6b climbing grade to v Free, fast, and easy-to-use climbing grade converter. 12d 5. Grades can be subjective and may vary slightly between locations or setters. Learn how bouldering V-scales compare to YDS for route climbing, understand the journey from indoor to outdoor climbing, and explore international grading systems. C3+). org. —all aim to reflect a combination of physical and technical demands. I've always found that the French grading system doesn't really have a 1-to-1 translation to Yosemite decimal system. Jun 5, 2023 · What Are Bouldering Grades? Similar to any type of climbing, bouldering is graded with a series of numbers and letters. Both indoor and outdoor bouldering is graded, but you’ll find that outdoor climbing will use either the V-Scale or the Font-Scale, which are the two most common bouldering scales Apr 27, 2025 · Rock climbing grades are numbers (and sometimes number-letter combinations) assigned to routes in order to give a guideline on the overall difficulty. May 31, 2020 · Everything you need to know about climbing grades in one place. Sep 16, 2021 · Everything you ever wanted to know about bouldering grades in one place, including a bouldering grade conversion chart from the V Scale to Font Scale. Consider the Climbing Style: sport climbing, traditional climbing, and bouldering can have different grading nuances. Generally speaking the higher the number, the harder the route. Please remember that grading a route is very subjective to the location and the person giving the grade. Learn about climbing and bouldering ratings, including how route difficulty is measured and the difference between a rating and a grade. I have been climbing for a year, and just recently started climbing those grades somewhat consistently. This is in contrast to the French and Font systems, which use letter and number combinations, such as 7a or 6c+. The first ascensionist, or first ascent team, gets the first crack at grading the route. 13a 5 13b 5. 11b, etc. 5 14b 5. Grades like 6b+ in the Font system or V4 / V5 in the V scale might represent mid-tier difficulties for many, but the stories and challenges linked with them deepen the richness and passion for bouldering. 12a Jake If you’re trying to figure out how a 6b bouldering grade converts to the V scale or sport climbing grades, here’s a quick answer: A 6b in the Fontainebleau bouldering system is about a V4 in the Hueco (V) scale and roughly a 5. The best way to approach the conversion is to travel, go climbing and get used to the different grades! Have fun! P. Summer Climbing Grade Comparisons A brief explanation of the main climbing grades used in the UK The UK climbing grading system is split into three categories: Bouldering Sport Climbing Traditional Climbing Bouldering The birthplace of bouldering as the sport that we see today, was Fontainbleau in France. These grades provide a shared language for climbers, making it easier to compare “5” indicates technical rock climbing, and the numbers after show difficulty. ) Mixed grade (M4, M5 etc. Nov 3, 2023 · 6a+ Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "6a+ to V scale" conversion, here it is: 6a+ in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V4 in the V scale. Mar 17, 2012 · If you're starting to rock climb chances are you are starting at an indoor rock climbing gym. Mar 17, 2023 · Confusingly, both bouldering and french climbing grades use the same numerical system to grade climbing routes and boulder problems. I was reading and watching a lot about the V5/V6 plateau that most intermediate climbers hit, and I was expecting this to be around the 6b on the french scale. ) Commitment grade (III, VI, etc. 2 5. Below is a chart to help you determine how one method relates to another. From V0 to V15, unlock the secrets of difficulty ratings and elevate your climbing game. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. Feb 4, 2015 · I don’t recommend that you blindly trust this table – there can be differences from country to country or even between climbing areas. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples! Sep 5, 2021 · Climbing grades are subjective, so the difficulty of a climb is established by consensus. g. Learn your grades and apply them to your climbing and problem setting. Wrapping Up: I guess it depends a lot on the gym. e. Apr 27, 2025 · 6b to V Scale: How It Converts to a V4 or 5. It’s a scale where the lower numbers represent easier climbs, and they gradually increase to the most difficult climbs currently established. Known for its precision in distinguishing between difficulty levels at the higher grades. Maybe I'm dumb and it's all over the Internet, not sure why I had a hard time with this. Each scale brings its Before we start… Types of Climbing Climbing is a very broad term that includes many types of activities. These are averages as every climbing gym is different but I went to some major climbing gyms (Innsbruck). I get that its good to have a reference so you know what you'll have a good shot at sending or whatever, but its never apples to apples. ) Water Ice grade (WI4, WI5+ etc Google "climbing grade conversion chart". By familiarizing themselves with grade conversions, climbers gain a broader perspective and can set clear objectives in their climbing progression. In outdoor settings, two prominent grading scales, the V Scale and Font Scale, take center stage. 