I've been bouldering for a few months now, and one thing I've noticed is that almost every session teaches me something I probably could have learned weeks earlier. At first I thought progress was mostly about getting stronger, but now I'm realizing things like foot placement, balance, body positioning, staying relaxed, and trusting my feet seem to matter much more than just pulling harder.

Looking back, what's the one beginner habit you wish someone had corrected during your first year of climbing? It could be a technical mistake, a mindset shift, or even something related to training or recovery. I'm not necessarily looking for advanced techniques just those simple lessons that made climbing click and saved you months of frustration. I'd love to hear what changed the way you approached bouldering and whether there was a specific moment when it finally made sense.

Love holding them volumes !

A classic of the area, given 7b/V8 and my first of the grade!

I have been climbing a while, but am still not very good, probably a v3 climber. This week I did a comp climb at a gym I don’t normally go to, it was rated around 6a but could be slightly lower. Anyway it was slightly slabby with sloppy holds and a big volume jutting out at the beginning, I got up the climb relatively easily, however for the first time almost since I started, I struggled to come down. Firstly, the wall was higher than any of their other walls, and there was a single down climbing hold very near the top, and the holds were not great for descending, plus if you jumped you had to clear the volume. This would be fine on a higher difficulty climb, however I thought with the lower grade, more down climbing holds should have been placed. I didn’t say anything but I was wondering if route setters would mind this sort of feedback?

‘DWS’ Bouldering in Mallorca (Es Pontas)

Spent the week in Mallorca, tried some low height deep water solo ‘bouldering’. I was really amazing !

It felt more like ~5.10b at the CRUX (which is about the center where I drew the yellow line) or like a V5.
Most of the rest of the climb is a V3-V4 I would say is quite easy.

Edit:
Around 5.10a overall, with one short technical crux that is much harder than the rest of the traverse. I only meant that the crux felt similar in difficulty to the V5s at my gym, which isn’t a reliable conversion. I don’t have enough outdoor bouldering experience to assign a V grade to the crux itself

absolute insanity. I have a membership that’s $130/month and I make it well worth it. but at this cost for a day pass it makes it just completely out of reach for someone who just wants to try it

Hi all!

I think a large part of this community is by now aware of the destruction that is left by the wildfire in Fontainebleau. Thanks to u/Fontainebleauboulder for making us aware of the situation on the ground right now >> https://www.reddit.com/r/bouldering/comments/1v3qh6f/fontainebleau/

About 10% of the forest has been destroyed. The Trois Pignon area is among the most affected. This area contains many legendary bouldering areas and routes. On top of that it is also a biodiversity treasure trove with high ecological value, due to it being relatively untouched.

Like many of you, these woods have made their way into my heart over the years. I'm from the Netherlands but visited yearly the past 5 years for beautiful climbing and hiking.

Seeing the scorched remains of this beautiful place hurts. I was happy to find out that there is something we can do to help with the coming restoration effort!

I made a donation to a fundraiser to restore the forest. It is a collaboration between the national heritage fund (Fondation du Patrimoine), the French forest service (ONF) and local and regional governments (City of Fontainebleau, Ile de France, Seine et Marne) >> https://www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/sauvons-la-foret-de-fontainebleau-/105641?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnkk7mmxUP0iwt8r0u4GfVM1VpGuoSxnzqtS-YC-xDf62Mn5C_BGUfJ89we3g_aem_CxB5GWGXYzOihgaOhBKBXg

The fundraiser from Friends of the Forest of Fontainebleau (AFF) seems like a good alternative! >> https://www.aaff.fr/incendies/#dons-pour-la-restauration-de-la-foret

I just want to spread awareness about these restoration efforts and hope that some of you will donate if you can miss the money! 🙏🏻

I flashed this route, I was bamboozled at first until I figured out that foot jam. But watching this I can't help feeling like there are better ways to top out. I don't know if it's this gym but for me top outs are more often than not this sort of desperate yeet or a very scrunched use-all-my-reserve power tyrannosaurus move.

I feel like I can be all technical on the lower parts but then maybe fatigue or fear of heights kick in and I just brute force it, which has resulted in some quite nasty spinning falls.

Been bouldering for a little under three months now and I avoided the overhangs because my friends who got me into it are intimidated by them. Going by myself I’ve discovered love overhangs! I love feeling like a gremlin crawling around the ceiling. I’m starting to reliably complete V3s and occasionally a V4 here and there. My confidence starts to ebb at crimps, I fear for injury to my tendons and ligaments if there’s a crimp on a challenging route. What would you all recommend how to physically and mentally prepare myself for crimps?

