Bouldering v scale to yds. Many areas in the world have developed different systems.
Bouldering v scale to yds. 10, a new wrinkle is added: we add a letter (a, b, c or d) to more finely indicate how difficult the climb is - 5. 10d Sep 5, 2021 · Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) — 5. 10b, 5. The 7a to V Scale Conversion Explained Jul 8, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System Most rock climbs over 20 feet tall in the U. This is the class. If you do a search for "font to hueco", you'll get a ton of charts and stuff. The Origins of Feb 2, 2025 · In the U. Jul 26, 2020 · I cover the meaning behind the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) for route climbing and the V-Scale or Hueco Scale for bouldering. Maybe they’re there to encourage you—like a cute way of saying, “Hey, give this a shot!” Unfortunately, climbing grades Climbing, like many sports, has its own metrics for measuring difficulty. Here is a conversion chart from V-scale to YDS. Learn how bouldering V-scales compare to YDS for route climbing, understand the journey from indoor to outdoor climbing, and explore international grading systems. Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to figure out how the 6a+ grade converts to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s a quick answer: 6a+ is roughly equal to V3-V4 on the V scale It’s also about the same as 5. Learn your grades and apply them to your climbing and problem setting. This article breaks down how these systems compare, why they don’t line up perfectly, and what it means for your climbing. Below you'll find a comprehensive explanation of the different climbing rating systems. 9, 5. While many countries with a tradition of climbing developed their own grading systems, a small number of grading systems have become internationally dominant for each type of Jan 18, 2022 · Paul and I waxed nostalgic, reflecting on a simpler time when splitting hairs over V-Grades wasn’t a thing, because there were no V-Grades—though of course there was the Yosemite Decimal System, and all the ongoing bickering over letter grades and slash grades and plus and minus grades, blah-blah-blah, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. —all aim to reflect a combination of physical and technical demands. At the same time, the V scale is the de facto standard for bouldering grades in the United States, making it necessary to know both systems if you’re climbing internationally. For bouldering, in the U. prefix – which indicates the route to be a rock climb, 1-4 prefixes being for routes/trails comprising walking through to scrambling. 15. Bouldering Ratings Much like the climbing world, bouldering has evolved multiple grading systems. Apr 27, 2025 · The V-Scale and Font Scale are heavily focused on the hardest move and the cumulative experience. They highlight the Font Scale, which is widely used in Europe for bouldering. While rope climbers use the Yosemite Decimal System (5. 12a, etc. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is the main grading system for roped rock climbing in North America. See full list on rei. 2. That's when they started Oct 27, 2017 · My impression is that +/- grades are typically used to grade trad routes and YDS (a,b,c & d) grades are used in sport climbing. YDS is the dominant classification system in the United States and parts of Canada. 9/easy jugs in many areas (joe's valley, red rocks, etc. Today, this scale single-handedly dominates the bouldering grade scales alongside the V scale. Maybe I'm dumb and it's all over the Internet, not sure why I had a hard time with this. Feb 9, 2023 · In the United States, we use the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). V-grades are the predominant grading system here in the United States for bouldering. org. Bouldering legend John “Vermin” Sherman is given the credit for this scale. The scale starts at 5. 12b in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). If you’re used to the V Scale, common in the U. 15b on the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), though that’s a sport climbing grade, not a bouldering one. Apr 27, 2025 · By Admin The 6a+ rating translates to the French bouldering system. Understanding Climbing Grades: A Beginner’s Guide to Indoor Ratings Or, How to Realize You’re Not As Strong As You Think If you’re new to the world of indoor climbing, you might think climbing grades are just friendly suggestions about the difficulty of a route. Our climbing grades convertors (both classic routes and boulders) have been made by great climbers, traveling and climbing all around the world for more than 15 years. An 8b Font boulder problem usually translates to something around a V13 on the V scale. Apr 21, 2023 · The YDS rates terrains from class 1 (hiking) through class 5 (rock climbing). Other similarly priced services are available. This isn't necessarily a rule but you do see this often enough. 