Tips & Guides

Bouldering Tips & Tricks

Gear, technique, safety, and etiquette: everything nobody tells you before your first session, all in one place.

Getting Started

Essential gear.

One of the best things about bouldering is how little gear you need to get started.

Shoes

Snug shoes with sticky rubber help you trust tiny footholds.

Chalk & Bag

Dry hands mean better friction and fewer slips.

Brush

Clear chalk and rubber for the best stick on polished holds.

Flexible layers

Stretchy clothes let you twist, flag, and high-step freely.

Move Better

Core techniques.

Strength helps, but technique is what gets you up the wall efficiently.

Footwork First

Watch your feet until they are placed securely. Let your legs push; avoid over-pulling.

Straight Arms

Hang on your skeleton whenever possible; bend only when you must pull.

Body Positioning

Keep hips close; twist to gain reach with less effort.

Stay Healthy

Safety first.

Bouldering is fun, but safety should always be your top priority.

Falling: Learn to land on feet and roll; keep arms in.
Spotting: Guide partners to pads, don't catch them.
Clear landings: Keep pads aligned and the zone free of clutter.

Community

Gym etiquette.

Be a good member of the community by following these unwritten rules.

Don't Spray Beta

Beta is advice on how to do a climb. Share it when asked. Plenty of climbers want to solve the puzzle themselves.

Take Turns

Rotate on popular problems; give space when someone is on the wall.

Keep it Clean

Brush holds after use, manage chalk, and keep the fall zone tidy.

Technique Guide

The indoor technique guide.

A dense, skimmable reference for footwork, body position, movement, and grip, built to be read between burns.

Bouldering distills climbing into short problems where efficient technique (precise feet, body tension, hip control, and smart use of momentum) matters more than raw strength.

Footwork Fundamentals

Toe-in:Precise toe on small holds; heels low for max rubber.
Smear:Flat foot on slabs/volumes; press through the ball and seek texture.
Edging:Inside/outside edge for stability; stiff shoes help tiny features.
Pivot & quiet feet:Place toes so you can pivot; avoid re-adjusting once set.
Foot-first scanning:Spot footholds and keep weight under your center before moving hands.

Hooks & Special Footwork

Heel hooks:Toes away, engage hamstrings/glutes; great on slopers, volumes, aretes.
Toe hooks:Dorsiflex and pull with shin/core to stop swing on steep ground.
Heel-toe cams:Wedge heel and toe between opposing surfaces for powerful opposition.
Bicycles/reverse:Clamp holds between two feet to maintain tension.
Knee bars & jams:Create opposition for rests; release carefully to protect joints.

Body Position & Balance

Open hips & back-steps:Keep a hip in to stay close and lengthen reach.
Drop knees:Roll the knee down to deweight arms and reach farther on steep moves.
Flagging:Standard, back, and inside flags prevent barn-dooring (swinging open like a door) when holds are one-sided.
Rock-overs:High-step, stack hips over the foot, and stand tall.
Stemming/bridging:Press against opposing surfaces for balance and rests.

Dynamic vs. Static Movement

Generate from hips:Deadpoints/dynos start from hips and legs, not just arms.
Control swing:Catch with some lock-off; let legs "flick" through the swing instead of over-braking.
Static control:Smooth, deliberate motion with three points of contact on slabs or tiny holds.
Choose wisely:Dynamic when static is sketchy; static when precision trumps power.

Grip & Hold Strategy

Jugs & ledges:Rest and shake with straight arms; push with legs.
Crimps & edges:Prefer open-hand; keep hips in and feet high to reduce finger load.
Pinches & slopers:Engage thumb on pinches; maximize skin contact and keep hips low on slopers.
Pockets:Use strongest fingers, pull perpendicular, keep arms straight.
Underclings/sidepulls/gastons:Drive with feet, pull perpendicular, use opposition to stay balanced.

Problem-Solving & Reading

Read feet first:Identify footholds, flags, and rest stances before pulling on.
Plan sequences:Hand/foot order, match vs. bump, where to chalk/breathe.
Break it down:Work start, crux, and top separately; link sections before full sends.
Adapt mid-climb:Switch feet, change flag, or go dynamic if static fails.

Efficiency, Safety & Mindset

Use legs, keep arms straight:Let your skeleton rest; push with legs like a ladder.
Rest smart:Shake on jugs, breathe, limit hard burns to 3 to 5 quality tries.
Falling & spotting:Practice safe land-and-roll; spot to guide onto pads.
Progress & confidence:Film attempts, track small wins, mix styles/grades, cross-train mobility/strength.

Put it into practice.

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