Rock Climbing Styles - Traditional Climbing

Written by: Lucreid

Traditional Climbing, or “Trad” Climbing, is a form of Free Climbing wherein the routes are climbed without using artificial tools to help the climbers in their ascent. Only the climber’s hands and feet and some pieces of Passive Protection like Nuts and Hexes are used.

Tools used in Trad Climbing are employed as a means of assisting climbers by means of protection, rather than aiding them upwards. What separates Trad Climbing from other styles is that the safety of the climber relies on the tools used as well as the suitable area to place such tools on the mountain wall. This makes Trad Climbing, otherwise known as “Adventure Climbing” in Australia, a pretty gear-intensive form of Climbing. Trad climbers even have a rack to carry pieces of protection, or “Pros”, Slings of different lengths, as well as spare Carabiners for emergency use. This rack is usually carried on a sling around the shoulders or clipped to the gear loops on the harness. The pieces of equipment used are retrieved either by a belayer or by the climber himself during his descent.

Why Go Traditional Climbing?

As its name suggests, Traditional Climbing has already been a hobby that has been practiced for a long time. Here are some reasons why people still enjoy Trad Climbing:

• It gives the climber freedom to choose his own route. After all, with the presence of Pros and their proper use, a climber can choose from a myriad of possible routes to work his way up the mountain wall.


• Trad Climbing familiarizes a climber with Rock Climbing equipment since his or her safety relies on how the tools are used, what tools to use on a certain situation, and where to place such tools for maximum efficiency.


• It tests a climber’s judgment capability. Knowing where to use Pros requires good judgment. It can be fatal if a climber is about to fall and the protection is placed on a faulty area of the mountain.


• Trad Climbing promotes teamwork since it is usually with a leader, who will place such protection for the climbers below and a belayer, who will retrieve the Pros after the climb.

So if you are the type of person who has an insatiable desire for adventure then Traditional Climbing is for you. It is a style that gives you the perfect balance of taking challenges and climbing as safely as you can. Aside from that, it gives you the opportunity to work with others as a real team wherein every component is as important as the other. Try Traditional Climbing today!

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