Slab climbing for beginners reddit. For hiking, get a guidebook.

Slab climbing for beginners reddit. Some gyms have powerful overhung climbing setters who set pretty easy slabs. With anything to do with climbing, the primary activities you'll be doing are pulling yourself up and gripping onto things. I’m wondering more about how shape of the shoe affects your climbing technique- what toe shape is better for smearing vs edging vs toe hook. Yes, weight matters in climbing performance (especially hypertrophy outside of finger flexors and pulling muscles). 11 right next door called Sundial that looked amazing, but that's far from beginner grades. Outside slab shuts me Feb 14, 2022 · Learn to climb by starting with the fundamentals. Anything stiffer like the Scarpa generator wont take overhangs to well. He claims that slab climbing is a sure-fire way to improve climbing technique (greater awareness of body position, balance etc). It feels like I've opened a whole new chapter of climbing and I couldn't be more excited Share Add a Comment Sort by: Top Open comment sort options Best Top New Controversial Old Q&A Sixgun217 • Hey everyone. I know bouldering and climbing come with risks but I wondered how likely injury is and - I respect this isn’t scientific - if any regular climbers can share their perspectives and experience of injury? Since you mentioned slab, I'm assuming you are also climbing outdoors. They lasted me 3 I would have ended sessions earlier, taken longer rests during sessions, and tried to climb harder stuff more mindfully (thankfully I always enjoyed climbing with different body types and strengths of climbers, so I naturally experimented with movement and technique in attempting to emulate the shorter, but technically-climbing woman, or the How about some old climbing boots, those got a steel shank. However, what are some advanced climbing tips for someone who has climbed a few years? I came across this video, and thats my inspiration for the question. Of course the power and strength can still improve your lower angle abilities, but why aren't there boards at vertical/slab angles to be able to train that style in the same way? Is there practical reasons or You look great for a beginner. For starters, check out some all-around climbing shoes that offer all-day comfort. I found Tarantulaces a good upper end of beginner shoe. Beginners tend to have their COG all over the place most often left/right and/or too much forward. What Is Slab Climbing? Mar 27, 2016 · Adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the amazing rock climbing experience offering crack and slab climbing. Looking for any and all suggestions for climbing areas. Second, core, core, core. Also surprisingly durable for a high performance shoe, lasted 8 months before I resoled them could have probably pushed it another month or 2. 10 ish slab on various rock type maybe a grade lower on pure friction slab. Some setters are really good at slab and therefore set really hard sandbagged slab problems. Keeps you psyched about climbing harder. In my climbing vocabulary slab is anything less than vertical, regardless of hold type. My current shoes are rather curved/pointed and don’t feel great on the slab wall. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. My biggest concern is to avoid overuse injury, as my forearms muscles/tendons are currently sore for a good 4 days after a session. 62x BW 1rm chinup and working on OAC) ? The techniques themselves won't transfer, but I think that the importance of technique gets emphasized by climbing slab. Reply reply realcaptainkimchi • Things like safely doing fall practice, knowing when you can and can;t mess it up, trusting trad gear, slab climbing etc. The issue I take is that I hardly ever see good slab problems like this one anymore - i. I usually only have enough time to go about 1 day a week. I’ve typically going with neutral shoes (although I did have a pair of Evolv Kronos. And yes we are scared of falling. For me, with climbing shoes, there's no substitute to going to a store and trying on different models and different sizes. When I was a beginner I once went bouldering two days in a row because my friends were better than me; I climbed for fifteen minutes before I had to stop due to excessive aching in my forearms. And example of this is I have bought many climbing shoes and always go for size 41 European or around 8 1/2 American. From essential gear to top global locations, this article covers everything you need to navigate the world of less-than-vertical climbs with confidence See full list on thewanderingclimber. On heel up, toe down, I know how to climb technical climbing where I need to toe down on It depends heavily on the gym and setters. Showing and following examples of larger climbers on social media can help. I'd recommend a shoe like the 5. will often make the difference between two climbers of equal strength I prefer aggressive shoes even on face or slab climbing, but it's way more of a comfort preference. Curious of what technique this is and if someone can explain mechanically how it works. Are there any sport routes that anyone would recommend to a relative novice? Thanks in advance! A slightly aggressive shoe with good rubber will allow a beginner to learn proper foot placement, whereas a flat 'beginner