Is rock climbing a good workout reddit. Indoor climbing for fitness and weight-loss. I feel like I get some weird or even condescending vibes when it comes to crushing weights in the gym, MMA, or jumping out of planes with the Army. Terminology Basic Rock Climbing Terminology by Steve Weiss - Includes a Climber Calls section at the bottom - definitely good to reiterate the importance of communication for any healthy climber/belayer relationship. Nov 1, 2023 · Not only is rock climbing fun, it's also a great workout. March - 2025 News Archive: Check out this archive of news stories fromMarch-2025 Mar 17, 2023 · Being the most powerful and dynamic form of rock climbing, bouldering is the ideal full-body workout. People Inc. Bouldering offers a fun way to improve your body, while also improving your mind, confidence, and reducing stress levels. It develops both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. If you've thought about how it could be fun to do it then go do it. With a little more time at the rock gym, you'll learn that using your legs is just as important! So definitely focus on depending on your legs a little more while climbing routes. Maybe rock climbing. I guess I could easily incorporate pseudo planche pushups and handstand pushups after a climbing session, just to add the missing push-exercises. With many trains packed beyond capacity, some passengers were seen climbing onto the roofs, risking their lives to secure a ride. Hey y'all. Whether you are a seasoned climber or just starting out, incorporating the right workouts into your training routine can help you improve your climbing skills and reach new heights. It really depends on what you want to gain from lifting. You’ll need significant upper body strength to perform certain moves and climb at a high level, but climbs will always demand strength from all muscle groups. MembersOnline • satacat ADMIN MOD I do a lot of adventure sports (rock climbing, light mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking, etc. Swimming increases appetite disproportionate to the amount of work you've done. Feb 10, 2023 · Rock climbing can result in the release of endorphins, adrenaline, dopamine, and other feel-good hormones since it is a vigorous, all-body workout. After all, like many athletes, expert climbers make their sport look effortless, even when they’re free soloing the Dawn Wall. Learn how it serves as a full-body workout and get essential tips for beginners to start safely. For many, it epitomizes a quintessential test of physical fortitude. Sep 1, 2020 · Go climbing! Or do some whole body strength training for climbing! Not only is it a better use of your time, and is more specific, but it also has a huge impact on weight loss. This is not in any way to dissuade you--maybe climbing is exactly the motivation you'll need to get your ass back in gear. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. Feb 2, 2025 · What is Rock Climbing? Rock climbing is a sport that involves ascending cliffs or other large rock formations using the hands and feet. 9 in couple of weeks or less. Rock climbers use incredible strength, flexibility, and agility to scale dizzying heights by combining physical power with mental concentration. Wikipedia's Full Glossary General Tips n Tricks Starting Out Just climb To learn to climb better you must climb more regularly! Climbing day - goof around, clean up my moves on routes I'm comfortable with, little challenge Off day - rest, take my dogs on a short run, yoga Climbing day - project again Lifting day - train core and legs Climbing day - have fun Off day Repeat Just recently started climbing and this schedule has worked great for me. Even those who don't care at all about performance on boulders. You can still likely do weight training or Hi guys, basically been bouldering coming up to a year now and want to make my training a bit more climbing specific. All of the most talented climbers I know are strong, strong people--core, upper body, lower body. It improves cardiorespiratory fitness. My current workout schedule is Monday (Squash for fun cardio), Tuesday (rock climbing), Wednesday (lower body), Thursday (rock climbing), and Friday (upper body). 