5c climbing grade to v 8 and 5. Understand bouldering, sport, and trad climbing grades for accurate conversions. Including equipment, skills, knots & explanations of climbing terminology. Including Grade Wike & Table. Jul 8, 2025 · Roughly these are S, 4a; HS, 4b; VS, 4c; HVS, 5a; E1, 5b; E2, 5c. Climbing, like many sports, has its own metrics for measuring difficulty. com web site. What do these grades translate to in V-grade and British system? Jul 25, 2022 · You’ll be sure to see the YDS being used in indoor rock climbing walls and outdoor climbing routes alike in North America — and occasionally in Canada. 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. 9, also known as 5c in the French grading system, is considered a difficult level of climbing. Apr 27, 2025 · There are several rock climbing grade systems, each with its own history and regional use, but we will also cover the bouldering grades V scale and French (Font), including this 5c to V scale conversion that helps illustrate the relationship between the systems. If your gym uses a color scheme for grading, what are the… 볼더링, 스포츠 클라이밍 그레이드 변환표입니다. Quickly convert climbing grades between different systems: French, YDS, UIAA, and more. I run rock climbing courses in the UK and abroad and have grown up from a young age steeped in the world of trad rock climbing and my aim in this blog is to give you a brief overview of the basic rules governing the UK Apr 27, 2025 · Simply converting a 6c+ grade to the V scale would put it around V5, but real-world difficulty may differ depending on the design and characteristics of any given climb. 1/5. In outdoor settings, two prominent grading scales, the V Scale and Font Scale, take center stage. A route with a hard crux or perhaps a route that is just really sustained at a slightly easier level, could get the same grade I climb the same grade on the moon board as my gym grades, despite having very little experience with board climbing. While the grading systems vary by region—like the Fontainebleau system in Europe or the V-scale in the U. Technical abilities, mental game, route reading, ect. Sep 17, 2024 · What Does 5+ Mean in Climbing Grades? The 5+ grade comes from the Fontainebleau (Font) system, used mainly in Europe. If you could just post that jazz in the comments below, that would be much appreciated! Nov 4, 2009 · 2) The boulder problems are soft for the grade or the climbing routes are sandbagged. Klettern Have your friends set up a top rope for you and try out the different grades. Jul 29, 2025 · The special case of trad climbing and mountaineering: risk and commitment In sport climbing, with fixed protection, the grade is quite objective, focused on difficulty. Apr 29, 2024 · Learn everything about climbing grades and quickly convert any climbing rating with our free climbing grade conversion chart. Done done and done. txt) or view presentation slides online. Dec 9, 2024 · Tabelle: Schwierigkeiten beim Bouldern Beim Bouldern haben sich beim Bestimmen der Schwierigkeitsgrade einer Route vor allem die französische Fb-Skala („Fontainebleau“) und die amerikanische V-Skala („Vermin“) durchgesetzt. Mar 25, 2024 · Explore the ins and outs of climbing grade conversion with tips, challenges, and resources. IMO there's no reason to compare bouldering grades to sport route grades, because they're completely different disciplines of climbing. For "clean aid climbing" (i. While rope climbers use the Yosemite Decimal System (5. These grades provide a shared language for climbers, making it easier to compare Jan 1, 2025 · Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart There are several methods of grading how difficult a climb is. It's the system used to grade the technical difficulty of rock climbs. Jun 27, 2024 · The V scale, starting at V0 as the easiest, provided an easy-to-understand climb-by-climb grade separation. Top 5 International Climbing Grade Rating Systems If you’re climbing abroad, you should be familiar with other systems, including the French grading system, the UIAA grading system, and a handful of So my country uses the french scale for indoor sports climbing. ), the world of bouldering (at least in North America) has its own distinctive grading scale: the V-scale. pdf), Text File (. Yosemite Decimal System, French, UIAA, British UK, British Trad Grade, and Australian. Also your perspective will change overtime. To my surprise V5 converts to 7b and V6 to 7c in the french scale. Climbing Grades Compared>> Online Conversion By the time you get to V5 or V6, most of the discrepancy is gone (maybe 1 V grade difference), and the reason it feels easier to climb an indoor V6 vs an outdoor V6 can mostly be explained by the factors listed above. ” Too often, the gradations of the difficulties are The Yosemite Decimal System (which is the one that's mostly used in the US, and the one you'll see around here most often - it's the 5. 12d 5. C3+). However, by the time you get to E6, you should have started to understand grades for yourself, so don’t worry about that point. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples! Mar 17, 2012 · If you're starting to rock climb chances are you are starting at an indoor rock climbing gym. But grading systems aren’t always exact. 