10a, to describe the technical difficulty of climbs. 10 grade applying the YDS system there are 4 grades, 5. are graded using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). The YDS has a class rating and an optional grade and protection ratings. Read now! Sep 16, 2021 · Everything you ever wanted to know about bouldering grades in one place, including a bouldering grade conversion chart from the V Scale to Font Scale. 11a on the YDS. Is V-Scale the most widely used system (world-wide) for rating problems? I've found lots of information on how to compare V-scale to YDS, but i can't find any information as to what EXACTLY the V-Scale climbs consist Aug 23, 2024 · Two systems are the V-grade system used for bouldering, and the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) used for grading routes. In outdoor settings, two prominent grading scales, the V Scale and Font Scale, take center stage. The reason being that the width of grades on a specific scale are not comparable or that grades are not linear across the whole scale. com. Free, fast, and easy-to-use climbing grade converter. com Here's a bouldering-to-YDS conversion chart I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing. Dec 8, 2011 · I was looking through the routes database the other day and noticed a lot of the bouldering problems at Rumney are using the YDS system. YDS When it comes to indoor climbing grades, two popular grading systems are the V-Scale and the YDS (Yosemite Decimal System). The 6a+ to V-Scale Conversion Explained In the climbing Jul 25, 2025 · Understanding the Yosemite Decimal System: A Guide to Rock Climbing Grades in North America. Bouldering is a bit different than some other forms of rock climbing and it has its own grades, the V-scale, for defining the difficulty of the climb. May 24, 2025 · Confused by YDS, French, UIAA sport climbing grades? Our global comparison gives a clear understanding for international climbs. You’ll see grades like 5. The UIAA scale, which is commonly used in Europe, employs Roman numerals with plus or minus signs to indicate further detail. The V scale has grades from V0 to V17. Dec 9, 2024 · Learn the ins and outs of climbing grades with our comprehensive guide! Understand the differences between systems, how they measure difficulty, and what they mean for climbers of all levels. In short: 8C roughly equals V15 on the Hueco V Scale, or 5. For a basic overview of how the grades work, check out this article with Climbing Magazine. The standard used most widely today is the V Scale, named after John “Vermin” Sherman, who collaborated with his buddies to grade routes in the legendary Hueco Tanks bouldering area in Texas. 15, with climbs 5. These grades provide a shared language for climbers, making it easier to compare Online Conversion Tool for Climbing Grades & Bouldering Grades: Trad Grade, UIAA, French Sport Grade, Boulder Grades, American Scale & many more. , you might wonder how 8C compares. As a beginner rock climber or foreign climber trying to climb in America, you'll want to become familiar with the Yosemite Decimal System, or YDS. Jan 6, 2024 · Widely used in North America, YDS ranges from class 1 (easy hiking) to class 5 (technical rock climbing). It's the system used to grade the technical difficulty of rock climbs. notice how the outdoor grades are pretty well distributed, but it's the people grading in the gyms getting it wrong. Many countries of the world, though, use the American YDS (Yosemite Decimal System). On this one, they've stuck 5a on the line between 5. Bouldering grades are graded using different systems across different regions. Whether you're a seasoned climber or just starting out, understanding this system can help you track progress and select problems that match your Sep 13, 2018 · by Ha |Published September 13, 2018-at dimensions 316 × 1000 Previous Next Please follow and like us: May 4, 2020 · The American system of climbing grades is based off the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), which ranges from class 1 (hiking) to class 5 (technical rock climbing). Class 1 Hiking on a trail. 