V scale bouldering The US and Europe are rocky when it comes to agreeing on a bouldering scale, so here are two different grading systems and what to expect. For bouldering, on the other hand, there are varying systems in place. Find rock climbing routes, photos, and guides for every state, along with experiences and advice from fellow climbers. A 7c+ however, is more similar to the V10 bouldering grade in the V-scale. Before this, the kyuu grades goes up to 10, and represents easier climbs. 2 kyuu is a V4, and 7 kyuu is a V0 for example. When using bouldering grades, it really is only used in this country. In the United States for sport climbing and other forms of rock climbing we use the Yosemite Decimal System. Things get weird. The two most common boulder grading systems are the V-Scale and the Fontainebleau Scale. a the Vermin Scale) The V-Scale is as follows: V0-V3: Beginner; V4-V6 Feb 14, 2024 · The “V” in bouldering grades stands for “Verm” or “Vermin,” a nod to John “Vermin” Sherman, who played a significant role in popularizing the V Scale grading system. "Grades are subjective" - OK, that's out of the way. Apr 27, 2025 · Climbing grades, from 8a to V-scale, serve as a loose guideline and filter for climbing consumers. Few recreational climbers will reach V8. Just my opinion though Mar 23, 2025 · Bouldering V Scale. The V-scale (sometimes called the Hueco scale) was developed in the 1990s by legendary American boulderer John "Vermin" Sherman in Hueco Tanks, Texas. The scale begins at V0 (beginner level) and progresses upward (V1, V2, etc. Oct 12, 2020 · The French Scale is much more convertible between its top-rope and bouldering equivalents, while the YDS and American bouldering scale, the V scale, are not as convertible. Standards vary among climbing areas. Mar 17, 2023 · While a 7a+ can be converted into a v7 bouldering grace. This bouldering grades comparison table is designed to help climbers convert from Hueco to French and back to French to V-Scale. Bouldering grades are graded using different systems across different regions. The V scale is a grading system used in bouldering to assign a difficulty rating to a problem. Mar 25, 2024 · Bouldering grades can vary significantly from one area to another, making it challenging for climbers to accurately assess the difficulty of a route. ” The hardest route recorded is V17 to date. The reason being that the width of grades on a specific scale are not comparable or that grades are not linear across the whole scale. If you go bouldering in Europe, you'll see ratings in the Font Scale. Oct 23, 2023 · The Bouldering V Scale. Sherman sought to create a standardized system to measure boulder problem difficulty, and the "V" in V-scale stands for "Vermin," his climbing nickname. k. Bouldering Grades Apr 11, 2025 · V-GRADES. This is based on my climbing experience over the last 10 years. It starts at V0 (easiest) and increases numerically (V1, V2, etc. Currently, V17 is the highest known grade, but most of us climbers will probably stop at V3, thank you very much. 7c to V-scale. The grades are determined by a combination of factors, inc Bouldering Grades. Cons of V scale bouldering grades: Nov 3, 2023 · 6a Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "6a to V scale" conversion, here it is: 6a in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V3 in the V scale. *Note that when climbing, you climb "routes," when bouldering, you climb Apr 29, 2024 · Not to be confused with the Fontainebleau scale for bouldering, the French system is the most common free climbing rating scale outside of North America. 15 for now. Feb 23, 2020 · The two most common bouldering grading systems are the V Scale (also known as the Hueco system) and the Font Scale (an abbreviation for the Fontainebleau Scale). At lower grades, a single V grade often translates to being ‘wider’ than a single grade on the Font Scale. May 26, 2020 · The bouldering grading scale is used both indoors and outdoors. Grades can be adjusted as more climbers go up the route and provide their opinions. The V-scale was born in Hueco Tanks, Texas in the 1980s. It was developed by John “Vermin” Sherman in the 1990s and is the current system used in Australian outdoor bouldering. Nov 3, 2023 · 6c Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "6c to V scale" conversion, here it is: 6c in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V5 in the V scale. The two most commonly used scales are the V-scale and the Font-scale. It also does not directly translate to sport climbing grades very easily. People are still pushing the boundaries of climbing grades. John “Vermin” Sherman pioneered the V Scale whilst climbing the exquisite boulders of Hueco Tanks, Texas. That section is quite simple; the higher the number, the more complex the route. The V-Scale grading system doesn’t have a cap, meaning that there isn’t a “this is the hardest bouldering grade. