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Everyone knows what “climbing” is. Whether you climb a tree or a wall or go mountain climbing or indoor climbing: Everyone can at least imagine something about it. But not only the classical climbing with karabiner and rope belongs to the generic term “climbing”, but also bouldering. Although climbing is practiced in both disciplines, there are considerable differences between the two types of climbing.
The definitions of the two climbing variants will help you to understand the basic difference immediately: Bouldering is defined as “climbing to jump height”. Here the climber is not secured. A climber, on the other hand, wears a hip belt during rope climbing and is secured by his partner using a special safety device and a rope. The climber is in a much higher position than the boulder climber. You may be surprised, but there are many more differences between the two climbing disciplines. The following two sections should give you a rough orientation on the two terms climbing and bouldering.
Climbing – Short Description
Climbing has developed into an established and popular mass sport. You can associate several terms with this, for example “sport climbing” or “climbing”. The focus here is on having fun together while moving. When climbing, you can work out various difficulties with your climbing friends. You are able to overcome boundaries and accept challenges. You’re dealing with your body down to your last muscle fiber.
Climbing gives you the opportunity to feel your own body balance exactly. The motto of Confucius also applies to climbing: The path is the goal. You can boulder alone, but when climbing you always need a belay partner. The dangers are always present when climbing because of the height. That is why this sport is always climbed with a safety device and rope. The prerequisite for rope climbing is therefore that you learn to operate the respective safety device correctly with the help of professional instructions.
Sport Climbing
One form of free climbing is sport climbing. Characteristic for sport climbing are the athletic and relatively short routes. Originally, this type of climbing was intended as a training unit for alpine climbing. But in the course of time, sport climbing has developed into a sport of its own. However, you don’t necessarily have to go outside to get closer to this sport. In climbing gyms, you climb on artificial walls up to 15 meters high. Holds and handles are screwed to the climbing walls, which can be very differently shaped. Due to the inclination of the wall, you will be confronted with all imaginable levels of difficulty.
Alpine Climbing
In alpine climbing, you pursue the goal of reaching the summit you are aiming for. Alpine climbing, however, is only one aspect of mountaineering. Climbing itself is only one part of this. Hiking and mountaineering are also part of alpine climbing. The dangers of alpine climbing are not only limited to the fall, no, you have to deal with other dangers. These include, for example, rockfalls, avalanches and thunderstorms. Depending on the route, you can choose between technical climbing and free climbing for alpine climbing. In the mountains, you mainly have to deal with long and demanding tours. Artificial aids serve you superficially as security.
Free Climbing
The most common form of climbing is free climbing. In free climbing, you do not use the rope to move around with it, it only serves as fall protection. When we talk about climbing in general, we always mean free climbing, although there are many other forms of climbing.
Bouldering – Short Description
The term “bouldering” is derived from the English word “boulder”. This is a form of climbing in which you can climb to jump height without a rope and without a harness. The special attraction of this climbing variant is to bring you to your performance limit. When bouldering you can concentrate completely on the movement and learn new movement sequences. When bouldering, you are able to train quickly and flexibly with relatively little time expenditure. You can power yourself out perfectly and don’t need a climbing partner. This type of climbing will enhance your mobility and coordination in an excellent way.
As you are very close to the ground when bouldering, there is a communicative atmosphere. This can also quickly result in a group experience. Because when difficult boulderers are invented, the development of this type of climbing in a community of sporty active people is constantly being spurred on. You can combine fun and training in bouldering outdoors as well as in climbing gyms. The so-called jump height is a maximum of four meters. Thick mats are used in the bouldering gym to secure and cushion the falls. So-called crash pads are used for bouldering on the rock in nature.
The Essential Differences between Climbing and Bouldering
Maybe climbing is in the nature of man. Nowadays, the exciting sport of climbing is considered a thoroughly exciting and happy leisure activity. Bouldering and climbing are not the same. In order to see this, you don’t need to drive into the mountains. In every bigger city, there are climbing gyms. You can also try your hand at climbing boulder walls or mobile climbing towers at sporting events and city festivals.
Character
The main characteristics of both types of climbing are tactics, psyche, duration, and intensity. Climbing is characterized by a longer-lasting load. In sports climbing, you always climb against fatigue. The longer routes and the associated endurance demands concentrated, tactical, economical and efficient climbing – and that for a few minutes each time. After 25 meters of climbing, you feel the effort and your arms are tired. Then suddenly every move becomes intense.
Bouldering is more about the exact sequence of grips and steps and the perfection of your movements. During bouldering you do few but very intensive moves compared to rope climbing. The attempts often take only a few seconds, then you have the opportunity to regenerate briefly. You will then have enough time to exchange ideas with like-minded people and listen to tips and suggestions. You can then immediately use the climbing equipment to implement these.
Alone?