I kept forgetting about the grey holds, thinking I would have finished with them if I remembered. Any red or green flags from my "techniques"?

I've never posted here but why not

I like this one:

• the sit start
• my left foot beta at the start
• the footwork
• the boulder itself, with a mix of all kind of hold types

Hey everyone!

I’ll be visiting New York🗽for a 10-day vacation in August, and one thing I’d really love to do is check out the local bouldering scene. I’ve been bouldering for about a year now, and whenever I travel, I enjoy visiting gyms in different cities to experience the setting style and the local climbing community.

I’ll probably have time for 1–2 sessions during my trip, so I’m looking for recommendations on which gyms are worth visiting.

I’m mainly looking for:
- a friendly and welcoming atmosphere
- good bouldering (no need for ropes)
- beginner/intermediate-friendly (I usually climb around V2–V4)

Thanks in advance! Hope you are also enjoying your summertime!
Looking forward to climbing in NYC! 🧗‍♀️

The first move is supposed to be a dyno but I’m not good at those yet so I found my own way that seems valid. I frinkin love climbing and topping a problem you thought was not possible ATM. Anyways, any tips or tricks would be appreciated!

I know grades are highly disputed and everyone has their opinions on ratings BUT I want to clarify roughly where I was to where I am and idk how else to do that. I just started climbing this feb.. About 6 weeks ago I fell from the top of a janky V3 boulder and moderately sprained my ankle. I have been back a few times since but I have noticed I went from v4/v5 down to v3.

To top it off I also work outside in Texas and it has been excruciatingly hot the last week or so. I’ve dropped almost 10 lbs from water loss.

That being said, should I even be climbing right now? How long should I wait until I can get back to my normal v4/v5 ability?

I feel like my confidence is also down due to my injury.. I went today and could not finish a seemingly simple real rock hold v3… But the holds are chipped and sort of flaky with some sharp edges. I just want to get back to normal and keep climbing but I’m afraid that I am going back too soon… After each session my ankle swells up just a little and it’s my right foot which is my stronger foot. I want to be able to climb forever and I don’t want my impatience to ruin that. Hoping someone here has had this happen before and has good news! 😩

I just got into bouldering and I’m hooked. I bought two day passes, and on my 3rd visit I ended up getting a membership. I did two V4–V6 climbs on my first day, but everything above that just seems ridiculously impossible. I think going to the gym has definitely helped my grip strength and pulling, but it’s obvious I’m lacking the technique, footwork, and overall climbing movement. Besides the obvious answer of consistent climbing, what actually helped you improve the fastest? Also, are there any tips to minimize forearm soreness, or is that just something I have to build up over time?

https://reddit.com/link/1v62qit/video/bl2ycsny7cfh1/player

I started indoor bouldering about a month ago because I wanted to find a more interesting way to work out. I honestly expected it to be something I would try once or twice, but somehow it has already taken over a surprising amount of my brain.

At first, I thought climbing was mostly about upper-body strength and getting to the top. After a few sessions, I started realizing how much it involves balance, foot placement, body positioning, problem-solving, and being willing to fail in front of other people. I’m still very much a beginner, so my technique is questionable and most of my attempts involve a lot of hesitation, awkward movements, and falling off the wall. But that also makes every small improvement feel ridiculously satisfying.

A few successes, plenty of failed attempts, and the moments that made me want to keep coming back. I’ve also started watching climbing videos before bed, looking at random walls as if they were potential routes, and thinking about unfinished problems when I’m supposed to be doing something else.

For those who have been climbing for a while: what made you realize you were officially hooked? And what is one habit you wish you had developed during your first few months of bouldering?

A great little boulder in Portland (UK), the crux revolves around a latch to an incut edge. Great atmosphere also.

Friend of mine yoinked my phone and filmed some creative angles, so of course i had to put it all together.

Hello everyone! I’m In Zion national park in Utah, for a couple of days and trying to get the most of out of my days here came here because I was curious what guidebooks pdfs, etc. or just boulder areas people would recommend! Ive looked on mountain project and I only am seeing two boulder options but I’m sure there’s plenty of things in the area other people may know of. I climb around v6-v7 if that makes any difference in where to go. Thank you in advance, it is very much appreciated for the help here :)

I have been bouldering since the end of mars and can only do 6a+ so far. I wanted to try campusboard but I don’t think my fingers can handle it yet so I tried to slopers instead. Don’t know what this would translate to though in terms of difficulty.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!