0 and advance with technical difficulty. Jul 16, 2025 · Bouldering and sport climbing are both disciplines within climbing but vary between the technique and style to climb these routes. Sometimes the conditions and the state of the routes can also influence the grades. -based Sierra Club in the 1950s, the YDS unified and refined previous systems from the early days of Yosemite Valley climbing. I and II: Half a day or less for the technical (5th class) portion of… Read More »Climbing Grade Mar 15, 2024 · Bouldering vs. 10c & 5. Same thing for "French to yds" for roped routes. So for example within the 5. Apr 27, 2025 · Trad & Sport Climbing Grades Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) The Yosemite Decimal System or YDS is a grading system commonly found in North America and was originally used to describe a full range of backcountry travel, which included both hiking and climbing. Learn about the Yosemite and French grading systems and how the two compare. There’s the French system, WI grades for ice, M grades for mixed climbing, and D grades for dry-tooling. Apr 29, 2024 · Learn everything about climbing grades and quickly convert any climbing rating with our free climbing grade conversion chart. You will be able to choose the system and the level of route before starting the climb. 11b. Including Grade Wike & Table. Sports climbing grades are graded using different systems across different regions. If you go bouldering in Europe, you’ll see ratings in the Font Scale. even today, many grade systems are confined to certain geographical areas, sometimes climbing areas (e. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) The Yosemite Decimal System, also known as YDS, is used to determine hiking difficulty and sport climbing routes based in North America. 9 climbing that includes a single 11a move is graded an 11a route, as is a route of sustained 11a climbing. Warning Some climbers liken the difficulty of a Font 5 boulder problem to that of a 6b sport climb. Below is a chart to help you determine how one method relates to another. 0 (easiest) to 5. 12b. 13b on the YDS. Jun 23, 2024 · V-Scale vs. 14a in sport climbing grades In this article, you’ll see how these systems compare, why the conversions aren’t always perfect, and how to use Mar 7, 2025 · For instance, 6c+ on the French scale roughly lines up with V5 on the V scale used for bouldering in the US. Here are the four most common ones. ) presumably so that bouldering areas have more of a lower end as opposed to having YDS grades in the guide like Jtree and Bishop have. Many areas in the world have developed different systems. Within class 5, you’ll find gradations with decimals and letters, like 5. , and especially for bouldering. The "V" scale is used for bouldering routes, with V0 representing the easiest and V17 meaning the most difficult. 10a, 5. Jul 25, 2022 · #1. Our secret (or maybe not so secret anymore) tip for Moved PermanentlyThe document has moved here. They both started at 1, that being easy scrables. Meaning that for example if you look at a crag in Australia you will most likely see sport and trad climbing grades displayed in Ewbanks and bouldering grades in V-scale. These charts use the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), the most common scale for roped climbs in North America. 8 or 5. We recommend Instantprint where an A1 poster costs around £16 (+VAT and delivery). To translate a 7b into a V-scale grade, climbers need to take into account the style, movement and rock type. Top 5 International Climbing Grade Rating Systems If you’re climbing abroad, you should be familiar with other systems, including the French grading system, the UIAA grading system, and a handful of Nov 13, 2023 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) classes are a set of ratings used to describe the difficulty of rock climbing and hiking routes in the United States. It also compares to around 5. Our Ultimate Guide to Climbing Grades provides it all! If you’ve been to a climbing gym in the US, chances are you have seen the Yosemite Decimal System (5. The first ascensionist can suggest a grade but it will be amended for the consensus view of subsequent ascents. Bouldering grades are a way to measure the difficulty of climbing problems, helping climbers gauge challenges and track progress. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. May 2, 2023 · The Yosemite Decimal System or YSD is a grading system used for hikes and sport climbing. Mar 25, 2024 · Sport climbing grades are typically denoted using the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States, ranging from 5. The French Scale is much more convertible between its top-rope and bouldering equivalents, while the YDS and American bouldering scale, the V scale, are not as convertible. Rope Climbing grades use a simplified version of the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) Bouldering grades use the V-Scale Don’t get caught up on grades Use the grading system as a guide to find routes that challenge you in a fun and rewarding way Feb 28, 2023 · Climb better by learning climbing grades. When