shoe' with shitty rubber teaches climbers to pull with their hands and not trust their feet - leading to fatigue and sloppy falls. Brands like Scarpa and La Sportiva have some solid options. Climbing shoe reviews (Tenaya Indalo, Iati, Butora Senegi and Gomi) I've been climbing indoors for roughly 1. Find guides and more. For hiking, get a guidebook. Best beginner area for trad climbing in western NC that will be accessible mid March I’m in my fourth season leading trad and can comfortably lead up to 5. It’s fantastic and helps you develop stamina and footwork, core strength for balance and stabilization, and improve overall body coordination. comfy, crazy good heel, pretty good at slab and micro edging, not incredible at smearing, but good enough for gym work, quite good at overhang, the rubber lasts forever, super long break-in period (like 50 hours or so of climbing), once broken in still very good at edging but much easier for smearing. This is my favourite in recent memory :> : r/bouldering     TOPICS Gaming Sports Business Crypto Television Celebrity Copy link Go to bouldering r/bouldering r/bouldering Hey I’m a new climber and I was wondering if people had some wisdom to share and what you wish you knew when you started rock climbing. Beginner climbers don’t need a bouldering shoe with the latest extreme design. 10 moccasin to start. Josh also jumps in to talk through a couple coaching drills to help you develop your climbing ability. Climbing does engage almost all muscles (even some you didn't know you had), but obviously some more than others. Since you're shopping online, finding a pair that feels good right off the bat is super important. We all know the videos/articles with titles like "Best 5 beginner tips" and the like. Already had climbed a few time occasionally, but now I bought my first pair of shoes and plan on going more regularly. And falls are more 55 votes, 94 comments. Despite that, I'd really like to give indoor bouldering a try. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Learn how to master precise footwork, subtle body movements, and effective use of friction on tilted rock surfaces. I was climbing for about five years before I could climb for 3 days in a row. If you learn a few tricks, you’ll find yourself much better equipped to take on big days out on friction slab or that weird slopey problem at the gym. Jul 8, 2025 · Explore slab climbing basics, types, and essential gear. I just started climbing 3 months ago. Beginners need to climb various angles before settling in with their preferences. Mar 27, 2024 · Like to stay warm on cold winter days in Joshua Tree? Check out my go-to sunny beginner rock climbing crags only a short walk from the car! I genuinely enjoy climbing on the tensionboard but there are some ppl from the sub who are strongly against beginners board climbing. 7 multipitch (Gunks grades). The outdoor desert landscape is incredible, as well! 5. I do some lead climbing, but the majority of my climbing is bouldering in the gym, due to convenience. The incline of easier slab routes is most often quite heavy, if they lean too much forward even positive footholds become negative. All things climbing in the great white north. If that's all you do, you'd be missing out on getting other types of movement on slab, slopers, volumes, etc. Share Add a Comment Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Best Top New Controversial Old Q&A soupyhands • Any random beginner shoe even will be a huge upgrade. Check /r/climbing for more content. Reddit's rock climbing training community. I've been getting into climbing for a month or two now. The you’re probably not climbing it like a slab. The accuracy, balance, flexibility etc. I’ve been climbing for about a year. I have a few friends who have been climbing longer than I am, and some of them are pretty jacked, while others are super skinny. shitty holds and controlled movement - rather lots of jumping about and/or running across volumes. Indoor slabs often are so different in climbing style that people who don’t really engage with that style, probably won’t learn the fundamentals of it and thus never be good at it. Beginner/intermediate sport climbing in Yosemite? I've been climbing in the gym for several months now, and am beginning to consider myself somewhat proficient. Learn techniques to master this exciting rock climbing style. All of that background to say If you had to recommend 1 shoe, you used every climbing session (2-4 times a week for me) for indoor bouldering what would it be? Jun 3, 2025 · Discover where to go rock climbing in Washington, from easy routes to more challanging adventures. Some gyms I climb a grade or 2 harder on overhung. I've been focusing on slabs for quite a while and haven't had this happen to me yet. Jun 11, 2024 · Unlock the secrets to slab climbing with these tips from Rock Spot including keeping your heels down and edging with climbing shoes. I can typically go for about 1. Sep 22, 2021 · Slab climbing is hated by many but loved by the dedicated. I've been climbing for years, but I only just learned how to lead climb. I know they’re a beginner shoe. Mar 17, 2022 · Should you try slab climbing? Despite the prevalent fear, you should get into slab climbing if it interests you even a bit. Spam links to it everywhere (yes that includes this sub). It’s easier for newbies to get into slab Don't worry about giving advice as a beginner, after all, as a beginner you have a unique perspective. That means no one shoe’s best for bouldering in all conditions. For slab, it's good fo have shoes with neutral profile and sticky rubber, since you'd be smearing a lot. 8 80ft slab) in Serenity Point in Miller Fork. The climbing community is usually thoughtful and helpful too, so don’t be shy to ask anyone for any advice! As a beginner, you will probably be leaving a lot of rubber on the wall until your footwork improves, and the shoes won't last that long. 