Rock climbing grades chart 16. D (difficile): Hard. South African rock climbing grades are very similar to Australian, with the exception that the upper end of the scale is currently at 41. About this Sports Climbing Grades table: This is a lead climbing grade conversion chart. In this part of the article, we’ll convert the North American V-scale to the Yosemite Decimal System as well as the Font scale to the French climbing system. One of the key aspects of bouldering is the grading system used to rate the difficulty of a climb. Here is a chart showing the bouldering rating conversions between the V Scale and Font Scale. ⛰️ ClimbGrades. Climbing grades are numbers, letters, and symbols that are designed to represent the proposed difficulty of a certain climb. Rock Climbing Grades: Rock climbing grades typically use one of several grading systems, with the most common being the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States and the French numerical system (French grades) in Europe. Jun 10, 2024 · Climbing grade conversions for rock climbing and bouldering. Understand the Context: grades are subjective and can vary based on region, climbing style, and even the conditions on the day you climb. [1] It was first devised by members of the Sierra Club in Southern California in the 1950s as a refinement of earlier systems from the 1930s, [2] and quickly spread throughout North America. It is all subjective. 9 is Climbing is an exhilarating and challenging sport that attracts adventurers from all walks of life. Consider the Climbing Style: sport climbing, traditional climbing, and bouldering can have different grading nuances. The most prominent grade systems are: The adjectival grade is the first part of the grade, and attempts to give a sense of the overall difficulty of a climb. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples! Mar 30, 2023 · Rock climbing grades. Bouldering and sport climbing are two siblings in the world of climbing. . Grade IV: A full day of tech­ni­cal climb­ing, gen­er­al­ly at least 5. The technical difficulty is based on the hardest move of the climb, so even if a climb is mostly easy climbing but has one hard move, the technical rating will be that or the hardest mo Sustained 60° to 65° ice/mixed climbing or rock climbing around grade 13-15. Note that we’ve omitted some rarely seen scales for brevity and that the only climbing grades worth comparing are those that rate free climbing. The scale is open ended, so if harder grades are climbed, new subgrades can be added, i. Bouldering is a bit different than some other forms of rock climbing and it has its own grades, the V-scale, for defining the difficulty of the climb. 1. If you have done any climbing, either in the gym or outside, you will most likely have run into the concept of climbing grades. Grade II: Half a day for the tech­ni­cal por­tion. 7. May 27, 2025 · 5th Class Rock is subdivided into Number Grades, which are the decimal digits after the 5 in YDS climbing grades. Ranking Guide - Rankings explained in great detail from rockclimbing. Grade III: Most of a day for the tech­ni­cal por­tion. Bouldering Grades Bouldering grades are typically indicated by the V-scale, ranging from V0 to V16. Apr 10, 2025 · Comparing between mixed climbing grades and the Yosemite Decimal System and other standard rock climbing grades is difficult, as the variables are many. The reason being that the width of grades on a specific scale are not comparable or that grades are not linear across the whole scale. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. . 5 14b 5. Though this is technically also where bouldering grades begin as well. The Australian “Ewbank” grading system, where “1” is the lowest grade for example; an inclined walk. For this reason, it might be useful to understand how to convert bouldering grades into climbing grades. However, in 1996, American mountaineering legend and father of modern dry tooling, Jeff Lowe estimated that an M8 was equivalent to a 5. 10 and above are broken down into a, b, c, and d, and all grades can receive plus or minus notations. 3/5. What Are Climbing Grades? Two climbing routes at an American climbing gym. Be experienced in alpine climbing up to 5. The idea of the Trad Grade is to give a representation of the whole climb, including overall difficulty, how good the trad climbing gear is (or isn’t) and the hardest single move on the route. Tips for Using Climbing Grade Conversions. Whether you're a seasoned climber or a newcomer to the sport, understanding the different climbing grades and difficulties is crucial for selecting routes that match your skill level and ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Feb 9, 2024 · Start with Beginner-Friendly Grades. As rock climbing areas proliferated and the sport gained momentum, a national climbing classification system sprouted in various regions, each tailored to the unique terrains and challenges they presented. ) as well as a certain degree of specific training: Ⅴ – + Fifth grade: Holds and supports are very rare and small. May 4, 2020 · The idea of climbing grades is fairly straightforward, but when applied to bouldering, sport climbing, alpine, ice, trad, or mountaineering, the grades change based on the local climbing area or by the international standard. Bouldering grades are graded using different systems across different regions. In this article we go over the nuances of rock climbing grades, indoor and outdoor, what they mean, and how to understand them. The V Scale is similar to the Font Scale in that is uses numbers and letters to grade routes, however there are no pluses. 