Most people are inundated with what appears to be a foreign language when climbing rocks. You might have heard somewhere in the climbing gym, but your thoughts were preoccupied to note.
Some will feel out of depth in this exciting and new world of outdoor climbing, and through this article, we will help you brush up on this complicated and frightening language. Fortunately, some professionals are always willing to share knowledge and assist in learning the climbing terms.
There are an excessive number of rappelling and rock climbing terms. And, believe it or not, most of them are used quite frequently.
A few less common rappelling and rock climbing terms didn’t make it onto the list, but then you’ll learn all you need to know to brush up on your vocabulary. So hopefully, the next time somebody asks for beta on that arete you just sent, you won’t be left grinning dumbly.
This is a list of the most popular rappelling and rock climbing terms you will meet in your climbing life.
1. Abseil or rappel
Abseil and rappel and two words sharing the same meaning. Rappelling (abseiling) is whenever a climber uses a fixed rope to descend the rock, you use the belay device to keep full control.
2. Anchor
On an ascent, the anchor is the point at which you secure the rope to the boulder. You usually use chains, slings, bolts, or ropes at the pinnacle of the trail, but you can also use them in the middle or at the bottom to safeguard the belayer.
3. Approach
The approach is the route you’ll take to get to the bottom of the climb, whether you’re walking, running, or skipping.
4. Arete
A wall’s edge is at an acute angle, much like the corner of a building.
5. Auto-lock
Auto-lock is a system or mechanism that safely locks without physically locking it. The auto-lock carabiners consist of spring-loaded gate contorts and locks when closed.
- Accommodates a clove hitch
- Hot-Forged for lighter-weight construction
- Keylock nose prevents snagging
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
6. Barndoor
Barndoor is when a participant becomes unbalanced and moves away from the rock.
7. Belay
Belaying is a technique for controlling a climbing rope and preventing a climber from tripping to the ground if they fall off the rock. An anchor, belayer, belay device, and rope make up the belay system.
8. Belaying device
The belayer uses a belaying device to “catch” the climber when they fall. When used properly, the belay device secures the rope and precludes the climber from falling a significant distance.
- PROGRESSIVE DESCENT CONTROL: 3:1 mechanical advantage of the camming mechanism helps smoothly control the rope and reduce lowering efforts regardless of rope diameter.
- CAM-ASSISTED BLOCKING: Cam-assisted blocking ensures a comfortable belay—when the climber falls or weights the rope—the cam in the device automatically cinches down to arrest the rope. Compatible with 8.5 to 11 mm dynamic single ropes.
- ANTI-PANIC HANDLE: If the user pulls too hard on the handle, the anti-panic function engages, stopping the climber's descent. Great for newer belayers and partners with large weight differences.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
9. Belayer
The belayer is the person in charge of the rope that is connected to the climber, ensuring they are safe if they fall.
10. Beta
Beta is the details about a route or climb that are passed down verbally or outlined in guidebooks.
- How To Rappel
- Gaines, Bob (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
11. Bolt
A bolt is a locked ring of really strong metal that is drilled into the rock to offer protection on sports ascents. The bolts broaden in the rock and provide a high level of security. You clip quickdraws onto the bolts to get an anchor for running a rope through.
- Fixe Stainless Steel 3/8" Hanger & Powers 5 piece Bolt - 3 1/2" - Combo - 5 Pack
- 304 Stainless Steel, CE/UIAA Certified
- 3/8" Bolts TORQUE TO: 12 Foot Pounds
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
12. Bolted route
A bolted route is a sport climbing route with pre-installed bolts that operate as anchors, and you fasten them into the wall. To safeguard the climber, you clip the quickdraws onto the bolts and then clip the climbing rope onto the quickdraws.
13. Bomb-proof
Bomb-proof means an anchor which is undoubtedly secure and provides protection.
14. Bouldering
Bouldering is one of the most popular types of climbing that takes place at a low enough level, and one does it without using ropes for security. You can do it on boulders or at the bottom of high climbs. Boulderers climb “problems” rather than routes, and they protect themselves with a pad on the surface and a spotter on higher-risk troubles.
- This full-color book reveals the techniques and tricks gleaned from John Sherman's 30-year career as one of America's most respected and notorious bouldering gurus.
- Sherman, John (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
15. Bouldering pad (crash pad)
A bouldering pad also called a crash pad, is a dense, thick foam pad that you place beneath a bouldering problem to offer a padded landing if the climber falls. The mats normally fold in half and have straps for carrying them like a backpack.
