Can Plastic Help Me Place Gear?
I climb cracks on weekends and plastic holds on weekdays.
But lately I’ve been wondering—do I really need both?
My heart’s in trad. Sandbags, exposure, fiddly gear placements. I want to be solid on granite, not just strong on neon jugs. But the gym costs keep creeping up, and I already spend most weekends outside. So what am I paying for?
Indoor gyms gave me finger strength, footwork, comfort with falling. But they don’t teach me how to rest on a handjam, or place a cam when pumped, or trust my feet on a gritty dihedral.
Still, with limited time and rising rent, I’m weighing what really moves the needle.
If I quit the gym, I know I’ll need a plan—hangboard, TR solo, movement drills at the crag. I’ll lose some convenience, maybe some community.
But I might gain focus.
Because climbing indoors made me stronger.
But climbing outside made me care.
#TradClimberProblems #PlasticVsStone #GymDebate #GearAndGrit