12b, the other a grade of 5. This lead climbing grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from YDS to French and back to French to Yosemite. They will teach you the proper techniques as well as be able to teach you how to take care of your body. 15d). Rock Climbing Grades See Our Complete Guide to USA Climbing Grades Rock climbing is graded on both the technical difficulty of the climb and the commitment of the climb. Mar 21, 2022 · See the chart below for an illustrated comparison of indoor vs. The British Trad Grade is a compound grade evolved from a climbing ethic strongly biased towards onsight traditional or ‘trad’ climbing. 0 (easiest) to 5. Class 5: Rock Climbing. International Climbing Grade Comparison Chart. com web site. ” before the rest of the YDS grade. How Are Climbs Rated - From Dawn's FAQ over on TradGirl web site. All these are designed to make climbing grades more descriptive and easier to understand, but note that the chart is not linear. 12 route. 4 5 10b 5. A bold route with easy climbing, may get the same grade as a much harder sport route, so the grade isn’t very versatile. Australian 23 28 31 33 35 37 39 UIAA IX+/X- Xll+ 6b Hueco/V Font/Bleau Bouldering Grades vo- vo VI 4 CRUX RANGE. 1/5. Climb may be in remote area. Also below, find 11 tips for better understanding how indoor vs. That said, even with a degree of subjectivity, climbers benefit from the attempt at a universal Mar 17, 2023 · Many boulderers also dabble in rope climbing and vice versa. Rock Climbing in Thankhek, Laos and Green Climbers Home guide for 2024. This is where the rock climbing YDS system begins, hence the “5. Below is a brief outline of the overall adjective grades to describe the difficulty. Begin your climbing journey with grades like V0 or 1A. Apr 27, 2025 · There are also several other grading systems for different nationalities and different types of climbing (e. YDS assigns a numerical grade to each climb, ranging from 5. 15. Universal grade conversion Back to contents . May require a bivy on route. Grade V: Typ­i­cal­ly requires an overnight on the route. NZ 7: Vertical ice/rock that may not have adequate protection. Feb 14, 2024 · Bouldering grades serve as an essential guide, allowing climbers to gauge the suitability of a problem for their skill level. Here is a free conversion chart. Find out the skill level, difficulty and sub-grades for each system and download a PDF table for your mobile. The Jan 18, 2022 · And if keeping track of grades remains important to you, then you still can, even with the Jimmy Z Scale: Simply print up the grade chart at Wikipedia, have it laminated, and carry a dry-erase marker with you at all times, moving your “Jimmy Z” lines around on the chart while you climb. 4 in mountain boots and be comfortable climbing rock, snow and ice in crampons, and fit to go climb for 4-6 hours AD (assez difficile): Fairly hard. These grades are designed to introduce fundamental climbing techniques and build foundational strength and confidence. Crux steps may involve WI4 ice, M4 mixed, or rock climbing around grade 17. 0, the easiest 5th class climbing and currently progresses to 5. Grade 3: Moderate to hard, including some technical climbing. Grades 5. 10c 5 5. As the grade increases holds get smaller and fewer with more technical transitions between. 5th class climbing starts with 5. g. Gym to Outdoor Bouldering Grade Conversion Chart Illustation: Claire Eckstrom Low-end Bouldering Grades V0 Be able to rock climb up to 5. May have crux sections of WI4+ ice, M5 mixed, or grade 20 rock. Climbing grading systems are an integral component of our sport. There are no letters or secondary grades, just a single number that gets bigger as the routes get harder. Jan 1, 2025 · Rock Climbing; January 01, 2025 Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart Below is a chart to help you determine how one method relates to another. Climbing: Nov 8, 2023 · A rock climbing coach or climbing guide is an expert in the field and will be the best way for you to improve your climbing ability. 6 in mountain boots, for 5-8 hours. Rock climbing is hard on your body, so recovery is just as important as training and climbing. Grade 5: Difficult, with sustained climbing, high commitment, and few bivouac sites. Progress Gradually Tips for Using Climbing Grade Conversions. Routes may feel substantially harder than their grade indicates depending on the weather, the length of the route, the type of rock, the whims of the first ascensionist, any number of factors. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples! Climbing Grades - An explanation of British climbing grades and comparison with other systems. One has a grade of 5. 2 5. 