Rock Climbing

[KneeGrow]

Has anyone watched Pro Climbing League last weekend? It's a new competition format where climbers go head to head on identical boulders. I found it way more fun to watch compared to the IFSC comps, and both Men's and Women's finals had pretty cool twists.

Spoiler

Janja lost

You can watch the stream for free on Redbull's website

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/live/pro-climbing-league-london-2026

I’ll have to check it out when there’s some free time.

Personally, I rather see a thing where professional climbers pull up to sand bagged outdoor problems. Nothing more satisfying as watching a V15 climber fall on a V2. Sweet delightful suffering.

BJJ professor took me to the climbing gym

A long time ago I took a kid that worked for me climbing, he also did bjj. He did pretty well, it was really funny seeing him throw heel hooks onto the wall like he was grappling. Glad to hear you had fun.

I’ll keep going.

It’s worth it, mind body puzzles my guy.

Anyone send anything cool recently? Temps are starting to go up down here in the southeast, soon there will be ticks and insane humidity.

Spoiler: Sperging

I feel like there’s been a bunch of gay drama this last season. Not anything particularly funny even. Just sanctimonious political faggotry.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

It’s worth it, mind body puzzles my guy

It really is a puzzle, I get the appeal.

 

[onc]

Anyone send anything cool recently?

Not really. We had a sun break last week, and I worked on my V5 and V6 boulder projects, but haven't made any progress. I feel like I need to re-adjust to the real rock after 4 months of gym climbing - it all feels weird and not secure.

Temps are starting to go up down

So is it "up" or "down"?

 

[KneeGrow]

So is it "up" or "down"?

Phonefag auto correct. It’s getting hot and muggy. Gross.
But if I were being super autistic though actual answer is yes. Probably have a few more cold days between now and May. V8 slab here I come. But otherwise highs in the 70's with 80% humidity makes sandstone yucky.

I feel like I need to re-adjust to the real rock after 4 months of gym climbing - it all feels weird and not secure.

It do be like that Mr. Onc.

@VeteranOfTheRetardWars when you went bouldering how far up the V grade system did you manage to tard wrangle yourself into? I swear if you stick it out long enough you'll get to experience the cringe that is the Climbing Community.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

@VeteranOfTheRetardWars when you went bouldering how far up the V grade system did you manage to tard wrangle yourself into? I swear if you stick it out long enough you'll get to experience the cringe that is the Climbing Community

This week I got up to a V3, mainly through raw chimpanzee strength and surprising levels of hip mobility. Nothing with a harness, just the bouldering.
Definitely have to learn the tactics, and I absolutely believe the community is cringe because all communities are cringe.

 

[KneeGrow]

cringe because all communities are cringe

Based and A&H pilled

V3, mainly through raw chimpanzee strength

That over gripping sped strength will take you far on roof problems. Hip mobility will definitely work in your favor. Hopefully one day you'll ascend to outdoor climbing.

Nothing with a harness

Good, but you should wear a harness in the bouldering room as a joke.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

Based and A&H pilled

The way I explained it to my professor, and this makes more sense if you’re familiar with other cringe communities, is that everyone at the climbing gym looks like they train at 10th Planet.
In normal language, weird punk stoner hipster types.
One thing I do have going for me is very good control over my body, how much power I expend, tensing and relaxing muscles, etc. It’s a fun way to get a nice workout, trains almost everything you would want at once.

 

[onc]

But otherwise highs in the 70's with 80% humidity makes sandstone yucky.

Ew.

V8 slab here I come

Care to share which one if it's not phonebookable?

because all communities are cringe

Skill issue tbh. Even with trannies, fags and chinks (surprisingly not that many browns), the climbing community is really great on a personal level - where else can you show up at a crag with nothing by shoes and leech from everyone else without judgement? Not sure how it works in europoor countries, though.

