What is top rope climbing reddit how to build a good anchor. Length wise, buy a 70 as there are many great routes all around that are bolted for that length rope. If you clip in with a carabiner, you should always use the belay loop, and never leg and waist loops. Surpricingly! In bouldering it's very "free" just me and the wall. Everyone I have talked to is perfectly okay with using 7mm static for anchors so I use the 7mm for my cordelettes. Of course there are other ways to build power and endurance if you find you actually dislike one school or the other. Petzl does not reccomend using their devices for top rope solo but still recognizes people do it anyway and has good information on the safest methods. I guess I went into the conversation as a somewhat ignorant climber that almost exclusively boulders, I consider climbing with ropes and safety gear (non-trad) to be sport Skinny ropes of all designations are fine for alpine climbing, just understand that you might have to retire the rope if you actually whip (worst case scenario). It all depends on the height of the route. Oct 8, 2025 · We tested the best climbing ropes on rock, ice, and alpine routes to find our top picks for redpointing, cragging, and big-mountain missions. If you I've been bouldering for around 2 years and got interested in rope climbing (top-rope, soon lead). And yes we are scared of falling. You should definitely do both. There shouldn't be too much of difference for him climbing and falling on a top rope with you belaying, it might be slightly harsher if he falls, but top rope falls should be pretty soft in general. In my personal opinion climbing routes in gyms is good for endurance, strength, and can help you understand the movements required in climbing as a beginner. Reddit's rock climbing training community. Dec 8, 2020 · Top roping is more involved than bouldering, and requires at least two people to do. You can then apply traditional chalk of your choosing either before climbing or as you climb. Why is this? Isn't top rope a little safer, as there basically aren't falls? I started climbing around five months ago, mainly as a way to exercise and to help with anxiety. The rope is usually fed through an anchor system at the summit of the climb and down to the climber. Additionally, nylon 'static' rope actually stretches a small amount (~5%) so it is not completely static. Look Bouldering is short, intense climbing. Rope climbing is long, steady climbing at a much "lower" V grade equivalent that take insane amounts of endurance and strategy to get through in one shot. May 5, 2025 · Top-rope climbing, a popular choice for recreational climbers, offers a safer alternative to lead climbing. In this article we explain the pros and cons of each! In the Corps, you climb ropes like it’s going outta style…and by 6months or so I’m doing two-rope Donkey Kong climbs which are 100% upper body. He is adamant that top-roping is absolutely NOT sport climbing. Feb 2, 2025 · There are significant differences between bouldering and top rope climbing from safety to health and cost. For top roping / lead climbing Vertical world Seattle and Edgeworks Bellevue are my two favorites because the walls are pretty tall and the setting is really good. Their falls will be bigger and their routes may move to the side more than top rope routes. It's really hard to equate the grades of bouldering and rope because if a route is 30 feet, a 5. ♥️ The rope doesn't move through the anchor at the top, it's just hanging there. That oddly meteoric rise in all-over performance (bookwork to physically) was due to simply paying the fk attention to actual instruction. If you're trad climbing on marginal gear or taking huge whippers, you might care more about the impact force. com will often have ropes for sale, I got a 60M 9. Hey everyone, we are planning a hiking trip to Black Hills and wanted to spice it up with some top rope climbing. Sep 2, 2015 · In a nutshell: Top rope and lead climbing are methods for protecting a climb. Belayer with top rope) lead climbing and belaying and multiple falls from different hights for 75€ (students) / 100 € everyone else It is mandatory to know how to belay dynamic with your body and that you learned to fall from above the last clip Approaches that are longer than fifteen minutes kinda hurt when I have a couple of liters of water, a rope, and other horseshit all riding on a single shoulder strap, so I've always stuck with a pack. Also, you generally want short (30-50m) & skinny ropes for mountaineering, because they save a lot of weight When people think of climbing, top roping is the kind of rock climbing commonly imagined by