Frequently Asked Questions
Not everyone can know everything. But anyone can know anything. Find out the answers to your curiosities below.
Climbing and Health
Can anyone climb?
Most definitely! We've met young climbers and old climbers, slim climbers and round climbers, fully limbed climbers and partially limbed climbers. If you want to, you can climb. It might not always be easy but then what worthwhile pursuit is?
Is climbing safe?
Indoor climbing has one of the lowest injury rates of any sport studied: one climbing gym recorded 0.02 injuries per 1,000 hours over 515,337 visits (BMC). No sport is risk-free. Thick crash mats cover the floor, the free Intro Course teaches you how to fall, and our safety rules and climbing etiquette keep everyone safe.
I lack upper body strength. Can I still climb?
Yes. Beginners climb mostly with their legs, balance and footwork, and our easiest climbs have big holds, like a ladder. You get stronger as you climb, and there are routes for every level.
Will I get bulky muscles if I climb?
On the contrary, you'll develop lean muscles if you climb. Just look at our boss, Vrinda; she has been climbing for years now!
Climbing is a body weight exercise and thus your body naturally doesn't put on heavy muscle mass through climbing. That is not to say it cannot help you achieve serious gains, when supplemented with a gym routine and bulking diet.
Will climbing help me lose weight?
Climbing makes you fit and healthy. Eating less calories makes you lose weight.
The Centre
I have never been to BoulderBox before. Can I just come and climb?
Sure you can! All you need to do is register, get a short introduction and away you go!
If you would prefer a more guided approach, then we suggest you sign up for our free Intro Course (30 minutes) and take it from there. See your first visit.
Note: children under 14 must be supervised, unless they are national-level competitors or our staff have signed them off. Anyone under 18 needs a registration form signed by their parent or legal guardian.
What do I need to bring in order to climb?
All you need is yourself, and maybe some clothes. Definitely some clothes.
Recommended: climbing shoes*, chalk*, towel, water bottle.
*Available for hire at the centre: shoes ₹200 (free on your first visit), chalk ₹100.
How old is too old? How young is too young?
No one is too old for anything at our centre so long as all our rules are being abided by.
Our policies on children are:
• Children under 6 can climb only with a parent who is an experienced climber and takes full responsibility for them.
• Children under 14 must be supervised, unless they are national-level competitors or our staff have signed them off.
• Anyone under 18 needs a parent or guardian to sign the registration form.
• Children under the age of 12 cannot belay.
See the Under 18s page.
How long can I stay at the centre?
For the entirety of the opening hours during that day (Daily 9 AM – 9:30 PM; Fridays from 3 PM)! Come help us set up in the morning and shut shop in the evening if it pleases you because it would definitely please us.
What are the different V-numbers around the centre on climbs?
Climbs are graded by difficulty. There are various grading systems around the world. None are perfect as climbing is an individual sport and what might be easy for me might not be for you.
In any case, for bouldering we use V grades which start at VB and then ascend in difficulty from V0 all the way to V17.
For reference: VB climbs are for beginners. A V6 climber is one who can do V6 climbs consistently and this normally requires a few years dedicated focus. A V12 climber is verging on professional. Only a handful of climbers in the world have climbed V17, the hardest boulder grade so far.
Why do I need to sign a waiver?
We are required by our insurance company to ensure that everyone using the facility fill out a release of liability waiver. If you have any questions regarding the activities we partake in at our facility, the waiver itself and our standards, please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to discuss our safety practices.
Types of Climbing
What is bouldering?
Climbing above a crash mat (usually made of foam) without a rope is called bouldering. It gets its name because alpine climbers in the 1900s used boulders as means to train strength/power for tough vertical ascents when away from the mountains.
What is rope climbing?
Rope climbing is climbing to great heights when attached to a rope! It requires a buddy to belay you and keep you safe. There are two forms of rope climbing: lead climbing and top-rope climbing. At BoulderBox, day-to-day climbing is bouldering. We offer top-rope climbing for corporate groups.
What is belaying?
Belaying means to “hold fast” and has its roots in sailing. In terms of climbing, it means to use a 'belay' device to secure the rope attached to another climber when they are high off the ground.
What is the difference between lead climbing and top-rope climbing?
In both lead climbing and top-rope climbing, one person climbs while another belays the rope attached to the climber.
In top-rope climbing, the rope is fixed at an anchor at the top of the wall. This ensures soft short falls in case the active climber falls.
In lead climbing, the rope is not fixed to any anchor. The active climber clips it into quick-draws (load bearing metal gates) as he moves along the wall. This ensures that in the event of a fall, the belayer can hold on to the rope and the active climber will only fall relative to the distance to his last clipped quickdraw. This method of climbing entails higher risk due to the potential for decking - hitting the floor during a fall - and thus is restricted to experienced climbers only.
Why do lead climbing when it has higher inherent risk than top-rope climbing?
Climbers are often looking to transfer their abilities to outdoor rock. Often in such cases, top-rope climbing is not an option. Even if it is, it requires time to set up a top-rope anchor outdoors which might be better spent climbing. Thus lead climbing is an essential skill for any climber wishing to climb outdoor routes.
Furthermore, climbing is not purely a physical sport. Lead climbing induces an extra mental component to master that many relish.
What is the difference between a problem and a route?
Climbs normally done as bouldering are called problems. Others are called routes, such as rope climbs.