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. By nature, the two are difficult to compare — route grades may gain difficulty from endurance, while boulder problems tend to emphasize power. In the 1950s, legendary godfather of American bouldering, John Gill, was grading boulders on a super simple scale ascending from B1 to B3. Named for pioneer boulderer, John "Vermin" Sherman who climbed the amazing boulders of Hueco Tanks, TX, the V Scale denotes the level of difficulty of a boulder problem. Mar 9, 2023 · Bouldering Grade Conversions – V Scale to Font Scale. Go outside, not much stuff around Berlin and bouldering in the franken is hard because they aren’t allowed to publish topos for boulders, if you ever want to make your way down to Munich give me a shout, there’s some stuff nearby, not great but not terrible, especially if you climb the higher grades in your gym, I’d say anything below a solid 4/6 gym climber need not apply because the May 31, 2020 · Climbing Grades vs. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 6b V4 6b+ V4 / V5 6c V5 (Note: As always, grading remai The most widely used system for rating bouldering problems in the USA is the "V" or "Hueco" Scale. V5, V6, V7), and was at V17 in 2023 with Burden of Dreams. In my eyes, that makes your chart way way sandbagged for the lower V grades, and way cruiser for the higher V grades. 8a to V-scale . The V Scale is primarily used in North America and Oceania. Grade conversion between the two scales isn’t easy—the Font Scale has more grade options than the V Scale, and both scales are subject to regional differences and individual climbers’ body types, opinions, and skill sets—but in general, here’s how the two scales The V-Scale is a grading system used to measure the difficulty of bouldering problems. Jun 23, 2024 · Comparison of Indoor Climbing Grades V-Scale vs. Here is a chart showing the bouldering rating conversions between the V Scale and Font Scale. It begins at V0, with V0 being the grade for the easiest climbs, and increases in value as the moves become more difficult. Dec 9, 2024 · The V-scale was invented in the 1980s by John Sherman, nicknamed “Vermin,” hence the V. Though there haven’t been many climbers to collaborate that grade so the grade of that climb has been questioned in the climbing community. Key Takeaways. One of the most commonly used grading systems for bouldering is the V-Scale. It is especially clear and less cluttered at the top end, V9 and above, so in that respect, it’s more targeted towards strong boulderers. The V Scale Dec 28, 2021 · The aptly-named Fontainebleau scale started in the de facto birthplace of bouldering. Feb 28, 2023 · The YDS scale starts at 5. General timelines indicate that from bouldering day one, getting to V4 can take a year, V5 two years, V6 three years, and five years to V7. Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is performed without the use of ropes or harnesses. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 8c+ V16 9a V17 (Note: Remember that climbing Nov 3, 2023 · 7b Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "7b to V scale" conversion, here it is: 7b in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V8 in the V scale. We use the term 'current upper bound' because elite outdoor climbers continue to establish and send increasingly difficult climbs. The V-scale is an open-ended scale that starts at V0 (although a slightly easier "VB" has been used for beginners), and increases in single-digit steps (i. The “V” stands for “Vermin” or “Verm,” which was the nickname of a renowned boulderer and the inventor of the V-scale, John Sherman. It’s older than the V scale, which John “Vermin” Sherman developed in Texas in the 1990s. I had a hard time finding a chart online that converts the Sherman V-grade system for bouldering into the Yosemite Decimal… Nov 3, 2023 · 9a Boulder to V Scale: For climbers inquiring about the "9a to V scale" correlation, here's the succinct response: 9a in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system corresponds approximately to V17 in the V scale. In the United States, the V-scale is commonly used for bouldering grades, ranging from V0 (easiest) to V16 (hardest). 0 and ends at 5. The lower bound of the scale is V0, and the current upper bound is V17. S. I don't know if I agree with chart. The V Scale, or Hueco Scale, is the fundamental grading system for bouldering problems. Vertical climbing grades start at 11 and work up to 39 (comparable to 9c/5. The V-scale, developed in the 1980s by climber John “Vermin” Sherman, is a widely used grading system in North America. Understanding the V-Scale. The grades in the tables are assigned a colour code that spans the various grading systems. Aug 18, 2017 · The flaw with the V-Scale is obvious: not enough variability between grades. The two systems correspond to each other more or less directly. Routes may feel substantially harder than their grade indicates depending on the weather, the length of the route, the type of rock, the whims of the first ascensionist, any number of factors. e. Apr 27, 2025 · 6c+ roughly equals V5/V6 in the Hueco V Scale and 5. 