Bouldering has influenced a new generation of climbers. What once was a training method for bigger climbs lying on the fringes of a sport has become one of the fastest-growing hobbies today. But why is that?
Have you noticed an uptick in bouldering gyms around you? If you’re anywhere near a large metropolitan area, then the answer is likely ‘yes.’ The UK alone has over 450 climbing walls! So, what’s causing this increase in bouldering gyms around the globe?
In my opinion, the answer is simple, bouldering rocks!😉 I get it; my climbing gym gets crowded during peak hours, and finding a parking spot is more challenging than sending my project. But climbing gyms wouldn’t be what they are today without the crowds.
When people congregate toward a similar goal, such as enjoying a hobby, that hobby receives more attention. It’s the same reason why professional footballers are paid so highly. When society desires something like football, more money is poured into it, and its reach extends to a broader audience.
So, why has bouldering become so popular and trending?
Bouldering explained
A breakdown of bouldering will help you understand the different types of climbing there are. Bouldering is a form of climbing that is done on relatively shorter walls.
A bouldering wall is typically anywhere from 3-4 metres high and is meant to be downclimbed using large holds or rungs once you reach the top.
Bouldering routes are known as ‘problems.’ Cool climbing lingo is just another reason why so many people want to partake in bouldering. Boulder problems are called such because they must be solved to reach the top.
The only protection used when bouldering is large foam mats. This may seem archaic and dangerous, and while bouldering accidents happen, it is the standard among indoor climbing gyms.
This is why you’re taught how to fall correctly when you enter an indoor climbing gym for the first time!
A climbing gym will color-coordinate problems, so climbers know which holds to use. They’ll then tag the route at the start, using the V or Font grading scale to note the difficulty of a climb.
However, you can also find some gyms with their own grading system.
The lower the number = the easier the grade. The higher the number = the harder the grade.
Bouldering can also be done outside with a bit of experience and equipment. For protection, boulderers carry crash pads, large foam mats, to land on when they climb outside.
These mats can be slung on your back with straps and travel with you from boulder to boulder.
Originally, bouldering was thought of as a way to train for big wall climbing.
Now, it’s become a sport of its own within the climbing realm, with bouldering-specific gyms popping up everywhere.
Is the media to blame for bouldering’s popularity?
Bouldering has steadily increased in users over the last decade. More folks you meet have either seen or done it. Part of why this is can be attributed to its recognition in the media.
It’s in the Olympics, it’s all over Instagram, it’s even in Hollywood!
We can’t mention rock climbing in the media without mentioning Alex Honnold, right? His Grammy award appearance in Free Solo (2019) showcased climbing in its purest form.
Climbing El Capitan, a 900-metre granite monolith in Yosemite National Park, will garner attention from those furthest away from the climbing world.
But Honnold isn’t solely to blame for the spike in bouldering; he didn’t even boulder in the film. Unless, of course, you count “The Boulder Problem,” where he was worried about falling to death if he didn’t stick the karate kick.
Another reason the media has been feeding us bouldering videos is that celebrities have joined the circus.
A few actors and singers have found climbing and, for good reason, love it!
Jared Leto, frontman for Thirty Seconds to Mars and actor in various films, has been climbing for a few years and is hooked!
Two Hollywood stars, Zac Efron and Brie Larson are also active climbers who have shared their sends on Instagram. The most notable celebrity climber is Jason Momoa.
He’s been climbing all throughout his life! Momoa even hosts a T.V. series, The Climb, with prolific climbers Meagan Martin and Chris Sharma.
Check out our seperate detailed article on famous people that climb.
You type ‘bouldering’ into a Google search, and suddenly, you’re recommended more climbing media than you can consume!
There’s more to why bouldering has become so popular, though: its accessibility.
Bouldering is friendly!
I don’t mean that bouldering is easy to get along with; bouldering can be mean and heartbreaking. Trying a move over and over to no avail can feel like bashing your head against the wall.
Instead, bouldering requires minimal gear, and it can be done alone! Any indoor climbing gym you walk into will sell you a day pass, and most will rent you climbing shoes.
Climbing shoes— that’s all you need to boulder. There’s no worrying about tying a proper figure 8, loading a belay device correctly, or holding your friend’s life in your hands. Bouldering is about you and the wall.
You can pop into the gym and find tons of problems suited to beginners and experts alike.
Bouldering gyms know many of their patrons are beginners, so they set an abundance of easier grades. Setting easier climbs ensures most people can climb them and encourages those to return.
You’re hooked once you feel the rush of sending something that took perseverance and practice.
Sorry, but you must become a climber now; there’s no other solution.
Bouldering gyms vs rope gyms
There are two main types of climbing gyms. Bouldering gyms and rope gyms. A bouldering gym only offers bouldering, while a rope gym typically offers a mix of the two.
Each usually includes a small weightlifting area, but that will depend from gym to gym.
So, why else have bouldering gyms increased in popularity compared to rope gyms? Well, bouldering gyms require a lot less space and liability insurance to open than rope gyms.
While a rope gym requires 12-18 metres of open space for its tall walls, bouldering only requires climbing up to 3-4 metres max.
This means bouldering gyms can sneak into most retail spaces, while rope gyms need much bigger facilities to operate in.
Because they’re so accessible from a business standpoint, they’ve become an easier solution to introduce climbing into new areas.
The lure of bouldering gyms
What may seem like a place to exercise and climb is much more than such. Bouldering gyms have become a place for people to congregate and just hang out.
They’re a way to interact with the community and meet new people. And, of course, they’re a way to stretch those brain muscles when figuring out problems.
Like everybody, my friends and I have busy lives. But every Monday and Wednesday evening, we make time to get together at the climbing gym.
It’s an open invitation for everybody we know who wants to hang out and climb together.
Sometimes friends will come and not even climb! I do so when I’m not up to climbing but want to have social hours. I’ll go and hang out on the mats and just talk with my friends.
It’s a great way to stay connected during our chaotic lives of juggling work, school, or whatever else is calling our attention.
The lure of bouldering gyms is more than climbing; they are places to feel connected to. Do you feel the same about your climbing community?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Leave a comment and let us know your favorite part about bouldering!
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