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. Should you wait for the soreness to be over to climb Hi all, I’m excited to be getting into slab bouldering and would love shoe recommendations. 1. I'd like to try my hand in Yosemite next weekend. I think it would be helpful to have more variety on different types of terrain as a beginner. 103 votes, 64 comments. Stronger != Better (in fact, long run it can make you climb WORSE). Steep climbing is all about that core tension and being able to rest on steep jugs. I'm just curious why there aren't really training boards for slab climbing. But that might just be me idk. Good low level setting is really important to get new people into the sport! Heavier individuals tend to experience more finger strain. TY Whatever their performance advantages, these tend to be more expensive and less durable than the Tarantulace, and with typical beginner bad form (like my own bad form) you will quickly wear through them. But if you're psyched on it, giv'er! Magnus is also great for beginners because he has a playlist of videos climbing with his girlfriend as she was first getting into it. I climb with heel down to gain more rubber-rock contact. In my experience I felt like the edge of the shoe was kind of positioned under and behind my big toe which made slab and vert more difficult because I had to be extra aware of where the shoes edge was actually making 490 votes, 96 comments. I’m flying into Asheville with no particular destination. There was also a 5. Once footwork is established it doesn't matter what shoe you use. Either hire a guide from the mountaineering school (the only service legally allowed to guide in the park) or skip the climbing. They excel mainly in steep climbing that is generally inaccessible to a beginner. On a techy vert or slab, that strength can't save you in the same Most “shoe advice” focuses on aggressive vs non aggressive and fit. Thanks in advance! Edit: I’d also consider myself more beginner if that makes a difference in shoe advice. Finally, general fitness. I bought the La Sportiva Tarantulace. you might be aware of your center but you’re not applying that awareness effectively. I bought the cheapest ones just in case I wasn’t going to stick it. you'll learn from slab climbing is invaluable imo, but yes, it is a scary prospect to slide down the wall catching your face and groin on protruding V-beginner handholds. For bouldering, you'd probably want more down turned shoes (but again depends on local rock) for heel Reddit's rock climbing training community. On the slabs, they would climb until a good rest and only place bolts as often as necessary because drilling a hole by hand can take over half an hour in granite. New shoes aren't comfortable like rented shoes which were broken in by 100+ of feet. The first day I went climbing, I fell in love with it, got my gym pass and ran to REI to get my own shoes. Hot take: beginner shoes suck and get away with it because reviews come largely from folks who started climbing in them and then stopped before moving on to other shoes. Climb different styles so you can find your preferences, slab, crips, compression, dynamic Nov 17, 2023 · The shoe that's best for you depends on your body type, climbing style, the type of rock you climb on, and how much you want to spend. Slab climbing is a type of rock climbing where the rock face is at an angle less steep than vertical. 595 subscribers in the ClimbingCanada community. Finding spots for your toes and constantly worrying you're gonna knock out some dentures if you fall wears you out. Id just keep on trying grades that are hard but that you can still work the moves. 337 votes, 50 comments. 15 pitches of friction and maybe a dozen handholds on the entirety of Crest Jewel Direct. The reason why beginners are told to get stronger via climbing is because your body only has a limited capacity for exercise and if you do your strength training via climbing, vs. The home of Climbing on reddit. I can’t seem to find any articles breaking down the physics of shoes other than “downturned toe does hooks, flat shoe do slabs”. I am climbing pretty consistently V4 on the slab and V3 (super close on a lot of V4) on the over hang. Looks easy in this photo and angle but outdoor is a different beast. e. Good technique already, twisting feet to get one hit closer to the wall, not letting your hands get ahead of themselves and forgetting about the feet. 10/V1-2 6b/6B. But to truly master the art of the spray, you need to be looking at other ways to spray. I am currently pretty skinny and was hoping to build muscle (get more toned at least) through bouldering, but have noticed that there's a lot of very good climbers who are also