Bouldering Basics – Small Bouldering Guide for Beginners
Bouldering is the wild little brother of climbing - no ropes, no harnesses, just you, your muscles and gravity trying to pull you back to the ground. Sounds simple? It is. But anyone who has ever clung to a tiny ledge while their legs flail in the air in panic knows that simple doesn't mean easy!
What is the difference between climbing and bouldering?
Imagine climbing is like an epic mountain climb with a rope, helmet and the full safety program. You climb high, secured by your partner and a thick rope. Bouldering, on the other hand, is the short-distance discipline: small, tough routes - usually between 2 and 4 meters high - where it's all about finding the perfect movement. And if you fall? No drama! There's a thick mat underneath you that cushions your fall.
difficulty levels in bouldering
Bouldering has its own rating system to assess the difficulty of a route. In Germany, the Fontainebleau scale is often used (from 3A - for beginners - to 9a+ - for absolute professionals). In gyms, you will often find color coding to help you choose the right challenge.
What do you need for bouldering? – The equipment
Bouldering is minimalistic – but you still need a few things:
- Climbing shoes – your most important tool! They should fit tightly, but not so tightly that you want to cry.
- Chalk (magnesia) – your secret weapon against slippery fingers. A good choice is chalk from Kletterretter – sustainable and high quality.
- Crash pad – If you are bouldering outdoors, you will need a portable mat.
- Bouldering brush – No, not for your hair. You use this to scrub the holds clean.
- Comfortable clothing – trousers that move with you. For example, our " Poonhill " – light, robust and super flexible!
- Functional shirts – Our range includes breathable shirts that are ideal for intensive sessions.
What should you wear when bouldering?
Bouldering is not a catwalk, but a movement festival! The right clothing must therefore be comfortable above all. Jeans? Too stiff. Sweatpants? Too baggy. The best choice: functional bouldering pants like our " Poonhill " - robust enough for the outdoors, flexible enough for the splits between two footholds. Plus a breathable shirt from our range - light, quick-drying and ideal for movement.
Indoor or outdoor? Where can you boulder?
- Indoor: Perfect for training. Bouldering halls offer varied walls with color markings that show you which holds you can use. Good halls include Elys Boulderloft and K11 in Cologne.
- Outdoor: The supreme discipline. Bouldering on real rock is more intense, more direct – and not for the faint-hearted. Well-known spots: Fontainebleau (France), Ticino (Switzerland) or Franconian Switzerland.
Tips for your first day of bouldering
- Warm up! Your body is not an indestructible boulder.
- Start easy. Don't go straight to the steepest wall.
- Look at the route. Bouldering is chess with the body.
- Don't tense up! Staying relaxed saves energy.
- Celebrate the fall! Falling is part of it. Laugh about it and try again.
Whether in the gym or outside on the rocks - bouldering is a brilliant sport that requires strength, technique and brains. So grab your shoes, your "Poonhill" outfit and get started! The walls are waiting for you.