Climbing Glossary: 24 Terms Explained
The words that show up in climbing specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- Approach shoe
- A sturdy hiking shoe with sticky rubber soles, built for the hike to the crag and easy scrambling.
- Read more about approach shoe
- Assisted-braking device
- A belay device that adds a camming or pinching action to help hold the rope during a fall.
- Read more about assisted-braking deviceRelated: Best Assisted-Braking Belay Devices
- Belay device
- A friction device threaded with the rope that lets a belayer control slack and catch a fall.
- Read more about belay deviceRelated: Best Belay Devices
- Bouldering
- Climbing short, difficult problems close to the ground without a rope, protected by crash pads instead.
- Read more about boulderingRelated: Best Crash Pads for Bouldering
- Cam
- A spring-loaded camming device that expands to grip the inside of a crack as removable protection.
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- Climbing helmet
- A lightweight helmet worn to help protect the head from falling rock and impacts during a fall.
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- Crash pad
- A thick, foldable foam pad placed on the ground beneath a boulder problem to cushion falls.
- Read more about crash padRelated: Best Crash Pads for Bouldering
- Crimp
- A small, shallow hold gripped with the fingertips bent sharply, common on steep or technical routes.
- Read more about crimp
- Downturned shoe
- A climbing shoe shaped with a curved, aggressive profile that helps on steep or overhanging terrain.
- Read more about downturned shoeRelated: Best Bouldering Shoes
- Dynamic rope
- A stretchy kernmantle rope engineered to absorb the force of a fall, standard for any lead climbing.
- Read more about dynamic ropeRelated: The Best Climbing Ropes
- Hangboard
- A training board with edges and pockets of varying depth, used to build finger and grip strength.
- Read more about hangboardRelated: Best Hangboards for Home Finger Training
- Harness
- A padded webbing system worn around the waist and legs that connects a climber to the rope.
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- Lead climbing
- Climbing while clipping protection into the rope as you go, so falls are longer than on top rope.
- Read more about lead climbing
- Liquid chalk
- Chalk suspended in a fast-drying alcohol base that leaves a thin, long-lasting layer on the hands.
- Read more about liquid chalkRelated: The Best Liquid Chalk
- Locking carabiner
- A carabiner with a gate that locks shut, used for belaying, rappelling, and other critical connections.
- Read more about locking carabinerRelated: The Best Locking Carabiners
- Nut
- A tapered metal wedge, also called a stopper, slotted into a constriction in the rock as protection.
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- Partner check
- A pre-climb check where both climber and belayer verify each other's harness, knot, and belay setup.
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- Personal anchor system
- A short adjustable tether, abbreviated PAS, used to connect a climber directly and securely to an anchor.
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- Quickdraw
- Two carabiners joined by a short sling, used to clip the rope to bolts or gear while leading.
- Read more about quickdrawRelated: The Best Quickdraws
- Redpoint
- Successfully leading a route from bottom to top without falling, after having practiced it before.
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- Route grade
- A rating system describing how physically or technically demanding a climb is, used to pick appropriate routes.
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- Static rope
- A low-stretch rope used for rappelling, hauling, and fixed lines, never for catching a lead fall.
- Read more about static ropeRelated: The Best Static Ropes
- Top rope
- Climbing with the rope already anchored above you, so a fall only means a short drop onto a taut line.
- Read more about top rope
- Trad climbing
- Lead climbing where the climber places and removes their own protection, like cams and nuts, as they go.
- Read more about trad climbingRelated: The Best Cam Sets