Key takeaways
- Climbing holds are the features you grip and stand on — natural rock or bolt-on gym shapes.
- Main types: jugs (big/easy), crimps (small edges), slopers (rounded), pinches, pockets, and edges.
- Each hold type requires a different grip and technique.
- Recognizing and using hold types well is fundamental to climbing technique.
What climbing holds are
Climbing holds are the features climbers grip with their hands and stand on with their feet to ascend — natural formations on rock, or molded bolt-on shapes in a gym. They come in many shapes and sizes, and each type calls for a different grip and technique.
The main types
- Jugs — large, easy holds you can wrap a hand around.
- Crimps — small edges held with the fingertips.
- Slopers — rounded, holdless surfaces gripped by friction.
- Pinches — squeezed between thumb and fingers.
- Pockets — holes that fit one to a few fingers.
- Edges — flat ledges of varying size.
Reading a route, a climber sizes up each hold — a jug to start, a series of crimps through the crux, a rounded sloper to slap for, a pocket for two fingers — and chooses the right grip and body position for each, rather than grabbing them all the same way.
Why hold types matter
How you grip a hold — and how hard it is — depends on its type: a jug is restful, a crimp finger-intensive, a sloper friction-dependent. Recognizing hold types lets you pick the right grip and body position and climb efficiently. It’s foundational to climbing technique, alongside footwork like edging and smearing.
The bottom line
Climbing holds are the grips and footholds you use to ascend — from secure jugs to tiny crimps, rounded slopers, squeezed pinches, finger pockets, and edges. Each type demands its own grip and technique, so learning to recognize and use them well is foundational to climbing: it's the difference between fighting a hold and flowing through it.
Frequently asked questions
What are climbing holds?
Climbing holds are the features climbers grip with their hands and stand on with their feet to move up — natural formations on rock, or molded, bolt-on shapes in a climbing gym. They come in many shapes and sizes, and each type calls for a particular way of gripping and a particular technique.
What are the main types of climbing holds?
Common types include jugs (large, easy holds you can wrap your hand around), crimps (small edges held with the fingertips), slopers (rounded, holdless surfaces gripped by friction), pinches (squeezed between thumb and fingers), pockets (holes that fit one to a few fingers), and edges (flat ledges of varying size). There are also flakes, volumes, and others, each demanding different grips.
Why does knowing hold types matter?
Because how you grip and use a hold — and how hard it is — depends on its type. A jug is secure and restful; a crimp is small and finger-intensive; a sloper relies on friction and body position. Recognizing hold types lets you choose the right grip and body position, climb more efficiently, and understand why a route feels the way it does. It's foundational to climbing technique.
Sources
- Holds & climbing technique — American Alpine Club
- Climbing fundamentals — UIAA