most people. Solo climbing I am super new to climbing. Rope is dynamic but a factor two on a short length is still going to be uncomfortable. Slings are static so a factor two is going to be disastrous. I would think that top rope poses less risk for acute injury (so long as the knots and ropes are double checked) due to less impact with the ground. Hmm I started top roping about two weeks ago. The main difference between the two is the lack of ropes in bouldering. If you intend to go regularly, and split your time across climbing & mountaineering, I'd consider buying more than one rope. Bellevue has really good bouldering too but some of it is closed atm. when one rope gets a coreshot, reducing rope drag by clipping just one strand etc. I have been strictly top rope so far and have gotten up to 5. I know everyone always says work on your feet, but it is probably the universal truth of climbing. Comparing them is like trying to compare BMX biking and touring the country on a road bike. I broke my foot bouldering a month ago - I fell unexpectedly and landed poorly. With a prusik. The rope runner classic is cool because the entire thing is replaceable, but I haven't found a place that sells the "baby bump" attachment that big boys like me need. Interesting. I avoid repelling and use runners to tether when belaying (TR). Hey fellow climbing humans, What climbing rope brands do you prefer? And what length did you go with for your first ever rope? I really want to get into lead climbing but so far I only have a harness. Dec 4, 2022 · Top rope climbing is one of the most popular styles of climbing. 30 votes, 96 comments. The belayer uses the belay device to Then starting at grad 5. Is that how the rope works in alpine climbing? So it is not possible to climb solo using the rope? Also, are there many 14ers that doesn't generally need roping? Jun 18, 2025 · Top rope solo climbing requires specific equipment and safety precautions. 8 - 5. Can someone please explain this to me? Want to start top roping, what gear/info do I need? My gf and I have been climbing (mostly indoors) about a month and a half and I've decided I want to buy some top roping gear for outdoors climbing. Question: Is top-roping considered sport climbing? My SO and I got into an argument about sport climbing. Dropping down to a 60 in my experience will limit you enough to make the jump to a 70 sensible both in terms of weight and price. 8mm edelweiss rope for $80. There are bomber looking trees in the back of your Short story slightly longer, double ropes are for wandering trad, twin ropes are for Alpine, carry two thin 70m ropes and you get 140m of total length to rappel with. There are some pretty good sales right now. Top Rope vs Top Belay? Pros/cons? Safety, ease of use, setup, cleaning. Let's discuss each phrase and why you might lead or top rope. With an auto-bloc. Move out of the way of climbers and belayers before sitting down for a break. I'll shake out my arms on the wall two or three times while climbing--this could be overkill lol--and I'm good at finding spots where most of my weight is on my feet and my hands are just to keep me on the wall. ). 8)- the texture on the sheath is so soft and the rope itself is flexible r/climbing: The home of Climbing on reddit. Pretty much what the title says! At my initial 8 week appointment my OB asked about my physical activity and I said I climbed 3 days a week but was switching from bouldering to top rope to avoid impact falls. This beginner's guide to top rope informs you with all you need to get started climbing top rope. This style allows you to climb much higher—often over 30 feet—while staying securely attached the whole time. What is your grade bouldering vs sport vs top rope? I know that some people boulder v4/5s but can't climb 10s because of endurance. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. I'm a year into climbing (gym, top rope) and recently learned and tested so I can lead climb at my gym. I’m a long time rock climber and started ice climbing this past season. Appalachian single pitch w top access via hiking. Plus I want to dip my toes in some lead climbing this season. Even those who don't care at all about performance on boulders. Even top-roping outside needs some safety skills, e. Aug 21, 2023 · Sport and top rope climbing differ in terms of techniques, equipment, and physical and mental demands, and they have their own pros and cons. The problem? I become nearly paralyzed with anxiety about actually climbing lead routes. 