- Closed-cell PE foam layup bonded to high compression PU foam
- Easy hook metal buckles with 3 strap closure system
- PU coated 900D Nylon
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
16. Buildering
Buildering is climbing where you shouldn’t! (we are joking). The term “buildering” is derived from the words “bouldering” and “buildings.” Buildering, edificeering, urban climbing, sky walking, or whatever you may call it, is simply climbing on the exterior side of buildings. It can still be done on artificial structures.
- Whipplesnaith (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 03/19/2013 (Publication Date) - The Oleander Press (Publisher)
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
17. Camming device (cams)
A camming device or a cam is a piece of gear is used on a traditional climbing route to keep the person from falling too far. It fits into a crack or pocket by rotating.
- Double-axle design offers widest range for each cam unit
- C-Loop continuous cable stem design is strong and durable
- Color-coded for easy identification and wide range of sizes
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
18. Carabiner
A carabiner is a metal loop with a spring-loaded gate on one side (oval, D-shaped, or pear-shaped). It connects various pieces of climbing equipment.
- 12 pack of 3" inch aluminum carabiner clips & steel keyring. Compact functional design that can be used with one hand.
- Made of strong, durable aluminum. Spring lock is easy to use and remains intact after 1000s of uses!
- Tons of outdoor applications and can be used by experienced backpackers, hikers, and park rangers. Multifunctional carabiner that can be used to attach & carry keys, water bottles, camping gear, as well as hang lanterns and lights. Very durable and great for hiking, camping, and outdoor sports.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
19. Chalk bag
A chalk bag is a small handbag containing chalk that one uses to keep your hands dry while climbing. It’s usually locked with a drawstring and either worn at the back of a waist belt or clipped onto the rear of an ascending harness.
- Wider than other chalk bags, with a large main compartment for easy access to chalk. Soft fleece inner lining helps keep chalk contained.
- Large back pocket to easily store keys, phone, and wallet.
- Includes a removable waist strap. Quickly clip around your waist, or remove and use a carabiner with provided loops.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
20. Chimney
A chimney is a vertical wall crack in a rock that is large enough to fit your entire body through. Climbers use their legs on one edge and their bodies on the other to apply an opposing force to the edges of the chimney.
21. Clean
“Cleaning” a route is when the lead climber removes all of their protection gear. Climbers who second or follow the lead climber clean the route while climbing or rappelling down.
22. Climbing chalk
Climbing chalk is a white powder substance, or a liquid substance, which climbers apply on their palms when climbing in order to create more friction between the climbing wall and their hands. Read further what the climbing chalk is made of.
- GAME CHANGING GRIP: Don’t limit yourself because of bad grip. Overcome grip problems caused by sweat, rain, humidity, and oils or sunscreen. Our high purity Magnesium Carbonate makes a single application last longer, giving you the grip you need to stay in the zone.
- SKIN FRIENDLY GRIP: Made in Colorado, USA with the highest purity pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. Non-toxic, silica-free chalk that is safe for all skin types. Healthy Skin = Better Performance.
- PEAK PERFORMANCE: A bit of moisture can be the difference between success and failure. Our high purity chalk lasts longer so you can keep pushing to that next hold instead of stopping to chalk up. Perfect for indoor & outdoor use.
- LONGER LASTING GRIP: This liquid hand chalk is longer lasting than traditional grip chalk. With Midas Grip you only have to apply it once, to make each hand sweat-resistant and ready to work out, whether lifting weight, doing gymnastics, rock climbing, dancing, or any activity that requires grip.
- CLEANER LESS MESS: Our liquid chalk for hands will create less mess than traditional solid chalk for weightlifting. Rather than causing a trail of dust and debris, one application of this liquid grip chalk will conform to your hands without causing the spread of white powder in your wake.
- HIGH-QUALITY UNIQUE FORMULA: This workout and rock climbing chalk liquid are made from a unique formula of high-quality ingredients. These ingredients help to provide you with the best grip possible, so you can lift, dance, or climb with confidence that you won't slip or suffer a sweat-based injury.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
23. Crag
Crag is an outdoor ascending area or a cliff or rock where climbing is possible.
24. Crimp
A crimp is a very thin or small climbing hold. Read further what is crimping in climbing.
25. Crux
The crux is the part of a climb that is the most technically challenging.
26. Dynamic rope
A dynamic rope is a climbing rope, where if you apply force to the rope, it will stretch to a certain extent. When a participant falls, a dynamic rope stretches slightly to cushion the shock of the fall. Read between the difference of dynamic rope and a static rope, can you rappel with a dynamic rope?
- Kernmantle Construction: The core of our rope was comprised of individual yarns which are bundled into ply’s. The ply’s then get bundled together to form the core. The core is where the rope will get a large majority of its strength and shock absorption from.
