Five free climbing tools covering grade conversion, hangboard training timers, calorie burn, training zone calculation, and body metrics. Covers sport climbing, bouldering, and trad climbing.
Climbing grades basics
Climbing grades vary by country and discipline. The most common systems: French/Sport (4, 5, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9a+) — used worldwide for sport climbing. Yosemite Decimal System / YDS (5.1–5.15d) — standard in the US. V-scale (V0–V17) — used for bouldering globally. UIAA (I–XII) — common in central Europe and Alps.
Grades are subjective and vary between crags and setters — a 7a at one crag may feel like 6c+ or 7a+ at another. Grades are useful for navigation and tracking progress, not for definitive ability comparison across locations.
All climbing tools
5Climbing Grade Converter
Convert between all major climbing grade systems — V-scale, Font, Yosemite (YDS) and French/Sport.
Open toolClimbing Hangboard Training Timer
Time your hangboard intervals — hang, rest and repeater sets with a countdown timer.
Open toolClimbing Calorie Calculator
Estimate calories burned bouldering or sport climbing by intensity and bodyweight.
Open toolClimbing Training Zone Calculator
Find the right training intensity for climbing — from endurance laps to power bouldering.
Open toolClimber Body Metrics Calculator
Calculate your ape index (reach advantage) and power-to-weight ratio — key climbing metrics.
Open toolFrequently asked questions
What grade should a beginner aim for in climbing?
Indoor bouldering beginners typically work V0–V2 in the first few months; outdoor sport climbing beginners start at 4–5c (French) or 5.5–5.9 (YDS). Reaching V4 bouldering or 6b sport climbing is considered a solid intermediate standard that opens up most crags. Progress is fastest in the first 6–12 months and then slows significantly — climbing grade improvement requires technical skill development, not just fitness.
What is a hangboard and how do I use it?
A hangboard (or fingerboard) is a training board mounted above a door frame with various edge, crimp, and pocket holds. It is used for specific finger strength training — hanging from holds for set durations. Standard protocols: max hangs (7–10 seconds at maximum load, 3 minute rest, 6 sets); repeaters (7 seconds on, 3 seconds off, 6 reps per set). Hangboard training is not recommended for beginners — fingers need 1–2 years of climbing to develop the connective tissue required to withstand the loads. The timer tool automates work/rest intervals.
Does body weight matter for climbing?
Power-to-weight ratio is significant in climbing, particularly for overhanging routes and bouldering problems where the climber must pull their bodyweight through dynamic movements. Elite sport climbers tend to be lean, with low absolute weight. However, weight is rarely the primary limiter for recreational and intermediate climbers — technique, contact strength, and body tension are almost always more limiting factors. Reducing weight to improve climbing without addressing technique first rarely produces meaningful grade improvement.