One of the biggest barriers to entry for climbing as an adult is self-doubt. A lot of older people ask themselves “Am I too old to start bouldering?” and use that fear to talk themselves out of starting. This article isn’t here to invalidate anyone. I’m simply going to present the facts and allow you to make your own decisions.

We’ll talk about what bouldering is, what the risks are, and how age can play as a factor in your climbing journey.

What is Bouldering?

Bouldering is a type of planning where you climb unassisted. You don’t wear a harness instead. You have some kind of soft landing below you. The walls are typically not shorter than they are for top rope. If you’re climbing unassisted without a soft landing below you, or climbing something very tall, that is known as free soloing.

Bouldering is most popular these days as a type of indoor climbing. However, you can also do bouldering outside. Outdoor climbing has a very active community but it can be hard to find decent boulders depending on where you live. Whereas indoor climbing is so popular these days, so there’s probably an indoor wall near you.

Bouldering is a form of climbing that often requires a lot of precision or power to ascend. You’re also more likely to find dynamic moves even at lower levels than you are for top rope. It is a test of strength and ability, more than it is a test of fitness.

Is Bouldering Safer Than Top Rope?

A lot of people see the sheer height of top rope/ auto-belay and naturally assume that it’s more dangerous. After all, you’re much higher off the ground. However, conversely to what might seem intuitive, it’s actually far safer than bouldering. Even though you’re much higher in the air, you’re supported with a harness. Climbing ropes are incredibly strong and can withstand heavy weights.

If you’re climbing with an established company, they’ll regularly test their equipment. Rope failure is almost unheard of. The only way you’re likely to do a serious injury to yourself with top rope/ auto-belay is if you forget to clip yourself in. As long as you follow the safety rules, the most damage you’re likely to do is a bruise or a scrape.

Bouldering, on the other hand, can be more dangerous than it seems. Even though you’re climbing shorter walls and you have a soft landing below you, this doesn’t stop injuries from occurring. It’s not unheard of for someone to land at an awkward angle and twist and ankle. Some unlucky people could even break a bone. Unfortunately, that is a risk of the sport. It’s not common, but it’s not totally rare either. So when you’re bouldering it’s important to be aware of the possibilities and to try and be as safe as possible. If you carefully follow the safety rules and climb down rather than jumping down, you’re much less likely to do yourself any damage.

What are Some of the Risks of Bouldering?

Bouldering can carry several risks. Here are some of the most common issues:

• Landing awkwardly – Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent this one. It’s just the luck of the draw. Anytime you’re jumping or falling, there’s always the risk that you could hurt your body. You could land in a way that puts too much pressure on a particular bone or muscle. The best way to try and prevent this is to always climb down instead of jumping.
• Hitting holds and volumes – Similarly to the last one, you can’t really control how you fall. With top rope, you will never have much velocity since the slack is being accounted for. Whereas with bouldering, you’ll fall as fast as gravity permits. That means there’s more chance of hitting holds or volumes the adjusting out of the wall. If you do that, you could get bruises scrapes or worse. To try and prevent this, keep an eye on your surroundings and be aware of where the large holds are. If you do find yourself falling, try to push away from the wall so you won’t hit anything on your way down.
• Pulling a muscle/ tendon – This one may seem like not a big deal, but you’ll soon change your tune if it happens to you. Since bouldering often evolves a fair amount of strength, you can overdo it on some muscles. This can lead to temporary pain, or even long-term damage if you don’t properly rest. If you find yourself hurting, don’t try and push through it. Listen to your body, take a rest for a few days and come back revitalised. You can also help prevent this by stretching at the start of sessions, and not climbing too far above your own level.

Can You Be Too Old to Start Bouldering?

Here’s the thing. I firmly believe that you can’t be too old to start climbing. I know climbers at my local wall who are aged 70+ and still going strong. So I don’t think there’s a specific age where you’ve gotta stop. Or in this case just not start at all. I think anyone interested in climbing should absolutely go for it. If you can move, you can climb.

However, that’s the way I feel about top rope/ auto-belay. Because of the extra risks that come with bouldering, I do believe that there comes a time where it’s not smart to start. Thankfully though, that’s probably a lot older than you’re thinking. I’m not going to put an exact age on it, but if someone is elderly and they’re they’re in danger of doing damage if they fall, then bouldering probably isn’t for them. You will fall when you do bouldering, it’s just a given. You need to be able to tolerate impact.

But if you’re young enough that your body can sustain a few bruises here and there, then there’s no reason you can’t start bouldering. Whilst it’s definitely better to get into it young, there’s no reason you can’t start as an adult. I started when I was just shy of 30 and it’s been the best one of the best decisions I’ve made. Bouldering is so much fun, and not only do I get exercise, but I feel so much more in tune with myself. I plan to keep climbing for the foreseeable future and I recommend it to most people. I’ve even suggested it to my friends who are in their 50’s and 60’s. Like I said, as long as someone’s body can tolerate a fall, there’s no reason they can’t start bouldering.

Conclusion

It’s natural to ask yourself “Am I too old to start bouldering?”, but hopefully this article has helped you find a satisfactory answer. For the vast majority of you who are reading this, the answer is no. Yes, there are risks attached, but life is for living. Most things carry at least a little bit of risk, and whilst I don’t deny that it’s greater for bouldering, I think the payoff is worth it. It’s such an exciting hobby that will build your strength, your confidence, and help you make social ties as well.

Do you like a little bit of danger, or do you prefer hobbies that are safer? Let me know in the comment section! Also, please follow our Instagram to keep up to date with my latest hobby adventures, including climbing!