Something you learn very early on in the climbing gym is how tricky it can be to read the route you’re trying...

But what do we mean by “read?”

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  6 Ways To Read Climbing Routes  

  By FrictionLabs Pro Blog  


Just as reading sheet music is both about individual notes and the connections between them, reading a climbing route is an attempt to understand its holds and the movements between them. 

Correctly reading a route will save you an enormous amount of time and energy, leaving you with a higher chance of completing your project. You’ll also increase your understanding of movement and climbing efficiency – that means less failure and more success over time.

Here are six tips for you to blow up your route-reading skills:

1. Find your route 

It’s important to climb on routes or boulder problems that fall within your personal skill level. It’s okay to aim high and try difficult routes, but this could lead to you getting stuck on one move and missing out on your progression and improvement.

2. Start + finish holds, and everything in between 

Many beginner climbers make the mistake of hopping onto routes without even looking up. Visually evaluating the whole climb before you step off the ground.

3. Plan your Beta

In the world of rock climbing, Beta is information about a route. The term has essentially become a synonym for “sequence,” i.e. the sequence of hand and foot movements. 

4. Put your plan into action and climb!

You’ve done your research. Time to test your hypotheses! Get your body on the wall and try to transform your theories into reality. As you climb, pay attention to how the plans you made on the ground are actually translating onto the wall. 

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5. Evaluate – where, how, and why did you fall?

If you found your way to the top of the wall, congratulations! In all likelihood, you fell somewhere—falling is the most common physical feat in all of rock climbing. So don’t freak out. Evaluate!

6. Practice the moves and finish your project!

In terms of climbing, you may need to try and revise certain moves many, many times. This can be as simple as switching which foot you’re standing on or shifting your weight below a hand hold. Be patient and respect this process... until the send!

At FrictionLabs, we say “less is more.” Our line of chalk products contain pure magnesium carbonate with no fillers or toxic drying agents. 

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FrictionLabs co-founder, Kevin Brown, set out to make a chalk that would help (not hinder) climbers perform at their best. "We set out to create a chalk that acted like a high performance climbing shoe for your hands.”


“Besides our feet, our hands are always touching the wall. So why not create superior friction for both your hands and your feet?” Kevin asked himself while staring at DYI garage climbing wall. Fast forward 5 years, 500+ 5 star reviews, and 100+ professional athletes later, and FrictionLabs is now THE high performance chalk trusted by climbers across the globe.  As it turns out, climbing is so friction dependent that, chalk really does matter!

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$15.00 $20.00

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What climbers are saying about us...

Alex Puccio is a FrictionLabs user!

"Since I started using Friction Labs I've realized how much of a difference great chalk makes! When I'm trying to send a hard boulder outdoors or competing for a world title, the last thing I need to worry about is chalk. I use it because it's the best!"

—Alex Puccio, 2x World Cup winner, 11x USA National Champion and the fourth woman ever to climb V14. 

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“Magic! Way better than what i was using before! so much more grip and it washes off cleanly. no residue!”

— RT (Verified Customer) 5 Star Review

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“I found a Unicorn! I've become a fan of Unicorn Dust and will be a regular buyer. I like the finer particle size and have never had an issue with my hands sweating or losing grip using this product!”

— Scott B (Verified Customer) 5 Star Review

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“Literally the only chalk I use. I mean I call it dry lotion for goodness sake. I feel it really makes me grip better than all other chalks and will never use another chalk!!!! Thank you FrictionLabs for doing what needed to be done.”

— Kenneth R. (Verified Customer) 5 Star Review

“I'm very pragmatic, I do things just if they make sense to me. I was skeptical when people told me that FL chalk is better. I doubt everything first before the difference is proven. So I did a test on the same boulders, the same day with different types of chalk. I was convinced. FrictionLabs chalk really does make a difference." 

-Alex Megos, Professional Climber and the third person in history to climb 5.15c.

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All FrictionLabs Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious climbers.


We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our chalk is responsibly sourced from the purest magnesium carbonate on the planet. All of our chalk products are gluten and allergen free.  We also never test our products on animals.


Sourcing the purest magnesium carbonate equals the best possible friction, the healthiest product for your skin, and less chalk dust emission.

It’s about the send. Made by climbers, for climbers.

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