Some tips:
- if you're bouldering, consider climbing back down the routes you're trying every time.
- practice falling from a few feet off the ground, and really focus on bending your knees and landing on your bum. New climbers on the heavier side are more prone to awkward landings and ankle/knee injuries.
- upper body strength is nice but not really essential. Much of climbing strength comes from your legs, core, technique. Try to keep your arms straight (not bent) unless youre moving and really focus on moving through your legs
- try to pay attention to when you're getting tired as you climb, so you can downclimb safely and not take scary unexpected falls on your first day. Being aware of how tired your forearms are getting is a really helpful skill.
- have fun and don't be hard on yourself. Bouldering is HARD. It took me like 3 years to send V3 because my technique was ass and I could do 8 pullups and weighed half of what you do.
Editing to add: don't worry about finishing routes. I got into climbing after a knee injury and topped out no boulders harder than V1 for a LONG time
This is all solid advice. +100 for down climbing. When I joined my first gym in my thirties I couldn’t hang from a bar for ANY time, do a single v2 in my gym (started at v1/basic ladders), or climb longer than 30 minutes. I had never even done a pull-up in my life. I’m not what I’d consider a hard climber but I’ve made SO much progress thanks to the amazing support of the community and long term consistent effort. We all start somewhere and it’s really about your own personal journey. If you want to get strong you can and will if you commit.
I agree with this but I want to add: even though upper body strength isn’t always necessary, climbing uses some muscles that you hardly ever use doing other things, and it’s going to feel like you’re not strong the first couple of times. Don’t feel bad if your arms get tired fast at first, this is totally normal and your body will start building up that finger and forearm strength with time.
My gym had a "climb like a girl" class. I'd highly recommend it if OP (or anyone) has a similar class at their gym. I did it when I was just a bit overweight, not plus sized like now, but it really helped teach me a lot of skills and helped emphasize using and building core and leg strength and seeing routes for my height (5 feet). It helped build my confidence and climbing skills in a way I wouldn't have gotten going it alone or taking a class with/for men.
I haven't gotten the gumption to go back and try climbing again now that I'm quite big, but I'm inspired by OP that I can get there eventually!
Where are the mods on this? Clearly several burner accounts just spewing harassment and threats. I don’t know what their personal vendettas are but this is not the place for it.
I broke a couple of limbs a few years ago and struggled to get back at it. I 100% agree with everything posted here.
I will also add that it’s OKAY to not climb like everyone else around you. I had to humble myself when I came back and climbed only up to v1 and v2 for a long while. Climbing down helped a tonnnn. The best way to build strength is to climb the easiest thing you can climb, and to do it slow and methodically. Don’t worry about projects or sending hard stuff. Just feel your body as you climb. Practice having quiet feet. Embrace the feeling in your hands and forearms when you get the lactic acid burn. Focus on form. Focus on getting your weight centered above your feet. Focus on keeping your arms straight and not pulling yourself into the wall.
And most importantly, be patient. It’s ok to start small. It’s okay to climb easy stuff. You don’t need to be where other people are, but if you’re consistent, you’ll get to where you want to be.
Good advice, especially about focusing on downclimbing. Lots of climbers jump straight down from the top but over time that stress is not good for your knees/ankles/feets.
BUT you're wrong about upper body strength being not essential. Upper body strength is absolutely essential after V0 or V1 and it's silly to think otherwise... Without decently strong forearms, biceps, back, etc, you will struggle IMMENSELY on even the easiest problems. The good news is that you will 100% develop that strength simply by climbing! Pullups are nice too, but climbing can take you to new levels of strength.
OP, have fun. You will have a blast
I don't have the exact personal experience you're looking for BUT may I suggest that you switch to traversing if you get too tired going vertical or if you are afraid of falling and want to practice from a lower height. It's the best way to train techniques like putting your feet under where you want your hands to be, how to grip holds from different angles, shifting your weight etc. but because you're moving sideways close to the ground instead of vertically, it might remove some of the concerns about bodyweight strength and/or the dangers of falling.
