Every
climbing
word.

Ape index is the difference between a climber's arm span and their height, often discussed as an advantage in climbing.

The ATC is a tubular belay device made by Black Diamond — the most common belay device for top-rope and lead climbing.

A belayer is the climber on the ground who manages the rope and catches the lead climber if they fall.

A bicycle is a technique where one foot toe-hooks and the other foot pushes on the same hold, locking the foot in place.

A bouldering grade is a difficulty rating for a boulder problem — most commonly the V scale (US/UK) or Font scale (Europe).

A chimney is a wide vertical crack a climber can fit their body into, using opposing pressure between back and feet to ascend.

A climbing harness is a padded waist-and-leg system that ties to the rope and distributes fall load across a climber's hips and thighs.

A climbing rope is a dynamic kernmantle rope designed to stretch under load and absorb the shock of a falling climber.

A crash pad is a thick foam mat that boulderers place beneath a climb to cushion falls and protect against injury.

The crux is the hardest move or section of a climb — the part most likely to make the climber fall.

A drop knee is a foot technique where the climber rotates the knee inward and downward to twist the hip into the wall.

A figure four is a technique where the climber hooks one leg over the opposite arm to gain extra reach.

A flash is a clean first-attempt ascent of a route with prior beta — easier than an onsight but harder than a redpoint.

Free climbing is climbing where the rope is used only for safety — the climber ascends using only the rock, never pulling on gear.

A front lever is an advanced calisthenics hold where the body stays parallel to the ground while hanging from a bar.

A gaston is a hold gripped with the elbow out, pushing the hold sideways away from the body — like opening sliding doors.

A hangboard is a wall-mounted training board with edges, pockets, and slopers used by climbers to build finger strength.

A jug is a large, easy-to-grip climbing hold that you can wrap your whole hand around — the friendliest hold type.

A kneebar is a rest position where the climber wedges their knee between two holds or features, locking the leg into place.

Lead climbing is a roped style where the climber clips the rope to protection points as they ascend, rather than the rope being pre-set above.

A mantle is a move where the climber pushes down on a hold or ledge to press their body up onto it — like getting out of a swimming pool.

An onsight is a clean first attempt of a route with no prior knowledge or beta — the highest style of ascent.

A pinch is a hold gripped between thumb and fingers like a clamp, requiring strong opposing-grip strength.

A project is a route or boulder problem a climber is working on over multiple sessions — too hard to send first try.

A redpoint is a clean lead ascent of a route after previous attempts and rehearsal — the standard way to send hard sport routes.

A "send" is a successful clean ascent of a climb without falling or weighting the rope — climbing slang for completing the route.

A smear is a foot technique where the climber presses the rubber of the shoe directly against the wall, with no edge to stand on.

Sport climbing is a roped style on routes pre-equipped with permanent bolts, where climbers lead-climb and clip quickdraws into the bolts.

A stick clip is a long pole used to pre-clip the first bolt of a sport route from the ground, removing the risk of a ground fall.

A toe hook is a foot technique where the climber pulls a hold with the top of the toe, using the foot as a third pulling limb.

Trad climbing (traditional climbing) is a roped style where the lead climber places removable protection in cracks and features as they climb.

An undercling is a hold gripped from below with the palm facing up, pulling outward against the hold.

The V scale is the standard bouldering grading system used in the US, UK, and most of the world — running from VB and V0 to V17.