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Here’s What You Need to Know

Here at RAW, we’ve seen interest in climbing going from strength to strength in recent years, with more people participating on our Rock Skills course than ever before. In addition, the proliferation of indoor climbing walls and gyms around the country is making access to climbing much easier. People who would have only been able to climb once or twice a week due to time and geographical constraints can now pop down to their local wall/gym and refine their technique every day of the week.

While some of these indoor climbers make the jump to outdoor climbing, not all do. Indoor and outdoor climbing take place in substantially different environments, resulting in relatively distinct experiences. It can be a daunting switch and many people need support to make it.

In this article, we examine the principal differences between the two types and discuss what you need to know about transitioning from indoor to outdoor climbing.

A radically different environment

The most obvious difference between indoor and outdoor climbing is the environment. Indoor climbing occurs within a controlled setting, where purpose-built climbing walls offer a relatively predictable experience. In one way, this is part of its appeal. It enables climbers to train consistently and measure progress against well-marked and highly systematic routes and holds.

In contrast, outdoor climbing embraces the great outdoors and all its unpredictability. Climbers often venture out into spectacular landscapes, where they must adapt to ever-changing conditions. Heat, humidity and exposure affect how rock feels and responds to human touch, so the climbing experience is always shifting. Outdoor climbing can also feature long approaches (the on-foot journey to the crag), fundamentally altering your relationship with the activity and making longer sessions more likely.

Unlike indoor climbing, outdoor routes are not standardised or marked. They require climbers to read the rock, find holds, and plan their ascent in real-time. Whereas indoor climbing is a great dip-in, climb-for-an-hour-each-evening activity, outdoor climbing is a more immersive, consuming and holistic experience.

Learning the ropes – utilising new equipment

Indoor and outdoor climbing also differ in terms of the equipment we use. Indoor climbing can involve harnesses, ropes, and belay devices. But harness-less, bouldering-style climbing tends to be more popular. With the former, a degree of automation (think auto-belays) has replaced human control of the climbing equipment. In the latter, almost no equipment (other than shoes and chalk) is required. This contributes to a more controlled environment.

On the other hand, outdoor climbing demands a broader array of equipment. Climbers carry a range of gear, including ropes, carabiners, quickdraws, helmets, climbing shoes, and other specialised protective gear. They also need to know how to use it safely. Unlike indoor climbing, there are no professionals to keep you safe or let you know when you’re not doing something correctly.

A whole new library of knowledge comes into play, too. As well as anchor systems and knots, climbers must also understand safety procedures. In this sense, there is a greater emphasis on understanding why you do things a certain way, rather than just rote learning of processes. Climbing outdoors means putting yourself in potentially dangerous situations more often. Understanding why something is safe or unsafe can be the difference between making a mistake and getting the call right.

Focusing on the experience

In many ways, the mental and emotional experience of climbing indoors couldn’t be more different from climbing outdoors. Indoor climbing, with its controlled environment, allows climbers to focus on perfecting their technique and honing their strength. Typically, the challenge is more physical and technical. The local gym often plays a significant role in a climber’s social life and they are a great spot to hang out, meet with friends and get to know others in the friendly climbing community.

Outdoor climbing can be a more varied and emotionally intense experience. Outdoor climbers must embrace problem-solving skills, adaptability, and mental resilience. The mental challenges of route finding, exposure to heights, and managing fear and uncertainty push climbers to their limits and make for a more mentally demanding challenge. It is still physical. But that physicality is tempered with a big dose of mental and emotional complexity, too.

Distinct aims and objectives

Our experience at RAW is that climbers’ goals and motivations differ between indoor and outdoor settings. Indoor climbing typically revolves around physical fitness, training and improving technical skills. You can push yourself to the physical limits because you are in a controlled environment with fewer mental and emotional aspects to contend with. The way a climbing gym grades and presents routes, combined with a greater focus on physicality and skills, also enables easy measurement of technical progression.

With outdoor climbers, the aims and objectives tend to differ. Many love the outdoor aspect of the experience. They are drawn to the adventure, exploration and sense of freedom the natural environment offers.

Some enjoy the thrill of discovering and climbing new routes and exploring remote locations. Others love the feeling of real rock beneath their fingers. Many just want to push their physical and mental abilities to the limit. Often, outdoor climbers appreciate the entire climbing experience – the build-up, the approach, the nature, the companionship at the crag, the mental and emotional challenge – as much as the sense of achievement on completing a route

Transitioning to outdoor climbing

Transitioning from indoor to outdoor climbing requires new skills and techniques. But the rewards are more than worth the investment. Outdoor climbing is a fantastic experience that enables you to combine the physically and technically demanding indoor sport you love with all the awe, wonder and enjoyment that comes from being in the great outdoors. It is not for everyone, but most people who try it fall head-over-heels for it.

Participating in a rock climbing skills course is one of the most enjoyable and effective ways to transition from indoor to outdoor climbing. The RAW Adventures Rock Skills Introduction Course is an excellent example. It covers many of the differences detailed above and includes components on:

• Background and planning – places you can climb in the UK and Ireland, finding crags and route information, and understanding crag etiquette
• Climbing skills – developing fundamental movement skills and climbing styles
• Footwear and equipment – choosing the right climbing shoes and equipment for your climb
• Technical skills – tying into a harness, belaying safely, learning how to spot a climber, and developing abseiling skills
• Environmental knowledge – understanding climbing ethics, access and environmental considerations, and the impact of climbers at the crag
• Hazards and emergency procedures – identifying potential hazards and knowing how to avoid them. Managing risk, understanding common injuries, knowing how to get help and the role of Mountain Rescue and associated emergency services

To learn more about our Rock Skills Introduction Course head to the course page or get in touch with the RAW Adventures team on 01286 870870 or via our contact form.