very skinny. Nov 30, 2022 · But boulder problems can also involve slab climbing on thin holds and smears that require core strength, balance, and delicate footwork. Should I give it a try or should I put it off for now? Edit: Thanks guys, I'm gonna give rock climbing a try! What is an efficient way to train finger strength for a climbing beginner who has a decent amount of pulling strength from Callisthenics (1. Do you have any advice for building muscle (size/mass) in combination with I think having the COG straight over your feet is the advice for slabs under 5. With climbing shoes there's no way I'll be able to buy online or just from recommendation. Apr 17, 2023 · These vary massively in foot position, hip position and movement style. You absolutely must try them on in a store, like REI, with someone helping you. This is the smaller rock climbing community on reddit. The problem with A steep climbing session will be more like a power lifting session and slab climbing is like running long distance. It'll happen some day, just hasn't yet. 5 years and been through a few shoes so thought I'd write a review based on my experience in case it can help people in the future. I started bouldering about a month ago. The reason you’ve clicked on this article is probably because you’re feeling intimidated or anxious at For bouldering regulars, which gym (s) would you recommend for beginners to start getting into the hobby? Especially with routes that might be friendlier for less fit, and/or heavier folks. I climb a little bit of everything, but I love slab, and end up spending probably 75 percent of my sessions on vertical or slab walls. The climbing hours only include climbing at your intensity and the rests between those climbs. if this route is really shabby you be able to get you vent over your feet really solidly. trueGreat shoe, but they are probably not the most beginner friendly. Because of that, climbing centered around well protectable cracks and slab face climbs. In the extreme, being taller/heavier will have the greatest advantage on low angle or slab climbs where you can maximally use your Most "Beginner" hangboard programs start at 5. So, good job Niloo! I'm not as unfit as I used to be but I'm still really out of shape. As such, the main muscles groups you should be focused on training are the back muscles (particularly Latissimus dorsi) and the forearms. Slabs are worth getting into. If we could rewind the clock and I was going to start bouldering for the first time in a climbing gym again there would be a few things I would’ve wanted to be told to help my progress. I recently just got back from my first trip to the red, and one of my favorite routes was Fodiqua (5. Once you progress further into climbing you'll start using your shoulders more often, when the boulders get harder. Specifically, on heel down I understand this and I know how to climb up to maybe low 5. Footwork is insanely important in climbing, you’re not going to be able to learn good footwork in rentals. These shoes I needed to buy them at 9 1/2 which is a size I didn't buy for even my first pair of climbing shoes as a beginner when I was looking for comfort over most things. It's been a good experience, they are really comfortable and versatile for both climbing and short rock routes. Don't buy your first pair of climbing shoes online. Just keep going to the gym and climbing. I’ve been going about once a week to allow myself to recover before going again. But for real you named most stiff bouldering shoe. Talk to employees at your gym and see if they offer any climbing classes for beginners. 1K votes, 320 comments. My GF is a beginner climber and doing solid on this slab. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. Recently we went to Boulder+ Stretching, body positioning when climbing, and resting between climbs are all key to climbing! I usually stretch for 15-20 minutes, then I start off by climbing easier routes to get loose. Yeah it was on slab that I had 'trouble' with some holds and smearing due to the profile. Some people may leave it at that. Maybe it’s just by chance of what I view or the walls I go to - but rare to see a good slab like this in my experience. weight lifting, you'll improve technique as well. Being strong just means you get to suck on slightly higher grades, but won't make you a better climber. But it's definitely not what limits beginner performance or something you should worry about at this point, especially for you with your low bf%. Outside of climbing i have a mostly regular gym/ exercise regimen. 