Rock Climbing Slang and Terminology: A Beginner’s Guide
Share
Rock climbing has its own unique vocabulary, blending technical terms with playful slang. Whether you’re deciphering gym chatter or preparing for outdoor climbs, here’s a breakdown of essential lingo.
Gear and Equipment
- Rack: A climber’s collection of gear (cams, nuts, quickdraws) for a route.
- Quickdraw: Two carabiners connected by a sling, used to clip the rope to bolts.
- Crash pad: A portable foam mat for bouldering falls (aka bouldering mat).
- Crimp: A tiny hold gripped with fingertips.
Climbing Techniques
- Dyno: A dynamic leap to reach a distant hold.
- Gaston: Pushing a hold outward, like opening a stuck door.
- Heel hook: Using the heel to pull yourself up.
- Smear: Pressing the sole of your shoe against the wall for friction.
Route Terminology
- Crux: The hardest move on a climb.
- Runout: A section with sparse protection, increasing fall risk.
- Redpoint: Completing a route cleanly after practice (no falls or rests).
- Onsight: Sending a route flawlessly on the first try, without prior beta.
Outdoor Climbing Slang
- Crag: A cliff or outdoor climbing area.
- Choss: Loose, unstable rock.
- Beta: Advice on how to climb a route (“Got beta for this problem?”).
- Send: Successfully completing a climb (“She sent that V5!”).
Gym-Specific Terms
- Volume: Large, geometric wall features that hold smaller grips.
- Jug: A big, easy-to-grab hold.
- Campusing: Climbing without using feet (arms only).
- Route setting: Designing climbs by arranging holds.
Funny and Niche Slang
- Whipper: A dramatic lead-climbing fall.
- Salmon: A jump using only arms (like a fish out of water).
- Pumped: Forearm exhaustion from lactic buildup (“I’m so pumped!”).
- Nails: Extremely difficult (“That crux was nails!”).
Why Learn the Lingo?
Understanding these terms fosters better communication with belayers, route setters, and fellow climbers. Plus, it’s a rite of passage—nothing beats casually dropping “I flashed the dihedral but botched the heel hook” mid-conversation.
Next time you’re at the crag or gym, listen for these phrases—you’ll sound like a seasoned climber in no time!