6 to 5. Explore search trends by time, location, and popularity with Google Trends. Instead you are thinking about maneuvering to the top. Also can't say which is a better choice without knowing your goals. Sep 11, 2024 · The rock climbing community is known for its welcoming and encouraging nature. My current plan, after climbing for close to 2 years with all goals focused on real rock, is 3-4 days running, 3 days lifting, 3-4 days climbing a week. Rock climbing will certainly do more for upper body muscle than say, cycling. Discover why rock climbing is not only an exhilarating adventure but also an excellent full-body workout. Doing strength training (or bouldering) may not appear to have the same immediate weight loss component, but what it does is ramp up your metabolism for longer. If you're going to climb, climb because you like doing it. The main issue with "core" training is that people interpret core to be abs, which is incorrect. Here are some of the best workouts for climbers and boulderers. Yes, you'll definitely burn calories. I can be 150' up a rock face taking in the view in Tennessee or Utah or New Hampshire and think "wow, look where I've ended up!" My advice to a rookie would be to keep climbing, and not get discouraged. Relative to lifting, climbing will over-develop specific muscles (e. , forearm). Many rock climbing gyms will have weights. A good gym routine to help climbing? Hi! I've been working out at the gym for about a year, and started climbing this summer. I function best when I work out twice a day — it keeps me sane. Climbing is a ridiculous sport in general. The best thing you can do at this stage is make time to climb more. Whether you’re bouldering, rock climbing, indoor climbing, or lead climbing, it’s safe to say that climbing is a good workout. And while you certainly need a solid core and Watch for rock climbing / bouldering? I am looking to get a lower end Garmin watch after years of dissatisfaction with multiple fitbit models. Patagonia is a designer of outdoor clothing and gear for the silent sports: climbing, surfing, skiing and snowboarding, fly fishing, and trail running The best way I have found to plan my training is from personal experience. Whether you’re scaling cliffs in the great outdoors or tackling bouldering problems at an indoor gym, rock climbing offers unparalleled fitness benefits, from improved strength and endurance to enhanced problem Climbing is great for getting toned and for general fitness, but doesn't really burn a huge amount of calories for the time spent doing it. You can’t just go and expect connection to happen—definitely need to actively seek out partners and community. Reddit's rock climbing training community. Feb 16, 2023 · Here are six health benefits associated with rock climbing. While at the rock gym, climbing up and then climbing back down rather than belaying off the wall can lengthen your Good gym exercises for climbing? Hey everyone. For weight loss, you want to be focusing on cardio, and climbing is not really cardio. Not necessarily greater pulling strength as rock climbing should mostly be the legs, but if you get to more upper level climbs you will need good pulling strength with the grip strength. It can be done outdoors or indoors on artificial wall formations. It's a good workout, but in a different way than lifting or cardio. However, I would suggest you continue with weight lifting. g. is America’s largest digital and print publisher. strength training). Rock climbing is good for the heart. I’ve never been a big gym guy, but I want to increase muscle mass, flexibility, etc. Climbing involves a lot of complex movements that aren't easily trained with isolation exercises. 1-2 hours per session with adequate rest between climbs twice or three times per week with rest days between is optimal. Feb 13, 2025 · Rock climbing can be quite a tight-knit sport by nature. At the gym I've had two routines that I've alternated each time, one for legs, chest and bicep, and the other for back, shoulders, and triceps. Read his insights here. Since climbing is such a technically challenging activity, your 'gains' will likely be in skills, grip strength, and muscular endurance rather than pure cardio or muscle mass. Use this 12-week climbing training plan to break plateaus, crush grades, and get stronger on and off the wall. I've been rock climbing for the last six months and want to improve my strength to help with this (wasn't very active before). Aug 5, 2025 · Rock climbing: a sport celebrated for its audacious ascents, grit, and ferocious grip strength. Yet, one pressing question lingers: Is rock climbing merely a strength-driven pursuit, or does it also deliver the promised cardiovascular benefits? Is it safe to start climbing if you are overweight? I am working on losing weight 200 lbs 5'9 I am trying to get to 150ish but I just got introduced to climbing and I obviously know I can't do like insane stuff but like can very basic climbing be a good way to workout and be relatively safe? Given your frequency of bouldering I'm presuming you're relatively new to climbing, so 1-2 days a week is probably a good starting point for climbing volume. These are unfortunately not common in gyms in USA last I checked; I first used a VersaClimber in a hotel workout room in London years ago. Just keep in mind that these exercises are generally counterproductive if your sole focus is on climbing as hard as possible. Can be decent cardio depending on the intensity of your climbing workout. How to get started with climbing training as a beginner to fitness? Any time I google "beginner strength training for climbing" or