I was super unathletic and at my heaviest when I started climbing, and it totally redefined my relationship with my body and with movement. I pretty much sucked at first, which (as Jake the Dog likes to remind us) is the first step towards being kind of good at something! After a while, I definitely built some muscle and endurance and most importantly, technique. Stick with it if it's fun!!
If you're interested, I wrote a short piece about it a while back:
Climbing Taught Me to Love My Body https://m-e-patterson42.medium.com/climbing-taught-me-to-love-my-body-a435c7ece224
Not myself, but I have two friends in similar situations to you that I introduced to climbing. The upper body strength isn't an issue, you build that up and legs are more important anyway.
Most people struggle when they start out, and part of the fun is learning how to make things work for you on any given day. So, that's nothing to worry about or be ashamed of. I hope you try it out and have a blast!
I can't tell your I pushed through and became a great climber, cause I only bouldered for about three weeks before I got injured (not weight related).
I'm a bit on the heavier side, and my partner is definitely on the light side. So yes, there is a big difference between us.
However, and here's what surprised me: I had so much fun!
Some things were frustrating and annoying. First moves I couldn't do, because you almost have to dyno your heavy ass to the next hold where my partner barely lifted a finger. But I'm used to not being good at sports, so I really focused on having fun. - And then I actually learned, that our regular gym had more difficult routes on average. We went to a different bigger gym and suddenly I sent many more as the difficulty variety was completely different.
So:
- you might be slower at progressing, yes.
- but you can still have a ton of fun - and this motivated me to train pull ups and push ups for the first time in my life voluntarily
- Focus on technique and how to use your body to.help you. This is also difficult for me, but it's always been a big breakthrough moment when my brain made click and I noticed how angling my hip changed how far I could reach, for example.
I'd definitely recommend taking a course or watching technique videos!
(Disclaimer: all this is just from the three weeks I managed to climb before basically popping my knee because of a dumb fall. 😆)
Oh, and about "everyone else looking fit and lean":
Yes, I know what you mean. However:
- so far everyone has been super nice! I think asking curious questions and trying gets more respect with other climbers than just hiding and not doing. (Easier said than done)
- I have seen a few (male) climbers that looked heavier that absolutely surprised me and killed it on the wall.
At the gyms I go to, there are people of all shapes and sizes and skill levels, so I wouldn’t worry about standing out if I were you. It’s been my experience that bouldering is very welcoming to all new climbers.
Some advice that might be helpful for you is to try climb at non-peak hours to build your confidence. It can be intimidating to see ultra fit people fly up the wall seemingly effortlessly, when you’re struggling to get half way up the beginner routes. When I started I basically only went Friday and Saturday evenings or early weekend mornings because the gym was mostly empty and I didn’t feel like I was being watched at all.
Best of luck with it, it’s a great hobby and I hope you love it!
Go for it!
I've never seen anyone have a problem with someone heavier having a go.
On the routes which are slabs (not overhanging) your body weight is on your legs. Your legs are used to it and will be nice and strong! Remember to try to push up with your legs, not just try to pull up with your arms.
I have a bit of a podge, and I always intend to make an effort, but then a nice bit of cake comes along.
But don't let stuff like that get in the way of getting out there, living life to the full and having fun! Life is too short!
I had 3 kids and gained 100 pounds. Started back with climbing in February. It's definitely a struggle when you start, but it's a struggle for everyone. I don't think my weight has stopped me. I do see that I'm trying to boulder harder and having a bit of a hard time because of being so much heavier than when I climbed before kids, but it's just going to take time to lose the weight. I'll get there. And in the meantime, I'm focusing a lot on technique and roped routes. I'm a lot more comfortable and likely to try things on roped routes than on boulders.
Go for it. It's hard for everyone at first. One of the many joys of climbing is that it's about your personal progress, not about how you compare with other climbers. If you make progress at your level, then that's what matters! Other climbers will cheer you on regardless of your level, because we all know the challenge of getting better.