15 (most difficult), with subgrades . e. COM 6B 6B+ 7B 8B CRUX RAN Sep 5, 2021 · Free Climbing: using only one’s hands and feet, and the natural features of the rock, for upward progress. Whether you're scaling indoor walls or conquering outdoor crags, understanding the intricacies of climbing difficulty rankings is essential for progression and safety. Standards vary among climbing areas. The grades range from V0 to V17. As a result, converting grades from one system to another is not always straightforward and can require a nuanced understanding of the nuances of each grading scale. Climbing Grades. Screenshot it, save it, share it, or download it so you’re never without easy access to this handy climbing grade conversion chart. Sports climbing grades are graded using different systems across different regions. This bouldering grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from Hueco to French and back to French to V-Scale. ) or hard (by opposition or Interlocking in slits and chimneys). Apr 13, 2025 · Climbing Difficulty Ranking IntroductionClimbing is a sport of precision, strength, and mental endurance. Grades can be subjective and may vary The hardest grade currently is the V17 (9a), this is the top end of the sport and it is very rarely achieved. Sep 16, 2021 · Bouldering Grades Conversion Chart: V Scale to Font Scale. This will be influenced by many aspects, including seriousness, how sustained is is, technical difficulty, exposure, strenuousness, rock quality, and any other less tangible aspects which lend difficulty to a pitch. Requires, a few years of solid technical alpine experience and high Jul 8, 2024 · The number after the decimal suggests how hard a climbing route is. You may remember from the section on the Yosemite Decimal System that climbs in the United States will have a difficulty rating and then, if necessary, a second May 31, 2020 · To help orient and understand the systems, here’s what you need to know about climbing grades. These ranking systems, often referred to as grading systems, provide a standardized way to evaluate the challenge a route Apr 2, 2021 · The grades listed across the top are the max outdoor grade. 12b 5. Climbing grades are a number or number-letter combination designed to correspond to the physical difficulty of a climb. 13a 5 13b 5. This chart accurately compares the French scale with Jun 5, 2023 · It’s so easy to get caught up with the grades, but it’s a good idea not to place too much weight on grades while climbing. It is important to remember that when you are looking at climbing grades, you may consider a grade “easier” or more “difficult” than what it has been graded. Jun 5, 2023 · Out of all the rock climbing grades, the British climbing grading system for trad has given me a headache or two as it’s definitely one of the harder systems to wrap your head around. 5 5. Grade 2: Not technical, but exposed to knife-edged ridges, weather, and high-altitude. This article will cover the most widely recognized scales: the Vermin Scale (V-Scale) and the Fontainebleau Scale (French Scale). International rock climbing classification systems are shown in the chart at the right, and below is a comparison of Alpine, Ice, Snow, Aid, and Commitment grading systems. 12d 5. It differs from the USA system in that a route that is difficult to protect will get a higher grade. , ice versus aid), but we will be focusing on free climbing grades in this article. Feb 6, 2016 · Climbing grades can be confusing. 5. Any climbing gym you enter will have an abundance of these grades to encourage beginner climbers. Grade 4: Hard to difficult, with technical climbing. Canadian Winter Commitment Grade: This combines length, hazard, and overall challenges. The easiest grade is VB which indicates a beginner route, after this only numbers are used. Aug 18, 2017 · Rock climbing grades are subjective. At higher grades, the Font Scale and V Scale become almost directly translatable. Climbing grades range from easy to hard and vary based on geographic location, climbing discipline, and whether you are indoors or outdoors. 9. This range is the mean minus one standard deviation (smaller number) to the mean plus one standard deviation (larger number) for the measurement given at the left from our client dataset. 13c 5 13d 5. Grade I: Less than half a day for the tech­ni­cal por­tion. Depending on where you climb in the UK you could find anything from a 4a to an E9 or even an HVS, and don’t get us started on the Australian, European or American grading systems. Jun 23, 2024 · There are different types of indoor climbing grades that are used for various climbing disciplines such as bouldering, top-rope climbing, and lead climbing. com. Related Questions What Does the V stand for on the V-Scale? V stands for Vermin, which was a nick-name for the person who created the V-Scale Jun 23, 2024 · Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that involves climbing short, challenging routes without the use of ropes or harnesses. Learn how to compare different rock climbing grades across the world using the French, UIAA, YDS, UK and Australian systems. A handy chart for converting climbing grades, essential for rock climbing enthusiasts. Mar 17, 2012 · Indoor rock climbing gyms have two types of rock climbing