 

[KneeGrow]

Care to share which one

Space, I've done the moves half way up. The thing about it is, it never let's up. You move wrong once and you'll blow off. Landing isn't  too awful with enough pads.

where else can you show up at a crag with nothing by shoes and leech from everyone else

@VeteranOfTheRetardWars very much this, though I don't think you'll get the lingo just yet.

I'm so thankful to be the guy that pulls up with an overabundance of stuff (snacks to gear) always adopting thr crag orphans.

I think besides the cosmopolitan cringe climbers, the super cool weird people you meet outdoor bouldering/climbing community is the most fun.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

Hit my first V4, it was hard but I got it first try.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

What brand of climbing shoes would you all recommend? I’m having enough fun to get my own shoes instead of just renting, and aside from chalk and shoes is there anything in particular I should consider for bouldering?
I prefer the bouldering, that’s where I have the most fun so that’s what I’m sticking with for the time being. And I will tell you what, climbing is much better cross training for grappling than I assumed. Not just grip and pulling strength, but legit the joint decompression feels really nice afterwards and it’s a lot more entertaining than dead hangs off a bar. Not even to mention the proprioception and problem solving, it’s just good stuff all around.

 

[KneeGrow]

Hit my first V4, it was hard but I got it first try

V2 in my crag

What brand of climbing shoes would you all recommend?

Personally I am fan of Madrock shoes (and crash pads, in particular the trifold). However, when discussing climbing shoes there’s a lot of weird details to get into. Whether you want a soft or a stiff shoe (or a middle of the road). Laces, strap, or slip ons? Do you need to downsize your shoes? What is the shoe good at in particular? How much are you ready to spend on a pair? It gets really autistically detailed.

If there are any REI stores near you, I’d suggest trying on every shoe available. As I’ve said previously in this thread, climbing shoe sizes are like woman’s clothing sizes. Shit doesn’t make any sense. Most gyms (medium to large gyms, chain gyms in particular) will sell shoes on site and you’d be able to try on what they have available to sell. A lot of area reps for climbing brands will also do shoe demos, so always be on the lookout for those as well.

Spoiler: Madrock sperg

I know I’ve gone on this rant a few times in this thread. Madrocks are my go to shoe. Big fan of the Remora’s. Fantastic soft shoe that both toe hook and heel hook fantastically. Smear soooooo good buddy. The one down side to them is once they’re towards the end of their life span the heel will slip out incredibly easy. Remoras are my favorite general purpose shoe for both indoor and outdoor climbing. Price ranges from $119 to $85 on sale.
I’ve owned a pair of the sharks, great middle of the road soft/stiff shoe. They heel/toe cam great.
I’ve also owned a pair of the older model Drones, extremely stiff shoe that took me ages in break in. The heel is honestly cheating but idgaf they’re awesome. I only break them out on projects that are beating my ass.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

V2 in my crag

lol

Personally I am fan of Madrock shoes (and crash pads, in particular the trifold). However, when discussing climbing shoes there’s a lot of weird details to get into. Whether you want a soft or a stiff shoe (or a middle of the road). Laces, strap, or slip ons? Do you need to downsize your shoes? What is the shoe good at in particular? How much are you ready to spend on a pair? It gets really autistically detailed.

If there are any REI stores near you, I’d suggest trying on every shoe available. As I’ve said previously in this thread, climbing shoe sizes are like woman’s clothing sizes. Shit doesn’t make any sense. Most gyms (medium to large gyms, chain gyms in particular) will sell shoes on site and you’d be able to try on what they have available to sell. A lot of area reps for climbing brands will also do shoe demos, so always be on the lookout for those as well.

Spoiler: Madrock sperg

I know I’ve gone on this rant a few times in this thread. Madrocks are my go to shoe. Big fan of the Remora’s. Fantastic soft shoe that both toe hook and heel hook fantastically. Smear soooooo good buddy. The one down side to them is once they’re towards the end of their life span the heel will slip out incredibly easy. Remoras are my favorite general purpose shoe for both indoor and outdoor climbing. Price ranges from $119 to $85 on sale.
I’ve owned a pair of the sharks, great middle of the road soft/stiff shoe. They heel/toe cam great.
I’ve also owned a pair of the older model Drones, extremely stiff shoe that took me ages in break in. The heel is honestly cheating but idgaf they’re awesome. I only break them out on projects that are beating my ass.

