The Secret Life of Climbing Holds: Types, Materials, and How They Shape Your Session
When you walk into Bould Move, one of the best gyms in the Sunshine Coast, you’ll notice the vibrant, uniquely shaped climbing holds on every wall. But have you ever wondered why they feel different? Or how route setters use them to craft your favourite problems?
Understanding climbing holds types and materials helps climbers recognise why some problems feel powerful while others feel technical and precise.
Let’s go behind the scenes and uncover the secret life of climbing holds—the unsung heroes of your bouldering session.
What Are Climbing Holds Made From?
There are three main materials used in modern climbing holds:
- Polyurethane (PU)
- Lightweight and durable — ideal for bigger holds
- Holds their shape well but can get slicker over time with heavy use
- Favoured by setters for their versatility and ease of transport
- Polyester Resin (PE)
- Heavier and less flexible but known for sharper, grippier texture
- Holds finer detail (micro edges, crimps) better than PU
- Often used on training boards or in gyms that prioritize texture over portability
- More brittle — can chip if dropped, but still popular for technical holds
- Fibreglass
- Extremely lightweight yet stiff — perfect for oversized macro holds
- Common in World Cup-style competition routes due to dramatic shaping
- Coated with texture paint for friction, but can wear smooth faster than PE or PU
The Role of Texture, Shape & Color
Route setters don’t just think about how far a hold is from the next one—they think about what it feels like. Texture plays a huge role in difficulty.
- Smooth holds require body tension and subtlety.
- Grippy textures let you go big and commit.
- Slopers, crimps, jugs, and pinches all ask different things of your body.
Our setters rotate hold types to keep sessions fresh and varied.
How Route Setters Use Holds Creatively
Setting isn’t just sticking holds to the wall, it’s storytelling. Setters use shape, texture, and orientation to craft climbs that:
- Teach movement skills
- Teach body positioning
- Push climbers physically and mentally
This is why route setting is both art and science—and why our facility is known for the best bouldering on the Sunshine Coast.