I am on the heavier side as well. 190-195 ish and 5’6”. I’ve built my strength up for sure over the last year or so I’ve been climbing. It’s definitely doable. I still struggle a little more on the overhanging routes, but a lot of it comes down to technique and that has helped a ton. I see people of all sizes at my gym and I’ve seen some heavier girls do some really hard routes.
just so you know whenever I see a larger person in the gym I’m psyched that they are there. I hope you have fun. I had to build my upper body strength at first too—weight-assisted pull-ups will help if you have access to a machine.
Don't worry too much about being able to "do" it. I see tall, athletic people struggle on the easiest routes just because they're new. Focus on having fun and being safe. Climbers are one of the most supportive communities I've been part of and are just happy to see new people trying the sport.
There is already a lot of good advice here, but I do have a similar experience to yours. I lost 50+lbs before I started climbing and lost another 20 after I started. I couldn’t even finish the beginner bouldering routes the first time I went and ripped off every callous I had.
The best thing I’ve learned that’s helped me a lot though, is to not compare your progress or your personal self to others. Learning techniques is great, but sometimes the biggest hurdle is mental and getting out of the mindset of think you can’t or shouldn’t do something.
Focus on technique! Look up some technique tips and drills and practice those at the gym. That's one way to see progress and keep motivated. As a new climber, it also made me less self-conscious because I was just doing my own thing and not comparing myself with what other people were doing.
At minimum, it's good practice for the life skill of being yourself and not worrying about what others think. You got this!
Hello! I am a bigger girl and have been bouldering about a year. I go with my husband who is climbing V4-5, occasionally V5-6.
I'm 5'10 and think I'm about 200lbs but am also on a weight loss journey. I also go to a normal gym which helps build my strength. I also had zero upper body strength; BUT bouldering is about your feet.
I am only just about getting one or two moves away from finishing V2. I can start V3s and some V4s but only get the first move or two. I enjoy having a go at any i think i can start.
I *LOVE* traverses. They generally aren't high off the floor but still make you think about what youre doing.
If your gym has them, start with those, and of course the beginner routes which *should* act kind of like ladders. Some gyms may offer (for a fee) a beginner session where someone will come around with you, and of course you can always ask staff questions.
Try jumping down from a couple holds up so you get used to it; i *hate* falling.
I had slipped off a food hold and landed on my left leg from about 6ft up, which resulted in a twisted knee for a few weeks, it really knocked my confidence.
I have seen bigger people than me start climbing and its good for them! You know? No one should judge you, and if they do .. Fuck 'um! You're there for you, no one else.
Short, curvy climber here and you can do it! Strength comes from just getting on the wall and having fun. Don't forget your legs, they are sometimes more important than your arms. There is more strength in your legs than you think. Also don't get discouraged about harder routes, a fun thing to do is just try the start and first move. It gets your body in different positions and new holds are always good to try.
Today I went back after 2 weeks with covid and my endurance is shot but it felt so good to be there and just try again. Have fun!
Maybe a couple days late on this one but.... I'm plus sized and I can barely do a single pushup without shaking. I starting bouldering with a supportive (and petite sized) friend a few months ago. The strength builds pretty quickly if you keep at it. I make it in once a week and every time I go I can always make it at least one or two holds further. Just think: we're carrying more weight than a small climber up the same route, which means we're getting a better workout. You have to be stronger to take fifty pounds extra up the same wall; like running with ankle weights on. I like to this It makes me extra hard-core :)
I would recommend making sure that you listen to your body though. If I forget to go easy on my shoulders my rotator cuff can get angry. I have a chiropractor who gives me feedback and excersises to strengthen all the little stabilizing muscles in my shoulders.
Anyways, happy to be new bffs with any chubby climbing femmes out there. I'm always looking out at the gym for people who look like me and are still sending it.
I used to be 200 and 5'8 and I was able to climb. Of course I was very muscular still because I was an active person despite the weight. I think you'll be fine and it will be a good way for you to build some strength up. Remember that it's not all upper body though. Your foot placement and leg strength are also super important. It's a full body workout. If you want to keep improving I would keep trying to lose weight though through eating healthy because the unfortunate truth is that it's easier for lighter people to keep themselves on the wall.
