r/climbergirls

I am relatively new to bouldering (27F), and have consistently been climbing 2 or 3 times a week since the end of January. I am not naturally strong or athletic so I am really proud of myself for doing this, but I am getting frustrated since I am stuck at a V2 level. I can comfortably flash almost every V2 that my gym puts up, and I can make it usually about half or two thirds of the way through a V3 but still have not sent one fully yet. I can't tell if I am missing something in my technique or I am just not strong enough yet but I am feeling like my progress is slower than it should be.

I guess I am mostly embarrassed to be constantly failing on low level routes at my gym. Any advice?

About 6 months ago, I was in the best form I've ever had in nearly 10 years of climbing. Nothing massively impressive, but I was really proud.

I've gained weight since then as last year I relapsed with anorexia and my climbing peak came around 6 months into recovery, when I'd got my nutrition back on track but gained very minimal weight. I'm probably up maybe 10lbs since then, and it's a healthier weight for me, but it's hard not to feel like it's making me weaker on the wall.

The last 6 months have been rough on me. I've been ill constantly, injured a couple of times. Eventually diagnosed with anaemia & low b12 (being treated) and currently being investigated for an autoimmune condition. Various personal stressors. I've had to take time off work recently for burnout.

I've been doing more outdoor climbing, and lead climbing, where before I mostly bouldered indoors and feel I'm stretching myself thinner and accomplishing less at everything. But I enjoy all of them.

Finally, my head game is just shit at the moment. It doesn't take much to just feel anxious or a bit hopeless and then I can't get up anything. I feel self conscious climbing with friends because I was one of the better climbers in the group and now I'm often the one falling off and giving up. Came home psyched today about a lead route I managed that I've been too scared to even try and my partner asked me about a couple of boulder routes I haven't done and I cried because 6 months ago I definitely would have done them and now I can't. I'm often failing because I'm just scared and I'm jumping off rather than falling, especially at the top.

I know I shouldn't care about grade chasing but I felt so bad ass on routes I'd watched the strong girls do before and now I feel the stuff I'm climbing is less fun. Anyone been here and able to commiserate?

Before anyone suggests it - I am in therapy lol.

seeking cis male perspectives tbh. greetings fellow baddies, i am going to devils lake with my 23f boyfriend 25m over this weekend! we have never been before and i am excited to go somewhere new. originally some of our friends were supposed to come with us but they have to work blah blah blah so they can't. so then it will just be us! but my boyfriend asked if his coworker he routesets with can come along with one of our crazy strong mutual friends. suddenly i do not feel like going anymore! LMAO

basically i have had a really hard time being self depreciating when i climb: i did not grow up athletic and after 2.5 years of climbing i still struggle on some v1's. i have had a lot of setbacks in my non-climbing life that have affected my performance and i often feel angry and disappointed at myself when i am confronted by my lack of growth. it took a lot of courage just to be able to climb (and more importantly fall) in front of my boyfriend without feeling SO embarrassed and depressed.

this probably sounds so dumb but i am trying so hard to be better. i suck at climbing but i love it. i feel like if everyone else is climbing v5-7 and i am struggling up v0-1 i just shouldn't go. there is no way it is fun to just sit around and watch my skinny ass struggle up something everyone else cruised, no matter how hard my boyfriend has tried to convince me otherwise.

girls: how would you think about this differently? it's not just a matter of trying to be grateful because i have so much expertise around me, i am physically too weak to do certain things due to an eating disorder.

dudes: do you pity people like me? is it awkward to climb with people who suck? are you secretly laughing at me? are any of my worst fears true?

edit: thank you everyone for your insight and kindness. i think i will not go this time because i have been told before that my mindset makes things less enjoyable for others and i do not want to ruin their time. i know i have mental health issues and i am also not very strong. i think it is best if i go a different time. thank you baddies 🙏🏻

So, I’ve been pretty obsessed with climbing in the last 4 years. I’ve moved states to be closer to the mountains and dedicate all my free time to climbing outdoors and working towards being proficient in mountaineering in general.

I am also a doctor, surrounded by people who are obsessed with other things.

I have only dated climbers in the last 4 years, and we often spend a lot of time climbing together as you can imagine, so I struggle to think that I’d have much free time to do non-climbing related activities with a non-climbing partner.

Anybody have any anecdotal experiences or advice on what it would be like to date a non-climber? Am I just too rigid? Is this just a phase? Will I finally give up on dirtbag climbers who won’t commit or get a stable job?

Happy to give more info if required but honestly just wanted to start up discussions and read some realistic stories!

Hi I have been climbing about 2-3 times every other week since January. I find myself doing better on slabs now and have done my first ever V4 recently but still stay within the V2-V3 range for most. I want to get better and still struggle with overhang I think it is because of my upper body my muscles are not that built. My partner 21M has been climbing for 3 years and does comp climbing he is cracked at bouldering and can do V9 etc. i am still pretty new to this and struggle with the comparison aspect to men especially through bouldering. He wants to do some outdoor bouldering but I don’t feel like I am ready I can’t really hold myself up well enough even on like a tension board. If any girls have any general fitness advice or general bouldering advice for improving I would really appreciate it.

