While we have talked at length about bouldering, particularly indoors, I have neglected to tell you about the other types of climbing that are both as popular and can be more involved!

The most common type of climbing on-rope is called top rope. This type of climbing can also be done indoors and outdoors but is ultimately considered cheaper and more accessible indoors, as you only need a harness, shoes, and chalk (one step up from indoor bouldering). There exist auto-belay systems for indoor top-roping, meaning you do not have to have a belay device like an ATC or GriGri, as well as an additional person to belay you. When compared to outdoor top-roping, there is the additional element of roping, anchors, helmets, shoes geared towards bare rock over plastic holds, ropes, belay devices, etc. Climbing outdoors also requires a much larger group of people to meet safety standards and to be able to double-check rigs and tie-ins before climbing. Generally, you will find that outdoor climbing will always be more involved and weather-dependent than indoor climbing.

Top-roping essentially boils down to a more vertical, endurance-based route rather than the short, technical bouldering routes. Hooked into harness and rope, walls may be more like 80 ft than 15 ft. While there is still a grading level, it ranges from 5.5-5.15d instead of V0-V16. Top-roping is more appealing to climbers who want to build strength over technical skills, while still developing an entirely different skillset of its own.

Sport climbing is similar to top-roping in that it requires a belayer, harness, and vertical climb, but is a step up in skill and technical skill. Instead of climbing straight up with a belay overhead, you are required to carry quickdraw carabiners up with you on your harness, clipping into bolts as you ascend. In this instance, your belay is led from the bottom, where you must carry the additional weight of the rope up with you. Falls taken on sport climbs can be up to twice the distance of your last successful bolt clip, making them much larger and potentially more dangerous than a fall taken on normal top-roping, especially on bare rock faces.

The last type of climbing I will cover is trad (traditional) climbing. Even more advanced than sport climbing, trad climbers invest in hundreds of dollars worth of equipment such as cams, nuts, and hexes, which often start at $150 each for a basic set. Trad climbing holds a greater risk, as you are dependent upon the placement of your own equipment rather than an overhead belay or secured bolts. You must acquire a great skillset and knowledge bank before endeavoring to trad climb, hopefully learning from other climbers who have years of experience with it.

I am currently learning to sport climb, and one day wish to try trad climbing – although, frankly, the idea of trusting my own equipment placement scares me when I have yet to obtain the necessary experience.

I hope you guys learned something about the different types of climbing seen most commonly today!