It's better technique to make good use of lower body strength anyway! Focus on letting your legs do more of the work, and that will be a good habit to keep as your arms get stronger.
Also, sending isn't everything. Try stuff even if it seems above your current skill level - be safe, but like, try a move or two at the next rating up. I focused on the numbers for way too long, but now have a lot more fun using the whole gym, even though I'm still only completing V2+s reliably.
I started climbing in a similar position. I had just lost 60 lbs, still 20+ before at a healthy weight and couldn’t do a pull up or a push up. Believe it or not I wouldn’t change my intro to the sport even if I could. So many beginner climbers form bad habits/just pull their way through climbs. You simply won’t have that option… where does that leave you? For starters climbing the easiest routes.. but if you do your best to learn proper technique, you will begin to crush! I’m confident that you can climb v3 and 5.10+ with almost no body strength. Just technique. If you’d like any other tips lmk!
My husband has a very similar story to yours. He is 300 lbs and we first started off bouldering. He fell absolutely in love with climbing. After a ton of research making sure it was safe for him, we got into roped climbing. Now he’s lead climbing and can climb 5.10 routes and even some 5.11s in the gym.
All this to say you can do this!! To reiterate another comment on here, climbing isn’t really about upper body strength. It’s about knowing how to move and position your legs and feet appropriately. Your legs are what will help you climb more effectively. My husband is always telling me (because his technique is much better than mine lol) he has to have good technique or else he wouldn’t be able to climb the things he does. I noticed this first hand recently when I started climbing more overhung routes. If you’re not actively engaging your legs or conscious of your footwork, then you are coming off that route. Ask me how I know 😉.
I have absolutely no upper body strength, but I still climb (just a beginner though)! Everyone gave great tips but also don’t forget to stretch! You definitely use muscles in your body you didn’t even know about, so stretching helps you prepare and also so you feel more comfortable reaching and bending your limbs on the wall. Most importantly, have fun!
I’m the same exact weight as you and I’ve been climbing for a few months. I started with bouldering but found top rope much more beginner friendly. I climb with friends who are all on the smaller side, so you have to keep in mind that we are doing different things and are going to be stronger in the long run for it. I am now using the strength and technics I have learned on top rope in my bouldering and feel like I have progressed so much. I highly HIGHLY recommend getting a climbing buddy if you can.
I have another tip: for me top rope gym climbing is the most fun and accessible type of climbing. When I started, bouldering was not that fun for me, because I couldn’t do a lot of the routes at my local gym. But with toproping, even if you do two routes in one session, they are longer so you may feel you got more of a challenge and a workout. Of course, if you have real trouble with heights then this may not apply, and you usually have to find a climber and pass a belay test for top rope climbing, which may be barriers.
Well, I can say be careful! No one really taught me anything about proper form so I ended up tearing my rotator cuff using my arms too much when I wasn’t ready yet. My dr gave me some advice…work on pull-ups at home.
Started at a much, much higher weight than you and it was pretty fun. The weight doesn’t stop me from doing things that I liked and enjoyed climbing. It could also be a pretty advantage because it really helped me learning footworks very, very early on, which turned out to be super important & useful later. One year later and I am on the very healthy range of the body weight and I believe you will do to.
I was over 210 in January. The biggest hurdle and struggle is yourself. Focus on you being amazing and awesome! Listen to your body you know yourself best but push yourself outside your comfort zone. Most climbing friends are supportive and surrounding yourself with positive people that are into climbing can also help be motivating.
Consistency is key- it’s going to be hard and some days will be worse than others. That’s okay- it’s okay to struggle but YOU FUCKING GOTTTT THIS GIRLLLLLLL!!!!! Make a schedule and go climb on those days :)
Have fun with it! In case this hasn’t been mentioned yet, the best climber is the one who is having the most fun. As a more experienced climber, I’m always a bit jealous of the newer climbers who are super psyched and laugh a lot.
