-Climbing has been exploding in popularity over the last few years. This explosion is the result of many gyms, climbing gyms, colleges, and clubs installing indoor climbing walls.
These climbing walls are great for learning the fundamentals of rock climbing, teaching proper technique, and getting some experience without having to risk your life doing it.
Only Use Rated Climbing Gear
Unfortunately, many new rock climbers are learning just as many bad techniques on indoor climbing walls as they are learning good ones.
If you’re interested in rock climbing or started your climbing career on indoor rock walls, be sure to make sure you don’t make any of these mistakes.
To begin with, one of the most obvious problems seen in climbing is the use of improper carabiners.
Carabiners are used everywhere, from backpacks to key chains. However, many of these carabiners aren’t rated for climbing.
You won’t see anyone climbing using these carabiners for support, as they simply can’t support that much weight.
You may see them used to clip shoes, water bottles, or any other types of gear to climbers.
While they probably won’t break, it’s best to be safe, as you certainly don’t want any of your gear breaking off, falling down a cliff, and striking another climber.
Or worse dropping yourself from a height onto a solid surface.
Only Wear Your Climbing Shoes When Climbing 
Only wear your climbing shoes when climbing.
It may seem like an obvious tip, but wearing your climbing shoes in a clean gym is different than wearing your climbing shoes in a muddy, dirty location.
You don’t want your shoes to be coated in slippery mud when trying to establish a firm foothold.
Also, you certainly don’t want to be tracking mud up the wall as you ascend. You may not have to deal with it, but the next climber certainly will.
Also, it wears your shoes out more and why would you want a new pair especially after you have worn your shoes in already
Have you picked up any climbing mistakes? Comment below to get it featured on this page
Learn How To Properly Spot A Climber
Spotting a climber on an indoor wall is much different than outside in a real-life scenario.
Many spotters find themselves growing too relaxed, especially during the beginning of the ascent.
Indoors, if a climber doesn’t attach their first bolt correctly, they fall a few feet to a soft foam mat.
Outdoors, a fall of a few feet can be devastating.
Sharp rocks, roots, and hard ground can cause injuries even from the tiniest of falls. Always pay attention to your climber.
As A Belayer Get Close To The Wall
If you’re the belayer (the person who acts as a counterweight in the event of a climber falling) to your climber, make sure you’re close to the rock wall.
In many gyms, belayers are told to stand far back from the wall, letting them get a good view of what’s going on, so they can learn what to do.
In real life situations, this can be dangerous.
A lead climber falling will jerk a belayer into the hard rock wall instead of jerking them upward. It’s dangerous for both parties.
Learn To Properly Communicate
While climbing outdoors there are so many new and exciting things, different types of holds, different surfaces and so on.
But with all the excitement you might find yourself lacking in the right communication skills.
Good communication can save lives, here are a few examples of something you should consider when climbing outdoors:
-When you first attach yourself to the rope announce: “On Rope”
-When the belayer is ready for you to climb: “On Belay”
-When beginning to climb: “Climbing”
-When requiring a rest: “Resting”
-When climbing down: “Climbing Down”
-When you feel you are about to fall: “Falling”
-When something falls from a height: “Watch Out”
Keep An Eye Out For Falling Rocks
Make sure to keep an eye out for small falling rocks and debris while climbing.
This is often not a consideration of many gym climbers.
If in the instance that you come across loose rocks and debris that is going to fall down, communicate that to people below.
So that they can move closer to the wall and keep their heads down.
By doing so it will most likely bounce off the wall before it hits the ground and worst-case scenario it will hit the helmet of the belayer instead of their face while looking up.
Bring The Right Clothing
It is one thing wearing comfortable climbing clothing in the climbing gym, another wearing it in the outdoors.
Outdoors you are at the mercy of nature, and if nature decides to dump rain on you one moment are you really prepared to pack up everything and go?
Especially if you just began climbing.
Make sure to bring adequate clothing to keep you warm and also to keep you dry.
While on the topic, also bring food that will keep your energy up and keep you warm.
While gym climbing is a great place to learn the basics, it’s important to recognize the differences between gym climbing and real climbing.
It may just save your life.
For more outdoors climbing safely tips check out this article we found very useful.
10 tips to keep you safe while rock climbing
Have you seen mistakes learned in climbing gyms that people took outdoors with them? What were they? Comment below and if you found this article helpful make sure to share it with others to keep other safe
Climbing Gym Techniques Which Are Dangerous In Rock Climbing
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