If you’re diving into roped climbing first, you’ll need to add a dynamic rope and belay device to the list, and find a partner to climb with. Due to the slightly enhanced risk attached to indoor roped climbing, indoor walls typically prefer to sign off experienced climbers to partake, or require a safety induction to be completed before climbing. It’s best to check with your wall’s specific process before showing up to climb.

What To Expect When You Arrive

Every new gym you visit will require a waiver to be signed before you can climb in the facility. In most cases, you’ll be able to fill these in ahead of your first visit by following links on the climbing wall’s website. Completing the waiver online means you’ll have less hanging around to do before you can climb. If you’re hoping to sport climb, you might be asked to complete a brief safety quiz and demonstrate your belay proficiency.

You’ll then be checked in and charged around £10 for an open-ended session. A member of staff may then show you around the wall and direct you to changing facilities, toilets, the shop and arguably the most important area, the cafe. After that, you’ll be free to climb, so it’s time to acquaint yourself with the gym’s grading system.

Climbing Grades

Climbing difficulty is determined by grading systems. In the UK, most bouldering gyms use the V-grade system, which ranks indoor and outdoor boulder difficulty from VB all the way to V17, and the French system, which spans 4 to 9a. Sport routes are typically graded using the French Sport system, ranging from 1 to 9b+. Commercial indoor walls will rarely set routes at elite level difficulty, as only a handful of climbers in the world can climb them!

Understanding the Grades at Your Indoor Wall

Quite confusingly, the categorisation of climbing grades changes from gym to gym, with many gyms assigning grades to a circuit of coloured holds, and many more choosing to tag individual routes with a grade. Generally, commercial gyms will set a span of routes at every grade, and will clearly label their grade system somewhere in the gym.

It’s worth remembering that grades are just an estimate of a climb’s difficulty, assigned by the person who created the route or problem to be climbed on. As much as route-setters are very experienced with identifying how difficult a problem is, grades are ultimately subjective and perceived difficulty will change from person to person. As such, grades should be taken only as a guide. When you’re just starting out, try not to get too wrapped up in grades and enjoy learning new movements and skills on the wall.

Some Extra Tips

As a newer climber in an indoor gym setting, there are some important things to bear in mind regarding gym etiquette to ensure you’re climbing safely and considerately. Staying conscious of your landing zones and your proximity to other climbers on nearby walls, as well as not walking under others as they climb and reporting any spinning holds ensures everybody stays safe in the gym. Brushing holds after you’ve used them, not hogging climbs and letting other climbers figure out their own methods when climbing are also important courtesy considerations.

When looking to improve performance as a newer climber, remember that climbing is a uniquely individual experience. What works for one climber’s body mechanics may not work for another and everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses. If you’re looking for areas to improve in, a wealth of beginner tips can be found online in YouTube videos, blog posts and on Instagram. Dedicated climbing coaches can also help you to learn the new skills on and off the wall, with many indoor walls offering coaching and group sessions on site

There really is something for everyone at the local indoor climbing wall. Whilst there are many different walls to choose from, any will help you on your way to enjoying all of the different styles of climbing. Book yourself in at a local wall and begin taking advantage of the wonderful world of indoor climbing!