Key takeaways
- A sloper is a rounded, edgeless hold gripped by open-hand friction, not by an edge.
- Maximize skin contact, use an open hand, and keep your weight below the hold.
- Body position matters more than on edges — pull straight down through the friction.
- It's the friction-dependent opposite of a crimp; technique beats raw finger strength.
What a sloper is
A sloper is a rounded, smooth climbing hold with no positive edge, lip, or pocket to grab. Instead of gripping an edge, you hold a sloper by pressing your open hand flat against it and relying on friction between your skin and the hold — plus careful body positioning. They’re notoriously slippery and demand technique over brute grip.
How to hold one
- Maximize contact — get as much hand and finger skin on the hold as possible.
- Open hand — splay the fingers; don’t try to crimp it.
- Weight below the hold — keep your body low so you pull friction straight down through it.
Slopers reward a low, hanging body position, precise movement, and trusting the friction; chalk keeps skin dry for grip.
Faced with a big rounded sloper, a climber chalks up, plants their whole open palm on it for maximum friction, and drops their hips low and directly beneath it — pulling straight down so the friction holds, where grabbing it like an edge would just grease off.
Sloper vs crimp
A sloper is the friction-dependent opposite of a crimp: crimps rely on finger strength on a small edge, slopers on open-hand friction and body position. See crimp vs sloper. Slopers use the same friction principle as smearing with your feet.
The bottom line
A sloper is the rounded, holdless grip that humbles climbers: no edge to grab, just friction between your open hand and the rock. The keys are maximum skin contact, an open hand, and keeping your weight below the hold so you pull friction the right way. The friction-dependent opposite of a crimp, slopers reward technique and body position over raw finger strength.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sloper in climbing?
A sloper is a rounded, smooth climbing hold with no positive edge, lip, or pocket to grab. Instead of gripping an edge, you hold a sloper by pressing your open hand flat against it and relying on friction between your skin and the hold, plus careful body positioning. They're notoriously tricky and demand good technique.
How do you hold a sloper?
Maximize the contact between your hand (and fingers) and the hold for the most friction, use an open-hand grip rather than crimping, and — crucially — keep your body weight positioned below the hold so you're pulling friction straight down through it. Slopers reward a low, hanging body position, soft and precise movement, and trusting the friction; chalk helps keep skin dry for grip.
What's the difference between a sloper and a crimp?
A crimp is a small hold with a positive edge you grip with bent fingers; a sloper is a rounded, edgeless hold held by open-hand friction. Crimping relies on finger strength on an edge, while slopers rely on friction, open-hand strength, and body position. They're essentially opposite grip types. See our crimp vs sloper comparison.
Sources
- Holds & grip technique — American Alpine Club
- Climbing movement — UIAA