12a in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). May not include an ascent to the summit of a mountain. Conversion tables of climbing grades : SummitPost. Aid climbing grades take time to stabilize as successive repeats of aid climbing routes can materially reduce the grade. 13c 5 13d 5. 12b in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). Our secret (or maybe not so secret anymore) tip for Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re wondering how the Fontainebleau (or “Font”) system—like 9A—converts to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s a quick answer: 9A in the Font scale equals about V17 That’s also roughly 5. Nov 3, 2023 · They signify growth, the overcoming of challenges, and the pursuit of mastery. Jan 28, 2022 · YDS, French, V-Scale, Font What are climbing grades and how to use them to climb safely and progress more rapidly? One thing to know is Oct 23, 2023 · Discover the intricacies of climbing grades with our comprehensive guide. 12b 5. (My gym is known for having quite hard grates to be honest). For "clean aid climbing" (i. National Climbing Classification System (USA): NCCS grades, often called “commitment grades,” indicate the time investment in a route for an “average” climbing team. 10c 5 5. So now im confused. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 6a V3 6a+ V4 6b V5 (Note: As always, grading can be Nov 3, 2023 · The V scale, on the other hand, encapsulates the story of bouldering's evolution in North America. Rock climbing: this means using your hands and feet to climb up a vertical rock surface. For our purposes, the most prominent grade systems are: French Numerical System (6b+, 8a, etc. In fact, I can go a few weeks Bouldering grades are a way to measure the difficulty of climbing problems, helping climbers gauge challenges and track progress. Knowing how one method relates to another is sometimes difficult. Apr 29, 2024 · Learn everything about climbing grades and quickly convert any climbing rating with our free climbing grade conversion chart. 10d to 5. 15b 5. I dont even really get the comparison between different areas. ) Aid rating (A2, A3+, etc. I live in Europe, I started climbing in January 2019 (10 months). The chart below shows a conversion between the Fontainebleau bouldering scale and the french climbing scale. Climbing grades explained You might have seen what appear to be random letter and numbers next to holds, such as 5A, 6B+ V1, V6, or just a number such as 4. Sometimes the conditions and the state of the routes can also influence the grades. I know it's going to depend on which crags you're climbing at, but I've done quite a bit of climbing in quite a few different countries and have always found that 5a lines up pretty well . Use Rab’s interactive tool to understand global climbing difficulty scales and plan your next route with confidence. Learn about the Yosemite and French grading systems and how the two compare. I would say that only 10-15% of the climbers can climb a 6b+, so it would be a good mark. Nov 3, 2023 · In contrast, the V scale, established in the United States, narrates a unique journey of bouldering in North America. Tips for Using Climbing Grade Conversions Understand the Context: grades are subjective and can vary based on region, climbing style, and even the conditions on the day you climb. To my surprise V5 converts to 7b and V6 to 7c in the french scale. Other Font Scale to V Scale Conversions 6a+ to v scale 6b to v scale 6b+ to v scale Nov 3, 2023 · 6c Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "6c to V scale" conversion, here it is: 6c in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V5 in the V scale. 