Beginner training
What actually matters in your first years of climbing: how often to climb, what to train, and what to skip.
Weight training for climbing: do you actually need to lift?
In your first year or two, climbing is the strength training that matters. Weights earn a place later, plus a short routine to balance all the pulling.
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Climbing technique for beginners: five basics that beat strength
Climbing technique for beginners comes down to precise feet, weight over your feet, straight arms, turned hips and reading the climb. How to practise each one.
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Beginner climbing training plan: your first structured week
A beginner climbing training plan is two or three sessions a week, each with one job, repeated for four weeks. Here's the template and how to progress it.
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How often should you climb? Sessions per week for new climbers
Most new climbers do best on two or three sessions a week with a rest day between them, building towards three or four once their fingers have had a year.
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When should climbers start hangboarding? A readiness checklist
Most climbers should start hangboarding after a year or more of regular climbing, once progress slows. How to tell you're ready, and how to start safely.
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How long does it take to climb V5? Honest timelines
How long it takes to climb V5 depends on how often you climb, how varied it is and how you train, not just years. Here's what decides it and how to track it.
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Climbing training for beginners: what matters in your first year
Skip the hangboard debates. What genuinely makes new climbers better in year one — and the training myths you can safely ignore.
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