and I have only ever used a typical ATC belay device, which I am very comfortable with. , sport, trad, ice, etc. I mainly top rope and i boulder with my friends as well, but i prefer top rope. However that means that I’m always climbing slightly below my top-rope ability. Rappelling keeps the rope static, so no friction wearing down the metal. And yes we are scared of falling. Generally a thicker sheath means a more durable rope. In this article we explain sport climbing and trad climbing in detail, focusing on their similarities and differences, as well as the skills, knowledge, and equipment required for each. That being said, if you’ve got rope to spare for anchor building you certainly gain a lot of ease in connecting pieces (don’t have to fiddle with making static arms and other weird configurations). I’ve been wondering if I should quit bouldering and stick with top rope. After a fall or once the climber reaches the top of the wall, the climber is lowered by the belayer. Today we’re going to translate three of the most popular styles of climbing in Australia: top tope, sport and traditional climbing. Add the mental factor of fall on top rope (almost nothing happens) vs on boulder (I need to fall well to not snap my leg). What is your grade bouldering vs sport vs top rope? I know that some people boulder v4/5s but can't climb 10s because of endurance. I wasn't sure if there was a good rule of thumb about lead climbing adding a certain amount of grades of difficulty or not. Glacier travel and Ice climbing; coated. 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. The main difference between the two is that in trad climbing, you place your own gear (such as cams and nuts) into cracks and spaces in the rock to hold your rope Feb 21, 2025 · Discover the differences between bouldering and top rope climbing, including safety, physical and mental challenge, cost, and social aspects. Why is this? Isn't top rope a little safer, as there basically aren't falls? It's really hard to equate the grades of bouldering and rope because if a route is 30 feet, a 5. While lowering, the rope is sliding through the anchor. You can look for past 2nd thing is that your rope will stretch a lot more since its dynamic (vs. With the weight of a climber on the rope, repeated lowering causes wear on the anchor. Unless you buy a high end sport oriented harness, they are all versatile, so buy what fits you well BTW, there is a thread for beginner's questions. However, I am looking to get into lead climbing and potentially start going outside once I'm comfortable with the basics of lead (and when New England winter allows it lol). It will be used for lead & sport climbing outdoors and indoors. My question is, how can I improve my Sep 2, 2015 · In a nutshell: Top rope and lead climbing are methods for protecting a climb. I'm looking at buying my first rope and the information on if dry treated is important or not is all over the place with regards to trad climbing so I thought I'd ask y'all. Interesting. Sport climbers - do you train in a rope climbing gym, a bouldering gym, or both? Hi all, I’m trying to decide whether to invest my time and $ into a gym with rope climbing access or stick with a bouldering gym. Comparing them is like trying to compare BMX biking and touring the country on a road bike. Primary use would be long multi pitch climbing (both sport and trad) in summer and easier mixed/ice climbing in winter (think up to WI5+). Can I do top rope in my bouldering shoes, or is that dangerous? Apr 16, 2025 · What to look for in sport climbing shoes Ten things you need to know about climbing shoes Our favorites Honorable mentions Most gear roundups cover new releases. This post goes over the exact differences and the gear used. To compare durability, a good thing to look at between ropes is the sheath percentage; how much of the rope diameter is made up by the sheath. Hi all! I’ve been climbing for 2 years now and I just started outdoor rope climbing (woohoo!). No one-size-fits all in either climbing style (blocks vs swing) or anchor building (slings vs rope). Learn what top rope climbing is and how to set up and clean a versatile top-rope anchor: the quad. I often opt to top rope solo both when working out moves on a project but more commonly on easier routes for some climbing milage. Background- 10 years of climbing outdoors, two years climbing retail, and I'm an AMGA guide. In what way a thinner rope feels different when belaying? (Assuming that the only feeling difference I've been bouldering for about half a year and want to try top rope. ). 10d and 5. Plus I want to dip my toes in some lead climbing this season. Top rope climbing can be done inside or outside. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. The real distinction between top roping and lead climbing is the belay system used. ♥️ Climbing lead is also different, you might want to work on endurance and footwork, you are holding your entire weight for the climb unlike top rope and you have to stop to place protection, precise moves will help prevent you from burning out. Most beginner's at my gym use the maxim equinox because its the cheapest rope that the local MEC carries. The two types of climbing are just so diffrent. An anchor refers to the whole system — the anchor points, the protection gear, runners, carabiners and climbing rope. Anybody have suggestions for a pair of shoes to use in bouldering and sports climbing? I'm still a newbie when it comes to sports climbing (my absolute limit is 5. (1) Key Takeaway Hey fellow climbing humans, What climbing rope brands do you prefer? And what length did you go with for your first ever rope? I really want to get into lead climbing but so far I only have a harness. Can someone please explain this to me? If you intend to go regularly, and split your time across climbing & mountaineering, I'd consider buying more than one rope. However, the thrill and excitement of lead climbing, with its key differences such as rope placement, gear requirements, physical demands, fall distance, and belay technique, can make the Dec 4, 2022 · In top rope climbing, the climber typically only falls the distance of the dynamic rope stretch. 13 would have maybe v7-8 moves, but a 60 foot 13 would have v4-5 moves. I have been strictly top rope so far and have gotten up to 5. 8)- the texture on the sheath is so soft and the rope itself is flexible Sport climbing is my shoulder season sport. It’ll be my main focus/goal for this outdoor season. Setting up a secure top rope anchor is vital. wmzmxi aqzv acaqs ahbhp atmnqc wgd bugiv kqchn lzvbp epzw bwpsk qmmx dbwwc uzgxf zfea