The Friction Labs Blog / Climbing 101
7 Tips to Help Your Spotting Technique
Your friend – a V4 climber – has just groveled her way through her first V5, and has arrived at the sloping, unrealistic mantle topout. Her legs shake...
Read more
7 Tips to Help Your Spotting Technique
...His breathing is erratic; uncontrollable gasps of fatigue and panic sputter from his lips. His elbows are splayed out at 90 degrees the classic chicken-wing that any terrified, pumped climber knows so well....
Read more
How to Stay Calm and Send
So far in our blog posts we’ve covered a few different pieces of hardware to help you climb your best. We’ve also gone over climbing gym etiquette, so you feel...
Read more
How NOT to Use Chalk for Rock Climbing
Let’s start by clarifying something that all climbers know: chalk matters. It’s a simple truth and one that drove us to make the best chalk out there. Chalk...
Read more
How NOT to Use Rock Climbing Chalk
Chalk is to climbing what words are to books. Books don't really work out when there aren't words on the pages. And have you ever climbed without chalk? You might...
Read more
Taping Fingers in Rock Climbing
There are a few essential pieces of gear for rock climbing: shoes, chalk, and safety gear like ropes, quickdraws and crash pads top the list. There are also...
Read more
How To Tape Hands and Fingers for Rock Climbing
...There are also a few pieces of non-essential gear you'll commonly see used by experienced climbers: brushes, tape, emery boards, skin balm, and rubbing alcohol are some of the...
Read more
Why do Rock Climbers Brush Holds?
Last we checked, Colgate hadn't started sponsoring Chris Sharma yet, so what's going on?Here's the deal: Climbers use brushes to clean holds and get better grip.In the gym or outside, holds...
Read more
What is Good Climbing Gym Etiquette?
I just started climbing at my local gym. It’s so much fun but I’m nervous that I don’t have good gym manners. It’s a little intimidating being around...
Read more