Ideal rock climbing physique reddit Most serious climbers weight lift/train along with climbing. Can heavier individuals be good climbers? How much do the professionals weigh? How much weight can a climbing rope hold? What size do harnesses come in? All your rock climbing and weight-related questions answered in this post. The thing that has helped me the most is climbing 'consciously'. This article aims to demystify the relationship between a climber's weight and their bouldering abilities, providing a balanced perspective for Formally chubby guy here who’s lost 20kg from climbing motivating me. It takes some time to get into the rhythm, and better do a little less of all each time and let your body adjust. I ski a lot in the winter, mostly in bounds, but ventured Mar 27, 2009 · That said, it is well worth training for body tension if you are fairly new to climbing, because it will help you to develop a strong physique that is less prone to injury in the future. What I'm looking for is balance - the enjoyment that climbing brings, and having an attractive physique (think brad pitt in fight club). Geometrical Body Morphology, Muscle As a fitness regime, I feel like rock climbing doesn't make me lose weight or get ripped. From advice on which gym to visit to videos of world cup IFSC climbers, you can find it all here. If you look at the best climbers, they are at their best weight for their strength, along with good technique and climbing strategy. You should always think not of what looks good but what you want to do and what the optimum is for that. Its pretty balanced but u gotta let ur body get used to it for a few weeks so maybe gradually amp up the intensity of your climbing and gym. Reddit's rock climbing training community. Jun 7, 2024 · Throughout high school, I played football and cross-country skied. Well, as the title says, in 2 months climbing has changed my body. The home of Climbing on reddit. So that your muscles don't give out prematurely on your next round of bouldering, you can learn more about the best exercises for climbers in our article. My local gym charges $25 for a day pass and $85/month for a monthly membership. Personally, I don't find either of those things appealing so they do nothing for me on the "cool" meter. Craig is bulkier, thicker pecs, much better traps. In that time I’ve grown immensely, now climbing mainly V5-V6, and leading 5. I have been climbing consistently since then (2-4 times a week) with occasional strength training and running. I have done moves which are in spaces way to small for a taller person to even try. If the question just said "what is THE ideal body type, then I'd understand. That's because, typically, boulders require more raw power and you aren't really worried about pumping out. My second year was spent mainly rock climbing, and training for rock climbing. I still can't do a pull-up after 5 years of climbing. Most people don't get huge mass from climbing/bouldering itself. If I didn't find climbing I down know where i would be now. I have taken a fresh look at this relationship. Not all climbers are skinny. MembersOnline • [deleted] The Rock Climber's Training Manual is now available order yours here! Controlling body weight is critical to maximizing climbing performance. I was wondering around when I’ll start to see gains/physical changes from climbing? I know everyone’s body is different, but I’ve seen various reports on how much bouldering actually alters your physique. Learn one way to increase this ratio via optimizing body composition. What’s everyone’s opinions on rock climbing as an alternative to going to the regular gym, or just to a regular workout? The general idea is that a honed physique is preferred -- but almost every example of the peak of male fitness is in one way or the other on gear. And climbing with a weighted vest screws up your balance / coordination. Body tension defined There are two crucial aspects to body tension in climbing. In addition to lower-body endurance, you might need to be able to carry a heavy pack, use your upper body to rock climb, self-arrest with your axe, or potentially pull someone out of a crevasse, all of which require some muscle mass and core strength. If someone's only hobby was rock climbing or white water rafting, people would be like "omg that's so cool". But to be lean you need to lose body fat, and that's mostly done by eating right. Intrigued, I sought biological insights from my father… Reddit's rock climbing training community. I’m pretty happy with mine. Unfortunately climbing can be pretty expensive. 