If you have ever wondered what is bouldering, here’s the short version: bouldering is rope-free rock climbing done close to the ground, with thick pads underneath you instead of a harness. As a climber who boulders all the time, I forget that plenty of people have never heard of it. That’s changed a lot since climbing showed up at the Olympics, but there are still folks walking into a gym for the first time with no idea what those short, colorful walls are for.
So let’s break it down from the ground up. In this guide you’ll get a plain answer to what bouldering is, how it’s different from roped climbing, the little bit of gear you actually need, and what to expect the first time you try it indoors or outside.
What Is Bouldering?
Bouldering is a form of climbing that’s harness and rope free, with pads on the ground surrounding the climbing area. You climb short walls or rocks, usually no higher than 15 feet or so, and when you’re done (or you fall) you just drop onto the padding. There’s no belayer, no rope, no clipping in. It’s you, the wall, and your hands and feet.
Bouldering can be done outside on small rock formations or in a climbing gym with specialized bouldering areas. Because there’s so little gear involved, it’s one of the easiest ways to get into climbing. You can walk into a gym, rent a pair of shoes, and be climbing within minutes.
Bouldering for Beginners: What You Need to Know
If you’re a beginner or you haven’t been bouldering before, I recommend going to a bouldering gym before you try climbing outside. The biggest reason is safety. Falling in a bouldering gym is much less likely to hurt you than falling outside, because the whole floor is padded and the walls are built to be climbed. If it’s your very first session, it helps to know what to expect, so it’s worth reading up on what your first time at a bouldering gym is really like before you go.
One nice thing about a bouldering gym is that they have climbing shoes available for rent. Renting shoes is worth the extra couple of dollars because sticky rubber makes climbing so much easier than sneakers or bare feet.
The goal in a bouldering gym is to use your hands and feet on climbing holds of one color to go from the starting position (tape or a marker shows you where your hands start) all the way to the finish hold, which is marked, or to the top of the wall, depending on the gym. Each set of same-colored holds is called a route or a problem, and it’s graded so you know roughly how hard it is before you get on.
Bouldering vs Top-Rope Rock Climbing
Bouldering and top-rope are both types of rock climbing, but they feel very different. Bouldering is a short climb with almost no equipment, while top-rope climbing is a long climb with a rope, a harness, and a bunch of safety gear. Bouldering for beginners is usually surprisingly hard, especially if you’ve been climbing top-rope. A big reason for that is bouldering tends to be more technical, where top-rope leans more on muscle endurance to get you up a long wall.
Bouldering and top-rope also use different grading scales. In the United States (where I’m from) bouldering uses the V-scale, starting at V0 and going as high as V13 and beyond. Top-rope and lead climbing use the Yosemite Decimal System, starting around 5.5 and going all the way to 5.15. V0 to V2 are beginner levels and line up most closely with about 5.9 to 5.11. If the whole number thing is confusing, our rundown of indoor bouldering is a good next read once you know the basics.
Bouldering Equipment
Compared to other types of climbing, bouldering needs the least amount of gear, which is a big part of the appeal. Anything you do need is usually available for rent at climbing gyms or at local climbing shops. Unlike a rope or harness, bouldering gear is usually fine to buy second-hand, though if you catch the bug and plan to climb a lot, buying new can get you more life out of it. If you want the full breakdown, here’s the minimal gear you actually need for bouldering. Here’s the basic kit:
Climbing Shoes
Though you can technically climb without them, climbing shoes make bouldering much easier. One of the biggest benefits of climbing shoes is that they let you stand on tiny footholds you couldn’t use otherwise. They also support your whole foot so you can put your full weight on the edge of a single toe.
Here are my favorite climbing shoes
Climbing Chalk
Another piece of gear for both indoor and outdoor bouldering is climbing chalk. It isn’t strictly required, but it’s helpful and most climbers use it. Climbing chalk has been shown to help climbers stay on holds longer by keeping your hands dry. If you’re using chalk outdoors, make sure it’s allowed where you want to climb. Some spots don’t allow it because the white marks are seen as a kind of graffiti. Even where chalk is fine, brush it off the rock before you leave so it doesn’t take away from the natural look of the boulder.
Climbing Brush
Climbing brushes are used to clean off holds so they’re easier to grip. They’re usually an artificial-horsehair type of brush, but plenty of climbers just use a toothbrush. This is more of an advanced-climbing tool, and you probably don’t need one for beginner bouldering.
Equipment for Indoor Bouldering
The most important piece of gear for bouldering is a pad to fall on. Unlike other types of climbing, there’s no rope and harness to catch you, so every fall ends in a ground impact. Luckily, indoor bouldering gyms have mats built into the floor around the walls, so you don’t need to bring your own.
Indoor gyms also usually rent climbing shoes, so you don’t have to own a pair to start. If you find you love bouldering, though, buying your own pair is worth it, since rental shoes tend to be cheaper rubber that doesn’t grip as well.
Equipment for Outdoor Bouldering
Unlike bouldering gyms, outdoors you have to bring your own crash pads. Some outdoor recreation shops rent them, so you can check your local stores. Make sure you bring enough pads to cover the landing area for the climb you’re trying.