Climbing has always been a social sport. When it comes to rope climbing, you’re always on a team. In theory, you could boulder all by yourself. One advantage of bouldering is that you can quickly get into a conversation with like-minded people with whom you can easily solve routes together. In rope climbing, on the other hand, it is extremely important that you can trust your rope partner 100 percent. However, there are also gyms in which you can climb around on climbing walls on your own with the help of an automatic securing system.
The Dynamics of Climbing and Bouldering
More older people tend to climb. This is probably due to the different characteristics. Nevertheless, you can pursue climbing and bouldering at any age. In short: Climbing is controlled and enduring. That’s more for mature people. Bouldering, on the other hand, is dynamic and powerful. This corresponds particularly to the temperament of young people.
The Different Safety Precautions
In bouldering, safety technology is quite minimalistic. You need neither a safety device nor a rope for bouldering. A soft surface is perfectly sufficient to ensure a safe landing in the event of a fall from a height of a few meters. Because of the height, you will need to be trained in the safety precautions and use of the safety device when climbing.
What about the Potential Danger?
The potential dangers of bouldering and climbing indoors vary. Statistically speaking, bouldering is more dangerous, but mistakes while rock climbing are much more fatal. You have to be aware of how you climb, be it rope climbing or bouldering: Injuries may occur. However, this is the case with all movement-intensive sports. The lower extremities (ankle joint) are strongly endangered with bouldering. Most injuries occur on landing.
Dangerous falls can also occur when climbing outdoors (alpine climbing) or indoors. This is why a flawless safety technique is so important when climbing. If you climb in open terrain, you should always wear a helmet. The boulders for bouldering are usually manageable, here you can do without a helmet.
What are the Differences in Equipment?
For rope climbing, you need a rope, a harness and a safety device. Make sure that your clothes are comfortable to wear and that they are windproof and weatherproof. When bouldering you have to spend considerably less money on adequate material. Get yourself some good climbing shoes and a chalk bag. In this bag, you can store the magnesium powder (= climbing chalk). This gives you a better grip on the boulder for your hands.
The Height
If you climb in the gym, then it is often about 25 meter high walls. In the mountains, you usually climb longer routes. These multi-rope routes are also located at dizzying heights. In bouldering, on the other hand, you will be confronted with a climbing height of two to three meters or a maximum of four meters.
Strength & Endurance during Climbing vs. Bouldering
The routes for rope climbing are considerably longer. Therefore you need a much better endurance when climbing with rope. Rope climbing is a strenuous activity and therefore you should regularly complete a strength training program away from the rock or the climbing wall. When bouldering, the routes are short but harder. You also need strength here, but speed is more essential when bouldering.
Bouldering or Climbing – which suits you best?
If you want to practice the sport in your free time, you should try both as a beginner. Pretty soon you will notice what kind of climbing you prefer. Of course, it would be ideal to do both in order to really enjoy the climbing sport.
Bouldering is generally considered to be more dynamic and powerful. It hardly requires any schooling. You can get started right away and get perfectly energetic. Bouldering is especially suitable for people who are strong and have good body tension. If you consider yourself a communicative and sociable contemporary, you are in good hands in a boulder gym.
Climbing is more top-heavy. You need some muse and patience so that you can really master the safety technique necessary for climbing. Sport climbing is a faster way to experience success. In addition, this type of climbing is easier on the joints and more enduring. Also, people of mature age and physically weaker persons can benefit a lot from this sport.
To the Historical Beginnings of Bouldering
At the beginning of the 20th century, young mountaineers near Paris used sandstone rocks to prepare for their alpine expeditions. These sandstone rocks lay scattered in the forest. A few decades later, a mathematics teacher in the USA used rock climbing for training purposes for his sport, ring gymnastics. In the 1970s and 1980s, a German climber made the so-called “Angsthasenenkletterei” socially acceptable.
More and more young and agile people took pleasure in bouldering. In their eyes, bouldering was much faster, cooler and more communicative than traditional climbing. The mutual motivation, the fun factor, and the communicative cooperation simply make bouldering more interesting for young people. Bouldering is a pleasant and inspiring experience for people who enjoy moving around in a group.
The Fascinating Things about Bouldering
- The ultimate challenge lies in the jump height.
- Easy entry is possible.
- Rapid progress is virtually guaranteed.
- Cognitive challenge
- Physical stress
- Combining body control, creativity and technique
- Power and coordination
- New solutions are always possible.
- Positive health aspect
- Great diversity
- The feeling of constantly learning something new spurs you on again and again.
Why is Sport Climbing Booming?
The numerous climbing gyms have contributed significantly to the fact that climbing has developed into a popular mass sport in recent years. Both outdoors and indoors, more and more sporty and active people are drawn into the vertical. It is not difficult for you to combine a lot of fun and movement with this type of climbing without having to reckon with high costs. No matter whether you have two hours or a whole day at your disposal: Climbing does not require too much preparation. If you’re up for climbing, just go to the nearest climbing gym and let off some steam.
Attention: You have to take care of your safety when climbing! The information on climbtheearth.com only helps you to learn. Before you climb, you should make sure that you have been properly instructed by an expert and that you follow all safety precautions.
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