6 trad pitch on Manure Pile to free climbing El Cap in a day, I grew skinnier. As I progressed through the grades, from leading my first 5. See Ashima pulling ridiculous hard moves and Adam Ondra doing v14's before he could do a one arm chinup. To that end, I am more motivated to eat a little better, do some cardio and yoga, and do strength training than I would otherwise be. Nov 8, 2023 · It involves using your body to climb up a rock wall, either natural outdoor rock or man-made indoor rock. Is there an ideal body weight or frame for our "realm"? Workouts: Been climbing since Sept 2020 but I could only climb on and off until this August. Therefore, climbers of At first glance, it seems that being taller is a handicap in rock climbing see here for a reddit discussion or my own analysis here. I like guys that lean towards the fit side, but not excessively so. So, when you see a semi-decent physique with some BF, you think "trash" and when you see someone with little-to-no BF and beefy af you think "he's on juice. I think it would be extra bad for climbing because, like others have mentioned, you're building muscle memory for moves where your center of gravity is different and also the weight ratios of parts of your body are completely different than when you're actually climbing. Once you've trained hard enough, slept well enough and eaten properly for long enough to obtain your ideal physique, you will know the answer to this question. I've struggled with weight and body image most of my life. Reply reply noblesse-oblige- • You can get a body like a rock climber by training for grip strength, upper-body pulling power, core stability, and lower-body agility—just like top climbers do, according to certified trainers. Make sure to do some angled walls and overhang when climbing. I’m currently sitting around 10% BF and am wondering what an ideal percentage is or what goal I should be aiming for? What is the Ideal Height for Climbing? For a male climber, it seems the ideal height is anywhere between 5’ 6” and 6’ 1”. [Usually] Nearly a A rock climber literally lives or dies by the raw physical strength and ability in every single muscle in his body, whereas a bodybuilder is is going entirely for form. Although rock climbing has been around for years, it has only recently started skyrocketing in popularity. Rock climbing in particular is pretty biased toward pulling, although if you're a good climber you'll push and use your legs quite a bit as well. Worrying that people are using examples from films. Being short house just need to do your sequences differently maybe a little more dynamic. " Ideal weight for climbing is different for every individual. Mar 6, 2025 · Exploring Climber's Physique and Unraveling Body Fat with Doc Dad – Insights from a Conversation In climbing, the conventional physique is lean, skinny, and muscular. Decent gains are to expected in the back, forearms, and core, little gains in the biceps, triceps, and shoulders, and barely any gains in the chest and legs. It’s widely acknowledged that carefully controlled body fat composition can help in some situations, but is lighter always better? Climbing changed my life [clickbait off]. Sep 14, 2022 · “Is there a right body type for climbing?” As human beings, most of us compare ourselves to one another in some area of our lives, and it appears that with climbing it’s no different. The body simply adapts to what it's being asked to do. e. Strong shoulders and a sturdy upper back are also the most. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to lift for aesthetics as a rock climber while keeping your primary focus on climbing performance. That’s why optimizing body composition is crucial for climbers striving to send their projects and stay injury-free. Climbing is a great full-body workout that attracts people of all different ages and sizes. The ideal body for most people are what they see in the super hero movies which are generally somewhere in between "average guy" in the OP and big bodybuilder physiques (i. Lower body weight is more helpful for sport/route climbing than bouldering, and that is typically reflected in pro climbers as well. Climbers go to great lengths to develop finger and upper-body strength, with the aim of improving their strength-to-weight ratio in order to resist the pull of gravity. There is a huge problem within sport climbing of climbers being at unhealthy low weights. The biggest factor that bodyweight affects is the percentage of bodyweight that we’re able to hang on a climbing hold – simply put, if you reduce body fat and retain lean muscle mass you’ll be able to hang poorer Hello, I've recently gotten into bouldering and are really happy about finally finding a workout that I actually enjoy, but I am wondering how good of a workout is it? Considering loosing weight and building som muscles? I used to be "naturally" fit and muscular, but I was doing hard physical labor for 5-7 hours a day, plus dong sit ups in the morning PLUS riding a bike everywhere for transportation and then more just for fun PLUS rock climbing. BMI, even though notoriously inaccurate, puts me in a "good" spot, but there's room to lose a bit of weight, ideally in the lower half, and still be in the "healthy" cross-section. 11s. Mastering the unique moves and positions requires immense strength, flexibility, balance and cardio endurance. 