12b/c in the YDS. Bouldering Grades If you’re familiar with the V Scale , you might be wondering how boulder problems stack up against route difficulty. Worldwide, more climbers use the “Font” scale than the V scale, but many are familiar with both. The V in the V scale stands for “Vermin” which was John Sherman’s nickname. The V Scale begins at V0 and the current limit is at V17. ), with each higher number indicating a more challenging problem. Both 7b and 7b+ in the font scale are converted into a V8 in the Hueco Grading System. You’ll see it used in gyms and crags across the United States. Much like the climbing world, bouldering has evolved multiple rating systems. 7b to V-scale. Bouldering grades are a way to measure the difficulty of climbing problems, helping climbers gauge challenges and track progress. The Bouldering V Scale (a. Bouldering grades are the assigned difficulty ratings to boulder problems. Essentially, the higher the number is, the harder the problem. Bouldering grade conversions between the V-Scale and the Font-scale are mostly accurate. *Note that when climbing, you climb "routes," when bouldering, you climb Dec 28, 2021 · The aptly-named Fontainebleau scale started in the de facto birthplace of bouldering. Both scales are open-ended, but the V Scale is often said to be more straightforward. There are other ones, like the B-Scale, the P-Scale, the Joshua Tree Scale, and a few others, but you don’t really need to know those as they are not really used. The below table runs through the V-Scale and Font-Scale bouldering grade conversion: Sep 16, 2021 · Bouldering Grades Conversion Chart: V Scale to Font Scale. South African rock climbing grades are very similar to Australian, with the exception that the upper end of the scale is currently at 41. A 7c in the Font scale converts to a V9 in the V-scale. I’d say it’s an exponential increase in difficulty as you move up. Between V2 and V3, you can make the jump purely on upper body strength (even though that’s not advised) but once you get up into the V7-V10 range you’ll need to have excellent technique and strength to move up from V7 to V8. The V-Scale is used for bouldering, ranging from V0 (easiest) to V16 (most difficult). Sherman was an early bouldering pioneer. Rockfax Colour Codes. Nov 3, 2023 · 7a Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "7a to V scale" conversion, here it is: 7a in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V6 in the V scale. What is awesome about the French system is that it can be applied to both sport climbing routes and boulders! There are grade systems for bouldering, grade systems for sport climbing, grade systems for aid climbing and so on but even grade systems for the same style don’t always translate well between each other. John “Vermin” Sherman and his climbing partners in Hueco Tanks, Texas, created V scale climbing grades in the early 1990s. V Scale. We recommend Instantprint where an A1 poster costs around £16 (+VAT and delivery). Other similarly priced services are available. Grades can be subjective and may vary slightly Pros of V scale bouldering grades: It is the simplest system without multiple letters and covering a range of numbers more distinct from other route grades. As I started to rock climb I got confused by these different rating systems and their Apr 27, 2025 · Understanding the V Scale Bouldering Grade. The V-scale doesn't consider risk and is purely focused on the technical difficulty of the movements. The standard used most widely today is the V Scale, named after John "Vermin" Sherman, who collaborated with his buddies to rate routes in the legendary Hueco Tanks bouldering area in Texas. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 7a+ V7 7b V8 7b+ V8 / V9 (Note: As always, grading rema Learn about the different climbing grades used in bouldering, from V0 to V16, and understand how to interpret the grading system to choose routes that suit your skill level. [2] Bouldering grade systems in wide use include the Hueco “V” grades (known as the V-scale), Fontainebleau technical grades, and more. When it comes to indoor climbing grades, two popular grading systems are the V-Scale and the YDS (Yosemite Decimal System). From V0 to V9, you have a 1:1 correspondence with YDS and V. However, over time, it became clear that Gill’s grading system was incapable of defining accurate grades for the complexity of boulders being climbed. It has been adapted from martial arts, and 1 kyuu is seen as the baseline for boulderers – equivalent to V5/6. If you would like to learn more about what bouldering is, please check out our comprehensive guide . There is some controversy between bouldering grade conversion, however for the most part we can assume the conversions will hold true. At higher grades, the Font Scale and V Scale become almost directly translatable. YDS. This guide breaks down why that is, how the grading systems compare, and what it means for your climbing. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 5+ V2 6a V3 6a+ V4 (Note: As always, grading can be som Jan 28, 2022 · Australian Climbing Grades. Nov 3, 2023 · 6b Boulder to V Scale: For those specifically searching for the "6b to V scale" conversion, here it is: 6b in the Fontainebleau (Font) grading system is approximately equivalent to V4 in the V scale. . Here is a guide with an approximation of how hard climbing grades are: (climbing experience varies, this is not specific to every climber) Apr 27, 2025 · Bouldering’s V-scale, established as a scale in the late 1990s, was an attempt to delineate a more precise way of communicating small increments of difficulty. The French simplified the rating system by starting at 1 and working their way up in difficulty—1 being the easiest. The V scale was developed in the USA and is a system that currently starts with VB for the simplest bouldering problems and goes all the way up to V17 for super experienced professionals. Dec 6, 2022 · The bouldering V Scale is a grading system developed by John Sherman, aka "The Vermin", "Verm", and is used to classify the difficulty of bouldering routes or problems. The Vermin Scale, commonly referred to as the V-Scale, is used to grade bouldering problems. An 8a bouldering grade on Jun 23, 2024 · V-Scale Grades. In the United States, V scale is the most commonly used bouldering grade. He has over 400 first ascents at Hueco Tanks in Texas between the 1980s and 1990s. The higher the grade, the longer it takes to get to the next one. The Bouldering V Scale, also known as the Hueco scale, was created by the famous American rock climber John Sherman. These figures are meant to provide a general sense of the level of skill expected for a route. This system ranges from V0 (easiest) to potentially unlimited difficulty. Bouldering grades are a crucial aspect of the sport, as they help climbers understand the difficulty level of a particular climb. About this Bouldering Grades table: This is a bouldering climbing grade conversion chart. Origins of the V-Scale. Some gyms use the classic V-grade system, marking each boulder problem with a V-grade on a tag or piece of tape at its start. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 6c V5 6c+ V5 / V6 7a V6 (Note: As always, grading remai 41 votes, 26 comments. The scale ranges from V0 to V17, with V0 being the easiest and V17 being the most difficult. ), typically up to V17 for the most difficult challenges. —all aim to reflect a combination of physical and technical demands. Comparison Table: Fontainebleau Grade (Font) Approximate V Scale 6a+ V3 / V4 6b V4 6b+ V4 / V5 (Note: As always, grading Oct 15, 2021 · The two bouldering grading systems are the V Scale (used in the United States) and the Font Scale (used outside the US). It’s pretty standard practice for most climbers to look at grades to gauge a climb, plan for crux sections, and steer clear of climbs that exceed Download Bouldering Grade PDF – Comparison between Font, V and UK tech grades. The Australian climbing grade scale for technical scrambling and rock routes, another open-ended rating system, runs from 1 (~YDS 3) to 39 (5. While the grading systems vary by region—like the Fontainebleau system in Europe or the V-scale in the U. The grading scale uses a numerical system with the letter V in front of each grade. Jun 5, 2023 · The two most popular grading systems are the V-Scale and the Font-Scale. This scale measures the difficulty of a bouldering problem based on its technical demands, as well as the mental and physical challenges it presents. Mar 17, 2012 · Bouldering is a bit different than some other forms of rock climbing and it has its own grades, the V-scale, for defining the difficulty of the climb. Use this chart as a rough guide to compare climbing and bouldering grades in other parts of the world. V-grades or the V-scale (also sometimes called the 'Hueco' scale) was established in 1991 by American bouldering pioneer John 'Verm' Sherman - that's where the V comes from! Sherman used the scale to grade problems in his book Hueco Tanks Climbing and Bouldering Guide. Even that is pretty biased. 15d). The goal is to reach the top of a boulder problem or route. The V-scale is open-ended, with the hardest bouldering For Bouldering (shorter, harder climbs), we use the V Scale: It goes from V0 (easiest) to… well, as high as someone can stomach. 15d) Bouldering Climbing Grade Systems: The V Scale and the Font Scale. Mar 30, 2023 · Gym Grading: Gyms in North America use the Yosemite Decimal System for route grades. Overall, the YDS and the French Scale are fairly easy to convert between, but since they are used in different regions, you are likely to see large regional differences Nov 8, 2023 · What is the V Scale Grading System? The V scale is used across the US to denote the general difficulty of a boulder problem. As we touched upon earlier in the article, there are two primary scales – the V Scale and Font Scale. ttilm icr xysfye hmyqg rxwfv eto iyyrb mhojy ojjb dpzlsv