Climbing
10 essential bouldering tips for beginners - from gear to technique
Thinking about stepping onto the wall for the first time? These 10 expert-backed tips will help you climb with confidence, improve faster and enjoy every session - whether you’re indoors or out.
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New to bouldering and not sure where to start? Been watching the Pro Climbing League live on Red Bull TV and want to see if you can do it too? Well, the good news is bouldering isn’t just about strength - it’s a blend of balance, technique and problem-solving that makes it one of the most accessible and addictive forms of climbing. From choosing the right shoes to learning how to fall safely, these beginner tips will help you build solid foundations and get the most out of every climb. Whether you’re stepping into the gym for the first time or heading outside to tackle real rock, here’s what every beginner should know before they chalk up and go.
01
Use your legs
Shauna Coxsey has shifted her focus to outdoor climbing
© Jan Virt/Red Bull Content Pool
“They are much stronger than your arms,” says British climber Shauna Coxsey, a double IFSC Bouldering World Cup champion. “Think about using your feet and standing up using your legs, not just pulling with your arms.”
02
Pretend the holds are made of fragile glass
“A weird tip, I know, but this forces you to slow down, consider your movements, and place your hands and feet delicately,” says Bouldering Coach Louis Parkinson, MD at Catalyst Climbing and a former GB Bouldering World Cup competitor. “With practice, this leads to a graceful and precise climbing style.”
03
Buy shoes from a specialist shop
The right shoes are key - especially if you're going to be doing this
© Matteo Mocellin/Red Bull Content Pool
Daniel Waters is the Centre Manager at Climbing Works in Sheffield, England – a legendary bouldering hub with National Performance Centre status. When buying shoes, he recommends talking to staff in a specialist shop, rather than going online: “Buying your first shoes without having them fitted could leave you with the wrong size or style, especially if you buy top-end performance shoes in an online sale.”
04
Ask others for advice
“A friendly bunch that’s happy to help, most climbers are more about self-improvement than competing,” says Parkinson. “If you need advice to crack a certain project, or if it’s your first time and you have no idea what’s going on, just find someone who knows what they’re doing and ask away.”
05
Vary your climbing partners
The more people you climb with, the more you'll learn
© Jan Virt/Red Bull Content Pool
“It's always fun climbing with people at a similar level but it can be great for your technique to climb with more experienced people, even if they're working on different problems to you,” says Waters.
06
Try everything
According to Coxsey, if you want to improve, you need to try everything. “Climb on lots of different angles, and don't be afraid of the steep stuff. Get involved and be sure to try the things you don't think you'll be good at.”
07
Don't start serious training too early
Remember: bouldering is fun
© Stefan Voitl/Red Bull Content Pool
Waters flags up the importance of progressing safely: “You'll see other climbers using training aids like the campus board and fingerboards, but it takes time to build up a solid fitness base to use these without risking injury,” he says. “For advanced training, it's worth seeking advice from a professional coach to make sure you're doing it safely.”
08
Don't be afraid to fail
Coxsey knows more than anyone how important it is to overcome the fear of failure. “Falling and failing are as much a part of climbing as getting to the top,” she advises. “If you're not falling, you're not trying hard enough.”
09
Work your weaknesses
Don't avoid the aspects of bouldering that you find challenging
© Omar Mohamed Hany Zain/Red Bull Content Pool
Waters suggests focusing on the things you find hardest: “If you struggle with certain angles or hold types then structure some of your climbing sessions to focus on this – it'll be tough at first, but you should improve quickly.”
10
Don’t take it too seriously
However hard you work, improvements can sometimes be small and sparse, which can be frustrating. To get past this, Parkinson suggests taking a step back. “Remember why you started – it’s just for fun! Enjoy yourself, be patient, and the progress will come.”
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