Bouldering Archives

Watch Shawn Raboutou’s First Hits on World’s First V17, ‘Burden of Dreams’

The world’s most decorated V17 climber started trying the world’s first V17 boulder problem. Here’s how it went.

Written by Sam Anderson December 12, 2022

Raboutou, Roberts, and Bosi Projecting Switzerland’s Hardest Lines

You can rely on Shawn Raboutou, Aidan Roberts, and Will Bosi to do one thing like clockwork: work the proj. Get among the crew on…

Written by Sam Anderson November 29, 2022

British Climber Boulders Hands-Free — In a Tweed Suit

Most climbers understand the importance of good footwork, but this guy takes it to another level — while retaining a sense of playful fun.

Written by Andrew McLemore November 29, 2022

Daniel Woods Makes 4th Ascent of Multiverse V15

No music and no dialogue: Just a two-minute send of a 19-move route that Daniel Woods called ‘damn near perfect.’

Written by Andrew McLemore November 25, 2022

Premiere: ‘Megatron’ V17 by Shawn Raboutou and Mellow

I don’t know what sorcery it takes to climb V17 because I’ll never do it unless I break free of the earth’s gravity. Maybe Raboutou’s…

Written by Sam Anderson November 18, 2022

Virtual Tour: Ancient Art at Hueco Tanks With Jon Cardwell

If you’re ever bouldering at Hueco Tanks, take a history tour on one of your rest days. Here’s a primer, from Jon Cardwell.

Written by Sam Anderson November 16, 2022

Shawn Raboutou Claims First Ascent of ‘Megatron’ V17

‘On fire,’ was French crusher Seb Bouin’s stripped-down comment on Shawn Raboutou’s Nov. 15 first ascent post. That pretty much says it.

Written by Sam Anderson November 16, 2022

A ‘Good Month’ for Drew Ruana: 7 V14 & V15 Sends, Including First Ascents

With this iPhone edit, Drew Ruana shows a talent for understatement. He actually sent seven routes at V14 and above in less than a month.

Written by Andrew McLemore November 15, 2022

Will Bosi Claims Third Ascent of ‘Alphane’ (V17), Evades Grade Question

The world’s third V17 boulder problem has now seen two repeats since Shawn Raboutou first established the line in August 2022.

Written by Andrew McLemore November 03, 2022

Taylor McNeill on the 2nd Ascent of ‘Multiverse’ (V15)

How do you make a V15 send even more exciting? With creative photography, stellar editing, and a hip-hop soundtrack — obviously.

Written by Andrew McLemore November 03, 2022

With Send of ‘Alphane,’ Aidan Roberts Nabs First-Ever V17 Repeat

The world’s third V17 boulder problem now has a second graduate, with the young Brit calling his send an “amazing experience”.

Written by Andrew McLemore October 20, 2022

Did Moab’s Bizarre 2022 Climbing Crime Bolster the Bouldering Community?

On Feb. 14, someone spread scandal by smearing axle grease on holds at a popular Moab, Utah, bouldering area. Six months later, what’s up with…

Written by Sam Anderson October 19, 2022

Boulder Bliss: Ruana Repeats V16, Snags V14 & V15 First Ascents in 3-Day Rampage

Threshold bouldering is all about seizing your opportunities. Ruana spent three straight days in the sweet spot earlier this month.

Written by Sam Anderson October 13, 2022

Ageism in Climbing: Why the Word ‘Still’ Cheapens the Sport

If you think ageism isn’t an issue in rock climbing, chances are you’re younger than 40. Matt Samet takes a deep dive into the issue.

Written by Matt Samet October 03, 2022

Perma-Stoked Daniel Woods Just Climbed a Gorgeous V15

Don’t doubt DaWoods. The world’s second V17 climber just punched out a boulder in Switzerland that looks as wicked as it does beautiful.

Written by Sam Anderson September 29, 2022

La Sportiva Skwama Vegan Forgoes Leather, Hunts Performance

La Sportiva’s animal product-free Skwama Vegan looks to deliver animal product-free performance on sport climbs and boulders.

Written by Sam Anderson September 15, 2022

Bouldering in Wales. Who Knew?

Where do sculpted, unclimbed sandstone blobs fill the beaches and vicious limestone pack the forests? Wales, apparently.

Written by Sam Anderson September 15, 2022

World’s Third V17 Boulder Problem: Watch It Go Down

Shawn Raboutou did V17 on Friday. But unless you were there at the bloc with him, you didn’t get to see him climb it —…

Written by Sam Anderson August 22, 2022

World’s Third V17? Shawn Raboutou Thinks So With ‘Alphane’

The V17 club may have its third all-time member: the United States’ Shawn Raboutou.

Written by Sam Anderson August 19, 2022

Squish and Scum: The Retooled La Sportiva Mantra Reviewed

La Sportiva relaunched the Mantra this year. It may be one of the best indoor/bouldering slippers to hit the market this year.

Written by Matt Samet August 18, 2022

V16? Will Bosi Thinks So With First Ascent of ‘Honey Badger’

The only climber we’ve ever seen leave Adam Ondra speechless just climbed his ‘hardest ever’ boulder problem. The big rig did not go down without…

Written by Sam Anderson August 15, 2022

So iLL Launches New Climbing Hold System From Longtime Crusher Jason Kehl

So iLL releases a new line of ‘system’ climbing holds designed by master shaper — and longtime dirtbagger — Jason Kehl.

Written by Andrew McLemore August 09, 2022

Video Tour: Check Out the Biggest Bouldering Gym in the World

Get ready for wall envy, gym rats, because a cathedral-like bouldering facility in Germany sets a new standard for awesomeness.

Written by Andrew McLemore August 08, 2022

Crash Pads & Crack: Pete Whittaker Tries the World’s Hardest Crack Boulder

In this cut, the crack king attempts to wrangle a 40-foot-long horizontal V13 boulder put up by his Wide Boyz co-conspirator, Tom Randall.

Written by Jilli Cluff August 04, 2022

‘Connecting Walls’: 2 Climbers Find Pristine Cliffs & Grace on Yukishima

A new film from Patagonia follows two Japanese climbers as they explore and develop routes on a little-known island.

Written by Jilli Cluff August 01, 2022

New North Carolina Bouldering Area Opens Thanks to Access Fund

The Maibauer Boulders, 90 minutes outside Charlotte, N.C., open to the public with about 100 established climbs after a feel-good land access story.

Written by Sam Anderson July 25, 2022

Uncut: Watch Shawn Raboutou Climb Crazy New V16 Roof

The ‘Story of 3 Worlds’? For Shawn Raboutou, there’s just one world: the one where he crushes climbs.

Written by Sam Anderson July 22, 2022

Is the ‘Instagram Effect’ Ruining Climbing — And What Can We Do About It?

Instagram has and continues to affect climbing. Some of it is good, some of it is bad, and some of it is potentially ruining the…

Written by Matt Samet July 22, 2022

The Theory of Bouldering: A Deep, Metaphysical Freefall

This creative edit from U.K. climber Jim Pope seeks to strike its own gravitational balance between melodramatic cuts and Euro club music.

Written by Sam Anderson July 19, 2022

Crush Real Rocks With Bouldering Specialist Jimmy Webb at Tahoe Retreat

Want to crush blocs in NorCal like big Jim and the Mellow crew? Then check out The Ultimate Lake Tahoe Bouldering Retreat.

Written by Sam Anderson July 19, 2022

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