69 votes, 31 comments. I find that your rate of improvement is fastest when you're climbing for at least an hour (closer to two is ideal), three times a week. I'm not really thin, not muscular, just average. Obviously people like Ondra, Tomoa, Ashima, etc have some level of genetic advantage over the “average” climber or person, but do we know what these advantages look like? Do we have an idea of what creates a larger genetic potential in climbing? Share Add a Comment Sort by: Best Open comment sort options Top New Controversial Old Q&A Z1nfandel • Reddit's rock climbing training community. Just rock it ;) Your height is not something you can ever change, and climbing is such an amazing sport that you can't let notions of 'ideal physiques' (unless you're very big boned) get in your way. 310 votes, 177 comments. trueLove it!! I'm about the same, I like having a close to that body type as I can get. Whatever your weight is when you've got around 8-12% body fat, while having only having muscles in the right places. Swimmers, track and field, cyclists, rock climbers all tend towards this kind of lean, hard body. I try to make sure that I'm thinking about every movement while I'm climbing, rather than just relying on instinct. Right now, I'm 6'2", 175-180 lbs, with fairly big legs. The fact that taller people also weight more (in absolute terms) seems to cause this negative correlation between height and weight. You need a lot of grip strength, full-body coordination, a lean body, and minimal body fat. This post explores what the average climber’s body looks like, how elite athletes like Janja Garnbret and Adam Ondra build world-class physiques, and what kind of training helps shape that level of strength and agility. A lot of people say that climbing is a sport for every body type, and some of the top boulders and sport climbers range from being very tall and lanky to short and stocky. Body weight is always going to make things harder for you no matter what the grade. Rock climbers are known for their lean, strong physiques, and you don’t have to climb mountains to achieve similar results. I've been climbing 2 times per week at least and it's been… Jun 7, 2024 · In The Rock Climber’s Training Manual, the Anderson brothers recommend that climbers be generally fit, with 10 percent body fat for men and 20 percent for women. If climbing becomes your primary focus, chances are you will lose some muscle mass where it isn't used as much and maintain it where it's beneficial. Mar 16, 2022 · Workout for bouldering challenges the body more holistically than almost any other sport. Anything related to indoor (and outdoor) goes. Let's take the program from the Rock Climbing Training Manual as an example: it includes 4 weeks of general fitness, 3-4 of hangboarding, 2-3 of power, 3-4 of power endurance and finally a few weeks of performance. When it comes to improving physique at that level, rock climbing is really a hindrance and guys like them look good in spite of the sacrifices they make for climbing performance, not because of them. There is no point where it starts to matter more or less. If you are looking to do chin ups, do chin ups. I normally do full body at the gym, but I was thinking of going rock climbing along with working out at the gym there. When I first started climbing, I had very little upper body strength; it even took me almost three months of climbing to be able to do a pull-up. Several climbers have spoken out about this over the last couple of years for example, Mina Leslie-Wujastyk, Beth Rodden, and Janja Garnbret. Bouldering / climbing only burns 8 - 10 calories per minute of active climbing. However some people just naturally seem to progress way quicker than others, so is the genetics in the metabolism or the finger ligaments? interested in what would be considered good genetics for climbing. I'm in my late 20s now and indoor bouldering is my activity of choice (along with short distance running (5k to 10k). Dan Beall] (2023) Strength Training Training for Climbing Written By Jason Hooper Dec 2, 2017 · This Video attempts to examine various Genetical Factors that contribute to Climbing Performance, as well as their ideal Characteristics for Rock Climbing. Of course it's not, it starts with "Men, in your eyes," as in it's talking about your ideal body type. And yes we are scared of falling. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. I began climbing in 1998 in Vermont, becoming more athletic though still bulky. You will definitely get some muscle from rock climbing and bouldering, but it's much more of an all over kind of thing, since it uses your whole body. Kinda dumb to just clump all professional athletes in the same bucket, but if you disagree, explain how steroids helped Tiger Woods win the US Open. When I started climbing I lost around 10lb and felt better about myself and climbing improved. Small climbers will complain that it is height, heavy climbers, weight. For a female climber, it seems the ideal height is anywhere between 5’ 2” and 5’ 7”. At 5’7” and 158 pounds, the upper end of a healthy BMI, I’d need to drop 28 pounds, or roughly 18 percent of my body weight, to get close to a 20 BMI. I climb mostly in Utah in rock canyon and Ibex with the occasional moab trip. Why is the rock-climbing community is so overwhelmingly positive and open? I've noticed that at my local climbing gym, I can pretty much have a conversation with anyone about anything. You don't need to be very heavy to have all the power you need as a climber, and every pound that's on your body means your fingers and wrists need to work that much harder. Any suggestions on what a good “starter pack” would look like as far different cam/nut sizes? and then I can experiment and add to it based on need from there. But it requires careful planning to avoid interfering with your climbing goals. I genuinely hope that you either achieve this, or find that climbing at a more reasonable level that will more easily accommodate both goals is satisfying enough. I like a guy that looks like he'll be totally down to go rock climbing or take a karate or dance class or something because he's comfortable with his health and fitness level, but not a guy that spends hours upon hours at the gym for the sake of vanity. Sep 26, 2025 · Rock climbers train their bodies not just for looks, but for performance. The kind of body you get on professional athletes who don't care about aesthetics but focus purely on performance. For men, the ‘ideal’ or average rock climbing height is 5’9, and for women, the ideal height is 5’4. Personally, lifting heavy weights with a dedicated routine, consistently broaden my shoulders and narrowed my hips a little (the broader shoulders make the hips look narrower too), Between that, losing weight, and lots of cycling and rock climbing, the athletic body comes in time There is a rock climbing gym by my house, that has tons of walls and stuff, along with tons of exercise equipment kinda like a gym area. Hey Tywin, I recently began climbing again (since July 2014, 3 times a week) and I can say that it definitely changed my physique. Oct 4, 2017 · Body weight in climbing is a hot topic of discussion and has been for a long time. I thought climbing would I noticed that last year, when I was climbing, I gained muscle in my forearms, back, bis, tris, and my pecs and shoulders lagged behind. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the vital role body composition plays in climbing performance Jun 19, 2023 · Strength-to-weight ratios are key performance indicators for climbers. Plug your results HERE. This is also one of the rare cases where the "ideal physique" is in disadvantaged lighting (outdoors opposite the sun) so Daniel Craig is bigger than he appears. I am thankful to find a passion which is climbing as I got inspired by the community how dedicated people were and such helpful and awesome community. Many climbers, especially beginners, wonder if there's an "ideal" weight for bouldering and how their own body weight might impact their performance. The 26 year old Czech is widely considered the best climber of his generation as the only male athlete to have won World Championship titles in both lead climbing and bouldering disciplines in the same year. I recommend this sport to EVERYONE! The community is great, the sport is fun and great exercise, and it makes you REALLY want to train to get strong AF in the gym to push your grade. [Long post with progress pictures and videos] We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. I find height can either help or hurt depending on your style of climbing. 4M subscribers in the climbing community. At a certain point you would stop 'gaining' because your body isn't getting heavier. You also won't really bulk up. They work very hard (and proud) on We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Reply reply Due_Revolution_5106 • A body builder shouldn't really ever expect to climb at that level, as you have two different goals that tend to run counter to each other. A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. There is little need for explosive strength as you only ever need to lift your bodyweight. