What No One Tells You About Your First Climbing Holds

I still remember freezing the first time I walked into a bouldering gym. Everyone else looked like they knew the wall. I didn’t even know what I was looking at. If that’s you too, here’s what I wish I had: a breakdown of the 6 most common holds and how to grip them. • Jugs: Deep, comfy—hold with your whole hand. Easy to love. • Pockets: One, two, or three fingers go in. Use middle and ring. • Slopers: No edges, just friction. Think palms, not fingers. • Pinches: Squeeze with thumb and fingers. Weird at first—gets better. • Crimps: Tiny edges. Three ways to grip: open, half, or full crimp. • Underclings: Grab from below and pull up. Straight arms help. Which one threw you off the most when you started? Let’s trade stories—drop it below. #sport #climbing #boulderingbasics