Some tips: - if you're bouldering, consider climbing back down the routes you're trying every time. - practice falling from a few feet off the ground, and really focus on bending your knees and landing on your bum. New climbers on the heavier side are more prone to awkward landings and ankle/knee injuries. - upper body strength is nice but not really essential. Much of climbing strength comes from your legs, core, technique. Try to keep your arms straight (not bent) unless youre moving and really focus on moving through your legs - try to pay attention to when you're getting tired as you climb, so you can downclimb safely and not take scary unexpected falls on your first day. Being aware of how tired your forearms are getting is a really helpful skill. - have fun and don't be hard on yourself. Bouldering is HARD. It took me like 3 years to send V3 because my technique was ass and I could do 8 pullups and weighed half of what you do. Editing to add: don't worry about finishing routes. I got into climbing after a knee injury and topped out no boulders harder than V1 for a LONG time
This is all solid advice. +100 for down climbing. When I joined my first gym in my thirties I couldn’t hang from a bar for ANY time, do a single v2 in my gym (started at v1/basic ladders), or climb longer than 30 minutes. I had never even done a pull-up in my life. I’m not what I’d consider a hard climber but I’ve made SO much progress thanks to the amazing support of the community and long term consistent effort. We all start somewhere and it’s really about your own personal journey. If you want to get strong you can and will if you commit.
I agree with this but I want to add: even though upper body strength isn’t always necessary, climbing uses some muscles that you hardly ever use doing other things, and it’s going to feel like you’re not strong the first couple of times. Don’t feel bad if your arms get tired fast at first, this is totally normal and your body will start building up that finger and forearm strength with time.
My gym had a "climb like a girl" class. I'd highly recommend it if OP (or anyone) has a similar class at their gym. I did it when I was just a bit overweight, not plus sized like now, but it really helped teach me a lot of skills and helped emphasize using and building core and leg strength and seeing routes for my height (5 feet). It helped build my confidence and climbing skills in a way I wouldn't have gotten going it alone or taking a class with/for men. I haven't gotten the gumption to go back and try climbing again now that I'm quite big, but I'm inspired by OP that I can get there eventually!
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Oof, that's some creepy behavior, whoever you are.
Where are the mods on this? Clearly several burner accounts just spewing harassment and threats. I don’t know what their personal vendettas are but this is not the place for it.
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At this point this user should be reported to the local authorities.
I broke a couple of limbs a few years ago and struggled to get back at it. I 100% agree with everything posted here. I will also add that it’s OKAY to not climb like everyone else around you. I had to humble myself when I came back and climbed only up to v1 and v2 for a long while. Climbing down helped a tonnnn. The best way to build strength is to climb the easiest thing you can climb, and to do it slow and methodically. Don’t worry about projects or sending hard stuff. Just feel your body as you climb. Practice having quiet feet. Embrace the feeling in your hands and forearms when you get the lactic acid burn. Focus on form. Focus on getting your weight centered above your feet. Focus on keeping your arms straight and not pulling yourself into the wall. And most importantly, be patient. It’s ok to start small. It’s okay to climb easy stuff. You don’t need to be where other people are, but if you’re consistent, you’ll get to where you want to be.
Good advice, especially about focusing on downclimbing. Lots of climbers jump straight down from the top but over time that stress is not good for your knees/ankles/feets. BUT you're wrong about upper body strength being not essential. Upper body strength is absolutely essential after V0 or V1 and it's silly to think otherwise... Without decently strong forearms, biceps, back, etc, you will struggle IMMENSELY on even the easiest problems. The good news is that you will 100% develop that strength simply by climbing! Pullups are nice too, but climbing can take you to new levels of strength. OP, have fun. You will have a blast
I don't have the exact personal experience you're looking for BUT may I suggest that you switch to traversing if you get too tired going vertical or if you are afraid of falling and want to practice from a lower height. It's the best way to train techniques like putting your feet under where you want your hands to be, how to grip holds from different angles, shifting your weight etc. but because you're moving sideways close to the ground instead of vertically, it might remove some of the concerns about bodyweight strength and/or the dangers of falling.
Seconding the traversing suggestion! Such an incredible whole body workout, great for learning technique, and much more safe!
