Climbing hold

Climbing holds come in a large array of sizes and shapes to provide different levels of challenge to a climber.

Wood was another early hold-making material, mainly because it was inexpensive and easy to carve into various shapes.

Wood holds are usually smooth and pleasant to grab, though they are difficult to wash and splintering may become a problem with age.

Early mixtures of polyester resin had issues with wear and tear, often becoming chipped and cracked.

The chipped or broken edge of a resin hold can often provide an unintended place to grab that can be sharp or otherwise dangerous to the climber.

Due to processing costs, they are more expensive than resin holds and require extra care when installing.

This technique has had mixed success, as eventually the rubber backing begins to peel away from the wall, providing a similar unintended handhold as the chipped resin might.

"Synthetic rock" (resin/rock powder mixture) combined with slippery hard plastic is another innovation.

PU is lighter, more flexible, and less prone to chipping and breakage than polyester or natural materials.

Some climbers believe polyurethane can become warm with intensive use, though a few moments of not being held and some brushing usually solves the problem.

The main issue with this texture is the complexity in manufacture means few companies have the ability to produce them and also the cost of these holds is relatively high.

The term "jugs", derived from the expression "jug-handle", has dual meanings in the climbing world.

Because they are easy to use, jugs are often found on beginner routes, warm-up problems, and steep walls.

They are useful because they are easier to carry in a bucket than big jugs and they use less material to manufacture than larger holds do (so they are more cost effective).

They slope down away from the wall with generally a smooth surface, therefore requiring the climber, for maximum friction and in order to gain maximum effectiveness of the hold, to use an open handed grip to pull against the hold and push inwards.

Though monos are the most dangerous, all pockets load only a couple of fingers, so climbers must be careful to avoid injuring their tendons.

Pinches require significant hand strength to use, and are usually used on more challenging routes and boulder problems.