it comes to bouldering, the V-scale, created by John “Verm” Sherman in 1991, raised the bar. YDS (Yosemite Decimal System) – Common in the U. Depending on the country and region, climbing routes are rated according to different difficulty scales. It is most popular in the U. The above appears courtesy of the American Alpine Journal. To let climbers know the difficulty of a rock-climbing routes, rock-climbing locations use the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). Bouldering grades (in particular the V scale that is commonly used) is just a semi-arbitrary way of comparing one route to another with respect to the physical challenge of the problem. Nov 1, 2024 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a grading scale that evaluates the difficulty of hiking and climbing routes, especially for mountaineering and rock climbing. [1] It was first devised by members of the Sierra Club in Southern California in the 1950s as a refinement of earlier systems from the 1930s, [2] and quickly spread throughout North America. Each scale brings its Feb 19, 2021 · Bouldering and the V Scale What Is the V Scale? While the YDS is used to grade pretty much every roped rock climbing route in America and beyond, bouldering utilizes a completely different system Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to convert a 7b+ boulder problem from the Fontainebleau scale to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s the quick answer: 7b+ roughly equals V8/V9 on the V scale and 5. May 5, 2024 · Climbing Ratings and Grades Explained The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is used in the United States to determine the risk, difficulty, and commitment associated with rock climbing. The V-scale, named after its creator John “Vermin” Sherman, ranges from 0-17. “5” indicates technical rock climbing, and the numbers after show difficulty. Additionally, the tool bridges different grading systems—such as the French scale, the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), the V-scale, and the Fontainebleau—using correspondence tables. In this article, you’ll learn how 7b+ compares across different systems, why the conversion isn’t exact, and what factors can Climbing Difficulty Rankings! Decode YDS, French, and V-grade systems, track skill progression, and choose routes matched to your level. The YDS scale divides routes into classes based on the physical effort, technical skill, and risk Oct 15, 2021 · From sport climbing to bouldering, different types of rock climbing each have their own system, known as bouldering grades, to assess a route’s overall difficulty. The class 5 climbs are further broken down into grades from 5. S. Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to understand how 8A in the Fontainebleau grading system compares to the V Scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s your quick answer: 8A on the Fontainebleau scale equals V11 on the V Scale 8A also translates to about 5. 15d. [2][3][39] Various authors have created tables to compare bouldering grades of Font/V-grade, to the free climbing French sport/American YDS grades, but because of the different types of climbing (and particularly the sequences of movements I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing. Jan 1, 2025 · There are several methods of grading how difficult a climb is. That system originated in Many climbing routes have grades for the technical difficulty, and in some cases for the risks, of the route. A V2 is a 6a which is groen. Grading Conversion Chart (Bouldering) Here’s a rough comparison between V-Grades and Font Grades for bouldering: YDS en the French scales seems to start at a random point because we know now that the lower grades are 'to easy' and can't really be counted in the modern climbing world. Developed in the 1950s in Yosemite National Park, this system was created by rock climbers to standardize ratings for various routes. 0-5. Sep 25, 2023 · Yosemite Decimal System (YDS Grade): Born in the USA during the 1930s, this system, particularly its ‘fifth class’, is tailored for technical climbing. A mint is a 2-3 (font) which is too easy for v-scale, but often called VB for V-Beginner. 