5 5. However, a lot of gyms in Sweden are also softer on grading than my current gym. The chart below shows a conversion between the Fontainebleau bouldering scale and the french climbing scale. . If you look at a crag in France, you will most likely see sport and trad climbing grades May 31, 2020 · What Are Climbing Grades? Two climbing routes at an American climbing gym. Grades progress in discrete steps, each intended to be a notch harder than the last. I'd say train for and focus on whatever problem you're projecting, theres bound to be a 6a you can climb. The other system you'll see around here a lot is the V-grade system used in bouldering. 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. This grade requires advanced climbing skills and techniques, making it suitable for experienced climbers. On this one, they've stuck 5a on the line between 5. Different aspects of climbing each have their own grading system, and many different nationalities developed their own, distinctive grading systems. 3/5. aid climbing equipment is used but only where the equipment is temporary and not permanently hammered into the rock), the most common system is the C-system (e. Oct 23, 2023 · Discover the intricacies of climbing grades with our comprehensive guide. I dont even really get the comparison between different areas. Dec 9, 2024 · Learn the ins and outs of climbing grades with our comprehensive guide! Understand the differences between systems, how they measure difficulty, and what they mean for climbers of all levels. Sometimes the conditions and the state of the routes can also influence the grades. why all the overlap it’s not even simple groups. 12b, the other a grade of 5. e. I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing. These both seem unnecessarily complex, and I wish we'd just adopt one, but at least there's a vague underlying logic to it. Above this the technical grade starts to slow down in relation to the adjectival grade, and by the time you get to E6, 6b is more of an average grade. Regardless, impressive progress. I can generally climb any v2-v3 in my gym but occasionally can bust out a v4-v6. Climbing grades are inherently subjective [1] - they are the opinion of one or a few climbers, often the first ascentionist or the author (s) of a guidebook. g. It all plays into it. Understanding both grading systems is essential for climbers who transition between bouldering and sport climbing, especially when traveling or climbing at new gyms. Feb 1, 2024 · The rock climbing grade 5. It was more of a tech ability thing than anything. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples! Free poster from Rockfax. americanalpineclub. Understanding Climbing Grade Conversion Comparing Bouldering Grades When it comes to comparing bouldering grades, it’s essential to understand the differences between the various grading systems used in different regions Tips for Using Climbing Grade Conversions Understand the Context: grades are subjective and can vary based on region, climbing style, and even the conditions on the day you climb. I go bouldering at a gym in Norway and this is their grading system. I typically find bouldering problems in the gym, or in a newly developed area, to feel much easier than bouldering problems of the same grade in the old-school area. Invented in France, and adopted for its simplicity, it spread to become the most Compare sports climbing grades across different systems. Jun 8, 2020 · Often sustained on vertical and overhanging ground. org. Ask yourself what make a good climber, and there’s your answer. Consider the Climbing Style: sport climbing, traditional climbing, and bouldering can have different grading nuances. Convert North American climbing grades to UK and European scales, and compare bouldering V-grades to roped climbs. Jun 23, 2024 · Indoor Climbing Grades Explained Are you new to indoor climbing and feeling overwhelmed by all the different grading systems? Understanding climbing grades is essential for tracking your progress and choosing appropriate routes. 10, etc. This of course doesn't hold true for every area and every boulder problem. Indoor rock climbing gyms have two types of rock climbing available, bouldering and sport climbing. Because other factors come in with equal or greater importance. 12a one) grades only the hardest move, but it's often supplemented with a PG/R/X to indicate the seriousness. Today, it’s the standard bouldering scale in North America, and its adoption is increasing. 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. The grades in a gym are just a subjective interpretation by the route setters, so difficulties varies a lot from gym to gym. 15b 5. Bouldering grades are a way to measure the difficulty of climbing problems, helping climbers gauge challenges and track progress. V0-V2 equates to 0-5c or so in the font grading system, but with the v-system there's not a lot of separation in the grades, while in the font system there's a lot of individual grades up to 5c, the equivalent of v2. Convert climbing grades between different rating systems: V-scale (bouldering), Yosemite Decimal System (sport/trad), UK technical grades, French grades, UIAA, and Australian grades. Please remember that grading a route is very subjective to the location and the person giving the grade. Dec 28, 2024 · Bewildering, subjective, unnecessarily complex, just plain mad! All of these insults have been leveled at the British grading system for traditional (trad) rock climbing. See full list on guidedolomiti. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Other climbing gyms I go to just say what grade each route is. Create a named range by selecting cells and entering the desired name into the text box. Most grade systems are specific to a certain style. - Conversation chart for boulders problems. 