other variations, I only ever find the "don't hangboard as a beginner" or "wait until you do v4-5s before considering strength training" answers. I've been climbing for quite a while now, but don't get to climb very regularly because my gym is 40 minutes from home. . (I. Best Workouts for Rock Climbing Rock climbing is a thrilling and challenging sport that requires a combination of strength, endurance, and agility. Jun 27, 2022 · Climbing requires good cardio, strength, and endurance. Hi man, bouldering is a good way to exercise, sure. My female and some of my male friends have stated that they think it's really attractive. This produces a specific type of contraction pattern which is next to useless for other sports. People in good shape usually go from 5. The best way to train for rock climbing is to spend time climbing—whether you do at the gym or the crag. I've burned 400 calories swimming, and then ate easily 800 calories afterward. The presence of motivated individuals in the gym can make your workout sessions more exciting and enjoyable, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Wondering how much I should run, how often I should work out vs climb, and how your workouts break down. The best workout routine for rock climbing is rock climbing a lot, but I know what you mean about schedule getting in the way. Studies on climbing have shown benefits for executive function and overall cognition. e. I also get super bored in a 'regular' gym, but I love going to the climbing gym and try to go at least 2-3 times a week. Found some success with using a weight vest while climbing, it gets the heart pumping but not true aerobic fitness. Is rock climbing a good way to build upper body strength? I want to be better at upper body feats like pull ups and what not while simultaneously developing sculpted arms, forearms, grip, and back. Feb 23, 2020 · How Does Rock Climbing Compare to Other Cardio Workouts? If you’re new to the world of climbing, but you’ve been a gym rat for decades, you may be wondering whether rock climbing is a good replacement or supplement to your weekly gym workouts. The reality is that most people don't have access to, or choose not to, climb in this style very often. No, I don't think climbing is a good replacement for lifting, especially if you are new to climbing. I started playing ultimate frisbee in addition to rock climbing. You're pulling and pushing your body around and up a wall/ceiling. Compared to other climbing disciplines, I'd say bouldering is one of the best to get stronger at climbing overall. FYI, I climb intensively for close to 8 hours twice a week and tops it out with some hangs and campuses training, as well as some bodyweight training. My recommendation is to absolutely get climbing shoes if your gym doesn't have them to rent and get chalk. Incorporating rock climbing into my routine? Hello, so I am just starting work with the RR trying to get a little stronger and just feel more comfortable with my body this year. It's so good, you really have to be careful to not do it too often. Lots of pulling movements are required in climbing, but especially at a beginner level all that movement is going to be higher volume and lower intensity than doing pullups or other traditional pulling exercises, which is worse for building muscle mass. Aside from the obvious muscles such as the back, shoulders, and arms, bouldering also targets the core and legs. At the end of the day, most of weightloss is just eating habits. Not really sport specific to technical climbing, but good for general fitness (especially cardio and endurance) for those days you just can't get out to go mountaineering. In conclusion, rock climbing is much more than just a sport—it’s a transformative experience that strengthens both body and mind. Because you need to stay light and flexible to climb, it keeps you young too, while also building muscles. Although a good starting point is the book Training for New Alpinism, it helped me tremendously starting off (it helps with planning at a high level, not necessarily climbing-specific exercises). Climber here. The best part of rock climbing to me is the incredible outdoor places it takes you. The people I know who progress pretty quickly at lower grades on rope split time between bouldering and roped climbing-- progressively shifting towards more bouldering as a percentage of training as their roped climbing grades have gone up. 1 We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Whether done outdoors or in a climbing or bouldering gym, rock climbing unquestionably calls for strength and a little muscle. Sep 11, 2024 · Rock climbing is a full-body workout. light weight many repetitions etc) I have trained Calisthenics in the past also to note so pull up variations and dips etc are Oct 14, 2021 · Is rock climbing a good workout? If you’re an experienced climber, it will seem like the answer is obvious, but if you’re just getting started with rock climbing, it’s a fair question. 