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. Since I know most of climbing is technique (and have seen that for myself with my improvements on slab and vertical), I’m hoping there’s a similar “beginner” resource to make overhang feel a bit less strenuous by using better technique. I was wondering how many times per week to target. Share Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Add a Comment TheFapperInTheRye • Every week the setters at my gym put up a slab that makes me want to cry. Your steep session might only last an hour to start with but you will make massive gains in steep terrain. not sure how hard that gets but this v13 looks pretty much just friction, although video quality sucks Just started going to a bouldering gym. I've never had so much fun slab climbing. I’ve got a beginners climbing course next Tuesday and my excitement has turned to nerves. Get your hips into the wall and rely on your feet. didn't use the original drone, but switched from the instinct VS, both with and without xs Aug 27, 2024 · Discover expert tips and techniques to master slab climbing, one of the most challenging yet rewarding styles in the climbing gym. For climbing specifically, Yosemite is not beginner-friendly and not very toprope friendly. A comment about the "drop the heels" rule: it works for friction slab or smedgy footholds, but if you're climbing "steep" slab (closer to vertical), this won't work as well because you're relying more on edging than pure friction. Obviously, the limiting factors in most climbing movement will be located in the upper body. These are things I would use to avoid making mistakes and generally help me on my climbing journey. 11+ or V5 ish, NOT 5. Instead, concentrate on core, shoulders, and arms. If you're climbing cave problems, you can keep band-aiding your climbing with more power/strength, at least to a certain extent for a given level of technique. I’m When it comes to picking out climbing shoes for beginners, comfort and price are key. This guide walks you though the types of holds, body position, and footwork. I understand how taxing boards are especially the TB on your fingers. I learned a lot from watching those. I can't even do one pull up but I'd like to think my legs are decent in terms of strength. I've been on the hunt for a new pair of shoes, I'm currently in some beginner level Tarantulas that I didn't size right and starting to feel it's time. Board climbing is a great way to get stronger for climbing but it is a very 1-dimensional style of climbing. As I'm browsing through reddit, reading articles, and comments on what people suggest, I'm seeing a pretty wide range of shoe suggestions in regards to aggressive shapes. Climbing slab requires good technique, precision, and trust in your abilities. Start a YouTube channel of your climbing. What kind of training can I do at home with limited equipment (pullup bar and dumbells)? I've been doing pullups and half crimp static hangs so far. A subsection of slab is friction slab, which sounds like what you are talking about (again just my vocab for it). maybe once a week or something. Some context: my friends and I have had some good days at Boulder Movement, where all of us could complete a decent number of routes up to middling difficulties (10 to 15ish). 5 - 2 hours before exhaustion and ripped skin makes me stop. Hardest slab is really hard, like this 14d. One major drawback for training boards that I see is that the training only really applies to steep climbing. . For outdoor, I would have dedicated shoes for slabs vs overhang. It is considered the mecca of Southern California for being a world-class climbing destination, often referred to as “climbers playground”. What should my aim for my next, say, 10 sessions be? I am bouldering if that helps, and would like to build a good foundation to my climbing skills - should I stick to really easy problems but focus on technique? Try and do the hardest problem I can each time I go Reddit's rock climbing training community. com Slab for technique? Hi everyone, I’d like some of your opinions regarding a discussion I’ve been having with my climbing partner. I’d say some gyms I climb a grade or 2 harder on slab. Any advice on other excercises I should add to my routine that would help with grip strength and climbing in general? The solution is still my favorite sport climbing shoe that I have tried, precise and makes me feel confident on even the smallest feet. trueBe as welcoming and supportive as possible. I guess my question is as a beginner can I incorporate board climbing into my regime. Warming up and socializing past your rest times would extend the total time. Consider top rope to bouldering! Consider slab climbing! Will lessen the impacts of weight. My rock climbing teachers recommended me the sportiva kubo. 10a struggle bus. Discover the intricacies of slab climbing, a unique style that prioritizes finesse, balance, and technique over sheer strength. As for rope climbing, my home gym is bouldering only, so I just don't have a lot of access, but I do indoor rope climb maybe once a year. Are aggressive shoes necessary for modern bouldering setting and comp climbing? I referenced a list of the best climbing shoes and thanks to the comments below figured that aggressive shoes will help keep my body close to the wall on overhangs. For the former, pull up are the movement that most closely resembles what you do on the wall and are a standard exercise for climbers Hi all - I've been to my local climbing wall around 5 times now and really enjoyed it so feel like I want to commit to the hobby. A certain, basic amount of lower body strength is required for things like high stepping, slab climbing, and stemming, but most climbers won't benefit from bulging quads. Should i be going more or less often in order to make better progress in terms of skill and strength? A downturned shoe isn't versatile and unless you are really just climbing steep boulders all the time will probably be overkill to start with. ohojpokm brnjuo xyvmxz prqc kisdk gqfw tfoazh sdowl lzzi bybh