15d, thanks to Adam Ondra! A sport climb The YDS also includes ratings for mountaineering and other types of climbing, but these are expressed in a different format than the rock climbing grades, using Roman numerals and other symbols. Font Scale The Font Scale is the world standard for bouldering and it’s most popular in Europe, Russia, Iran, Turkey, South Africa and Peru. In the Alpine region, the UIAA and French scales are the most common ones. Bouldering grades and bouldering grades conversion charts for the popular V-Scale and Font-Scale bouldering grades. Please visit them on the web at www. Apr 27, 2025 · This procedure consists of converting the French grade to the corresponding V scale grade. What's the difference between bouldering grades? The Font Scale, V Scale, what else? We explain everything in our review. Convert North American climbing grades to UK and European scales, and compare bouldering V-grades to roped climbs. Anyways, since I had a hard time I just made one. 6, 5. Download UK Trad Grade Conversion Table PDF – Compare UK trad grades with the main international grading systems. Changing 8b+ Font grades to the V scale—for instance, translating 8b+ to V14—serves United States climbers. 95 rows climbers mainly use two rating systems for rope climbing, according to geographical location: use bouldering's v scale with the same approach as the yds: use our climbing grade conversion tool to effortlessly convert between various bouldering and lead Aug 8, 2019 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. 10 and above being further divided into letter grades from a to d (ex: 5. In contrast, bouldering grades use the V-scale or Fontainebleau scale, as mentioned earlier. 1-5. 10 & 5. While both involve scaling vertical surfaces, they differ in terms of equipment, techniques, and overall approach. A YDS grade is split into two numbers separated by a period and looks like this: Class All climbing grades begin with the number five. Grades can be subjective and may vary slightly between locations or setters. 14b. 10-, 5. Here is an overview of the 2 rating categories: Class rating: To classify climbs into hikes, scrambles and rock Apr 27, 2025 · The V-scale is widely used in the U. , bouldering is typically graded using V-scale, while top rope climbs are graded using the YDS scale (Yosemite Decimal System). Jun 21, 2025 · Learn what separates bouldering from other types of rock climbing, from climbing grades to which muscles are used You've heard the terms "bouldering" and "rock climbing" tossed around, but what exactly is the difference? Bouldering is Information about the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in American rock climbing, examining its history, and the meaning of the various grades and modifiers. The YDS The Yosemite Decimal System consists of five general classes, but only the fifth is used for grading climbing routes. But grading systems aren’t always exact. Many gyms use a coloured V-grade range system, wherein the colour of the tape or holds on a problem correspond to Convert a climbing grade with easeTo convert grades, enter the grade into the input, select the grade system (french, yosemite, v-scale) and hit "convert" Yosemite Decimal System, or YDS (Sport Climbing) French system (Sport Climbing) V-Scale (Bouldering) Font Scale (Bouldering) Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re trying to figure out how the 7A bouldering grade compares to the V Scale or the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s the quick answer: 7A roughly equals V6 and 5. 11a, etc. Essential reading for rock climbers and boulderers. Dominating at these grades involves tackling steep overhangs, executing difficult highball boulder problems So a route of 5. Download Bouldering Grade PDF – Comparison between Font, V and UK tech grades. Aug 18, 2017 · In this article we go over the nuances of rock climbing grades, indoor and outdoor, what they mean, and how to understand them. We use the V scale, or Hueco scale. 0 (class + difficulty) and currently goes up to 5. Here's the link if you're interested. Master ratings! According to two contributors, the european rating system is less useful because it is too subjective and the alaskan rating system is more useful because it is less subjective. Similar to YDS, the system is not a closed system. but is commonly used in China, Australia, Brazil and Argentina. Feb 4, 2015 · I don’t recommend that you blindly trust this table – there can be differences from country to country or even between climbing areas. Side-by-side comparison of physical and technical demands between the V scale and the French scale reveal significant discrepancies. 15 (most difficult). Some gyms use the classic V-grade system, marking each boulder problem with a V-grade on a tag or piece of tape at its start. 10c, etc. 10a being less difficult than 5. You may choose the system and the level of route before starting the climb. The Yosemite Decimal System, or YDS for short, is an open ended grading system that starts at 5. Apr 27, 2025 · A 6b in the Fontainebleau bouldering system is about a V4 in the Hueco (V) scale and roughly a 5. 