- Vivid Sheath: The face material of our sport climbing rope was pretty, colorful.While the main purpose of a sheath is to protect, it does provide a small degree of strength.Our thicker sheath, increasing overall durability of the rope.
- Lightweight and Durable: Our 10.5mm large diameter ropes are lightweight and very durable, making them a good choice for top-roping, lead climbing, trad climbing, caving, canyoning and more.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
27. Dyno
Dyno is a slang term for a quick transition from one climbing holds to the next. A dyno necessitates explosive movement, which often implies that the climber will not touch the rock throughout the leap or lunge.
28. Edging
Edging in climbing is a weight-bearing technique for very thin or small footholds. Instead of using their feet soles, the climber utilizes their feet’ edges.
29. Figure 8 knot
Figure 8 knot is the knot that secures the climber to the climbing rope through their climbing harness. The knot gets tighter as you add your weight, and it is knitted in the shape of number 8. There is also a figure 8 rappeling device.
- Modern 8 design for smooth handling
- Ideal for the retro climber or Search and Rescue professional
- Works well with double 8.1 mm ropes up to 11 mm single lines
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
30. Fist jam
Fist jam is a term used when crack ascending, and is a method in which the crack is large enough to fit a whole fist into and utilized for upwards motion or stability.
31. Flash
Flash in climbing is term used when an ascender uses existing experience and beta to move up a route from beginning to end without dropping on their first attempt.
32. Free solo climbing
Free solo climbing is a type of climbing where the climber doesn’t use any rope or a belay system to protect themself while climbing or falling. Free solo climbing is extremely dangerous. The most famous free solo climber is Alex Honnold. Read which climbing shoes Alex uses for his free solo climbs.
33. Gri-Gri
The Gri-Gri is a belay device manufactured by Petzl. The auto-locking belay device known as a gri-gri captures a climber’s fall.
- PROGRESSIVE DESCENT CONTROL: 3:1 mechanical advantage of the camming mechanism helps smoothly control the rope and reduce lowering efforts regardless of rope diameter.
- CAM-ASSISTED BLOCKING: Cam-assisted blocking ensures a comfortable belay—when the climber falls or weights the rope—the cam in the device automatically cinches down to arrest the rope.
- COMFORTABLE and CONVENIENT: Simple to use for belaying both lead and top rope climbers. Rope installation diagram engraved on the inside and outside of the device serves as a friendly reminder to novices and experts alike.
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
34. Hand jam
Hand jam is similar to a fist jam, though for smaller cracks where only one hand can best suit.
35. Harness
A rappeling or a climbing harness is a strong, webbing-based belt with connected leg loops and a safe buckle. Climbers put on a harness and bind a figure of eight knots via the harness to fasten themselves to the rope. Belayers must also wear the harness to safeguard the belay device themselves, which has the rope running through it.
- Pre-threaded Speed Adjust waistbelt buckle
- Bullhorn-shaped waistbelt built using Dual Core Construction
- trakFIT adjustment for easy leg loop customization
- Pre-threaded Speed Adjust waistbelt buckle
- Bullhorn-shaped waistbelt built using Dual Core Construction
- trakFIT adjustment for easy leg loop customization
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
36. Heel hook
Heel hook is when a climber utilizes their heel to safeguard their rock position by hooking onto a foothold or an edge.
37. Jug
A jug is a huge handhold that’s usually extremely secure and deep. It allows the climber to hold onto it confidently. It’s a gift from the Gods!
38. Layback
Layback is when the climber moves their weight to one side to build enough pressure to move upwards using a vertical crack or hold. The climber walks their legs up the crack by drawing away from their body’s weight.
39. Lead
Lead is called the first person who is leading the climbing route and is placing their climbing equipment.
40. Lead climbing
During lead climbing, the lead climber is the first person to climb up the route, and they do so by either placing their gear or clipping onto the pre-placed bolts during the climb. Before climbing past the last safety item and placing another clipping onto another bolt, the climber secures the rope to the bolt or gear to secure the rope.
41. Mantel
Mantel is a climbing method of gaining access to a ledge. The climber uses their hands to apply downward pressure to the ledge, lifting their body enough to get their toes up onto the ledge.
42. Multi-pitch
Multi-pitch is a lengthy route that requires more than one rope length to finish. When the lead climber reach the summit of a single pitch, they anchor there and belay the second climber to the summit. With the belayer rooted at the pinnacle of the first pitch, you can use the same rope to move up the second pitch.
43. Nut
A nut, also called a climbing stopper, is a wedge-shaped chunk of metal located at the end of a wire as a piece of safety on a traditional route that people use to jam in cracks.
