If you are a newcomer to climbing or bouldering, this article answers some important questions. First, what is the difference between climbing and bouldering? The disciplines are very similar, but there are some important differences.
So what is the difference between climbing and bouldering? Bouldering is so-called climbing without a belay rope, whereas climbing, e.g. altitude climbing, requires a rope as well as several other gadgets. There are of course many more differences.
What are the differences between the types of climbing?
If you’re interested in the world of climbing, it’s worth knowing that climbing has more than one name. Climbing activities can be done in a very diverse way depending on the terrain, the season, and your preferences.
Classic climbing with a rope is not the only option for fans of this sport. Recent years have shown that there is an increasing interest in bouldering, i.e. climbing without a belay, which can be practiced in special climbing halls. It turns out that there are many types of climbing, and here are the more popular ones:
- bouldering
- rock climbing
- mountain climbing
- ice climbing
- high altitude climbing
And many more, but in this article, we will talk about some of the more popular ones. In this article, you can read about whether this is a male sport or whether women are also interested in it and what their chances are in this competition.
What are the popular types of climbing?
We already know that various types of climbing differ from each other, not only in terms of the time of year when we can practice it or the terrain we prefer, but mainly in terms of the equipment, we will need. To find out what is the difference between climbing and bouldering, it is necessary to know their specifics and main assumptions.
- Bouldering is a type of climbing on a closed object. We climb on about 4 meter high walls because of the so-called problems, depending on the scale we have several levels of difficulty (on average about 6). For this type of climbing, we don’t need ropes, harnesses, or expresses. However, the basic equipment includes special climbing shoes, a bag for magnesia, liquid or powdered magnesia, and comfortable clothes.
Another form of bouldering may be the so-called urban climbing, i.e. climbing in the city, on various types of bridges or buildings.
- High-altitude climbing can also be practiced in climbing halls. With this form of climbing, however, we have to take into account more specialist equipment. We can climb on walls of much greater height, e.g. from 10 to even 50 meters. Because of the considerable height of the climbing, it is more dangerous, and you require a supervisor for this sport. The most important equipment required is climbing shoes, rope in different lengths, helmet, magnesia and bag, special harness, backpack, carabiner or so-called express. Climbing in itself is a rather expensive hobby, but for your comfort and safety, it is best to invest in professional equipment.
We have the following types of rope climbing:
- self-guided
- belayed
- with an overhead belayed
- rod
- sport climbing, i.e. with a fixed anchor
Rock climbing, whether at altitude. Depending on the type of rock you want to climb, you can choose areas with very high altitudes or lower rocks such as sandstone, basalt, or granite. It is a typical off-road sport, so we need to be a bit more prepared when it comes to equipment. If you want to climb rocks in terrain, it’s best to go in at least two people and share your equipment.
The other person’s help is very important here, whether it is belaying a rope or guarding the route. The necessary equipment includes ropes, climbing shoes, helmets, harnesses, express and carabiners, magnesia, and also the so-called crash pad. It is a mattress that cushions our fall if we fall off a rock. In the rocks, we have to be really careful not to hurt ourselves.
Mountain climbing is a slightly different type of climbing from the previous ones, as it is usually connected with overcoming different kinds of distances. The most popular mountain climbs are those that take place on a particular continent or at a particular time of year. It is an interesting combination of climbing itself and hiking, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Depending on whether we go to the mountains in summer or winter, we will need ropes, a helmet, special shoes or trappers, the so-called crampons for shoes, a harness, carabiners, a rucksack, express belts, and an ax.
Regardless of the type of climbing, we want to try, we should pay attention to its specifics and the equipment required. Let’s remember that climbing is an extreme sport that can sometimes be dangerous, so it’s worth betting on good quality equipment and specialized training. So, we already know the difference between climbing and bouldering, but each of those disciplines gives a lot of fun and interesting experiences.
Climbing is dangerous?
Knowing the difference between climbing and bouldering, it is also important to familiarize yourself with the topic of safety in these sports. If you’re a beginner, it’s a good idea to get professional help, such as special courses or experienced climbers who can teach you the basics. Climbing is an extreme sport, and sometimes you may be at risk of accident or injury, and there are also fatal accidents.
The most common unpleasant situations occur when a climber falls off a wall or rock, makes a bad belay, or gets a wrong hold. Regardless of whether we are indoor bouldering or outdoor rock climbing, an accident may happen, which cannot always be foreseen.
Among the most frequent are various types of cuts, abrasions, dislocations, or limb fractures. Wear a helmet when climbing on the cliffs and special crampons on your boots, especially in winter. Remember that if an accident happens somewhere far away in the field, the time you have to wait for help may be different – it is worth having a first aid kit with you.
In Summary – What is the difference between climbing and bouldering?
Climbing, regardless of its type, is a beautiful and addictive sport that enjoys great popularity all the time. We already know the difference between climbing and bouldering and the equipment we need to invest in to start our adventure with climbing.
You can climb practically everywhere, from special halls, through buildings or bridges, to different kinds of rocks and mountains. It’s a sport as beautiful as it is dangerous, but in my opinion, it’s worth trying it at least once.