15d (hardest), with sub-grades (a, b, c, d) to further differentiate difficulty. For bouldering, the Fontainebleau (Font) system Apr 27, 2025 · For roped climbing, climbers use the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), ranging from 5. There is nothing wrong with the v-scale rating system, there is an issue with how people use it. In North America, Sport climbing utilizes the Yosemite Decimal System for the grading system. The YDS originally consisted only of the class rating and this is the most widely used rating. On the other hand, the YDS is used for roped climbing, with ratings like 5. This lead climbing grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from YDS to French and back to French to Yosemite. In France and much of Europe, climbers rate boulder problems on the 6a+ to V scale. Mar 7, 2025 · If you’re trying to understand how a 6c bouldering grade converts to the V Scale or sport climbing grades, here’s the quick answer: 6c roughly equals V5 in the Hueco (V) Scale and 5. Mar 17, 2023 · In North America, the V-scale is used for Bouldering while for sport climbing the Yosemite Decimal System is used. V-Scale The V-Scale was published in 1991 and was originally created to be an “Ego Yard-Stick,” according to Climbing. In this edition of On Sight, we’ll demystify climbing grades, and take a closer look at how a subjective sport like climbing tangles with the objective world of numbers and letters. Apr 27, 2025 · By Admin April 27, 2025 If you’re looking to understand how the 6b+ climbing grade converts to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s your quick answer: 6b+ is roughly equal to V4 on the Hueco scale and 5. Differences may exist depending on route, local grading practices, and other USA (Yosemite Decimal System) Grades The American System, originally developed in and around the Yosemite region (hence the name) starts with a 5. Jun 10, 2024 · Grade Converters Bouldering and Lead Climbing Grade converters and other tools for rock climbers. National Climbing Classification System (USA): NCCS grades, often called “commitment grades,” indicate the time investment in a route for an “average” climbing team. But their usage remain low. Each grading system has evolved to reflect these unique characteristics, with climbing often graded on the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) or French scale and bouldering on the V scale or Fontainebleau (Font) scale. The YDS classes are numbered from 1 to 5, with 5 further divided into decimal sub-grades. 0 and is currently capped at 5. This bouldering grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from Hueco to French and back to French to V-Scale. 10b, etc. The four easier classes describe everything from a walk on flat ground (Class 1) to a technical scramble (Class 4). Let’s break down this system to better understand what it all means! Class Class describes a climb or an approach/descent to or from a climb. Class 2 Simple scrambling, with the possibility of occasional use of the Note: IRCRA stands for the International Rock Climbing Association; YDS for Yosemite Decimal System; BRZ for Brazilian scale, UIAA for the Union Internationale des Associations dAlpinisme and Font for Fontainebleau. Oct 23, 2023 · Discover the intricacies of climbing grades with our comprehensive guide. It was developed by climbers in Yosemite Valley and uses a decimal system, like 5. France and many other European countries: The French Numerical System is prevalent for sport climbing, ranging from 3 (easiest) to 9c (hardest). The Yosemite Decimal System is the oldest climbing grade system still in use. Flavor to climb rating. V0 has changed to become more synonymous with 5. 7, 5. The idea of climbing grades is fairly straightforward, but when applied to bouldering, sport climbing, alpine, ice, trad, or mountaineering, the grades change based on the local climbing When I started climbing, there were two rating options for bouldering: doing your best to apply the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) to boulder problems or using the Gill System, neither of which was entirely satisfactory. In this guide, you’ll see how bouldering and sport climbing grades relate, why these conversions aren’t exact, and what makes each grading system different. French (Sport): is used in France and many other parts of Europe for sport climbing, ranging from 1 (easiest) to 9c (hardest). Mar 17, 2012 · Indoor rock climbing gyms have two types of rock climbing available, bouldering and sport climbing. ), the world of bouldering (at least in North America) has its own distinctive grading scale: the V-scale. Once the setter provides a preliminary grade to a climb, various climbers then test it to decide upon an appropriate final grade. Jun 5, 2023 · The American Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) and the French climbing grades are widely recognized and used, offering a benchmark for climbers across the world to measure their skills and climb difficulty. But as climbers techniques evolved they needed higher grades for harder routes. Jan 26, 2023 · Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. The V-Scale is used for bouldering, ranging from V0 (easiest) to V16 (most difficult). Grades initiate at 5. 