13a 5 13b 5. Jun 10, 2024 · Grade Converters Bouldering and Lead Climbing Grade converters and other tools for rock climbers. Jun 28, 2010 · for many years I could actually climb english 5c/6a and was leading 5a/5b on any adj grade route within reason. Further Reading: - An explanation of British climbing grades and comparison with other systems. Please visit them on the web at www. Our secret (or maybe not so secret anymore) tip for Nov 3, 2023 · In contrast, the V scale, which began in the United States, offers its own insights into the evolution of bouldering. Feb 20, 2023 · Also this image by British Rockfax is a great attempt to compare trad climbing grades to modern sport (bolted) climbing problems. Aid climbing grades take time to stabilize as successive repeats of aid climbing routes can materially reduce the grade. I hate this type of grading system? I climbed the yellow and pink routes and found it so frustrating having to guess the grade. As a beginner rock climber or foreign climber trying to climb in America, you'll want to become familiar with the Yosemite Decimal System, or YDS. I’m not sure if this is a bouldering system or a sport climbing system as the gym has both and I’ve not checked if the high wall has a separate system. Whether you're scaling indoor walls or conquering outdoor crags, understanding the intricacies of climbing difficulty rankings is essential for progression and safety. I was reading and watching a lot about the V5/V6 plateau that most intermediate climbers hit, and I was expecting this to be around the 6b on the french scale. At a month you're Coming from our frustrations of always trying to figure out what grading systems are used in which country and what do they mean in your own system, we have created this simple but hopefully helpfull comparison table. There are a number of factors that contribute to the difficulty of The rock climbing grade 5. Feb 14, 2024 · Understanding Bouldering Grades Bouldering grades stand as a universal metric, offering climbers a standardized means to assess the difficulty of boulder problems, whether encountered outdoors in natural landscapes or within the controlled environments of climbing gyms. 15d 5. Learn about the different climbing grades used in bouldering, from V0 to V16, and understand how to interpret the grading system to choose routes that suit your skill level. Includes examples of the different grades, links, multimedia, pictures, photos, and video its super confusing because at certain points the french bouldering and climbing grades are similar, but at both ends they diverge pretty significantly. Sep 20, 2016 · In rock climbing, mountaineering and other climbing disciplines, climbers give a climbing grade to a route that concisely describes the difficulty and danger of climbing the route. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned climber, our climbing grade conversion cha I know there are conversion tables online, but I’d like to sample r/climbharder on what your highest boulder and rope climb grade is (outdoor or indoor). Can somebody tell me what the actual point of this way is?? : r/climbergirls Go to climbergirls r/climbergirls r/climbergirls A sub for Grades – The grade given to a route is the maximum technical difficulty that you’ll generally find approaching it, climbing it, or descending from it. S. #2. Information about the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in American rock climbing, examining its history, and the meaning of the various grades and modifiers. The ‘F’ (French) grade of a route is how technically hard and sustained a route is. Infos zu Schwierigkeitsgrade beim Sportklettern, Bouldern, Eisklettern & Techn. COM 6B 6B+ 7B 8B CRUX RAN Oct 24, 2017 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. The French sport grade “5c” and the bouldering “V” scale measure different things, yet both describe how hard a climb feels in practice. This document shows a comparison of different rock climbing grading systems used internationally. | | | | | | | | | | | | Please read the before using any information contained on these pages. What's the difference between bouldering grades? The Font Scale, V Scale, what else? We explain everything in our review. thanks Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to figure out how the 7A bouldering grade compares to the V Scale or the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s the quick answer: 7A roughly equals V6 and 5. This article breaks down how these systems compare, why they don’t line up perfectly, and what it means for your climbing. Bouldering grades and bouldering grades conversion charts for the popular V-Scale and Font-Scale bouldering grades. - From Dawn's FAQ over on TradGirl web site. Each scale brings its Sep 3, 2005 · I'am having trouble making the progression from 5c moves ( which i find I can to with relative ease) to 6a. 5 14b 5. Read now! Nov 5, 2020 · In order to understand UK trad grades, it’s useful to also understand the concept of the French grading system (usually used for sport and indoor climbing). 13c 5 13d 5. Aug 24, 2025 · Understanding the Yosemite Decimal System: A Guide to Rock Climbing Grades in North America. 9. I see very very few people climb 7b and 7c grades. Kletterskalen Umrechner für UIAA, Frz. I get that its good to have a reference so you know what you'll have a good shot at sending or whatever, but its never apples to apples. If you have enough experience you should be able to decipher the grade and do ability by looking at the route. Learn your grades and apply them to your climbing and problem setting. 