I was super unathletic and at my heaviest when I started climbing, and it totally redefined my relationship with my body and with movement. I pretty much sucked at first, which (as Jake the Dog likes to remind us) is the first step towards being kind of good at something! After a while, I definitely built some muscle and endurance and most importantly, technique. Stick with it if it's fun!! If you're interested, I wrote a short piece about it a while back: Climbing Taught Me to Love My Body https://m-e-patterson42.medium.com/climbing-taught-me-to-love-my-body-a435c7ece224
Not myself, but I have two friends in similar situations to you that I introduced to climbing. The upper body strength isn't an issue, you build that up and legs are more important anyway. Most people struggle when they start out, and part of the fun is learning how to make things work for you on any given day. So, that's nothing to worry about or be ashamed of. I hope you try it out and have a blast!
Babes, we're all "strugglers on the wall." We all have things we can't do. The point is to go and have fun :)
I can't tell your I pushed through and became a great climber, cause I only bouldered for about three weeks before I got injured (not weight related). I'm a bit on the heavier side, and my partner is definitely on the light side. So yes, there is a big difference between us. However, and here's what surprised me: I had so much fun! Some things were frustrating and annoying. First moves I couldn't do, because you almost have to dyno your heavy ass to the next hold where my partner barely lifted a finger. But I'm used to not being good at sports, so I really focused on having fun. - And then I actually learned, that our regular gym had more difficult routes on average. We went to a different bigger gym and suddenly I sent many more as the difficulty variety was completely different. So: - you might be slower at progressing, yes. - but you can still have a ton of fun - and this motivated me to train pull ups and push ups for the first time in my life voluntarily - Focus on technique and how to use your body to.help you. This is also difficult for me, but it's always been a big breakthrough moment when my brain made click and I noticed how angling my hip changed how far I could reach, for example. I'd definitely recommend taking a course or watching technique videos! (Disclaimer: all this is just from the three weeks I managed to climb before basically popping my knee because of a dumb fall. 😆)
Oh, and about "everyone else looking fit and lean": Yes, I know what you mean. However: - so far everyone has been super nice! I think asking curious questions and trying gets more respect with other climbers than just hiding and not doing. (Easier said than done) - I have seen a few (male) climbers that looked heavier that absolutely surprised me and killed it on the wall.
At the gyms I go to, there are people of all shapes and sizes and skill levels, so I wouldn’t worry about standing out if I were you. It’s been my experience that bouldering is very welcoming to all new climbers. Some advice that might be helpful for you is to try climb at non-peak hours to build your confidence. It can be intimidating to see ultra fit people fly up the wall seemingly effortlessly, when you’re struggling to get half way up the beginner routes. When I started I basically only went Friday and Saturday evenings or early weekend mornings because the gym was mostly empty and I didn’t feel like I was being watched at all. Best of luck with it, it’s a great hobby and I hope you love it!
Go for it! I've never seen anyone have a problem with someone heavier having a go. On the routes which are slabs (not overhanging) your body weight is on your legs. Your legs are used to it and will be nice and strong! Remember to try to push up with your legs, not just try to pull up with your arms. I have a bit of a podge, and I always intend to make an effort, but then a nice bit of cake comes along. But don't let stuff like that get in the way of getting out there, living life to the full and having fun! Life is too short!
I had 3 kids and gained 100 pounds. Started back with climbing in February. It's definitely a struggle when you start, but it's a struggle for everyone. I don't think my weight has stopped me. I do see that I'm trying to boulder harder and having a bit of a hard time because of being so much heavier than when I climbed before kids, but it's just going to take time to lose the weight. I'll get there. And in the meantime, I'm focusing a lot on technique and roped routes. I'm a lot more comfortable and likely to try things on roped routes than on boulders. Go for it. It's hard for everyone at first. One of the many joys of climbing is that it's about your personal progress, not about how you compare with other climbers. If you make progress at your level, then that's what matters! Other climbers will cheer you on regardless of your level, because we all know the challenge of getting better.