10, etc. Current routes range from V0- to V16. May 23, 2016 · The Hueco (or V) Scale V-grades originated at Hueco Tanks near El Paso, TX in the 1990s. The American and French bouldering grade systems can be compared, and they exactly align after V9 / 7C. Bouldering grade VS Sport Grade (and what to expect) Stumbled across this article and found it quite useful/interesting as I'm a sport climber who basically uses bouldering as a tool to get stronger. americanalpineclub. 15 (hardest). Reply reply jamiebelgrade • VB Reply reply More replies golf_ST • United States: The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is widely used, ranging from 5. For leading climbing and top-roping, the watch supports Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), and French systems. Feb 14, 2024 · Understanding Bouldering Grades Bouldering grades stand as a universal metric, offering climbers a standardized means to assess the difficulty of boulder problems, whether encountered outdoors in natural landscapes or within the controlled environments of climbing gyms. Climbers can use these systems to track their progress as they work toward building new skill sets. 12a in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). 8 and 5. Like the V scale, the font scales are also rated by numbers such as 1,2,3 and so on. This is why each rating system is different in how they rate difficulty. When the scale reaches 5. Mar 4, 2025 · The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), and the V-Scale or “Hueco Scale”. 11b to 5. Ratings used internationally today include no less than seven… Apr 27, 2025 · Key Takeaways Climbing grade systems, including the V scale and French grading scale, help categorize the difficulty of bouldering and sport climbing routes nationwide. Jul 25, 2025 · Understanding climbing grades is essential for safe & successful rock, ice & alpine climbs. This is a bouldering climbing grade conversion chart. Oct 12, 2020 · The French Scale is to the YDS what the metric system is to the American measurement system. The scale ranges from 1 to 5, with vertical pitches ranking at a 5-level difficulty with a decimal addition. Understanding the different grading systems & the factors that affect grades will help you make informed decisions & tackle routes that match your skill level & ambitions. Knowing how one method relates to another is sometimes difficult. In 2016, Alex sent me a link to his page on Bouldering Grades, which he compares with the Yosemite Decimal System and sport climbing. Key Climbing Grade Systems Yosemite Decimal System (YDS): predominantly used in North America, this system ranges from 5. Apr 27, 2025 · 8C+ equals V16 on the Hueco V scale. In this post, you’ll see how these grading systems compare, why the conversion isn’t always exact, and what it means for your climbing. YDS ran up to 5, with 5 being the hardest moves known at that point. The best way to approach the conversion is to travel, go climbing and get used to the different grades! Have fun! P. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned climber, our climbing grade conversion cha Rock climbing grades are a means of estimating the difficulty of a climb. Mar 30, 2023 · Gym Grading: Gyms in North America use the Yosemite Decimal System for route grades. 12c. But grades aren’t always straightforward. For bouldering, the V-Scale (Hueco) is common, ranging from V0 to V16. May 16, 2022 · Climbing gyms grade their routes through route setters using V-scale for bouldering, the YDS scale, and the French System for other forms of climbing. 11d in YDS This guide breaks it all down so you understand why there’s a range and how these grading systems compare. Using this system, climbs will be labeled with numbers beginning with 5 and followed by a decimal, for example, 5. Apr 27, 2025 · The National Climbing Classification System (NCCS) and the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) introduced a distinctly U. 6 (easiest) to 5. 15d (hardest) for roped climbing. Aug 30, 2021 · Rock climbing grades can seem cryptic; we break down the most popular rating systems and explain a tradition that's existed since the 1890s. Within that same 5. 