Climbing Primer

Start at the gym, learn the fundamentals, climb with confidence

Your first climb, made simple.

Rock climbing and bouldering for complete beginners. Almost anyone who can move around comfortably can start, and most people begin indoors at a climbing gym. Bouldering needs barely any gear, so you can try it with rented shoes and a bit of chalk. We walk you through holds, footwork, and how grades work, and show that climbing is friendlier and safer than it looks once you learn the fundamentals properly.

Getting StartedGear & EquipmentBoulderingTechnique & MovementTraining & ProgressionSafety & Skills

Latest guides

26 guides
Gear & Equipment

How to Choose a Climbing Harness

Learn how to choose a climbing harness as a beginner — parts, fit, certification, and care explained simply so you can climb safely.

August 20, 2026
Getting Started

Is Rock Climbing Hard to Learn? What Beginners Should Expect

Is rock climbing hard for beginners? An honest, encouraging look at what's easy from day one, what takes time, and how fast you can expect to improve.

August 18, 2026
Safety & Skills

The Buddy Check: Partner Checks Before You Climb

Learn what the climbing buddy check is, why it prevents serious accidents, and how to do a complete partner safety check before every single climb.

August 15, 2026
Training & Progression

Should Beginners Hangboard? (Why You Should Wait)

Thinking about finger training? Here's why most beginners should skip the hangboard for at least a year and what to do instead to build strength safely.

August 13, 2026
Technique & Movement

How to Use Different Climbing Holds (Crimps, Jugs, Slopers)

Learn the main types of climbing holds and how to grip each one. From jugs to slopers to crimps, this beginner guide covers body position and safe technique.

August 11, 2026
Bouldering

How to Read a Bouldering Problem

Learn how to read a bouldering problem before you climb — from finding the start holds to tracing the route, spotting the crux, and planning your sequence.

August 8, 2026
Gear & Equipment

Chalk and Chalk Bags: What Beginners Need to Know

Learn what climbing chalk is, the different types available, and how to choose a chalk bag or bucket — practical advice for new climbers.

August 6, 2026
Getting Started

How to Find and Choose a Climbing Gym

Learn how to find a climbing gym near you and what to look for as a beginner — gym types, classes, pricing, gear rental, and red flags to avoid.

August 4, 2026
Safety & Skills

Climbing Commands Every Beginner Should Know

Learn the standard call-and-response climbing commands that keep climbers and belayers in sync — and why clear communication is a core safety skill.

August 1, 2026
Training & Progression

What Is Projecting in Climbing?

Projecting means working a climb that's beyond your current ability over multiple sessions until you finally send it. Here's how beginners can do it right.

July 30, 2026
Technique & Movement

Use Your Legs, Not Your Arms: The Beginner's Secret

Learn why climbing with your legs instead of your arms saves energy, prevents pump, and unlocks better technique for beginner climbers.

July 28, 2026
Bouldering

Bouldering Grades Explained (The V-Scale)

Learn how bouldering grades work, what the V-scale means, and how to use grades as a beginner without obsessing over numbers.

July 25, 2026
Gear & Equipment

How Should Climbing Shoes Fit?

Learn how climbing shoes should fit for beginners: snug but not painful, no dead space, and why comfort beats aggression when you're just starting out.

July 23, 2026
Getting Started

What to Expect at Your First Climbing Gym Visit

A step-by-step guide to your first climbing gym visit — from signing the waiver to finding beginner routes, gym etiquette, and what to bring.

July 21, 2026
Safety & Skills

How to Tie In: The Figure-Eight Follow-Through Knot

Learn how the figure-eight follow-through knot works, why it's the standard tie-in, the exact steps, common mistakes, and why a buddy check is non-negotiable.

July 18, 2026
Training & Progression

How to Get Better at Climbing as a Beginner

Want to improve at climbing? The biggest gains come from technique and climbing often, not strength training. Here's how to progress as a beginner.

July 16, 2026
Technique & Movement

Footwork 101: Why Quiet Feet Matter in Climbing

Learn why precise climbing footwork saves energy. Covers quiet feet, toe placement, edging, smearing, and beginner drills you can start today.