On top of the stuff you carry in, you should never go bouldering outdoors by yourself. Bring a friend to move pads under you during a climb and to spot you. There’s more to it than just company, so it’s worth reading the real trade-offs of bouldering alone before you head out solo. Unlike an indoor gym, portable pads don’t cover much ground, so a spotter can steer or nudge you onto the pad instead of letting you land on bare dirt.
Bouldering Indoors vs Bouldering Outdoors
Bouldering indoors is really different from bouldering outdoors. A lot of climbers feel that outdoor bouldering is harder, but it might just be that some people are better at the kinds of challenges you find in a gym versus the ones you find in nature. Here’s where the two split.
Handhold Stability
Indoor bouldering uses artificial holds bolted onto a wall, and it’s very uncommon for one to come loose, move, or break. Outdoors, there’s a higher chance a hold breaks or crumbles. Usually you avoid rock that’s crumbling, but I recently heard about a climb that used to be a V7 and is now a V6 because a hold near the start snapped off and left a bigger, easier surface behind.
Indoor bouldering also has a similar texture and grip on every route, while outdoor rock changes with the stone. Granite feels completely different from sandstone, so you have to adjust your style to match. Most climbers pick this up quickly, but it can still change how hard a climb feels.
Nature vs Artificial Environments
You’ll see more climbers wearing shorts indoors than outdoors, because the only things you touch inside are the holds and the wall. Outdoor bouldering adds weeds and rough rock that scratch you up, plus critters like lizards or spiders that can startle or bite. Outdoor problems are usually low enough that you don’t have to worry about bats flying at your face, but I have seen birds spook a climber right off the wall.
The Mental Game
There are a couple of mental-game differences between climbing indoors and out. The obvious one is that an indoor gym is a controlled space, so you don’t have to think about whether a hold is stable, and there’s plenty of padding if you fall. Outdoors, you have to trust that you set a thick enough pad in the right spot for where you might come off.
A less obvious head game is not knowing whether you’re on a route at the level you meant to climb, or even whether the line goes at all. In the gym, routes are built by professional setters (the people who create the routes and problems) and labeled with a grade, so you know it’s a set difficulty and it’s been built to be finished. A big part of getting better at the mental side is repeating movement until it feels automatic, which is exactly what focused bouldering drills are for. If you’d rather have those drills queued up for you between gym sessions, a movement-training app like Grip & Grind walks you through them at home.
Conclusion
There’s very little gear needed to start bouldering (especially compared to top-rope climbing), so it’s one of the easiest climbing sports to get into as a beginner and well worth trying. It’s a fun activity you can do indoors or outdoors, and the two feel different enough that I’d point any beginner toward an indoor bouldering gym first. That way you’re in a controlled space with the most padding around you for falls. Once you’ve got more experience under you, bring an experienced climbing friend and take it outside.
Want to actually get better, not just start? Send Edition sends one short climbing drill to your inbox each week, the kind of thing you can work on in about 15 minutes at the gym. Level up your climbing with 15 minutes of training and join free.
More About Bouldering:
- What Is The Minimal Gear Needed For Bouldering?
- Can You Boulder Alone? The 8 Benefits Of Climbing Alone
- The Complete Guide For Bouldering Grades – What You Should Know
- Should You Wear A Helmet For Bouldering?
- Can You Boulder In The Rain Or When The Rock Is Wet?
- First Time At The Bouldering Gym – What You Should Know
- Pros And Cons Of Indoor Bouldering
- Indoor Bouldering: Do’s And Don’ts For Beginners
- Bouldering For Beginners: What You Need To Know
- A Guide For Climbers: Bouldering Drills 101
- Is Climbing and Bouldering Good For Cardio?
Frequently asked questions
What is bouldering in simple terms?
Bouldering is rope-free rock climbing done close to the ground, with thick crash pads underneath you instead of a harness and rope. You climb short walls or rocks, usually up to around 15 feet, and drop onto the padding when you finish or fall. You can do it indoors at a gym or outdoors on real rock.
Is bouldering good for beginners?
Yes. Bouldering needs the least gear of any climbing style, and gyms rent out shoes, so you can try it the same day you show up. Start indoors, where the floor is padded and routes are graded, before you head outside. It’s usually more technical than roped climbing, so beginner problems can feel surprisingly hard at first, which is normal.
What gear do you need to start bouldering?
For indoor bouldering you really just need climbing shoes, which you can rent, and some chalk to keep your hands dry. The mats are built into the gym floor. For outdoor bouldering you also need your own crash pads, a brush for cleaning holds, and a friend to spot you and move pads.
How are bouldering grades measured?
In the United States, bouldering uses the V-scale, which starts at V0 and climbs to V13 and beyond. Roped climbing uses the Yosemite Decimal System, from about 5.5 to 5.15. As a rough guide, beginner grades of V0 to V2 line up with around 5.9 to 5.11.
Is bouldering harder indoors or outdoors?
Many climbers feel outdoor bouldering is harder, but a lot of it comes down to what you’re used to. Indoor holds are consistent and never move, while outdoor rock changes texture and can crumble, and you have to trust your own pad placement. Some climbers are simply stronger at gym problems than natural ones, or the other way around.