9/10 and V3-V4. Climbing strength is just like any other sport though, If you go a lot, 4-6 times for two weeks or so, you should become able to climb for quite a long time (3 hours+). However, don't expect to be crushing without a pretty solid level of strength/fitness. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, check with your doctor first and get the OK. And yes, bouldering does work out the entire body. The running will keep your weight down which aids in climbing The Bad Having fairly flexible legs is useful in climbing. There are additional factors that will motivate you to return to the wall repeatedly in addition to the physical senses that make rock climbing addictive. So, if you’ve wondered, “what rock climbing does to your body?” Let’s break it down. I was wondering if anyone has lost weight climbing or just generally gotten fitter and toned? My rock gym does have a little workout area also. Explore the physical and mental benefits of rock climbing for improved strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall fitness. However, I found out a while ago that I don't love working out at the gym for a number of reasons, but I recently found that I love rock climbing. It’s no powerlifting or marathon, but more of an all-round workout. Is Indoor Rock Climbing a Good Workout? Yes, it is – indoor rock climbing is a good and physically demanding workout for the complete body. UPDATE BELOW! :D Longtime lurker! Indoor rock climbing has brought me a lot of joy and I just want to share how and why with you guys! If you’re looking for a new fitness hobby, I’d like to share some of the reasons why I really enjoy rock climbing so far: Great workout, especially for the arms! But you don’t really feel it until the morning after, and even then it’s that good pain Nov 10, 2017 · Is rock climbing a good workout? We asked one of our lead trainers about the physical health benefits of rock climbing. In a way Rock climbing isn’t just an adrenaline-pumping adventure—it’s also one of the most effective full-body workouts you can do. Outdoors is rock/projects. For stamina (cardio) I do everything from running, hiking, and biking to jump rope, boxing/Muay Thai, and swimming. Weight loss helps many medical conditions, and rock climbing is an excellent way to drop a few pounds. During the school year (I'm a teacher), I go two or three times a week for a couple hours each time, and I'm currently climbing 5. Climbing newbies have very little forearm/grip endurance, and that'll create a bottleneck that gets in the way of you spending much time on the wall. Trying to out-work a bad diet is never really going to work for most people. The Kansas City Climbing Community Facebook page is a good place to post if you want to find a partner, sometimes those partners might know more people at the gym and introduce you to them, as well. The climbing will build core strength as well as help strengthen stabilization muscles which helps running. The most efficient way to improve strength is to dedicate training specifically to building strength (i. Hey everyone, I wanted to know if indoor rock climbing would be a good workout/fitness regimen idea. Most sports depend on moving a weight around your body, while rock climbing is about moving your body weight around your grip. I also do some calisthenic strength training with rings and occasional yoga (I would like to do more). MembersOnline • HarryCaul ADMIN MOD Is rock climbing a good workout? If you’re looking for a workout that captivates you as much as it helps you burn calories, indoor rock climbing offers a thrilling alternative to the usual gym routine. Reply reply Due_Revolution_5106 • 331 votes, 144 comments. I usually mix 2 bouldering sessions a week with gym workouts in between, but wanting to know best sort of workouts that will compliment climbing. The real issue is that your body and specifically your tendons need to adjust/strengthen to the strain that climbing puts on them. The Good The climbing will keep you from having the emaciated looking upper body some people who only run have. Climbing is good for developing many muscles of a good physique, such as a strong back, shoulders and core, while it possibly lags a bit behind in terms of muscles like quads or pecs (they are used, but not so heavily focused). If your goal is strictly to build muscle mass, no, rock climbing is not a good compliment. Whether you’re tackling towering outdoor cliffs or navigating colorful routes at an indoor climbing gym, climbing challenges your body in ways you might not expect. How much of a workout do you get rock climbing? Is it a full body workout? If not, what other exercises can I use to supplement the muscles I am not working? How long at the gym, and how many times per week, would make for a good workout? Should I just focus on doing the bouldering routes, or are there