Thanks for the advice, I’ll ask the dudes and look around. It’s definitely one of those things where guys pick it up and stop after like a month so there’s plenty of like-new used options.

 

[KneeGrow]

of like-new used options

If you have an REI near by they do have a little resale area where things get marked down like crazy too.

I check Steep and Cheap weekly for sales too. A lot of general outdoor gear gets sold on there as well so I spam that site in the few threads relevant to outdoor activities with them.

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

Just wrapped up a session and got some names of brands written down. I definitely feel like I’m in the stage of learning where I’m picking it up quicker and adapting to the new ways of moving, the problems I couldn’t solve or had lots of trouble solving last week were much easier this week though it’s still nothing impressive.

Got this little dood for my chalk bag, I love him and shall name him Eduardo.

 

[KneeGrow]

little dood

It does kind of look like a pooner.

 

[KneeGrow]

I asked ai to make a kiwi bird climb a slobber mutt boulder




@VeteranOfTheRetardWars come to the southeast so I can take you out to boulder real rock.

Was out today and spotted lone star ticks people in the crew ripped their little cunt legs off and threw them back out into the brush. I’ll climb in 95 degree 100% humidity but the moment I spot ticks I geek the fuck out. Otherwise today was repeating climbs and failing on V5’s and V6’s. How’re y’all niggas doing?

 

[onc]

What brand of climbing shoes would you all recommend?

is there anything in particular I should consider for bouldering?

As @KneeGrow said, just go to a store and try everything and see what feels nice and snug. Some people will say you need to downsize multiple sizes to perform well - that's cope. If you're good, you can send hard shit in neutral, comfy shoes. The only thing you'll definitely get from downsizing a lot is deformed toes.

a kiwi bird climb a slobber mutt boulder

Bro's rocking a beanie and no-hand sending 8)

How’re y’all niggas doing?

I've been climbing hard leads in the gym (lower 5.12's) to prepare myself for the outdoors - I decided to sideline outdoor bouldering for trying to send a 5.11d by the end of the season. My fingers are sore constantly, and I take it as a sign I'm giving it my all. Any advice how to speed up finger recovery is appreciated (I already drink collagen before climbing).

95 degree 100% humidity

Climbing friction slab, I presume

 

[KneeGrow]

I've been climbing hard leads in the gym (lower 5.12's) to prepare myself for the outdoors

How does your gyms grading compare to outdoors? I’ve been to only a few that weren’t comp style bullshit that doesn’t translate to outside.

Got tricked into doing lead outside recently. I made a terrible mistake of not asking the person that invited me what their level of experience for lead climbing was. Dude short roped me a lot on slab. Won’t even lie, I couldn’t send harder than 5.7 on account of that. Dude goes to clean the anchors on some fucked 5.8 that’s ran out, forgot to fully untie his figure 8 and got it stuck in the chains. I had to run around the backside and talk him through what to do. It was a shit show, asked him once we were on the ground how many times he’s done lead “well two full times but been outside rope climbing four times”. Suffice to say I went back to bouldering.

Climbing friction slab, I presume

What do you take me for, a goat? Conglomerate crimps of course.

Any advice how to speed up finger recovery is appreciated

Rest days and the collagen you already take. I’m assuming you hang board?

 

[VeteranOfTheRetardWars]

Any advice how to speed up finger recovery is appreciated (I already drink collagen before climbing).

I’m actually in the physical therapy field both with work and school, so maybe I can help.
The single best thing for hands is the rice bucket. Do this workout after you climb, you’re doing so much gripping that you need to work your extensors and help your tendons by promoting bloodflow.
Another good exercise is called a Hand Tendon Glide, just look it up and follow the instructions. Like a set of ten twice a day, these just help the tendons slide around properly so you don’t need much of them to get benefit.