- Durable aluminum heads and steel cables
- Transverse taper is versatile in flares, constrictions and parallel cracks
- Rounded edges for easy cleaning (smaller sizes are straight for better surface contact)
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
44. Off-width
Off-width is called a crack between 4 and 10 inches in diameter, which is too narrow for your body to fit into (a chimney) though too wide for your fist to fit into.
45. On-sight
On-sight climbing is whene a climber successfully ascends a route from beginning to end during their first attempt, without dropping and with no previous knowledge of how to do so.
46. Overhang
Overhand is when a rock is steep, it hangs over the surface rather than being vertical.
47. Pitch
Pitch, or a single-pitch climbing is a route that you can climb using only one climbing rope’s length.
48. Protection
Protection is connected to the rock a piece of climbing device or equipment. It allows the climber to protect their climbing rope, preventing them from falling a long distance if they get off the rock.
49. Quickdraw
A quickdraw is a size of reinforced webbing connects two non-locking carabiners. You use it to secure a rope to a bolt or other piece of safety equipment. Read further how many quickdraws you will need for sport climbing and how to choose quickdraws.
- Hot-forged HotWire carabiners on the top and bottom
- Colored bottom HotWire carabiner for visual target while climbing
- Dual wiregates eliminate gate flutter
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
50. Rack
A rack is a set of climbing equipment is required to complete a route. Quickdraws, camming devices, carabiners, and nuts are examples of a rack.
51. Redpoint
Redpoint is a climbing term used term when a climber completes a route without dropping from beginning to end after repeatedly practicing the climb. Alexander Megos is starring a documentary called “Rotpunkt” about on of his redpoint climbs.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Alex Megos (Actor)
- Ken Etzel (Director) - Monika McClure (Producer)
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
52. Runout
Runout is when the length between your protection gear (bolts or placed gear) is greater than you think is safe. If you were to fall off the ledge at this point, you’d be in for a big fall.
53. Second
Second is called the climber following the lead climber, she is the second person to climb up the route after the lead climber.
55. Send
Send is when the climber climbes a route without dropping or relaxing on any placed ropes or gear from beginning to finish.
55. Sloper
The sloper is a very shallow bouldering hold with little natural shape to grab onto. To start using it, the climber uses tension and friction while, other times, sheer desperation.
56. Smearing
Smearing in rock climbing is when the climber places the sole of their foot on a plain rock and utilizes friction to propel themselves upward.
57. Sport climbing
Sport climbing is a type of climbing in which the climber attaches or anchors their rope to pre-drilled bolts drilled into the rock surface to provide safety.
58. Spotter
On a boulder problem, a spotter is someone who is spotting and stands ready to stop a climber’s fall. Their task is to guide them to the security of the bouldering crash pad and ensure that they do not hit the bare ground or nearby rocks if they fall oddly or suddenly.
- Closed-cell PE foam layup bonded to high compression PU foam
- Easy hook metal buckles with 3 strap closure system
- PU coated 900D Nylon
Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
59. Static rope
A static rope is a rope with little to no elasticity. You should not use a static rope to climb because it has no elasticity to assist in absorbing the shock of a drop. Static ropes are also called rappelling ropes and are the best option for cave rappelling, cliff rappelling, waterfall rappelling, canyoneering, tree rappelling, rescue rappelling, and practically all types of rappelling.
- Satisfy Your Climbing Addiction - Amateur or professional, our rope makes the perfect addition to any climber's arsenal. With a smooth grip, steady hold & massive length, you can conquer any challenge with minimal friction.
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Last update on 2023-09-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
60. Steep
Steep is a word or expression for climbing routes that overhung.
61. Step-through
Step-through is a method for moving side to side on the rock in which both feet point the same way and the weight is distributed between the outside and inside of one foot.
62. Top out
Top out is when the climber hits the peak of a route and can walk back to the bottom of the climb through a trail rather than rappelling down on the rope, they ascend.
63. Top roping
Top roping is a type of climbing where the rope runs through an anchor at the very top of a climbing route. The climber is attached to the one end of the rope while the belayer is attached to another. The above setup guarantees that the climber will not fall far if the belayer is keen and exercises safe practice.
64. Trad climbing
Trad climbing, also referred to as traditional climbing, is a form of climbing that necessitates the climber to use the basic state of the rock (pockets and cracks) to place protection gear as they climb up the route. Once you anchor the rope at the top of the route, the second climber removes the protection gear from the rock.
65. Undercling
Undercling is when a climber gets up on a downward-facing handhold to cause friction against their feet and presses down on an upward-facing foothold.
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Last Updated on April 18, 2022 by Roger
