Bouldering is climbing short walls above thick mats, with no ropes and no harness. The walls are low enough that you can step off the top, and the mats are there to make that landing safe. If you have never tried it, a first session is simpler than it looks. Here is what happens, what to bring and how to settle in quickly.
Before you arrive
Wear comfortable clothes you can move in. Leggings or shorts work well and a t-shirt is fine, so there is nothing special to buy. Climbing shoes are hired at the desk for £4, or bring your own if you already have a pair. A water bottle is worth having, and a small towel is handy if you work up a sweat.
If it is your very first time, book the first visit and induction. It runs for 90 minutes and an instructor shows you how to warm up, how to fall safely and how to share the wall. The induction includes shoe hire, so you only need yourself and something to wear. If you would rather go straight in, a standard climbing session is two hours and you can book one of those too.
Getting started on the wall
Every problem, which is what we call a short route on a bouldering wall, is marked with tape. You start on the green circuit, the easiest one, and work up through blue, yellow, coral and violet as you get stronger. A problem is finished when both hands are on the last hold, and there is no shame in stepping off before that. Climbing is meant to be shared, so take turns when someone else is working the same line.
Warm up on the easy problems before you try anything hard. Your hands need a few minutes to settle and your shoulders will thank you for the slow start. Chalk keeps your hands dry, so dip as often as you like. The desk can point you at the part of the wall that suits your level if you ask.
How to fall well
Falling is part of bouldering, not a failure. The aim is to land on your feet, bend your knees and let yourself roll back gently onto the mat. Never jump down from the top of the wall, and never land on straight legs. The induction covers falling properly, so use that time to practise it low down, where nothing can go wrong.
A short list to bring
A few things make the first session easier:
- Comfortable clothes and a water bottle.
- Climbing shoes, or £4 to hire a pair at the desk.
- A little chalk and a small towel if you have them.
- An hour or two of time, with no rush to leave.
That is about all there is to it. Come with some time to spare, start on the easy problems and ask the desk whenever you are unsure. Everyone on the mats started somewhere, and the wall is here for all of us.
