Climbing hold
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A climbing hold is a shaped grip that is usually attached to a climbing wall to provide a place to support yourself. Climbing holds come in a large array of sizes and shapes to provide different levels of challenge to a climber. Most manufactured holds are made out of resin, but some are constructed from wood or real rock. Climbing holds are either bolted to a wall through holes with t-nuts or concrete anchors, or they are screwed into the surface of the wall.
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[edit] Footholds
Footholds can be any variety of shapes, however they are usually quite small, providing just enough surface to place the toes on. The smallest variety of holds, they are sometimes referred to as "foot chips." These holds are often of the screw on variety to allow for a lower profile.
[edit] Handholds
The majority of holds on a climbing wall are usually handholds. These Provide much more gripping surface than footholds, but they often serve dual purpose of both hand and footholds as a climber progresses further up a wall. Handholds are categorized by certain features that they contain.
[edit] Jugs
Jugs are the most positive of all hold types, meaning they slope inward toward the wall to provide a pocket or "bucket" into which fingers or entire hands can fit. Because of their ease of use, jugs are often mounted on steeply overhanging walls or on beginner routes.
[edit] Slopers
Slopers are the least positive of the handholds. They slope down away from the wall, often requiring an open handed grip to get any sort of friction on them. These are usually considered more difficult holds and are reserved for advanced routes.
[edit] Pockets
Pockets are holds that have only a small opening, usually only allowing one to three fingers to fit in them. These require more finger strength to support oneself. This type of hold can cause tendon injury.
[edit] Pinches
Pinches are holds that have two opposing faces which must be pinched (usually by the entire hand) to grip. They also require more hand strength to use, however pinches themselves can vary in positivity.
[edit] Crimps
Crimps are usually small, slightly positive edges that are just deep enough to fit the tips of fingers into. A technique called "crimping" is used to gain maximum adhesion to these holds.
[edit] Piggy backs
Piggy back holds are an extremely large hold that any variety of holds can be attached to. The piggy back hold has holes in it to attach the other holds to. They are usually used in competitions and are on more advanced routes