12b in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). The grade also considers how serious the route is, how committing it is and so paints a broad overall picture in terms of the ‘grade’. com Conversely, someone happy leading a sport route of grade 5c should not assume that they can get up an E1 trad route despite the fact that the technical difficulty level is comparable, they should at least be happy on a red sport route of 6b before transferring their skills to E1 trad climbing. Trad climbing consists of several pitches and, in addition to bolts, temporary protection systems can grade comparisonCOMPARISON OF CLIMBING GRADES by Rossclimbing Mar 31, 2016 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Apr 10, 2025 · Our expert guide to climbing rating systems will help you compare trad to sport, America to Europe, bouldering, scrambling, dry tooling and everything in between I've always found that the French grading system doesn't really have a 1-to-1 translation to Yosemite decimal system. The best way to approach the conversion is to travel, go climbing and get used to the different grades! Have fun! P. I know it's going to depend on which crags you're climbing at, but I've done quite a bit of climbing in quite a few different countries and have always found that 5a lines up pretty well Google "climbing grade conversion chart". Convert climbing grades among YDS, French, and UIAA scales to understand route difficulty worldwide. , Elbsandstein, UK Trad, Sierra u. 12c. Apr 27, 2025 · 5c to V Scale: Understanding Bouldering Grade Conversion Jake Climbers often move between bouldering and sport climbing, but the numbers and letters on each grading scale can be confusing. National Climbing Classification System (USA): NCCS grades, often called “commitment grades,” indicate the time investment in a route for an “average” climbing team. Whether you're a seasoned climber or just starting out, understanding this system can help you track progress and select problems that match your Conversion tables of climbing grades : SummitPost. Online Conversion Tool for Climbing Grades & Bouldering Grades: Trad Grade, UIAA, French Sport Grade, Boulder Grades, American Scale & many more. Take it as it is and always judge a new problem with due humbleness and consideration of your physical condition and climbing experience. The 7a to V Scale Conversion Explained Got riled up from another post about grading, so want some data to feed my curiosity. That seems like a really specific grade to progress to for only climbing a month. Please keep in mind that this table is only to be used as a guideline Tips for Using Climbing Grade Conversions Understand the Context: grades are subjective and can vary based on region, climbing style, and even the conditions on the day you climb. Jan 28, 2022 · YDS, French, V-Scale, Font What are climbing grades and how to use them to climb safely and progress more rapidly? One thing to know is Gyms that use V grades tend to have the issue of grade inflation in the earlier grades because of an issue with the grading system itself. I and II: Half a day or less for the technical (5th class) portion of… Read More »Climbing Grade Dec 10, 2019 · Of course when we see grades like E2 5a or E4 5c, we tend to think that the climb is very bold (because the technical grade is so low relative to the adjectival grade), but equally, the climb concerned could be preposterously strenuous, with good gear all the way, but without a definitive crux. It could really depend on how you climb and the specific route you're on. 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. The YDS also includes ratings for mountaineering and other types of climbing, but these are expressed in a different format than the rock climbing grades, using Roman numerals and other symbols. 2 5. To a non climber, if you climb v3 you’re basically a fckn god. On another note, why does everyone want to convert V grades to YDS? I've never understood that. It rates bouldering problems using numbers and letters such as 5a, 5b, 5c, and so on. 11a/6c The V grade V0 is equivalent to a F6b or a 5c if you're from England because, reasons. A 6a in the Font system or a V3 in the V scale might be seen as moderate challenges, but the tales, methods, and memories accompanying each climb add depth to the bouldering narrative. a. Universal grade conversion Back to contents In general, theCrag displays grades as they are entered and in the area specific context. A V5 climber compared to V2, is good Nov 13, 2023 · This article provides an in-depth look at the Yosemite Decimal System, a widely-used grading system for rock climbing and hiking routes. - Rankings explained in great detail from rockclimbing. So now im confused. Wrapping Up: Mar 17, 2023 · Confusingly, both bouldering and french climbing grades use the same numerical system to grade climbing routes and boulder problems. UIAA climbing grades are used in Germany and large parts of Eastern Europe where the system is mainly used to grade sport climbing routes. Maybe I'm dumb and it's all over the Internet, not sure why I had a hard time with this. —all aim to reflect a combination of physical and technical demands. It lists climbing grades from French, UIAA, US, British, Australian, and bouldering scales ranging from beginner to expert levels. In fact, I can go a few weeks Apr 13, 2025 · Climbing is a sport of precision, strength, and mental endurance. In this article, we will break down the various grading systems used in indoor climbing, including V-scale for bouldering and Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) for roped According to two contributors, the european rating system is less useful because it is too subjective and the alaskan rating system is more useful because it is less subjective. Technical grades on snow and ice A rough guide to technical grades on ice: Grade 3 = 60º, Grade 4 = 70º, Grade 5 = 80º (or vertical steps), Grade 6 = vertical, Grade 7 = hanging icicles/overhangs. A good repertoire of extreme rock climbing and ‘dry-tooling’ techniques required. Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart French 6b 9b Yosemite 5. It’s all about perspective. 4 5 10b 5. on the other hand, i think the french system, which is more holistic, reflects actual climbing performance for a particular bouldering grade better than the US system As in if you can climb V4/6c (font) you are probably around the 5. If you already feel confident in your knowledge of this system skip straight to the trad grading explanation a third of the way down this page. The French Rock Climbing Grade System The French ranking of outdoor, bolted, and sport climbing routes is the dominant climbing grading system to abide by. " Too often, the gradations of the difficulties are used in an very confused way, and Climbing Grade Conversion - Free download as PDF File (. 12b 5. But when we get to trad climbing, things change, and a lot. - A grade conversion chart from ClimbUK web site. Although the grade you climb at isn’t the only thing to take into account. INTRODUCTION In this article, we analyze the main systems used to classify the difficulty of climbing on different terrains such as rock, ice, and mixed terrain, trying to offer a starting point to create a minimum of historical and critical knowledge of those that are commonly known as "Scale of Difficulty. Knowing how one method relates to another is sometimes difficult. 9 and have pushed 6a to 10b. Even if they have the same grading system in mind. One has a grade of 5. Hinzu kommt noch eine extra Fb-Traversen-Skala für Boulder-Quergänge. Detailed but brief information & tips on rock climbing. org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering Aug 18, 2017 · In this article we go over the nuances of rock climbing grades, indoor and outdoor, what they mean, and how to understand them. Find equivalent difficulty across systems. Free, fast, and easy-to-use climbing grade converter. Below is a chart to help you determine how one method relates to another. Sport Climbing The UK uses the French system of grading sport routes, which are climbs protected by bolts - generally when you’re climbing indoors or on bolted climbs outdoors. ) with + and – to indicate grades which just push the boundary for difficulty. The “+” symbol indicates a climb slightly harder than a plain number but easier than the next letter grade. Feb 4, 2015 · I don’t recommend that you blindly trust this table – there can be differences from country to country or even between climbing areas. The full document ‘ UIAA Scales of Difficulty in Climbing ’ analyses the main systems used to classify the difficulty of climbing on different terrains such as rock, ice, and mixed terrain, trying to offer a starting point to create a minimum of historical and critical knowledge of those that are commonly known as “Scale of Difficulty. 10c 5 5. Learn how bouldering V-scales compare to YDS for route climbing, understand the journey from indoor to outdoor climbing, and explore international grading systems. Does any1 else find that there seems to be a big difference in difficulty between these two gradesand can any1 give me any tips (apart from just climb more) to train for these harder climbs. . In order to keep people coming, gyms Learn about climbing and bouldering ratings, including how route difficulty is measured and the difference between a rating and a grade. These ranking systems, often referred to as grading systems, provide a standardized way to evaluate the challenge a route presents. While grades are usually applied fairly consistently across a climbing area, there are often perceived differences between grading at different climbing areas. Mar 31, 2017 · The UIAA system uses Roman numerals (IV, V, VI etc. 9, 5. Roped routes also vary in difficulty from crag to crag. com © Rockfax 2000, 2002, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2020 Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to understand how a 6c bouldering grade converts to the V Scale or sport climbing grades, here’s the quick answer: 6c roughly equals V5 in the Hueco (V) Scale and 5. The above appears courtesy of the American Alpine Journal. Apr 11, 2025 · V-GRADES V-grades or the V-scale (also sometimes called the 'Hueco' scale) was established in 1991 by American bouldering pioneer John 'Verm' Sherman - that's where the V comes from! Sherman used the scale to grade problems in his book Hueco Tanks Climbing and Bouldering Guide. Experiment and have fun climbing. In 2016, Alex sent me a link to his page on Bouldering Grades, which he compares with the Yosemite Decimal System and sport climbing. Climbing grades are a number or number-letter combination designed to correspond to the physical difficulty of a climb. vvjulwrl jze ezu xrkof oipsqv geculmrl zsfr hgwvh qhqwkyb uqf zkcp ajne hucf huyljjo trny