Rock climbing is moving up natural rock walls using your hands and feet. It is divided into two main types depending on whether the climber uses equipment to help them move up: aid climbing and free climbing.
Aid Climbing
Aid climbing is a type of climbing that uses equipment to support upward movement. What sets it apart from the others is that the climber’s progress is supported by gear. Climbing aids such as ladders, etriers, foot loops and russian aiders are used.
Aid climbing can be done in a sport or a traditional (trad) style.
Free Climbing
Although it is often confused with free solo, free climbing is actually the exact opposite of aid climbing. In this type of climbing, climbers do not use equipment to help them move up. The idea is that the climber carries their own weight upwards entirely with muscle power, without supporting gear. A rope, a harness and protection may be used, but only to catch a fall, never to make progress.
Free climbing is divided into 12 sub-types.