5 (which seems to have replaced the Mammut Infinity, which appears to have been 23 votes, 52 comments. Most of my anticipated outdoor projects this year are at least double that length. Vertical world's bouldering is just okay imo. The only risk is if you don’t use the equipment properly, which is easy to avoid by checking before you start climbing. Rope will obviously go through the quick draws at the bottom. By comparing these styles, climbers can gain insight into which approach aligns with their preferences and goals. They do however leave a lot to be desired. When a climber falls, having a solid top rope anchor is literally a matter of life and death. 3M subscribers in the climbing community. For a gym, especially top-rope, new climbers tying the wrong knot or not finishing it up might be an even bigger safety concern though. What kind of carabiners do you use for your master point in a top rope anchor? So I took the rappel skill class at the climbing gym. Hi! Just started climbing, and I've only done top rope and bouldering so far, but in all of the professional climbing I've seen, everyone is climbing lead. This post goes over the exact differences and the gear used. I wasn't sure if there was a good rule of thumb about lead climbing adding a certain amount of grades of difficulty or not. I'm looking at buying my first rope and the information on if dry treated is important or not is all over the place with regards to trad climbing so I thought I'd ask y'all. I started splitting my time between top rope and bouldering at my gym. I also would prefer it be a dry rope, solely because I may end up doing some alpinism in the future. Bouldering focuses on shorter climbs without ropes, relying on crash pads for safety I’ve been going to Denver Bouldering Club for a while now and it’s great, but I miss ropes. I will also be doing some top roping with my younger brothers. I've been climbing top rope for 2 years and can send an 11a with a break or 2 (11b on a really good day). Jan 4, 2024 · Top rope climbing is a beginner-friendly style of climbing where the rope runs from the climber's harness up to an anchor system at the top of the route and back down to the belayer on the ground. Endurance built from rope climbing will help teach you and your muscles how to relax and recover for prolonged Bouldering sessions, and power from Bouldering may come in handy for harder rope routes. (although some roped routes are certainly described as ‘bouldery’). purdue. I mostly climb in the Northeast, predominantly trad, but with some sport occasionally. I found a walk off, so I spent the day doing laps walking to the top and rappelling down. If you see people lead climbing, give them extra space. You're in the right place, as we’ve dissected everything you need to know to kickstart your top-rope climbing Top roping just means the rope is already connected to the anchors at the top and there is low risk/technical skill compared to lead climbing which is more risky and requires more training. Any modern rope is going to give you a reasonable catch, especially if you're climbing in the gym or only sport climbing. Is top roping something that we can learn on our own (with the aid of online videos and books/guides) without somebody more experienced to go with us? Is this the actual first anchor you have ever made for a top rope scenario? Why start with trad pieces? For a lot of folks, learning how to build basic anchors off of installed anchor hardware comes first (eg quad, master point), as well as learning how to equalize two trees with a static line. While one person is climbing, the other person holds them up. Could lead climbing that same route increase its grade in theory? In my gym there are walls where you can climb top rope or lead with the permadraws along the same routes. I have a slight fear of heights but i got that managed by the first few sessions. It’s a workout either way. Most beginner's at my gym use the maxim equinox because its the cheapest rope that the local MEC carries. I tried researching this online but get conflicting information. I'm looking at 2 ropes: The Mammut Crag Classic 9. Setting up a secure top rope anchor is vital. To top rope, you must wear a harness and learn how to tie a rope into your harness using a special knot. Right now the cheapest rope they have is $145 so you can probably find a better deal elsewhere, but it's definitely worth checking from time to time. Check /r/climbing for more content. . In rope however Let's say a route is set at a certain difficulty for top rope. I'm big on warm-ups--dynamic stretching, wrist rotations, finger warmups, etc--and my first route on the wall is usually 5. It's different disciplines, bouldering is more strength based than rope climbing. Some sources say bouldering What are