4 5 10b 5. Wrapping Up: Apr 27, 2025 · The V Scale makes climbing grades easier to understand by using just numbers. . Mar 25, 2024 · Explore the ins and outs of climbing grade conversion with tips, challenges, and resources. Local anomalies exist within countries using the same system so attempts to correlate between different systems, which frequently originated around different styles of climbing, stand little chance of tying together. Climbers can use these systems to track their progress as they work toward building new skill sets. While the 6c+ grade in Font and the V5/V6 grade in the V system symbolize formidable challenges, it's the stories, styles, and nuances behind each climb that give depth to the sport. By understanding and comparing these grades, climbers can appreciate the global perspectives of bouldering, set clearer goals, and chart their progress more effectively. The first part of the grade gives the climb’s overall difficulty, and the second part indicates how technical the climb is. Apr 27, 2025 · The 6A bouldering grade is about the same as a V3 on the Hueco scale or a 5. See the links below for alternatives. Understanding both grading systems is essential for climbers who transition between bouldering and sport climbing, especially when traveling or climbing at new gyms. Aug 18, 2017 · In this article we go over the nuances of rock climbing grades, indoor and outdoor, what they mean, and how to understand them. The higher the grade, the harder the route is. 1/5. I and II: Half a day or less for the technical (5th class) portion of… Read More »Climbing Grade Convert a climbing grade with easeTo convert grades, enter the grade into the input, select the grade system (french, yosemite, v-scale) and hit "convert" Easily convert climbing grades across systems like YDS, French, UIAA, British, and more. Bouldering is a bit different than some other forms of rock climbing and it has its own grades, the V-scale, for defining the difficulty of the climb. These numbers are based on a variety of factors and work for both indoor and outdoor routes, and are International rock climbing classification systems are shown in the chart at the right, and below is a comparison of Alpine, Ice, Snow, Aid, an Tips for Using Climbing Grade Conversions Understand the Context: grades are subjective and can vary based on region, climbing style, and even the conditions on the day you climb. 11c in route climbing. COM 6B 6B+ 7B 8B CRUX RAN French Sport Grades The French grading system, widely used in Europe and internationally for sport climbing, starts at 1 and progresses through numbers with letter subdivisions (a, b, c) and plus signs. Ice climbing: this Coming from our frustrations of always trying to figure out what grading systems are used in which country and what do they mean in your own system, we have created this simple but hopefully helpfull comparison table. Each grade conveys the difficulty of the route. See full list on guidedolomiti. Apr 11, 2025 · V-GRADES V-grades or the V-scale (also sometimes called the 'Hueco' scale) was established in 1991 by American bouldering pioneer John 'Verm' Sherman - that's where the V comes from! Sherman used the scale to grade problems in his book Hueco Tanks Climbing and Bouldering Guide. 9 and have pushed 6a to 10b. Jan 1, 2025 · There are several methods of grading how difficult a climb is. I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal System for climbing. Please visit them on the web at www. Key Nov 3, 2023 · Wrapping Up: Grades such as 7b+ in Font or V8/V9 in the V scale are not just about difficulty; they capture the essence of a climber's dedication, passion, and journey. This is a bouldering climbing grade conversion chart. 15c on the YDS scale This guide breaks down how these grading systems compare, why the conversion isn’t exact, and what each grade really means for climbers. Indoor rock climbing gyms have two types of rock climbing available, bouldering and sport climbing. Oct 15, 2021 · From sport climbing to bouldering, different types of rock climbing each have their own system, known as bouldering grades, to assess a route’s overall difficulty. On another note, why does everyone want to convert V grades to YDS? I've never understood that. Please keep in mind that this table is only to be used as a guideline I was wondering where people (on average) max out on their grade. I’m not sure if this is a bouldering system or a sport climbing system as the gym has both and I’ve not checked if the high wall has a separate system. On this one, they've stuck 5a on the line between 5. I go bouldering at a gym in Norway and this is their grading system. aid climbing equipment is used but only where the equipment is temporary and not permanently hammered into the rock), the most common system is the C-system (e. Apr 27, 2025 · If you’re looking to understand how the 6b+ climbing grade converts to the V scale or Yosemite Decimal System (YDS), here’s your quick answer: 6b+ is roughly equal to V4 on the Hueco scale and 5. Feb 14, 2024 · Understanding Bouldering Grades Bouldering grades stand as a universal metric, offering climbers a standardized means to assess the difficulty of boulder problems, whether encountered outdoors in natural landscapes or within the controlled environments of climbing gyms. For example, in my gym. 11a on the YDS. Understand bouldering, sport, and trad climbing grades for accurate conversions. com Conversely, someone happy leading a sport route of grade 5c should not assume that they can get up an E1 trad route despite the fact that the technical difficulty level is comparable, they should at least be happy on a red sport route of 6b before transferring their skills to E1 trad climbing. 