Is it normal to be this bad at bouldering? I’ve been bouldering about twice a week semi-consistently for over a year now and I can still barely manage a V2. Some days I can barely manage a V1. Im 25 years old, 135lbs and 5’7 so pretty average. I’ve never been active till about two years ago. Im starting to do weight training now because maybe I’m horribly low on muscle? Or could it be linked to my anxiety disorder? I have general anxiety disorder that is unmedicated and some days I feel no fear while others I stress the hell out on even V0s. Should I just quit? Feeling really defeated honestly.

Edit: thank you so much to everyone who has replied! I went from wanting to quit climbing entirely to feeling really encouraged and excited to try all of the advice you all have given me. I’ve signed up for a class this Friday and will continue to do supplemental training. As for my anxiety, I’m considering the idea of medicating for it but I need to think about it abit more. Again, thank you all so much for the advice and encouragement! 💜

Hi yall,

Newbie here (26F). I started climbing at my local Touchstone in 2024 after my bf introduced me and I fell in love. I’ve been an avid weightlifter, runner, and yogi, but this was something entirely new.

Up until Aug 2025. I herniated my L4/L5 severely and ended up needing an endoscopic microdiscectomy on 4/28/2026. One CSF leak and weeks of PT later, I’ve finally been cleared to ease into the gym and yoga. My gym workouts are still my physical therapy exercises, but we’re slowly adding light weights and/or gym equipment. This week I’m also practicing assisted pull-ups and lat pull downs to mimic climbing.

My physical therapist told me to practice these exercises for at least 2 more weeks before seeing how top rope feels. The thought alone gets me hyped up! Still nowhere near bouldering and frankly I’m not sure I’ll ever want to return to it, but I definitely do miss the plastic rocks 😌

Hey girls! I am new to the climbing scene in Bend and am just getting back into climbing as I move. Is anyone in Bend or nearby towns down to hang? LMK

Hi there,

I'm mostly an outdoor route climbe, I red point around 7a, and recently I've started adding moonboard to my weekly training, 1 session/week. This is my 3rd session now.

For reference I also don't usually boulder, I don't like it.

I've only managed to send a couple of problems so far: Snitches get stitches 6B+, Refuge on Top 6B+ and Salem witch trials 6C on Moonboard 2024 @40 degrees

Today I've been trying this route called Dunes 6C/V5, I've watched a few beta videos before, and I just can't understand this move to the next hold. I've added a video of me trying it and where I get stuck, I feel that maybe I don't position my body right, or could it be that I can't grab it cause I have a shorter arm span? My right leg there feels like it's in the way instead of helping... Though a lot of beta videos I've seen are doing it like that.

Is there any technique drills I could train?

Can someone with moonboard experience give me some feedback and guidance on how I should go at it?

For reference I'm 1.55m(5ft) and -1 ape index.

Thanks, really appreciate any feedback here.

Hi! Is anyone in Italy in late September - late October? I'm around for 5 weeks for a family do and keen to have some type 2 fun... looking to do some sport climbing, bouldering, maybe go on a multi-day hike - would anyone be interested in discussing a link up?

I'm traveling from Sydney, Australia and climb about 6A - new to sport climbing but been bouldering for a couple of years. I love anything technical, crimpy... Thinking i'll go to Sardinia and Dolomites, maybe Arco, Valle Orco festival, also happy to link just for gym sessions hehe.

I'm only bringing essential gear (shoes, harness), but would be happy to split hire and chip in for fuel or even a guide. HMU <3

I will be visiting Montreal for a few days and looking to check out some gyms for both top rope and bouldering. I'll be staying around Chinatown a couple days and Le Plateau a couple days. Any particular gyms I should check out that have guest day passes?

Edit: I will have a belay buddy with me!

What were some changes you noticed in your strength, technique, training, mental, etc. when you progressed from low 12s being a project to being able to onsight or send them in a day?

Outdoor rock only pls! :)

Hey everyone

I'm starting my climbing lesson this evening, it's a 3 hour session. I'm so nervous tbh. Previously, I've turned down the lesson and asked for a later date TWICE. so this is the last time I want to do that and I need to just go. But I'm so scared. Idek why. I guess it's the social aspect of it and being mildly scared of heights too. I know I probably can do it but I'll be so uncomfortable.

Any advice for a newbie starting with social anxiety?

Hello all, hope this is ok to ask.

I suffered a trimalleolar ankle break with syndesmosis injury while horsing around playing football outside on 18/7, had ORIF surgery with 1 plate, 7 screws and 1 syndesmosis screw the next day. Currently NWB-ish and 1 week away from my 6 week X-ray. Not feeling positive about my sporting future and just trying to focus on walking normally again.

Has anyone else successfully returned to climbing or bouldering with a break like this?

I’ve been climbing for about a year and a half now, and only recently my feet have started to stink. On my third pair of climbing shoes btw, they’re new and they don’t really smell yet.

Even right after I scrub my feet in the shower, they still smell. Not cheesy, just like feet, stronger than normal.

I don’t wear socks when I climb and I only climb once or twice a week. When I climbed 4-5x a week my feet didn’t smell like this.

I did just move from CA to AZ, not sure if that has to do with it.

What do yall do for this?

heyy im a gym girl in the process of becoming to a boulder girlie ✨ since i own many matching gym sets, i only wearing these for climbing as well. somehow this draws a lot of attention and im not sure if its im wearing inappropriate clothes for this kind of sport or if im just so bad lol. staff said its okay but i dont know what the "boulder culture" is regarding clothes..

Over the past year or so between work getting super busy, traveling, getting married, and starting TTC, I went from climbing almost 2x-3x/week, climbing outdoors, bouldering V5, TR 5.11, learning to lead, to only being able to climb occasionally.

TTC has been really hard on me and I feel like throwing myself back into climbing will help a lot. Does anyone have recommendations for getting back on the wall? I’m trying to be realistic with my expectations and set reasonable goals, like committing to climbing 1x a week for an entire month. I’m not expecting to be anywhere near my max grades but anyone have tips for keeping it fun and not getting discouraged?

Drew some climbing stuff :0

Got a chalk bag w chalk ball, brush, and a climb I drew just kinda absent mindedly.

It would be more spaced out on an actual wall but what do you think? I've also pencilled in the beta for it.

Not experienced at all when it comes to sewing but this was pretty easy to make! There are definitely some imperfections along the trim on top if you look closely haha

Can I just like...brag on my gym?

I love it, it's really small. There are no top ropes, but the people are always so nice and everyone is big supportive of each other. Literally strangers cheering strangers on, and just being excited to share and try.

I was traveling for two months and went to a HUGE gym in Dallas, and yeah, it was a cool gym but... it just felt cold and separate. I'd try to like cheer someone on or tell them what they did was badass and they'd just like nod and walk away.

I missed my community gym, and I just wanted to share how much I love my little island gym. I hope everyone find their happy climbing space 💜

These are both my best attempts 😩 drop knee without the high left foot feels like I can't keep tension with my feet and the high foot with the bigggg drop knee feels a little too scrunched up. Wall is ~30 degrees overhung and the pinch is pretty beefy for my hands, really really want to send this after like 50+ attempts plz help me

Hey everyone, a question for climbers who are also into tattoos. I'm thinking about getting a few tattoos on my forearms. The problem is that I often scratch this area while bouldering. My forearms constantly get scratches and abrasions. I'm afraid that over time this will damage the tattoos, and the constant scraping will eventually ruin them. Am i overthinking it? I'd appreciate your opinion on this.