Key takeaways
- A lieback pulls on an edge with the hands while pushing with the feet in opposition.
- The counter-pressure between hands and feet holds you on as you move up.
- It's used on cracks, flakes, and corners (dihedrals).
- It's powerful but strenuous on the arms — you lean back and pull continuously.
What a lieback is
A lieback (or layback) is a climbing technique in which you pull on an edge with both hands while pushing with your feet against the opposing surface, creating counter-pressure that holds your body in place as you move up. You lean back off the edge and ‘walk’ your hands and feet upward together.
When to use it
Liebacks work where you have an edge to pull on and an opposing surface to push against: the side of a crack (especially flake and corner cracks), the edge of a flake, and inside corners (dihedrals). It’s a go-to when jamming isn’t ideal or an offset crack or flake offers a clear edge to lean off.
Facing a flake crack in a corner, a climber grips the flake’s edge, leans back, and smears their feet on the opposing wall — the opposition holding them on — then quickly walks their hands and feet up the edge before their arms tire, finding a rest as soon as the angle eases.
Why it’s strenuous
Because you’re leaning back and continuously pulling with your arms while your feet push, the lieback loads the arms and shoulders heavily with few rests. It’s powerful and can be fast, so climbers move efficiently through it and use strong footwork (feet high, pushing hard) to offload the arms. It’s a key technique for crack and corner climbing, alongside stemming and jamming.
The bottom line
A lieback (layback) pulls on an edge — a crack side, flake, or corner — while your feet push the opposing surface, the counter-pressure holding you on as you walk up. Powerful and sometimes fast, it's strenuous on the arms with little chance to rest, so move efficiently and use strong footwork. It's a key technique for flakes, corners, and crack edges where jamming isn't ideal.
Frequently asked questions
What is a lieback in climbing?
A lieback (or layback) is a technique where you grip the edge of a crack, flake, or corner with both hands and lean back, pulling on the edge while pushing your feet against the opposing rock surface. The opposition — hands pulling one way, feet pushing the other — creates the friction and tension that hold you on, and you 'walk' your hands and feet up the edge.
When do you use a lieback?
Liebacks are useful on features where you have an edge to pull on and an opposing surface to push against: the side of a crack (especially flake cracks and corner cracks), the edge of a flake, and inside corners (dihedrals). It's a go-to technique when jamming isn't ideal or when an offset crack or flake offers a clear edge to lean off.
Why is liebacking so strenuous?
Because you're leaning back and continuously pulling with your arms while your feet push, so it loads the arms and shoulders heavily and offers few opportunities to rest. It's powerful and can be fast, but it's tiring, so climbers try to move efficiently through liebacks and find rests before and after. Good footwork (keeping feet high and pushing hard) takes some load off the arms.
Sources
- Climbing technique — American Alpine Club
- Movement skills — UIAA