15d 5. S. Most grade systems are specific to a certain style. americanalpineclub. Bouldering grades are graded using different systems across different regions. There are grade systems for bouldering, grade systems for sport climbing, grade systems for aid climbing and so on but even grade systems for the same style don’t always translate well between each other. org : Climbing, hiking, mountaineering The grade comparisons indicated in these tables will not always be exact. Apr 10, 2025 · Our expert guide to climbing rating systems will help you compare trad to sport, America to Europe, bouldering, scrambling, dry tooling and everything in between Sep 17, 2024 · If you’re trying to understand how a 6c bouldering grade converts to the V Scale or sport climbing grades, here’s the quick answer: 6c roughly equals V5 in the Hueco (V) Scale and 5. I went to another gym and I was able to flash two or three 6c+, so grades are What's the difference between bouldering grades? The Font Scale, V Scale, what else? We explain everything in our review. 5 5. For example: 6a, 6a+, 6b. Read now! Bouldering grades and bouldering grades conversion charts for the popular V-Scale and Font-Scale bouldering grades. Convert North American climbing grades to UK and European scales, and compare bouldering V-grades to roped climbs. Apr 27, 2025 · Simply converting a 6c+ grade to the V scale would put it around V5, but real-world difficulty may differ depending on the design and characteristics of any given climb. ) or Clean Aid rating (C2, C3, etc. 8 and 5. The above appears courtesy of the American Alpine Journal. Now climbing 6B/6C boulders and sometimes even almost a full 7A sport climb. If in doubt when visiting a new area, err on the side of… Rock Climbing Grade Conversion Chart French 6b 9b Yosemite 5. Australian 23 28 31 33 35 37 39 UIAA IX+/X- Xll+ 6b Hueco/V Font/Bleau Bouldering Grades vo- vo VI 4 CRUX RANGE. Read: What Is Non Technical Climbing? Some of the rating systems in this article are used for a specific form of climbing. 5, 5. I see very very few people climb 7b and 7c grades. While the grading systems vary by region—like the Fontainebleau system in Europe or the V-scale in the U. Done done and done. 3/5. What on earth do they all mean? These are all climbing grades and the represent how difficult a route will be. What do these grades translate to in V-grade and British system? Aug 30, 2021 · Note that this guide does not address bouldering grades — only roped climbing. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 6b V4 6b+ V4 / V5 6c V5 (Note: As always, grading remai Quickly convert climbing grades between different systems: French, YDS, UIAA, and more. ) YDS, or Yosemite Decimal System (3rd Class, 5. This bouldering grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from Hueco to French and back to French to V-Scale. Grading Conversion Chart (Bouldering) Here’s a rough comparison between V-Grades and Font Grades for bouldering: Note: These aren’t perfect matches—grading can be subjective, and indoor gyms often feel easier than outdoor climbs of the same grade. A grade like 6b in Font or V4 in the V scale might be viewed as a midpoint for many climbers, but the experiences, challenges, and triumphs associated with these grades bring richness to the sport's narrative. Nov 3, 2023 · Conversely, the V scale, which began in the United States, has its own distinct history interwoven with the development of bouldering there. Understanding Climbing Grade Conversion Comparing Bouldering Grades When it comes to comparing bouldering grades, it’s essential to understand the differences between the various grading systems used in different regions Nov 8, 2023 · Discover the definitive guide to bouldering grades. Feb 9, 2024 · UK Climbing Grades UK bouldering grades are a bit trickier to understand and not seen frequently but they tell much more about a climb than the V Scale or Font grading. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples! International Climbing Grade Conversion Chart The following is a very rough conversion I've pieced together by averaging other sources. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned climber, our climbing grade conversion cha So my country uses the french scale for indoor sports climbing.