better alternatives for getting in shape? We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The climbing and swimming will complement each other, and they're both so much fun! I was a competitive swimmer and in late 2019 made good progress as a climbing beginner. If you have the option to climb on a steep spray wall with a bunch of bad jibs, that would be the second best, after climbing outside on steep stuff. If you want to lose weight, look into exercises that are good for burning calories. Would rock climbing be a good start for somebody who can barely do a single pull up and only 3-5 chin ups? At the Dhaka Airport Railway Station, huge crowds were seen boarding trains bound for different destinations. My main activities are shorter (sub 10k distance) runs and indoor bouldering. I think climbing rocks as a good way to get/stay in shape. It seems like you get a pretty good full body workout by climbing, but on the other hand there aren't a lot of direct push exercises. I have started indoor rock-climbing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays and I've noticed I've been developing a somewhat noticeable thigh gap (well, my bf noticed it first). Body weight squats are great for adding in. Great sports/recreational activity overall. That said, climbing is not a good weight-loss sport. Is fun. Focus on lifting correctly rather than lifting heavy and progress with the weight. Learn more about the potential health and fitness benefits, types, and tips for beginners. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Nov 19, 2025 · Why rock climbing is the ultimate workout for your body—and your mind The sport doesn’t just have physical benefits—it’s a mental game. Improved body control, increased grip strength. You will see some difference, but you will not really get beyond a novice level of strength. Less great at building chest and legs. I love rock climbing. Rock climbing is a blast because you are getting a killer workout but you are not focusing on the monotonous lifting of weight. " I'm a beginning climber (working on V3s) and looking to get a good routine going. Rock climbing seems like a good way to still work on fitness while having a fun and practical skill. Aug 11, 2021 · Is rock climbing a good way to lose weight? And how does it compare to other exercises? A look at all things weight loss for rock climbing and bouldering. Like most things, it depends on your goals as to whether or not its a 'good' activity to stay fit. “Rock climbing fires every system of the body and Rock climbing isn't appropriate as training for other sports. It is an effective full-body workout and qualifies as a form of cardio. ) all of which require good leg strength, so putting a focus on my knees is a top priority now and I have yet to find a better program than Ben's. Swimming/rock climbing are good, but theres a few things you need to keep in mind. What's a "traditional workout"? Rock climbing is great for increasing grip strength, core, biceps, and back. Rock climbing and bouldering require power for explosive movements, balance to traverse or move up a rock face, endurance to sustain you through long climbs, and a stable core to help you climb better and more efficiently. It’s thought that it could be one of the best full body workouts around. Nov 22, 2021 · Is rock climbing a good form of exercise? Rock climbing is an excellent workout, but it can be rough if your body isn’t up for it. I don't know if this is a famous quote, but I have always said "it pays to be strong. Climbing is great for overall fitness since you get a full body workout. Is it specifically to improve your climbing, to get strong, to look good? If you are just starting out I'd recommend doing a full body workout like Stronglifts, you do two alternating workouts, Squats, Bench, Rows and then Squats, Overhead press, deadlifts. Climbing alone didn't improve overall fitness for me but it's terrific core strength & balance workout. Really? Climbing is one of the few sports that develops the posterior chain which is weak in most people, it requires a strong core which protects your back and internal organs. Learn about career opportunities, leadership, and advertising solutions across our trusted brands 6 days ago · Since 1970, Climbing Magazine has been the voice of the climbing world, publishing climbing news, interviews, features, opinions, and advice. Get a hangboard for home training, it will do wonders for your grip (forearm) strength. I canceled my gym membership and got a rock climbing gym membership. I'm rarely too sore to climb. I've recently gotten into rock climbing and was wondering if it's an effective way to get a calisthenic workout?… Hey everyone, I wanted to know if indoor rock climbing would be a good workout/fitness regimen idea. 1. But to be lean you need to lose body fat, and that's mostly done by eating right. jxvv mpypx siax dxpp olwritb nfvy dnii ibeopgxv ruwvoo mwyrt