There are many different types of handholds in rock climbing, but the most commonly used are the vertical grip, crimp, ring grip, open grip, pocket grip and the pinch grip. Handholds are used in rock climbing to help maintain balance and allow you to pull or apply counter pressure when necessary. It is important to have a lot of finger and grip strength so that you can apply enough torque on each hold.

Rock climbing gear can be very expensive, which makes it helpful to understand exactly what items you need for your skill level. This article will show you specific rock climbing gear that is necessary for certain types of climbing. The prices shown for climbing gear are from REI and are used to give you a general understanding of what a climbing rack might cost. The amount of gear for each rack is an estimate and will vary between routes and the type of climbing.

Climbing grades are important because they let you know how difficult a route can be. Rock climbers can look at a grade and quickly get a feel for what kind of skills and techniques may be required. A higher grade means a more difficult route. For example, beginner rock climbers should practice on 5.6 to 5.7 routes, whereas more experienced climbers can attempt 5.8 to 5.10 routes. The table listed below is a comparision between the Yosemite Decimal System and the Bouldering Scale.