Ever feel like you’re climbing all the time but not actually getting better?
You show up to the gym, try hard, maybe even work on some projects—but weeks (or months) later, it feels like you’re stuck at the same level. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing: climbing progress isn’t always obvious. Some improvements—like better footwork, more efficient movement, or increased endurance—aren’t as easy to measure as just sending a harder grade. And if you’re not tracking these gains, it’s easy to feel like you’re not improving at all.
That’s why tracking your climbing progress is one of the most valuable tools you can use. When you start logging your sessions, reviewing videos, and measuring small wins, you’ll see proof that you’re getting better—even when it doesn’t feel like it.
As a climbing coach, I’ve seen how a simple tracking system can help climbers break through plateaus, refine their technique, and stay motivated. In this post, I’ll show you the best ways to track your climbing progress so you can actually see and measure your improvement. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Define What Progress Means to You
Before you can track progress, you need to define what progress actually looks like for you. Many climbers assume progress means climbing harder grades—but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Improvement can show up in many different ways, and tracking multiple forms of progress can help you stay motivated and make smarter training decisions.
What Does Progress Look Like?
Climbing progress isn’t just about grades. Here are some different ways to measure improvement:
✅ Climbing Harder Grades – Sending higher-level problems or routes.
✅ Sending Projects Faster – Completing climbs in fewer attempts.
✅ Improving Technique – Smoother movement, better footwork, or more efficient positioning.
✅ Building Endurance – Lasting longer on routes before getting pumped.
✅ Getting Stronger – Increasing grip strength, pull-up numbers, or hangboard times.
✅ Gaining Confidence – Feeling more comfortable on lead, in the gym, or on outdoor climbs.
📌 Why It Matters:
If you only measure success by sending harder grades, you might miss signs of improvement that actually show you’re getting stronger, moving better, and climbing more efficiently.
How to Set a Clear Progress Goal
To make tracking useful, define what progress means to you right now. Try setting a specific focus for the next few months:
Example Goals:
❌ “I just want to get better.” → Too vague.
✅ “I want to send my first V5 in the next 8 weeks by improving my footwork and core strength.”
✅ “I want to lead climb at least once per session for the next month to build confidence.”
Pro Tip: Writing down 1-2 key focus areas will make your tracking more meaningful and help you stay motivated.
What to Do Next
➡️ Write down your current goal. What aspect of climbing do you want to improve?
➡️ Choose a way to measure it. Will you track grades, attempts, technique, endurance, or confidence gains?
➡️ Keep it realistic and time-bound. Set a goal for the next 4-8 weeks and adjust as needed.
By clearly defining what progress means for you, you’ll be able to track improvements more effectively and celebrate wins that actually matter.
Step 2: Log Your Sessions (So You Can See Patterns & Improvements)
Once you know what progress looks like for you, the next step is to track your climbing sessions consistently. Without logging your sessions, it’s easy to forget what you worked on, overlook small improvements, and feel like you’re not getting anywhere—even when you are.
The goal isn’t to write a novel after every session—it’s to create a simple system that helps you see patterns, track improvements, and make better training decisions.
What to Track in Your Climbing Log
✅ Routes & Grades – What problems or routes did you attempt? What did you send?
✅ Attempts & Progress – Did you flash it, send it in a few tries, or work the moves?
✅ What Felt Easier/Harder? – Were you able to complete a crux that used to shut you down? Did a certain move feel smoother?
✅ Any Drills or Training Focus – Did you work on footwork, endurance, or strength?
✅ How You Felt That Day – Were you feeling strong, pumped, tired, or mentally off?
📌 Why It Matters:
- Helps you see trends over time—what’s improving, what’s stagnating, and what needs more focus.
- Allows you to make smarter training decisions based on what’s actually working.
- Helps you celebrate small wins instead of focusing only on big sends.
How to Make Logging Easy
You don’t need a complicated system—just a quick, structured way to log your progress:
Option 1: A Climbing Journal (Best for Paper Tracking)
- Use a notebook or planner to jot down key session details.
- Keep it simple—bullet points work great!
Option 2: Notes App (Quick & Digital)
- Create a template in your phone’s notes app to log climbs after each session.
- Easy to update, search, and reference later.
Option 3: My Elevate Your Climbing: Training Planner and Tracker
- Designed specifically for climbers to track progress, set goals, and stay consistent.
- Helps you track both sessions and long-term progress in one place.
- [Grab your copy here!]
What to Do Next
➡️ Choose a logging method that works for you. Paper journal? Notes app? Climbing planner?
➡️ Commit to logging after every session. Even quick notes will make a difference.
➡️ Review your logs weekly to spot patterns in improvement.
By logging your sessions, you’ll be able to see real progress, identify areas to work on, and stay more motivated as you climb.
Step 3: Use Video to Track Your Technique & Movement
Writing down your progress is helpful, but seeing yourself climb is one of the best ways to spot areas for improvement. Many climbers don’t realize how much they’re over-gripping, rushing moves, or misplacing their feet until they watch themselves on video.
By regularly filming your climbs, you can analyze movement, track improvements, and refine your technique more effectively.
What to Look for in Your Climbing Videos
✅ Footwork – Are you placing your feet smoothly, or are they slipping/shuffling?
✅ Body Positioning – Are your hips close to the wall? Are you using flagging and twisting efficiently?
✅ Grip Efficiency – Are you over-gripping holds? Could you relax your fingers more?
✅ Resting & Breathing – Are you taking advantage of rests, or climbing too rushed?
📌 Why It Matters:
- You’ll spot technique mistakes that aren’t obvious in the moment.
- Comparing past videos helps you see real progress over time.
- Seeing yourself climb builds self-awareness, helping you make adjustments faster.
How to Use Video for Climbing Progress
🎥 Film yourself climbing once per week – Pick a route or problem you’re working on.