your thoughts on top rope soloing with two micro traxions, with one connected to a quickdraw (with 2 locking carabiners) and one directly attached to the belay loop as a back up? The quickdraw would keep them far enough apart so that they don't bind up. Unfortunately, the topos are not great or not available altogether. Wall, San Francisco) Apr 4, 2025 · We tested 13 climbing ropes from Sterling, Petzl, Edelrid, Mammut, and others to find the best options for you. Reddit is great for specific questions but any suggestions on a resource that helps you graduate your knowledge in steps? Hey all, need some advice on a rope. I'm a sport climber and haven't done a ton of setting up top-ropes outside, but basically you want to make sure your anchor point (s) are bomber, that your climbing rope isn't running across a sharp edge, and that your carabiner gates aren't rubbing against a rock that could work them open. The rope runs from the climber’s harness, through an anchor at the top of the route, and back down to a belayer on the ground. edu/ -> Climbing and Challenge Climb Lafayette Bouldering is just a different style of climbing from ropes (generally). The belayer is tied to the rope’s bottom end with a harness and a belay device. I'm just curious Here's my set-up, if you have top-rope soloed a lot feel free to suggest ways to make it easier or safer. Top Roping is considered to be safer than most forms of climbing. Roped climbing in any form takes more equipment- harness, rope, helmet, belay device and eventually QuickDraws and stuff to make anchors if you are going to sport or top rope outside. g. My question is, how can I improve my While some say liquid chalk is silly for sport / top rope, it's actually highly effective as a base layer, and will "flash off" perspiration / moisture (this is caused by the alcohol evaporation) giving you a dry start. Any tips and recommendations is much appreciated. The belay device, which is a mechanism that helps the belayer ‘catch’ the climber by creating more friction on the rope or locking it in place with a braking device. To lead climb, a climber must attach the rope to anchors along the crag using a combination of quickdraws and locking carabiners. Especially when you start climbing multi pitch, often rap anchors assume a 70m if you can't rap down the route. Top rope climbing is a favorite amongst climbers because anyone can learn how to climb, it doesn’t require much gear to get started (indoors), and it’s relatively safe– so long as you take the standard safety precautions seriously. Access to the top of routes will vary, as will the available anchor points. I’ve been using my friends dry rope this season and loved it. The people I know who progress pretty quickly at lower grades on rope split time between bouldering and roped climbing-- progressively shifting towards more bouldering as a percentage of training as their roped climbing grades have gone up. Hi all! I’ve been climbing for 2 years now and I just started outdoor rope climbing (woohoo!). 2 too thin to be top roping on ice? It seems like there is much less rope drag potential overall with ice climbing since Jun 25, 2021 · Top-roping is considered easier and less arduous than lead climbing, which features two variations called trad climbing and sport climbing. In contrast to bouldering, people don’t really sit down anywhere in the rope climbing area. From top roping, to lead climbing, to sport and trad climbing, to learning to climb outdoors, to learning how to be self-sufficient climbing outdoors, building anchors etc etc etc. In this case, clipping into a pre-tied knot with a carabiner leave a lot less space for mistakes. For a beginner I would recommend getting the cheapest rope that's climbing rated you can find. God damn it was so much fun. The sling is a mammut magic sling 120cm (dyneema centre with abrasion resistant nylon sheath). That’s why bouldering is more approachable to beginners. My climbing gym only has 24ft top rope/autobelay walls. Figured out how to setup a top rope anchor from a bunch of YouTube videos and went climbing for the first time outside. Eventually, though, there comes a time when you want to set up your own top-rope anchor. 233 votes, 216 comments. Check out this Mammut. Bought a rope and harness, took them to a crag. Whats so bad about top-roping? A lot of the climbers at the local crags look down on top roping as opposed to lead climbing. It looks like a lot of my friends are getting into lead climbing and going outdoors. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. 