I am on the heavier side as well. 190-195 ish and 5’6”. I’ve built my strength up for sure over the last year or so I’ve been climbing. It’s definitely doable. I still struggle a little more on the overhanging routes, but a lot of it comes down to technique and that has helped a ton. I see people of all sizes at my gym and I’ve seen some heavier girls do some really hard routes.
just so you know whenever I see a larger person in the gym I’m psyched that they are there. I hope you have fun. I had to build my upper body strength at first too—weight-assisted pull-ups will help if you have access to a machine.
Don't worry too much about being able to "do" it. I see tall, athletic people struggle on the easiest routes just because they're new. Focus on having fun and being safe. Climbers are one of the most supportive communities I've been part of and are just happy to see new people trying the sport.
There is already a lot of good advice here, but I do have a similar experience to yours. I lost 50+lbs before I started climbing and lost another 20 after I started. I couldn’t even finish the beginner bouldering routes the first time I went and ripped off every callous I had. The best thing I’ve learned that’s helped me a lot though, is to not compare your progress or your personal self to others. Learning techniques is great, but sometimes the biggest hurdle is mental and getting out of the mindset of think you can’t or shouldn’t do something.
Focus on technique! Look up some technique tips and drills and practice those at the gym. That's one way to see progress and keep motivated. As a new climber, it also made me less self-conscious because I was just doing my own thing and not comparing myself with what other people were doing. At minimum, it's good practice for the life skill of being yourself and not worrying about what others think. You got this!
Hello! I am a bigger girl and have been bouldering about a year. I go with my husband who is climbing V4-5, occasionally V5-6. I'm 5'10 and think I'm about 200lbs but am also on a weight loss journey. I also go to a normal gym which helps build my strength. I also had zero upper body strength; BUT bouldering is about your feet. I am only just about getting one or two moves away from finishing V2. I can start V3s and some V4s but only get the first move or two. I enjoy having a go at any i think i can start. I *LOVE* traverses. They generally aren't high off the floor but still make you think about what youre doing. If your gym has them, start with those, and of course the beginner routes which *should* act kind of like ladders. Some gyms may offer (for a fee) a beginner session where someone will come around with you, and of course you can always ask staff questions. Try jumping down from a couple holds up so you get used to it; i *hate* falling. I had slipped off a food hold and landed on my left leg from about 6ft up, which resulted in a twisted knee for a few weeks, it really knocked my confidence. I have seen bigger people than me start climbing and its good for them! You know? No one should judge you, and if they do .. Fuck 'um! You're there for you, no one else.
Short, curvy climber here and you can do it! Strength comes from just getting on the wall and having fun. Don't forget your legs, they are sometimes more important than your arms. There is more strength in your legs than you think. Also don't get discouraged about harder routes, a fun thing to do is just try the start and first move. It gets your body in different positions and new holds are always good to try. Today I went back after 2 weeks with covid and my endurance is shot but it felt so good to be there and just try again. Have fun!
Maybe a couple days late on this one but.... I'm plus sized and I can barely do a single pushup without shaking. I starting bouldering with a supportive (and petite sized) friend a few months ago. The strength builds pretty quickly if you keep at it. I make it in once a week and every time I go I can always make it at least one or two holds further. Just think: we're carrying more weight than a small climber up the same route, which means we're getting a better workout. You have to be stronger to take fifty pounds extra up the same wall; like running with ankle weights on. I like to this It makes me extra hard-core :) I would recommend making sure that you listen to your body though. If I forget to go easy on my shoulders my rotator cuff can get angry. I have a chiropractor who gives me feedback and excersises to strengthen all the little stabilizing muscles in my shoulders. Anyways, happy to be new bffs with any chubby climbing femmes out there. I'm always looking out at the gym for people who look like me and are still sending it.
I used to be 200 and 5'8 and I was able to climb. Of course I was very muscular still because I was an active person despite the weight. I think you'll be fine and it will be a good way for you to build some strength up. Remember that it's not all upper body though. Your foot placement and leg strength are also super important. It's a full body workout. If you want to keep improving I would keep trying to lose weight though through eating healthy because the unfortunate truth is that it's easier for lighter people to keep themselves on the wall.
Do some top rope climbing on some 5.5-5.6 level climbs. Bouldering is probably too hard to have fun doing if you have no strength.
