Climbing grades chart. Climb better by learning climbing grades.

Climbing grades chart . If you’re curious how the difficulty of our routes compares, this chart translates our Spot grades into the popular V-Grade scale, developed Climbing is an exhilarating and challenging sport that attracts adventurers from all walks of life. Sep 16, 2021 · Everything you ever wanted to know about bouldering grades in one place, including a bouldering grade conversion chart from the V Scale to Font Scale. May 31, 2020 · Everything you need to know about climbing grades in one place. Bouldering grades are graded using different systems across different regions. For Americans or trad climbers it may be difficult to relate it to their usual system and understand how hard a climbing route may be. Nov 19, 2025 · The complete climbers guide to bouldering grades is here! Everything you need to know from history to training tips to send your project! Mar 31, 2017 · Climbing grades can be confusing. This bouldering grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from Hueco to French and back to French to V-Scale. Sometimes the conditions and the state of the routes can also influence the grades. For "clean aid climbing" (i. 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. Including Grade Wike & Table. 13 grade ranges. Get help comparing bouldering, sport, and trad climbing grades. Jun 5, 2023 · As you read this article, remember that all grades are subjective! Climbing Grades Comparison Chart To help you navigate through the convoluted world of climbing grades, we have put together a climbing grade conversion chart. Free, fast, and easy-to-use climbing grade converter. Aid climbing grades take time to stabilize as successive repeats of aid climbing routes can materially reduce the grade. Climbing grades are a way to communicate the difficulty of a route or "problem. g. So, what are the mountaineering grading systems? The main mountaineering grading systems including the French Mountaineering Grades (going from F “easy” to ED “Extremely Difficult), the Yosemite Decimal System (going from Class 1 to Class 5 terrain), and the National Climbing Classification System (going from Grade I to Grade VII). Here’s a rundown of the main climbing grade systems and how they compare: Mar 21, 2022 · Most gyms don’t grade their problems to replicate outdoor climbs. Our secret (or maybe not so secret anymore) tip for International Mountaineering and Climbing Grade Comparison Chart A direct comparison between the New Zealand (Mt Cook/ Frost grading system) developed in 2018, and the French Alpine Grade, UIAA Grade and the Russian Grade is no longer as linear as the Mt Cook/ Logan grading system of 1982. The de facto Apr 29, 2024 · Learn everything about climbing grades and quickly convert any climbing rating with our free climbing grade conversion chart. , climbing grades are broken into two systems: the V-grade system used for bouldering, and the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) used for grading routes. S. The goal is to reach the top of a boulder problem or route. Jun 23, 2024 · Comparison to Sport Climbing Grades While the YDS is commonly used for traditional climbing, sport climbing often utilizes a different grading system known as the French grading system. 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. They give you a general idea of how hard a route is, but there are other important factors to consider when figuring out if it’s the right climb for you. 9, 5. International rock climbing classification systems are shown in the chart at the right, and below is a comparison of Alpine, Ice, Snow, Aid, and Commitment grading systems. org International Grade Comparison Chart YDS=Yosemite Decimal System; UIAA=Union Internationale des Associations D’Alpinisme; Fr=France/Sport; Aus=Australia; Sax=Saxony; CIS=Commonwealth of Independent States/Russia; Sca=Scandinavia; Bra=Brazil. National Climbing Classification System (USA): NCCS grades, often Apr 27, 2025 · Rock climbing grades are numbers (and sometimes number-letter combinations) assigned to routes in order to give a guideline on the overall difficulty. Amongst many other things, this article describes how theCrag is using and displaying grades, how theCrag assigns grades to routes and ascents, what protection ratings are and how they are applied on theCrag, what grade contexts are, and which grade systems are Mar 4, 2025 · What does the grade mean? The grade of a climb should reflect the overall difficulty of the climb. In conclusion, understanding sport climbing grades is essential for climbers to accurately assess the difficulty level of a route and challenge themselves accordingly. 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. While rope climbers use the Yosemite Decimal System (5. 15b 5. Please remember that grading a route is very subjective to the location and the person giving the grade. Ratings used internationally today include no less than seven… Be able to rock climb up to 5. Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart French 6b 9b Yosemite 5. The Old SA grading was used in many of the older traditional climbing areas but is seldom used today. 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 Feb 20, 2023 · Climbing Grades Comparison Chart We in Sardinia (and Italy) use mostly the French chart. COM 6B 6B+ 7B 8B CRUX RAN Nov 8, 2023 · Discover the definitive guide to bouldering grades. Read now! How to Use the Sports Climbing Grades Chart: To use this table, simply find the grade you wish to convert and click on it or follow the row to see equivalent grades in the other system. Climbing Grade Conversions Climbing grades can be confusing due to the various systems used around the world. You will have the opportunity to try different climbing techniques on natural; Smearing slabs, lay-back flake, arete and face climbs, off-width crack through to proper chimney cracks. Please keep in mind that this table is only to be used as a guideline Climbing Grades Conversion Chart Climbing Grades Conversion Chart - Learning to free climb is as natural as climbing a tree, but doing it well is a long process. Here's the link if you're interested. It is recommended to start with a May 22, 2013 · If you're at all interested in cycling uphill you would have heard people refer to a climb's gradient (or steepness) as a percentage. Free, instant climbing grade converter to help you understand foreign grading systems. Learn how bouldering V-scales compare to YDS for route climbing, understand the journey from indoor to outdoor climbing, and explore international grading systems. Whether you're a seasoned climber or a newcomer to the sport, understanding the different climbing grades and difficulties is crucial for selecting routes that match your skill level and ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience. Different grading systems for bouldering Bouldering grades conversion chart Fontainebleau bouldering grades V scale bouldering grades Hybrid bouldering grades What are bouldering grades? Bouldering grades, and climbing grades in general, are systems of numbers (or numbers with letters and symbols) that convey the degree of difficulty. Knowing how one method relates to another is sometimes difficult. Safety is […] Apr 13, 2025 · Climbing is a sport of precision, strength, and mental endurance. I was curious about the distribution of grades achieved by climbers, what constitutes an ‘average’ grade achieved, and wh Climbing, like many sports, has its own metrics for measuring difficulty. National Climbing Classification System (USA): NCCS grades, often called “commitment grades,” indicate the time investment in a route for an “average” climbing team. RP grades between sport climbing and bouldering of athletes who do both also would be interesting. The two most common boulder grading systems are the V-Scale and the Fontainebleau Scale. Climb better by learning climbing grades. 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. Maybe I'm dumb and it's all over the Internet, not sure why I had a hard time with this. Learn about the different systems for grading rock climbs across the world, from French to Yosemite to Australian. From V0 to V15, unlock the secrets of difficulty ratings and elevate your climbing game. To help make everything easier, I’ve broken the entire Confused by V-grades, YDS ratings, and Font scales? Learn about the core climbing grading systems, how routes are rated, and compare systems used worldwide. 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. 5 5. Please visit them on the web at www. About this Sports Climbing Grades table: This is a lead climbing grade conversion chart. Read on for more info. What this rainforest site lacks in sheer height makes up for in variety of routes. 12 and 5. The climbing grades system is an important part of climbing. 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 Discover hidden site aspects with multiple Climbing, Caving and Abseil activities. Whether you're a seasoned climber or just starting out, understanding this system can help you track progress and select problems that match your Climbing & Bouldering Scale Converter for Trad Grade, UIAA, French Sport Grade, American Scale More info on the grades of sport climbing, bouldering, ice climbing & technical climbing! Two Systems In the U. org. The reason being that the width of grades on a specific scale are not comparable or that grades are not linear across the whole scale. Maybe with filters only including more than 10 in either discipline in the last 2 years or so. C3+). e. Find out how to choose routes, areas, and partners based on your ability and goals. Knowing which climbing We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. But as the popularity of rock climbing burgeons globally, understanding the intricacies of climbing grades has become more confusing. Jan 28, 2022 · Learn how to use different climbing grade systems for rock, ice, and bouldering styles. How did our sport evolve in 2024? Search and rescue teams responded to two climbing emergencies in nevada’s red rock canyon national Every climb receives a grade which determines the length of time and commitment required to climb it, with big wall routes covering grades V to VII. Below you'll find a comprehensive explanation of the different climbing rating systems. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricacies of Sep 19, 2025 · When Mixed Grades were first introduced, it was all but a given that a “mixed” pitch would involve ice climbing—usually a hanging dagger—at some point. " Learn about different climbing grades, fitness benefits, and safety tips. " But unlike most sports, climbing has multiple grading systems, depending on the type of climbing and where in the world you’re doing it. The YDS tends to focus more on the overall difficulty and danger of a route, taking into account factors such as route finding, protection, and overall commitment. 2 5. Apr 2, 2021 · We compiled data from 600+ rock climbers to find sport-specific strength and endurance standards that can help you know where to focus your training efforts. Here’s a rundown of the main climbing grade systems and how they compare: 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. Bouldering grades are the assigned difficulty ratings to boulder problems. Jun 10, 2024 · Grade Converters Bouldering and Lead Climbing Grade converters and other tools for rock climbers. When we opened our first gym in 2002, we separated outdoor climbing grades and indoor climbing grades, allowing climbers to focus on the nuances of each style. The above appears courtesy of the American Alpine Journal. Grade I is low commitment, typically just a few hours of climbing. Some charts are slightly Jul 29, 2025 · Knowing the rock climbing grades, what they mean, and how the different scales compare is essential for any climber May 4, 2020 · Climbing grades give an idea of how easy, moderate, or difficult a particular climbing route is. 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. Below is a chart to help you determine how one method relates to another. ), the world of bouldering (at least in North America) has its own distinctive grading scale: the V-scale. 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. All guide books and Topos are only show this grading system. Edit a chart to create a simple data file Generate images based on your data Use Libraries to interact with your data This project addresses The Complication of Grades Grade Adjacent Climbing Grades Comparison Chart This chart is taken from the Grimper Malin website. Quickly convert climbing grades between different systems: French, YDS, UIAA, and more. Australian Rock Climbing Grades Chart Australian climbers like to keep it simple, and thanks to a former Brit, we have one of the most straight-forward climbing grade systems in the world, invented in the 60's by John Ewbank,. French System The French rock climbing grade system is a numerical scale, from 1 to 9, with letters (a,b,c) and plus (+) or minus (−) signs for finer increments. I and II: Half a day or less for the technical (5th class) portion of… Read More »Climbing Grade International Grade Comparison Chart International rock climbing classification systems are shown in the chart at the right, and below is a comparison of Alpine, Ice, Snow, Aid, and Commitment grading systems. As mixed climbing has become more popular, the subset of “sport drytooling” has gained traction too: climbing bare rock, with ice climbing equipment, but with no actual ice in sight. It's a Bouldering grades and bouldering grades conversion charts for the popular V-Scale and Font-Scale bouldering grades. It offers an approximate translation of difficulty levels between YDS, French (Sport), and UIAA rock climbing grades. These ranking systems, often referred to as grading systems, provide a standardized way to evaluate the challenge a route presents. . We have the grades broken into 5 categories to give a sense of the likelihood of success (climbing without a fall or take) based on a climber's level of activity, fitness and climbing experience. The best way to approach the conversion is to travel, go climbing and get used to the different grades! Have fun! P. 13c 5 13d 5. Oct 23, 2023 · Discover the intricacies of climbing grades with our comprehensive guide. Understanding Spot Grades At The Spot, we use our own grading scale, called The Spot Scale. Easily convert climbing grades across systems like YDS, French, UIAA, British, and more. Most climbs in the AAJ are described with an alphabet soup of difficulty ratings. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. This chart is designed to be used with the American Alpine Journal to help decipher the difficulty ratings given to climbs. Grades: It's All Relative Climbing grades are helpful, but they’re not the whole story. Climbing Grades Compared>> Online Conversion Want to know more about bouldering climbing grades? Check out our comprehensive guide on the V-Scale and French Scale here. While the general information about climbing grades and grade conversion is described in the article Grades and Grade Conversions. Aug 24, 2025 · Understanding climbing grades is essential for safe & successful rock, ice & alpine climbs. Grades can be subjective and may vary slightly between locations or setters. This is most likely because sport climbing requires a unique set of mental and tactical skills that finger and pulling strength generally aren’t going to make up for. Compare the difficulty levels, skill levels and sub-grades of roped and bouldering climbs with a table and a PDF download. See the links below for alternatives. 4 in mountain boots and be comfortable climbing rock, snow and ice in crampons, and fit to go climb for 4-6 hours AD (assez difficile): Fairly hard. Depending on where you climb in the UK you could find anything from a 4a to an E9 or even an HVS, and don’t get us started on the Australian, European or American grading systems. Mar 30, 2023 · Rock climbing grades Behind the grades: Grades are often debated in climbing because they aim to measure difficulty in objective terms, but the many variables in what makes a climb hard, and who is doing the climbing, make objectivity impossible. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned climber, our climbing grade conversion cha Climbing Grade Conversions Climbing grades can be confusing due to the various systems used around the world. Jun 23, 2024 · Remember that climbing is a journey, and each climb, regardless of the grade, offers an opportunity for growth and improvement. Data Files Climbing Grades Rock climbing grades International Climbing Grade Comparison Chart A slight outlier from theCrag This conversion page from the theCrag has a chart similar to the images above, and an Interacive Grade Converter that resembles the software above. The number indicates the general difficulty, while the letter and plus/minus provide more specific refinement within that grade, with higher numbers and letters representing harder IMPORTANT – Below is a very rough table and it is impossible to provide an accurate conversion between technical difficulty of the hardest climbing – a sport grade/UIAA/USA grade – and overall difficulty of the full route experience from approach through climbing, conditions and descent – Alpine Grade. Sep 5, 2021 · Simply put, a climbing grade describes the difficulty of the terrain on the route. 1/5. Sep 25, 2023 · Climbing is a universal sport, spanning from remote walls in Alaska to the sunny sport climbing routes of Spain. The diagram below should make it easier to understand French / UIAA / USA systems. So technically, this is more of an outlier in spirit than practice. 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. 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. Climbing Grade calculator for determining finger strength needed for different climbing grades based on research using the Grippul. Regarding sport climbing, we also aren’t measuring 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. Anyways, since I had a hard time I just made one. 15d 5. This data is helpful to prevent injuries, and better prepare your finger strength for various climbing grades from medium (v5-v10), to difficult (v10-v14), to elite (v1 International Climbing Grade Conversion Chart The following is a very rough conversion I've pieced together by averaging other sources. We see folks from all sorts of Str:Wt ratios perform at the 5. A climb might have an average gradient of 3% or 5% or even 10% but how is gradient calculated? And how challenging are various gradients? In the first part of this series, we answer these questions and set the scene for more detailed discussions of how gradient Dec 1, 2020 · Sport climbing presents with similar trends but a few notable differences as well. This guide delves deep into the world of rock climbing grades, offering insights into their origins, variations, and how they compare internationally This is a bouldering climbing grade conversion chart. Grade is the term and system we use to indicate the commitment it takes to do a particular route. Aug 24, 2023 · Discover the world of rock climbing with "Climbing Grades Explained. The chart below shows a conversion between the Fontainebleau bouldering scale and the french climbing scale. Convert North American climbing grades to UK and European scales, and compare bouldering V-grades to roped climbs. Dec 22, 2021 · Mountain Project Climbing Grade Percentiles In rock climbing there are “Grades” of a route which measure it’s difficulty - each one incrementally more difficult than the last. International Grade Comparison ChartAmerican Alpine Journal www. Whether you're scaling indoor walls or conquering outdoor crags, understanding the intricacies of climbing difficulty rankings is essential for progression and safety. We often conversationally refer to climbing ratings and grades synonymously, but there is a more specific definition for a grade in climbing. This can be a complicated system. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when evaluating a route I compiled some bouldering-specific grading charts, cos on the internet there's loads for climbing but none for bouldering grades. Bouldering Grade Systems Bouldering grade systems are a 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. It's the system used to grade the technical difficulty of rock climbs. 5 14b 5. 12d 5. Convert rock climbing grades between French, YDS, British, and UIAA systems. Learn about the Yosemite and French grading systems and how the two compare. Why are there two different systems? Because for many decades one style of climbing—routes—was pretty much all anyone cared about. Use Rab’s interactive tool to understand global climbing difficulty scales and plan your next route with confidence. 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. Aug 24, 2025 · Understanding the Yosemite Decimal System: A Guide to Rock Climbing Grades in North America. Mar 17, 2023 · Confusingly, both bouldering and french climbing grades use the same numerical system to grade climbing routes and boulder problems. 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. Generally, Grade V’s require one or two nights on the wall and Grade VI’s require two to seven nights. A mistake often made is to combine the Australian & South African grades as the same, in fact they are about a grade apart and even more at the upper grades. Understanding the different grading systems & the factors that affect grades will help you make informed decisions & tackle routes that match your skill level & ambitions. 10, etc. 13a 5 13b 5. Learn your grades and apply them to your climbing and problem setting. These grades help other climbers judge whether it is suitable for their level. ” Too often, the gradations of the difficulties are Jan 1, 2025 · Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart There are several methods of grading how difficult a climb is. americanalpineclub. The All-Important Grade Conversion Chart A grade conversion chart, often a comparative grades table, is an indispensable tool for climbers navigating different regions or guidebooks that utilize varied systems. But what goes into climbing grades, and why do they involve so many letters and numbers? Climbing is rife with technical jargon, and trying to decode the abbreviations can seem daunting. 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. Get ready for an adventure! Convert a climbing grade with easeTo convert grades, enter the grade into the input, select the grade system (french, yosemite, v-scale) and hit "convert" Bouldering Grades Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed without the use of ropes or harnesses. Bouldering did not become its own discipline until May 5, 2024 · Grades Finally, let’s talk about Grades. 3/5. Online Conversion Tool for Climbing Grades & Bouldering Grades: Trad Grade, UIAA, French Sport Grade, Boulder Grades, American Scale & many more. This will help you compare and convert across some of the most popular grading systems. What's the difference between bouldering grades? The Font Scale, V Scale, what else? We explain everything in our review. Learn about climbing and bouldering ratings, including how route difficulty is measured and the difference between a rating and a grade. 10c 5 5. Aug 30, 2021 · Rock climbing grades can seem cryptic; we break down the most popular rating systems and explain a tradition that's existed since the 1890s. Here's your guide for comparing indoor to outdoor bouldering grades. Understanding the different grading systems and how they convert can help you to gauge the difficulty of routes across different regions. This guide explains the different grading systems used in rock climbing and offers tips to level up your skills. Our Ultimate Guide to Climbing Grades provides it all! Mar 25, 2024 · Learn how to convert climbing grades, common challenges, and resources for accurate conversions. 12b 5. 4 5 10b 5. 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 Mar 17, 2012 · Indoor rock climbing gyms have two types of rock climbing available, bouldering and sport climbing. The following chart compares most of the available grading scales. Does anyone have anymore that could be added? (disclaimer to say grading can be rly subjective and qualitative so I did the best I could!!) Jan 18, 2022 · Tired of bickering over climbing grades? Then check out this new, streamlined rating system. Thankfully there was no more climbing, just snow, so i slowly hiked to the summit over seven hours. With only three grades to describe the length of every big wall route, the system doesn’t work so well. nyvyin lvqwe hmtbyuoj boxim iaexhu nqhg qponei eeq holva mjnv mddyat ghcwir snbsvy rejxp jiuucf