13 would have maybe v7-8 moves, but a 60 foot 13 would have v4-5 moves. Wall times and reservations for time slots to climb at the top-rope wall are all located at https://recwell. If there aren't sub anchors to make a 70m rope work, it's a shit route and you don't need to be climbing it anyways. Each offers distinct challenges and experiences tailored to different skill levels. If you have a dynamic climbing rope attached to your static anchor, the dynamic rope will provide some shock absorption. For context, I’ve been climbing for over 20 years since I was a child and have never injured myself climbing. Mammut (they don’t make the model anymore, but it was pretty much their cheaper 9. The jump down, even from the top has never really botherd me, even tough the injury chance is significantly higher than with rope. 2 70m dry rope as an alpine/sending rope for this summer. To embark on this journey, it's crucial to grasp the fundamental mechanics, gear requirements, and the pivotal step of obtaining top-rope certification in a climbing gym. An anchor refers to the whole system — the anchor points, the protection gear, runners, carabiners and climbing rope. This is the smaller rock climbing community on reddit. Learn how to set up properly, choose the right gear, and climb confidently without a partner. That said, you would need a single, dynamic rope which is at least twice the length of the longest route you are planning on doing + a couple of extra meters. theclymb. Primarily single pitch climbers, though looking to get on more multis. At that point, having a rope bag doesn't make sense -- using a tarp and strapping the rope to the top of a pack is easier. Rope Suggestions? I'm just getting into outdoor climbing, and I need to get a rope. Hello! I've been climbing for about 2 years now, but over the past 3 months have been going on a regular basis and getting more serious about it. (Beaver St. Any recommendations for climbing gyms with good top rope routes and maybe auto belays? An inexperienced or otherwise uncomfortable person may want a rope, a more experienced climber may choose to climb without one. I am getting 9. My question is, is 9. Outdoors is rock/projects. Don't make this a first rope purchase without a specific reason. I’ve used Mammut, Bluewater, and Black Diamond in that order of preference. Take u/dwlocks advice and go climbing with some experienced people. Also watch for abrasion, that’s what actually kills ropes. Nov 27, 2023 · Top rope climbing, as I mentioned above, is a climbing style in which you ascend a route while attached to a rope, which is then anchored at the top of the climbing surface. I’ve read a lot online and have seen And then when they were getting close to the top, the first person ties the rope to the anchor and the second person untie one and climb up and repeat. With the rope doubled, on one stand, with carbineers adding friction like I knew people did sometimes with skinny Dec 5, 2024 · Bouldering and top roping are two widely enjoyed climbing styles that appeal to enthusiasts for various reasons. Is it possible to top or lead rope solo? Also this may sound like a dumb question but how do you top rope outside? Dec 27, 2022 · Most commercial climbing gyms provide lead and top rope climbing. We want to do some small top rope bolted sports climbing, hiking, and bike cruising in the valley. You must also learn how to use a special device, commonly referred to as a belay device, to belay (or hold up) your climbing partner. I don't have much desire to do this, but it seems like there's a sentiment (I've seen it on this sub as well) that indoor top rope is just "pulling plastic" and is somehow an inferior way to climb. Just did my first top rope solo, would love to get some feedback on the system I used. But the treated ropes tend to be of higher quality, and you can feel the difference every time. I often opt to top rope solo both when working out moves on a project but more commonly on easier routes for some climbing milage. 197 votes, 121 comments. I think if you’re paying under $150 for a name brand rope you are doing pretty well. It’ll be my main focus/goal for this outdoor season. The anchor, which is a technical climbing term for a secure attachment of the rope to the rock, usually at the top of the route. 