Skip to main content
climber tied into figure 8 knot

Figure 8 vs Bowline

Which is better for tying in – a figure 8 or bowline? Here, I try to answer that question by looking at the pros, cons, and best uses for each.

climber resting in kneebar

How to kneebar

Besides allowing you to cop a no-hands rest, a kneebar can also free up a hand to clip or make an otherwise difficult reach. This is how you do it.

climber resting on route

How to rest on route

Whether you climb 5.11 or 5.13, being able to rest on route can make the difference between a send and flail.

climber leading trad route

Essential skills needed in trad climbing

When honing their craft, new tradsters usually focus on their gear skills, but there’s more to trad climbing than being able to place nuts and cams.

climber leading trad route

How to lead on trad gear

Before you rope up for your first trad lead, you need to know how to place and extend gear. Here’s how it is done.

One climber spots another

Essential spotting techniques for bouldering

Besides lowering the risk of injury, solid spotting skills can give your climbing partners the confidence they need to push their limits

climber falling

How to overcome a fear of falling

Conquering your fear of falling is the most important thing you can do to improve your climbing and have more fun.

climber cleaning quickdraws off a steep route

Tips and tricks for cleaning quickdraws off steep sport routes

Getting quickdraws off a steep wall isn’t nearly as straight forward as cleaning gear from vertical rock, but there are techniques which can make it easier

climbing lowering off route

How to bail on a sport route

Learn how to bail safely from a sport route when you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.