Stuff you might like to check out:

I got my first injury bouldering so forgive me if my question is considered “common sense” but essentially I slipped and fell the wrong way bouldering and suffered a T11 Spinal fracture or compression fracture and was curious if anyone here has recovered from this kind of injury. If so, my question is were you able to easily begin climbing again after recovering? Are you able to jump down after completing a route without risking injury or have you had to climb down to avoid it going forward? Basically were you able to climb as you did before the injury or did it affect you physical capabilities going forward? (I only jump down from the top when ive pushed myself or noticed at that point I’ve exerted my strength but I typically try to climb down- I know its best to climb down but just curious how cautious, if at all do you have to be after recovering from a spine fracture. I would greatly appreciate input and insight Thanks!

Upcoming AMA - KAYA, Dec 2-3

Hey all, we've arranged for KAYA to participate in an AMA early next week. A few of their staff lurk here on the regular, but this will allow a focused conversation.

Who and what is KAYA?

KAYA is an app for climbers, indoor and out, to find problems, track progress, connect with friends, and share beta. Two years ago they launched their first digital bouldering guide in Joe's Valley, written by Steven Jeffery. Since, they have hosted guides from over 50 authors across North America.

KAYA is comprised of 5 climbers, all with over a decade of time spent on rock.

You can learn more by visiting their website: kayaclimb.com or instagram: instagram.com/kayaclimb

You can leave some questions here, but I will have to move them over manually day of so I strongly prefer you wait until the official thread opens

Who else do you want to hear from? Who else wants to volunteer?I've got a few in mind that I may send feelers out to, persons and businesses I've worked with There are at least 4 V15 crushers that comment here semi-regularly.

My boyfriend has gotten really into bouldering these past few months. He’s been sharing a chalk bag with his friends and I want to get him one for xmas. His friend said the bigger chalk bag is more for bouldering although i’d like to hear recommendations or suggestions :) thank you

So for context, I'm a 6C climber indoors and I really want to improve and more specifically I've set an arbitrary benchmark for myself to reach 7B outdoors in the next 2 or 3 years. I climb 3 times a week, 3hours/session and over all I've been climbing for a year, although until 2 months ago I as only climbing twice a week for 1hour/session.

Generally, I think I really lack in footwork and I also want to improve my overall technique. Strength wise, I'd say I'm at an alright level.

I live in an area with many many boulders available within a 30 minute drive.Will it benefit me? Or should I keep my schedule how it is?

Just wondering if people have identified their weaknesses what they are and then whether you are intentionally working on them and how. Partly just out of interest and partly for inspiration.

Also how you identified them out of interest.

I think my biggest issues are fear, not fully committing when I've already decided something won't work and a tendency to give up. But these are all mental issues I'm not really sure how to identify physical strength or technique issues.

hey, was perusing the backcountry 25% sale for a starter crash pad and was basically wondering if there was any major differences between the majority of $200 pads - mad rock mad pad, metolius session 2, black diamond circuit. for an indoor v4-6/first time outdoor climber, is there anything I should be looking out for? unfortunately too broke rn to spring for anything too exp.

also, anyone heard of the trango cumulus? nothing on the subreddit about it but looks solid, and I like the idea that it seems a little lighter whilst being a touch thicker (4.3 in vs 4) than most of the $200s

Hello All,

My mate and I want to travel to Syd for a bit of a climb day. I was wondering if there are any gyms which grade using the V scale? Since our local gyms use a 1-10 scale, it would be nice to see how we compare to the wider climbing community. Cheers!

I couldn't be more specific in my title due to AutoMod, but we are specifically after gyms which use the V scale.

So I switched to Vital Brooklyn for few months and went to a physical therapy near by the gym for my old injury . I chatted with the doctor and he mention 5/10 patients came from vital and three of my friends who switched to Vital were also injured recently. Yes, I understand it could be just the gym is near by the clinic. Could it be coincidence or red flag?