9. These climbing essentials include climbing rope, slings, webbing, carabiners (anchor equipment) and rock shoes, harness, belay and rappel device, and helmet (personal equipment). There are many ways to set up a top rope anchor and this article covers 7 of them. Add the mental factor of fall on top rope (almost nothing happens) vs on boulder (I need to fall well to not snap my leg). You won't be discerning enough to tell the difference between it and a tip top Petzl 8mm. I'm going to do some sport climbing, along with some trad once I get a bit more used to climbing trad. $120 for 60m is pretty fair. I’ve been wondering if I should quit bouldering and stick with top rope. Third class terrain is frequently climbed without using ropes, fourth and fifth class terrain is occasional climbed without ropes, but this is far more rare. The rope that connects the climber to the belayer. The home of Climbing on reddit. I've started to… Shoe recommendations for beginner/intermediate top rope climbing. In general, bouldering is more about bursts of strength and precise, dynamic movement and roped climbing is more about endurance and - at a gym - sustained climbing. Expert Advice / Climbing / Rock Climbing How to Set and Clean a Top-Rope Anchor When you first start top-rope climbing, you always have a more experienced climber set things up for you. 11 votes, 16 comments. Feb 21, 2025 · Top rope climbing, on the other hand, involves ascending a route while being secured by a rope. 0 is technical climbing (I've heard it's because you have 5 points of contact, 2 hands, 2 feet, and then the rope, but not sure how true that is). I've been climbing for around 8 months and I was wondering what is the best climbing shoes for a beginner/intermediate climber. 9, but have been wondering lately; Should I stick with top rope, or is it better to "cross train" on bouldering problems? What’s your opinion on lead vs top rope in regards to claiming grades? I was introduced into the sport by very proficient and experienced climbers who held the attitude that only leading was “real” climbing. It is a popular form of rock climbing that is relatively easy and fun way to get into climbing. The two Reddit's rock climbing training community. By the time you've worn out your first rope you'll know what you want your second rope to do. This creates a continuous loop that protects the climber in case of a fall. The website for the community even strongly suggests avoiding top toping as they say it polishes the rock and has a strong negative impact on the crags. Keep slack out of your static anchors. 1. 8 or 5. or people who can climb 12s but can't boulder v3/4s. I am doing sport and alpine multipitch and so far I had a single rope for sport (light, belay with grigri, easy handling rope management) and half ropes for alpine (for long abseils, extra safesty e. You do want a dry rope for mountaineering, but you'll wear away the dry coating much more quickly if you use it regularly for sport climbing & trad, on rock. The chain is attached by two bolts/anchor points in the rock at both ends of it. When getting lowered, the rope is being dragged through the anchor with your full bodyweight on it so it wears out the anchor faster. Climbing lead is also different, you might want to work on endurance and footwork, you are holding your entire weight for the climb unlike top rope and you have to stop to place protection, precise moves will help prevent you from burning out. But although grade 5 can be climbed without a rope on easier stuff, it's not recommended as a mistake will usually amount to death. I forced myself to do some today but didn't leave feeling any better about it--actually managed to psych myself out on a top rope route after that. I really don't know anything about climbing shoes so anything will be helpful. I tend to use slings or cord when leading in blocks and use the rope when swinging leads. Get the thinnest rope you can afford. It's also standard in some places in the world, and super useful if you're going to be leading with two followers. May 15, 2025 · Those who prefer shorter sessions without gear What Is Top-Rope Climbing? Top-rope climbing involves a rope anchored at the top of the wall, with one end tied to the climber and the other managed by a belayer. Top roping is super safe because you’re attached to a rope. Our ropes will probably need to be replaced in the next year, so I wanted to poll the sub. I set up a standard anchor at a two bolt station using a cordalette or slings. In my groups I'm the one who sets anchors (I know knots and how to dress them). She proceeded to strongly suggest I don’t climb at all for risk of falling even though I explained you don’t actually “fall” on top rope. Sure, you can still get hurt, but if you do it safely and you have the essential top rope gears, you’ll have the best time climbing. What are your thoughts on using this as an anchor for top roping? Is it safe? The two carabiners at the top will be locked to a thick steel chain. triogdf vchlypfh aowsui ywflvpc bufbgn wdktp rumlh kru yebtgzuy oemrk hlexjh vkv kbdt pjiu ukm