9 and have pushed 6a to 10b. For bouldering, the watch supports V-Scale and Font Scale. Aug 31, 2008 · Hi there, i'm new to bouldering and i have some questions to get me going. While the grading systems vary by region—like the Fontainebleau system in Europe or the V-scale in the U. ). Sport Climbing Grades Sport climbing involves climbing with the aid of pre-placed bolts or anchors for protection. May 31, 2020 · Everything you need to know about climbing grades in one place. The Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) is a five-part grading system used for rating the difficulty of rock climbing routes in the United States and Canada. 7 or 5. Keep reading to learn how these grading systems compare, why 8C is Jun 28, 2024 · Trace the evolution of climbing grades—from Fontainebleau to modern scales—and discover why grading remains a human, subjective art. . Key Takeaways Mar 7, 2025 · The 8C grade is part of the Fontainebleau (Font) bouldering scale, mostly used in Europe. Apr 27, 2025 · The French scale is commonly used for sport climbing worldwide, using grades like 6a or 9a to indicate route difficulty and is often seen in international competitions. 10 grade there are only 3 grades with the +/- system, 5. Rock Climbing: These are two distinct yet closely related disciplines within the world of climbing. I know it's going to depend on which crags you're climbing at, but I've done quite a bit of climbing in quite a few different countries and have always found that 5a lines up pretty well Jan 31, 2025 · This ensures its calculations reflect real-world climbing experiences. 6 or 5. The grade and protection ratings were added on later to improve the rating system. Jan 28, 2022 · While both sport climbing and trad climbing share the same YDS grading system, the techniques involved in crack climbing with gear versus face climbing on expansion bolts make comparing route grades somewhat tricky. 15a on the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) if you’re trying to compare it to roped climbs. The difficulty of sport climbing routes is typically graded using the French scale or the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). These rating systems have since been supplanted by the V-Scale and the Font Scale. Overall, the YDS and the French Scale are fairly easy to convert between, but since they are used in different regions, you are Rock climbing grades typically use one of several grading systems, with the most common being the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) in the United States and the French numerical system (French grades) in Europe. Apr 27, 2025 · Key Takeaways The Font scale is only used in France. Used mostly for sport and trad climbing. X) on the roped climbing routes and the Vermin (V0-VX) grades on the bouldering problems. Universal grade conversion Back to contents In general, theCrag displays grades as they are entered and in the area specific context. For bouldering, on the other hand, there are varying systems in place. it doesn't even mention what outdoor bouldering areas were considered, which it varies a lot. 0 to 5. Includes examples of the different grades, links, multimedia, pictures, photos, and video Climbing V Scale To Yds. Most climbers will agree that 7b is roughly V7 or V8 on the V-scale. This guide explains the different grading systems used in rock climbing and offers tips to level up your skills. The ‘+’ symbol, as in 7c+ or V9+, indicates a minor increase in difficulty. 10+. This scale aligns nicely with the V-scale popularized in the United States. I've always found that the French grading system doesn't really have a 1-to-1 translation to Yosemite decimal system. In comparison, systems such as UIAA and YDS (Yosemite Decimal System) measure ongoing difficulty and danger. Quickly convert climbing grades between different systems: French, YDS, UIAA, and more. V-Scale conversion - SuperTopo's climbing discussion forum is the world's most popular community discussion forum for people who actively climb outdoors. I didn't know if this was some sort of progressive movement, or people were just trying to justify bolting boulder problems. Developed by the U. Most boulderers in the advanced Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re wondering how 8A+ converts to the V Scale or the Yosemite Decimal System, the short answer is: 8A+ equals V12 and roughly 5. There are grade systems for bouldering, grade systems for sport climbing, grade systems for aid climbing and so on but even grade systems for the same style don’t always translate well between each other. g. Aug 24, 2023 · The V-scale is most commonly used in North America, while the Fontainebleau system originated in France. 10d to 5. ecr epmkdgq idcisv jgeac yeoitf xglieiy fqwle fvauw qgedo hkfdqp
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