I recently had a bad situation climbing a large mountain overnight in the PNW. A team member who is usually trustworthy in making good calls about equipment and effort carried too much on the approach, hurt their back, then toughed it out and ended up in a bad state on the way back from the summit.

I feel like I failed. We were unofficial co-leaders of a trip with less-experienced members, so our communication was crucial to success, and it broke down.

We weighed packs at the trailhead, theirs came up heaviest and I asked (once) if there was anything I could take from their pack - they said no. This person was shorter than the rest of the group by several inches. I don't want to get too specific but imagine I'm a medium size human and my friend is a small. We're adults. We're also friends with some emotional attachment that may have complicated things but I thought we were open enough as climbing partners to avoid this.

Where I'm going with this is I've now toed the line of trying not to make a smaller partner feel bad about their body and packing decision and gotten absolutely burned by it. I wish I'd been more stern, but at the time I was doing my best to be patient, and by the time they were exhausted it would have done no good to be any less patient.

I don't want to be the friend that leaves people feeling shitty, but I also don't want to tell other people every move to make. Has anyone else been here?

edit: just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who's replied. you've pointed me in the right direction. :)

i have tried my first multi-pitch with a guide. it was interesting, beautiful place and all, I felt safe etc. but people would always say as mutipitch is the greatest of all, and it fell a bit disappointing, I’d prefer to climb 5 different sport routes. it’s a lot of work, so a bit tiring, I didn’t feel like I was enjoying the view any more than just sport climbing. why do people live this so much, what is the attractiveness for you?

fyi I climbed second the whole time, as I’m a fearful leader.

Weird question for the ladies here. I went climbing and hiking in the Dolomites two years ago and realized that around 2000m, I go to the bathroom every 20-30 minutes.

It’s a huge inconvenience… not only do I dehydrate quickly but I have to get out of my harness in perilous situation. It’s my understanding that it’s a healthy body response to the lack of oxygen and there’s not much I can do…Believe me, when I need to go… I need to go! I’ve never experienced anything so intense and annoying in my life.

I’m going back in the end of August and I would love to plan a multi-pitch climbing expedition but I really don’t see how I can manage to stay on the wall without going for that long.

Is there any tips from a girl experiencing the same thing? What do you do?

Edit : I stayed 2 weeks in high altitude without improvement. I also had altitude medication but I stopped it after 2 days because I thought it could be a cause.

Was just in Arc’teryx the other day and saw the Clarkia wide leg climbing pants and love the look of them but don’t want to pay $230 for them. Does anyone know of anything similar or have any loose fitting or non-skin-tight pants that they would recommend for less than that?

typo in title, for years**

Hey girls,

I started climbing several years ago with my ex. I really enjoyed it at first, and we moved from top rope to sport leading in the gym without issue. Then we moved somewhere with easy access to real rock, and he got more into trad while I mostly followed.

Over the next 1-2 years, I started to really dread it. The climbs were usually well within my physical ability, but my nervous system would just flood and I’d stop having fun. Eventually I only wanted to belay. I think at the core of it was that my ex would get really disappointed and shut down, which made the whole thing feel way heavier on me than it ever should have, and I'd feel like I have to push through to keep the relationship happy. Anyway I don’t want this to turn into ex-bashing, that’s in the past and we all have our issues.

Fast forward to now (years have passed since we broke up and I stopped climbing) I want to get back into it. I’m active and strong, I remember a lot of technique and I’m not trying anything I can’t actually do. I’m also just following for now. My current partner is super chill and genuinely not bothered if I don’t want to do something, but my nervous system still floods so fast. I didn’t even think I was showing it, but for example today he could tell and suggested we stop for the day.

I’m frustrated with myself because it feels like everyone else can stay relaxed and have fun days outside, and I hit my mental/emotional limit so much faster, even on easy stuff. It’s not just fear of falling either, the whole thing just seems to wear me out.

I really want climbing to feel fun again, and it hasn’t in years. Has anyone dealt with this? Any advice for rebuilding trust with climbing and making it feel less loaded?

Thanks in advance :)

After 5 years of climbing on Scarpa Origins I am in the market for a new, solid, one quiver shoe. As much as I enjoy them and have found them good for the climbing I do I’ve found myself taking them off while being lowered and between every climb as they’ve gotten so uncomfortable. I have also gotten a little rusty after taking a couple months off and am trying to get back in the swing of things, which has made my shoes more painful and uncomfortable from lack of wear.

I tend to alternate between climbing mainly in the gym and then climbing only outside for periods of time. Sport climbing is my preferred style but I’ve been getting into bouldering the past two years. I really am wanting a shoe that does it all, that does not feel uncomfortable wearing for extended periods of time, and is more aggressive than my Origins. Also feels important to add I have fairly narrow feet.

I went around town and tried on Skwamas, Katanas, and Kubos but am also interested in Murias but have not had the chance to try them on but am open to any suggestions. All of the above shoes seem to fit the bill for what I’m looking for in a new shoe and are available with my pro deals. I’m pretty much looking for advice from you all for input that could push my decision over the edge so any and all input and advice would be greatly appreciated!