Quick and easy guide to types of climbing

After reading this guide you should have a quick overlook over the genres in climbing, while not going to deep into either of them. This article is targeted at beginners, so it won’t go to deep into each of the genres, or explain the techniques needed for each type in depth. If you want a more thorough look at any of the genres, take a look at each category in the categories menu to the right. Now, let’s get started;

Traditional climbing

This is the sort of climbing you want to get into if you want to go an unused path, so to speak.Traditional climbing is just what you think it is, just normal climbing with no preset anchors or bolts. The mountain wall will usually feel fresh, in the sense that you won’t find old anchor points from other climbers. It is expected that you remove your equipment after you’re done with your passage up the mountain. Suggested to people who want to explore new mountains by themselves or with others, a really rewarding outdoor activity overall.

Mountaineering
This is some of the most serious and dangerous type of climbing one can do, probably the most feared and revered genres in climbing today. It's feared because a lot of the factors involved if you succeed or fail is out of the climbers direct control. Even if the gear is a lot better now than what was available years ago when this all started, you can still catch a cold(serious condition when at places with little to no oxygen) or other sickness because you're high above the water-level. Mountaineering is what you do when you want to climb Everest for example. This genre is based on attempts to reach the top of known mountains, such as Everest and Kilimanjaro.
Very often, like with traditional climbing, the route is set by earlier climbers. The routes themselves don’t have to be too steep, but the challenge comes from its extreme height and lack of oxygen. It’s very normal to bring extra oxygen tanks, and do the climbs in portions, a climb can last for days or even weeks.

Sports climbing

In comparison to traditional climbing, sports climbing have all the anchor points set up already. These preset anchors and sometimes bolts, make the climbing experience especially fluid and a lot faster than traditional climbing, in which case you have to set up the climbing anchors yourself (and take them down afterwards). This experience is very fluid and refreshing, great if you don’t want the hassle with setting up your own anchor points, or simply don’t know how to secure them yet.

Bouldering
Bouldering is a form of climbing that takes place relatively close to the ground, in general maximum of 7 meter above the ground. This is probably the most technical form of climbing when it comes to personal agility and ability. The rocks you climb here are usually very difficult and might require many tries. The climbing itself is done in short bursts, or “moves” if you like. If it takes place above 7-10 meters this type is also referred to as “soloing”. For safety it can be done with a spotter to hold your rope.

Rock climbing
Rock climbing is what you will most likely find when watching climbing competitions on TV. The competition can take place inside or outside, artificial walls or real walls (this type of climbing can be seen as a mix between indoor, sports climbing with a dash of bouldering). While this sport is very competitive its not to say beginners can’t jump in and try as well, there are more than enough motivation in the community to show beginners the ropes and how to get into it.

Indoor rock climbing
The most popular form of climbing these days. Generally considered to be a spinoff of bouldering(and of course rock climbing), because you’re not going that high up when climbing indoors. The artificial walls vary greatly in difficulty and steepness. This is also one of the reasons it’s considered to be the best place for beginners to start, seeing as they can start out on very straight forward and easy walls to get the hang of the basics. For general climbing gyms, its required or preferred to have a spotter while you climb, to stop you from falling.

Ice Climbing

It is exactly what it sounds like, climbing on ice. It’s not unusual to climb things like frozen waterfalls and the like. To secure the rope you use an ice screw and twist it into the mountain, it’s harder than it sounds like. Alpine ice usually refers to ice that are far up in the mountains and are somewhat difficult to reach, typically the end sprint of a mountain summit or mountaineering try.

Aid climbing
Last but not least we have aid climbing. In contrast to the other types of climbing, this sort uses a technique that relies heavily of use of the rope itself to ascend. While being less demanding on your personal athletic ability or strength as a climber, the technique can be hard to master at first. for beginners, picking one of the free climbing genres would be better(this is by some just considered a side tecnique to get up nothing but the steepest hills, and not a type itself).

We hope this got you a quick look at the different types of climbing, and maybe intrigued some interest on a genre you at first weren’t considering trying out. Remember, for more info on each style, feel free to check out the different climbing type categories in menu to the right.