The V-scale is the dominant bouldering grading system in the US and increasingly globally. Created by climber John Sherman (‘Vermin’) at Hueco Tanks, Texas, grades run from V0 (accessible to beginners after a few sessions) through V17 (elite world-class problems). V0-V2 is beginner; V3-V5 intermediate; V6-V8 advanced; V9+ expert/elite. The V-scale roughly corresponds to the Fontainebleau (Font) scale used in Europe: V5 ≈ Font 6C.
Key points
- V0 = beginner, V17 = world-class
- Created by John Sherman at Hueco Tanks
- Corresponds roughly to Font scale
- V5 ≈ Font 6C; V10 ≈ Font 7B+