July 14, 2026
Bouldering

How to Fall Safely While Bouldering

Learn the correct bouldering fall technique: bent knees, backward roll, no reaching back. Plus common mistakes and how to practice safe landings.

July 11, 2026
Gear & Equipment

How to Choose Climbing Shoes for Beginners

Learn how to choose climbing shoes as a beginner—what shape, closure, and fit to look for, when to buy your first pair, and what to skip entirely.

July 9, 2026
Getting Started

Bouldering vs Top-Rope vs Lead: Climbing Styles Explained

Not sure which type of climbing to try first? This plain-English breakdown covers bouldering, top-rope, lead, and auto-belays so you can choose with confidence.

July 7, 2026
Safety & Skills

How to Belay: A Beginner's Introduction

Learn what belaying is, how it protects a climber, and why you must practice with a qualified instructor before belaying anyone at the gym.

July 4, 2026
Training & Progression

How Climbing Grades Work (V-Scale and Roped Scales)

A plain-language guide to climbing grades explained: the V-scale for bouldering, YDS for roped climbing, and what the numbers actually mean for beginners.

July 2, 2026
Technique & Movement

Climbing Technique for Beginners: Move Like a Climber

Learn basic climbing technique fundamentals that matter more than strength: quiet footwork, straight arms, hip positioning, and drills to move better fast.

June 30, 2026
Bouldering

Bouldering for Beginners: A Complete Starter Guide

New to climbing? Learn how bouldering works, what gear you need, how to read a problem, fall safely, and make the most of your first gym sessions.

June 27, 2026
Gear & Equipment

Climbing Gear for Beginners: What You Actually Need

A practical stage-by-stage guide to beginner climbing gear — what to rent, what to buy first, and what life-safety gear must be UIAA/CE rated.

June 25, 2026
Getting Started

Rock Climbing for Beginners: How to Get Started

Learn how to start rock climbing safely and confidently — find a gym, take an intro class, and discover what your first session will really feel like.

June 23, 2026

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Getting StartedBegin here. Climbing comes in a few styles, and beginners almost always start with bouldering and top-rope at an indoor gym rather than out on a cliff. We explain what each style is, how to find a gym near you, why taking an intro class is worth it, and what a first session actually feels like. The short version: gyms are welcoming, the staff expect total beginners, and you can show up nervous and leave grinning.Gear & EquipmentWhat you actually need to start, and what the gym already provides. For bouldering it is barely anything: climbing shoes and a bit of chalk, with the pads built into the floor. Add a harness and a belay device once you move on to roped climbing, and a helmet for anything outdoors. We cover how climbing shoes should fit (snug, not painful), and the rule that any rope or hardware must be properly rated and looked after.BoulderingBouldering is climbing short walls without a rope, landing on thick padded mats instead. It uses the V-scale for difficulty, starting around V0, and it is the easiest way to try climbing because there is no rope system to learn first. We cover how to fall and land safely, how spotting works, and how to read a problem before you leave the ground so each climb feels less like a guess.Technique & MovementThe part that surprises people: good climbing is more about footwork than arm strength. We cover quiet, precise feet, keeping your arms straight so your skeleton holds the weight instead of your muscles, getting your hips close to the wall, and tricks like flagging for balance. Learn to push with your legs rather than haul with your arms and harder climbs start to feel possible.Training & ProgressionHow to get better without getting hurt. We explain how grades work, both the V-scale for bouldering and the roped scales, and what projecting a climb means. You build climbing-specific strength slowly, add some core and antagonist work, and mostly just climb more. One firm caution: beginners should skip hangboarding and aggressive finger training, because young climbing tendons are easy to injure and time on the wall pays off faster.Safety & SkillsThe hands-on habits that keep climbing safe. Belaying, the partner check before every climb, tying in with a figure-eight follow-through, and the simple commands climbers call to each other. We also cover falling safely, basic gym etiquette, warming up, and looking after your skin, fingers, and shoulders. Read these to understand the ideas, then learn every one of them in person from a qualified instructor before you rely on it.