🎥 Watch the video immediately after climbing – Look for small adjustments you could make.
🎥 Compare footage monthly – Watch past videos to see improvements in movement, control, and efficiency.
🎥 Slow down the playback – Notice foot placements, hand adjustments, and body positioning.
Pro Tip: Use Video to Refine Your Training
If you notice repeated movement mistakes, focus on drills or exercises to fix them. For example:
- If your footwork is messy, try the Silent Feet Drill.
- If you’re climbing too square, work on flagging and hip positioning.
- If you hesitate before committing to moves, practice the One-Touch Rule Drill.
What to Do Next
➡️ Record one climb per week and review your movement.
➡️ Make one adjustment based on what you see.
➡️ Compare footage every few weeks to track technical progress.
By incorporating video into your training, you’ll be able to spot inefficiencies, make real-time adjustments, and refine your technique faster than ever.
Step 4: Track Strength & Endurance Gains (Not Just Grades)
Many climbers focus only on sending harder grades to measure progress—but that’s not the only sign of improvement. Strength and endurance gains often happen before grade jumps, and tracking these metrics helps you see progress even when your sends aren’t increasing.
By tracking your physical improvements, you’ll stay motivated and have a better idea of when you’re ready to push for harder climbs.
What Strength & Endurance Gains Look Like
✅ Grip Strength Improvements – Can you hang on smaller holds for longer?
✅ Increased Pulling Strength – More pull-ups, stronger lock-offs, better control on big moves?
✅ Better Endurance – Can you climb longer before getting pumped? Can you send more routes per session?
✅ Mobility Gains – Can you high-step more easily? Are your drop knees and flexibility improving?
📌 Why It Matters:
- Even if your grades haven’t increased, strength & endurance gains show you’re improving.
- Tracking these gains helps prevent frustration when progress isn’t immediately visible.
- Knowing your strengths/weaknesses helps you train smarter.
How to Track Strength & Endurance Progress
📝 Grip Strength: Record hangboard times, max dead hangs, or smallest edge held.
📝 Pulling Strength: Track pull-up reps, weighted pull-ups, or one-arm hangs.
📝 Endurance: Measure number of climbs per session before fatigue.
📝 Mobility: Log flexibility benchmarks—high steps, hip rotation, or toe-hook comfort.
Pro Tip: Check Your Baseline & Reassess Monthly
🚀 Try recording a baseline test (e.g., max pull-ups, max hang time, number of climbs before exhaustion), then reassess every 4-6 weeks. Seeing these numbers improve is a huge confidence boost!
What to Do Next
➡️ Choose 1-2 physical areas to track (strength, endurance, or mobility).
➡️ Log your baseline numbers today.
➡️ Reassess every month to see steady gains, even if grades don’t change.
By tracking strength and endurance progress, you’ll have more proof that you’re improving, which keeps motivation high and helps you train smarter.
Step 5: Review Your Progress Monthly & Adjust Your Focus
Tracking your sessions is great—but progress happens when you use that information to adjust and improve. If you never look back at your logs, videos, or strength data, you’re missing out on key insights that could help you climb smarter and break through plateaus faster.
By reviewing your progress monthly, you’ll be able to spot trends, celebrate improvements, and refine your training focus.
How to Review Your Climbing Progress
✅ Look for patterns in your logs – Are certain types of moves or routes improving? Are there recurring struggles?
✅ Compare recent video footage – Has your footwork, balance, or efficiency improved?
✅ Check strength & endurance gains – Have you increased hang times, pull-ups, or route endurance?
✅ Assess mental game & confidence – Do you feel more comfortable on lead? Less hesitation on big moves?
📌 Why It Matters:
- Reviewing logs helps you see what’s working and what’s not.
- Identifying weak areas allows you to adjust your training focus.
- Celebrating small wins keeps motivation high and prevents frustration.
How to Adjust Your Training Based on Progress
📝 If you’re plateauing on grades → Focus on drills and movement efficiency rather than just trying harder climbs.
📝 If endurance is holding you back → Add more volume-focused sessions or ARC training.
📝 If footwork is inconsistent → Prioritize footwork drills (like Silent Feet) for a few weeks.
📝 If strength isn’t improving → Adjust your hangboard or pulling routine.
Pro Tip: Set a Monthly Progress Check-In
🚀 At the end of each month, review your logs and videos and ask:
- What’s improving?
- What’s still a struggle?
- What’s my focus for the next month?
By setting aside just 10 minutes for a progress review, you’ll make more informed training decisions, stay motivated, and improve faster.
What to Do Next
➡️ Schedule a monthly check-in to review your logs, videos, and progress notes.
➡️ Adjust your training plan based on what’s working and what needs improvement.
➡️ Celebrate small wins and keep moving forward!
By consistently reviewing and adjusting your training, you’ll make faster, smarter progress—and climbing will feel even more rewarding.
Tracking = Faster Progress & More Motivation
Climbing progress doesn’t happen overnight—but when you track your sessions, measure small wins, and adjust your training, you’ll improve faster and more consistently.
✅ Define what progress means to you—grades, endurance, technique, confidence?
✅ Log your sessions so you can see patterns and improvements over time.
✅ Use video tracking to refine technique and eliminate bad habits.
✅ Track strength & endurance gains so you see progress beyond just sending harder grades.
✅ Review monthly & adjust your focus to break through plateaus faster.
🚀 The fastest way to improve? Stop guessing and start tracking. Even small, consistent efforts will add up to huge progress over time.
💡 Want an easy way to track your climbing? My Elevate Your Climbing: Training Planner and Tracker is designed to help you log sessions, set goals, and stay consistent—so you can climb smarter, not harder [check it out here]
👉 How do you track your climbing? Let me know in the comments!
