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    Climbing Hold Type Glossary: Understand Different Climbing Holds

    This guide covers some of the basic types of climbing holds, but keep in mind that there are many variations in names and descriptions.

    Click on a picture to see products of that hold style. (more info here) 

    A jug type climbing hold - Uncarved Block

    Jug

    • What it is: A big, comfy climbing hold that’s easy to grab. Think of it as a handle you can really wrap your fingers around.
    • Best for: Beginners or anyone looking to rest mid-route because it offers a strong, secure grip.
    • Shape/Style: Usually deep and rounded, making it feel like you’re holding onto a jug or bucket.

    a pinch type climbing hold - Uncarved Block

    Pinch

    • What it is: A hold that requires you to squeeze it from both sides using your thumb and fingers.
    • Best for: Building finger and hand strength. Often used in more challenging routes.
    • Shape/Style: Varies in width and depth, but always something you can pinch between your thumb and fingers.

    an edge type climbing hold - Uncarved Block

    Edge

    • What it is: A flat, narrow hold that you can only grab with the tips of your fingers.
    • Best for: Testing your finger strength and technique. Common on more technical routes.
    • Shape/Style: Thin and horizontal, like grabbing the edge of a book or a thin ledge.

    a crimp type climbing hold - Uncarved Block

    Crimp

    • What it is: A small, sharp hold where you have to grip with the very tips of your fingers, often with your thumb pressing down on top of your fingers for extra grip.
    • Best for: Advanced climbers working on finger strength and technical skills.
    • Shape/Style: Tiny and flat, just big enough for the first joint of your fingers. Can be painful if overused!

    a sloper type climbing hold - Uncarved Block

    Sloper

    • What it is: A large, round hold that doesn’t have a defined edge, so you rely on friction and open-handed grip.
    • Best for: Building strength and improving body positioning, especially on overhangs or sloping surfaces.
    • Shape/Style: Big, rounded, often dome-like with a surface that’s hard to grab onto.

    a pocket type climbing hold - Uncarved Block

    Pocket

    • What it is: A hold with one or more holes that you stick your fingers into.
    • Best for: Finger strength and precision, as you’re usually limited to just a couple of fingers.
    • Shape/Style: Can have 2-finger, 3-finger, or even mono (1-finger) pockets. Depth and size vary, affecting difficulty.

    Undercling

    • What it is: A hold that is gripped from underneath, requiring you to pull up and out rather than down.
    • Best for: Routes where you need to create upward force, usually on overhangs.
    • Shape/Style: Angled upwards, so you have to pull your body toward the wall to use it effectively.

    Sidepull

    • What it is: A hold that you pull sideways rather than down, usually with one hand while the other balances or pushes against the wall.
    • Best for: Off-balance moves or traversing across the wall.
    • Shape/Style: Positioned to the side, often elongated or angled to provide a secure grip.

    Flake

    • What it is: A thin, flat hold that juts out from the wall, resembling a flake of rock.
    • Best for: Technical routes where you need to use your hands and sometimes your feet to leverage the hold.
    • Shape/Style: Thin and protruding, sometimes allowing you to grip it from either side or even lie back against it.

    Volume

    • What it is: Large, often modular shapes added to the wall to change the route's dynamics, providing a base for smaller holds or being used directly.
    • Best for: Changing the route’s difficulty or style; they add complexity to the wall.
    • Shape/Style: Can be large and geometric, ranging from triangular to cuboid or even irregular shapes.

    Slab

    • What it is: Not a hold per se, but a type of wall angle that’s less than vertical, requiring balance and footwork rather than strength.
    • Best for: Beginners or those looking to practice technique and balance.
    • Shape/Style: The entire wall is the challenge, with minimal holds. It’s all about body positioning.

    Gaston

    • What it is: A hold that requires a pushing motion outward, like opening double doors with both hands.
    • Best for: Technical moves that challenge your shoulders and chest.
    • Shape/Style: Typically flat or slightly angled, designed to be pushed against rather than pulled.

     

    External Links to more information on climbing hold type/styles and how they are used.

    Names of Indoor Rock Climbing Holds and How to Use Different Types

    Nine Basic Types of Climbing Handholds

    Types of Holds and How to Use Them

     
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