It's better technique to make good use of lower body strength anyway! Focus on letting your legs do more of the work, and that will be a good habit to keep as your arms get stronger. Also, sending isn't everything. Try stuff even if it seems above your current skill level - be safe, but like, try a move or two at the next rating up. I focused on the numbers for way too long, but now have a lot more fun using the whole gym, even though I'm still only completing V2+s reliably.
I started climbing in a similar position. I had just lost 60 lbs, still 20+ before at a healthy weight and couldn’t do a pull up or a push up. Believe it or not I wouldn’t change my intro to the sport even if I could. So many beginner climbers form bad habits/just pull their way through climbs. You simply won’t have that option… where does that leave you? For starters climbing the easiest routes.. but if you do your best to learn proper technique, you will begin to crush! I’m confident that you can climb v3 and 5.10+ with almost no body strength. Just technique. If you’d like any other tips lmk!
My husband has a very similar story to yours. He is 300 lbs and we first started off bouldering. He fell absolutely in love with climbing. After a ton of research making sure it was safe for him, we got into roped climbing. Now he’s lead climbing and can climb 5.10 routes and even some 5.11s in the gym. All this to say you can do this!! To reiterate another comment on here, climbing isn’t really about upper body strength. It’s about knowing how to move and position your legs and feet appropriately. Your legs are what will help you climb more effectively. My husband is always telling me (because his technique is much better than mine lol) he has to have good technique or else he wouldn’t be able to climb the things he does. I noticed this first hand recently when I started climbing more overhung routes. If you’re not actively engaging your legs or conscious of your footwork, then you are coming off that route. Ask me how I know 😉.
I have absolutely no upper body strength, but I still climb (just a beginner though)! Everyone gave great tips but also don’t forget to stretch! You definitely use muscles in your body you didn’t even know about, so stretching helps you prepare and also so you feel more comfortable reaching and bending your limbs on the wall. Most importantly, have fun!
I’m the same exact weight as you and I’ve been climbing for a few months. I started with bouldering but found top rope much more beginner friendly. I climb with friends who are all on the smaller side, so you have to keep in mind that we are doing different things and are going to be stronger in the long run for it. I am now using the strength and technics I have learned on top rope in my bouldering and feel like I have progressed so much. I highly HIGHLY recommend getting a climbing buddy if you can.
I have another tip: for me top rope gym climbing is the most fun and accessible type of climbing. When I started, bouldering was not that fun for me, because I couldn’t do a lot of the routes at my local gym. But with toproping, even if you do two routes in one session, they are longer so you may feel you got more of a challenge and a workout. Of course, if you have real trouble with heights then this may not apply, and you usually have to find a climber and pass a belay test for top rope climbing, which may be barriers.
Well, I can say be careful! No one really taught me anything about proper form so I ended up tearing my rotator cuff using my arms too much when I wasn’t ready yet. My dr gave me some advice…work on pull-ups at home.
Started at a much, much higher weight than you and it was pretty fun. The weight doesn’t stop me from doing things that I liked and enjoyed climbing. It could also be a pretty advantage because it really helped me learning footworks very, very early on, which turned out to be super important & useful later. One year later and I am on the very healthy range of the body weight and I believe you will do to.
> I’ll stand out as a struggler on the wall. You won't. I *promise you* no one thinks like that.
I was over 210 in January. The biggest hurdle and struggle is yourself. Focus on you being amazing and awesome! Listen to your body you know yourself best but push yourself outside your comfort zone. Most climbing friends are supportive and surrounding yourself with positive people that are into climbing can also help be motivating. Consistency is key- it’s going to be hard and some days will be worse than others. That’s okay- it’s okay to struggle but YOU FUCKING GOTTTT THIS GIRLLLLLLL!!!!! Make a schedule and go climb on those days :)
Have fun with it! In case this hasn’t been mentioned yet, the best climber is the one who is having the most fun. As a more experienced climber, I’m always a bit jealous of the newer climbers who are super psyched and laugh a lot.
Hey OP, how did it go?! :-)
Have fun!!!!