available, bouldering and sport climbing. Climbing grade conversions are not perfect but there are several systems used to compare them. Mar 25, 2024 · Climbing grades are subjective and can vary based on factors such as the type of rock, the style of climbing, and the local climbing culture. Here’s a comprehensive grade conversion chart, courtesy of the equipment brand, Bergefreunde. I-II: 1 or 2 pitches near the car, but may need to be avoided during avalanche season. In the United States for sport climbing and other forms of rock climbing we use the Yosemite It requires a good climbing technique applied to the various rock structures (chimneys, crevices, corners, etc. Use this chart as a rough guide to compare climbing and bouldering grades in other parts of the world. Once you know how technically difficult a climb is, the next question is, "how long will it take?" Climbing grades provide guidance, suggesting the length of time an experienced climber might take to complete the route: Grade I: A couple of hours; Grade II: Closer to four hours; Grade III: Four to six hours (most of the day) Jan 28, 2022 · Australian Climbing Grades. And remember, Burl will always be Burl and no one can Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart French 6b 9b Yosemite 5. How is a Grade Established? Whether you’re rock climbing indoors or out, the same basic principles apply for determining the grade of the route. In general, theCrag displays grades as they are entered and in the area specific context. outdoor bouldering grades stack up, and for planning your first outdoor bouldering excursion. Instead, simply use them as a guide to find the type of challenge you are looking for. Meaning that for example if you look at a crag in Australia you will most likely see sport and trad climbing grades displayed in Ewbanks and bouldering grades in V-scale. Sustained WI3+ ice, M3-4 mixed climbing, or grade 16-18 rock. 15d 5. This is because the overall objective dangers can vary dramatically on alpine routes with similar technical rock and ice climbing grades. Aug 30, 2021 · Conversion chart of all 10 climbing grade systems. Aid Climbing : pulling or standing on gear attached to the rock for upward progress. The climbing becomes delicate (slabs, etc. With a clear understanding of the grading system, climbers can navigate a spectrum of climbs, from those well within their capabilities to more challenging endeavors that push their limits. Whilst each IFAS grade can imply certain grades of rock, ice, or mixed climbing difficulties, the UIAA warns against assuming an IFAS grade always aligns with specific rock and ice climbing grades. About this Bouldering Grades table: This is a bouldering climbing grade conversion chart. Within each cell of the table you’ll find a range. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a five-part grading system used for rating the difficulty of rock climbing routes in the United States and Canada. The Australian climbing grade scale for technical scrambling and rock routes, another open-ended rating system, runs from 1 (~YDS 3) to 39 (5. These bouldering grades differ from the grades used in traditional rock climbing, and use many different systems including: Huevo "V" grades-or the V-scale, Fontainebleau technical grades (Font-scale), route colors, Peak District grades, and British technical grades. Each Number Grade above 5. Behind the grades: Grades are often debated in climbing because they aim to measure difficulty in objective terms, but the many variables in what makes a climb hard, and who is doing the climbing, make objectivity impossible. And “35” currently being the highest climbing grade completed here in Oz. Oct 23, 2023 · Each discipline or style has nuances that make it unique, including climbing grades. It must be noted, this is an open-ended scale, so there could be harder grades in the future! Are bouldering grades harder than sport climbing grades? It is hard to compare! Even so, as a boulderer, I would lean towards saying, “yes”. Bouldering Grades vs Climbing Grades. Apr 29, 2024 · Keep reading below the conversion chart for an in-depth explanation of climbing grades as well as alpine, water-ice, boulder, and commitment ratings. Nov 19, 2019 · Rock Climbing grades: The British rock climbing grading system ranges from ‘Moderate’ to ‘Extreme’ (with Extreme as an open-ended scale from E1 to, currently, E12). At lower grades, a single V grade often translates to being ‘wider’ than a single grade on the Font Scale. 15b 5. outdoor grades. Easily compare and understand different climbing difficulty levels. This chart is designed to be used with the American Alpine Journal to help decipher the difficulty ratings given to climbs. Rock grades in the high 20s (on the Ewbank scale). International Climbing Grades Comparison Chart: Sep 25, 2023 · The inception of climbing grades was fueled by the need to communicate the technical difficulty of a climb. Bouldering Grades There are grade systems for bouldering, grade systems for sport climbing, grade systems for aid climbing and so on but even grade systems for the same style don’t always translate well between each other. senby mog tty fuel yjwttb irmti lgjmy mpvxxxc cxjdg itrkec