At GO Outdoors, we offer the advice and equipment you need to start climbing safely. Here’s our beginner’s guide to bouldering.
Bouldering is a great form of climbing that’s performed on small rock formations without the use of ropes or harnesses. It’s a fun, exciting and sometimes challenging sport that can enjoyed in the great outdoors with just one, or a group of others. Bouldering is also great exercise, coming with many health benefits!
What is bouldering?
Bouldering is something you might want to look at if you’ve been indoor climbing. It’s easy to transfer your skills and gets you outdoors in an accessible way. With just a few bits of essential climbing kit such as a chalk bag, bouldering mat and climbing shoes, you’re ready to start bouldering. Bouldering is a brilliant, fun and accessible way to bring your indoor skills, outdoors.
In this video, long-term rock climber and Black Diamond expert Tim Hill talks about the basics of bouldering for beginners including the history of the sport, what you need and where to go bouldering. Bouldering is a brilliant, fun and accessible way to bring your indoor skills, outdoors.
What do i need?
To start bouldering, you need a few bits of essential climbing equipment including climbing shoes, climbing chalk and a bouldering mat. At GO Outdoors, we stock a wide range of climbing product to help you get outside bouldering.
In this video, expert climber from Black Diamond, Tim Hill, explains what you should wear and take with you when climbing; plus, why gear is important.
Basic Moves
Getting started will require a few simple bouldering moves, which if you’ve been climbing indoors, you’ll likely recognise.
In this short video, Rhoslyn Frugtniet, GB Competition Climber, talks about the basics moves of to help you get started when climbing at the crag, including finding a problem, safety advice, spotting, edging and smearing. She also talks about the importance of using climbing chalk and cleaning holds.
Bouldering Etiquette
An essential part of bouldering, is knowing how to respect the rock and stay safe outdoors. Bouldering etiquette starts from the moment you park up and is important for everyone to know about to ensure the places we like to climb will remain protected for generations to come.
In this short video, Rhoslyn Frugtniet, GB Competition Climber, talks about the basics of bouldering etiquette including access to the crag, over brushing, the countryside code, and not climbing on wet rock. She also touches on her top tips for staying safe at the crag.
You can also learn about bouldering etiquette in more detail in this video here:
In this short video, Rob Greenwood from UKClimbing tells us about the wonders of Burbage Valley and it’s popularity within the climbing world, touching on what makes the rock and gritstone so special. is important for everyone to know about to ensure the places we like to climb will remain protected for generations to come, by knowing when is the best conditions to climb.
So there you have it, all the basics you need to start bouldering outdoors from the experts. For gear advice, speak to a GO Outdoors expert in one of our stores.
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