The indoor bouldering routes are colour-coded by difficulty. By knowing the colours of the holds on the bouldering wall you can prepare for your climbing session in advance.
What the V-Scale Means
Many bouldering walls around the world use the V-scale when grading routes. This means each route will be given a letter (V) followed by a number, which represents how hard the climber will find it to complete the wall. For a complete beginner the largest holds on the lowest angle are best, and therefore V0 and V1 routes are ideal.
How Walls Translate Grades Into Colours
Each gym assigns its own set of colours to its grades, which means that yellow might equal a V0 on one wall but a V2 on another. If you are checking out bouldering gyms in Birmingham then you should check out the grade chart near the entrance to find out exactly how the gym has assigned the colours of the routes on offer.
If you are looking for Bouldering Birmingham, then check out for information on grades and specific bouldering walls at https://www.270climbing.com/bouldering/birmingham/.
Where to Begin
Start by completing the easiest colour-coded routes first. For each of these try and complete them in the cleanest way possible. This will form a good foundation for your climbing development rather than completing a few harder routes using brute force.
When to Move Up
A good rule of thumb is that to progress to the next colour you should be able to complete most of the routes in the current one without rest. The routes of the same colour vary from gym to gym, so it’s worth reading how indoor climbing grades are generally structured before judging your own ability at one particular venue.
Setting a Realistic Goal
Expect to be able to reach a V2/V3 within 3 months of climbing two to three times a week within the first 6-9 months. This initial progress can slow down as you encounter more complex movements within the higher graded routes.
Knowing your grade gives every session a clear direction from the moment you walk in.