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. My knuckles have gotten pretty burly, though. MembersOnline • _spacemonster ADMIN MOD You don't necessarily need insulation, but you do need strength - this means a marathoner physique is not necessarily the best. But which are really the most important? There have been many studies done on the subject, some scientific, some less so. Bouldering and climbing in general has a lot more to do with core and forearm strength and strength to weight ratios than pure pulling power. That guy saying his hobby is "Going to the gym" is just another way of saying weight training (or possibly bodybuilding). Nov 8, 2019 · If you’re looking for an example of a body type that excels at climbing, dissecting Adam Ondra dimensions is a great place to start. You see it a lot in the sport climbing/bouldering communities where lighter builds with little leg mass is big. What I mean by this is really, really focussing on body awareness (proprioception) while on the wall. There are many body types that climb. However, rock climbing very much makes me want to lose weight and get ripped. They climb harder but suffer with mental and physical health, including eating disorders and RED-S. I’ve been climbing for a little over a year and a half now and absolutely love it. However, it should be noted that there’s a wide range in the heights of top-level climbers, and height is not a direct indicator of climbing ability. This is the ideal human body. Some may prefer your leaner physique, though. Lost 25+ kg, progressed far beyond my wildest hopes and expectations. Oct 4, 2017 · It is well known that climbing (both bouldering and sport climbing) is a sport that is affected by power to weight ratios. Hey I’m a new climber and I was wondering if people had some wisdom to share and what you wish you knew when you started rock climbing. 387 votes, 134 comments. Oct 20, 2021 · To covet this look you’ll need to put in a lot of work, especially with your hands and wrists. 1. Despite being lightweight, climbers exhibit exceptional strength. if your climbing gym has a little weight area, a little work after can be nice and a good way to end a climbing session. Others point to flawless technique and mental strength. just wanted to share bit of a story as there are always fitness transformation videos but not 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). The ideal rock climber is light and flexible, two things which steroids take away from. If by functionality you mean lifting yourself (bouldering, rock-climbing) and also sports dependent on speed (like soccer) and cardiovascular endurance in weight-bearing sports (running), the range shifts a couple percent points lower. I did climb a bit a few years ago so I wasn't entirely new to the sport which might have helped me. I have been climbing for 3 years mostly indoor. If you're looking to get super lean and ripped you'll need to include a super healthy diet and lift. Been a healthy eater most of my life (dabbled with weightlifting and all sorts of diets over the years) if not overly consumed by what some people call orthorexia. You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like. I do rock climbing and I’ve built to perform best at that. Been trad climbing with some buddies for a while now and ready to commit and buy my own rack. . I usually do upper body on a climbing day and skip the lats and forearms since those get worked a lot during climbing. That’s ‘perfect’ physique. My stats: Height - 67 inches Arm Span - 71 inches Ape… Discover the ideal male body proportions and how to achieve them through fitness and nutrition strategies. I am 5'6 and 160lbs. Hi all, Curious to hear how people balance an ideal BW with climbing and any other sports they do. I'm sure men are affected as much as women just haven't heard as Nov 2, 2023 · Rock climbing pushes the body to its absolute limits. Climbing is a technique sport, and being a bit overweight is not a barrier. Dec 18, 2024 · If you’re a climber looking to balance your physique while maintaining performance on the wall, resistance training can help. Jun 27, 2024 · You know that building climbing strength requires specific training, but science says your protein choices determine how strong you get. Sup guys, I went through depression and hard times in 2016 the hardest year of my life. Again, this number was taken from the quarter finalists of the Olympics in 2021. Mar 6, 2023 · How to Train for Climbing [Full Body Guide ft. This is taken from the quarter finalists of the Olympics in 2021. What really changed your physique for the better…. This is the smaller rock climbing community on reddit. A normal climber looks fairly fit/strong in some areas and adequate/a little weak in others. Climbing Sports comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment hereweg420kush • Additional comment actions You do not need upper body strength to start climbing! Climbing involves your legs and core a lot more than you would think. You have better abs and better defined shoulders. 20 votes, 54 comments. "fitness" celebrity types). getting diet dialed in, working with a coach/trainer, different workout, CrossFit, circuit training etc? Long time gym goer and I think I’m getting burnt out. Very overwhelmed on where to start. Whip out your sticks (measuring) and compare. Check /r/climbing for more content. Aug 9, 2023 · In the world of bouldering, conversations about weight can often be fraught with misconceptions. In addition to the right technique, strength and fitness are also required. jvipi extgi erdnq jymuuk ddo tifwy fcvycs uwigiso vwvdqt rztxa gaf qfmjydu gofi cab rirv