I used to be able to smear a lot before but ever since then, I've gained 33 lbs / 15 kgs because I'm on a controlled bulk.

Unfortunately, I've lost the ability to effectively smear on walls as I'm way to heavy to keep myself on and walk up. It's a genuine struggle to create the tension I need to smear up.

Any exercises I could do at my regular gym session? Any specific muscles I should train?

Anyone ever use a weight lifting or safety belt (e.g. warehouse worker) during bouldering? I have a bad lower back and on some moves it feels like a limiting factor, so have been wondering if this would help.

(not talking about a weight_ed_ belt or vest BTW)

Hey mind hive, looking for some ideas on what to illustrate. I like doing funny guides for climbing things.

What are somethings in bouldering or sport climbing that could do with a funny guide?

As an example I’m currently doing a little guide on transitioning from the gym to outdoors.

Genuine question - why do so many people just jump from the top of a boulder after sending it instead of downclimbing the boulder or using downclimb holds?

I wince each time I see it, especially when it's a direct land on the feet instead of using that force to roll back. Not only is there chance for immediate injury, the body is not going to be able to handle that in the long term.

No shade. Just genuinely curious. Happy climbing!

i recently just started rock climbing and it is one of the most fun things i’ve ever done. along with it being fun i have gained insane ammount of strength and resilience in very little time. i’ve only been 5 times over the last month and im already back to having solid strength and toning my muscles after taking a 3 month break from the gym. after the first time i was insanely sore, now after this last trip i hardly feel it.

but i honestly dread going to the gym now, it’s not as fun as it used to be. most people at commercial gyms are just “normal” and the whole consumer environment isn’t my thing. when i go bouldering at my local facility it feels like everyone there is on the same vibe just enjoying the boulder problems and chatting about the sport.

i got a great black friday deal for 3 months and now i can go whenever i want. it’s almost addicting like i just went yesterday and i already want to go again today. i really didn’t think i would enjoy bouldering this much, ever since i saw pewdiepie start bouldering i realized it would probably be pretty cool but no idea it would be this cool.

anyone had similar feelings when starting out?

I was pulling super hard on a right heel hook to top a boulder a month ago. I managed to top the boulder but got a super strong cramp in my right calf that i had to stretch out while hanging on the top hold before dropping down. Ever since then the part of the hamstring that connects to the back of the knee feels "weak" in a way. It doesn't hurt, it's just uncomfortable, and i didn't feel anything pop when it happened. I can only feel the injury when the hamstring activates in any way, especially when climbing overhang.

I've never experienced something like this and i would love some input about how to proceed. I'm guessing it's a small strain on the tendon that connects behind the knee. Is the procedure the same as with any tendon injury? Just keep loading as long as it doesn't hurt to increase blood flow to the area? Up until now i've just tried to avoid putting strain on it at all to see if it goes away, but it doesn't seem like it has helped.

Thanks.

Late May, I tore my A2 pulley.

I rested it for month 1 and 2 and did not do any exercises that would strain it. Month 3 I started getting back into rehab and lighter exercises, but I really did not feel any improvement or healing. It was still painful to hang from a bar with my feet on the floor. So I mainly rested month 4 and 5, with only occasional easy exercises/light climbing. This is now month 6 and I still feel the same pain when doing a hang from a bar.

I'm not really sure what I should be doing at this point as it has been 6 months and it still does not feel very (if at all) improved.

I never got an MRI when I initially went to an orthopedic doctor since they confirmed it was a pulley injury via manual tests and I didn't see a point in burning $500 to confirm what I already know. I think its time to revisit professional help, so if anyone in the Orange County, CA area has any recommendations on doctors/professionals to see, that would be really helpful.

Any general tips/information is also really greatly appreciated, especially if you have went through something similar (or know someone who has).

Hello i bought my 2nd chalk bag and i notice it has some spots where air/condense can go into my bag. Now i leave my chalk bag in my car 24/7 will it reduce the quality of the chalk a lot or not noticeable?