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Climbing Geekery

Yoga Studio app// review
In Climbing Geekery, Climbing Health, Popular Now, Reviews, Skills, Training & Fitness, Uncategorized

UPDATE:  In light of changes to the Yoga Studio App, please be aware that the app is no longer a one-time purchase app and operates on a subscription model.  Previous purchasers of the app have paid for the app and subsequently had their access revoked, subject to paying a monthly subscription.

We can no longer recommend the app on the basis that the fundamental basis of our original review has changed. Please see comments below, from customers.

Ever thought about taking up yoga as a way of improving your flexibility and core strength, but can't seem to get yourself to a class? There's loads of free yoga apps on the market for smart phones so we've reviewed Yoga Studio to see if paying for a yoga app is really worth it.

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What is Mountain Rescue??
In Articles, Climbing Geekery

​If you live in an area of Britain with or near a national park the chances are you live in an area with a Mountain Rescue Team (MRT). Mountain Rescue is typically associated with areas such as the Lake District, Wales, and highlands of Scotland, but there are also teams operating in areas such as the South Pennines, Dartmoor and the Scottish borders - all providing search and rescue cover. Emily Thompson is a member of Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) and explain a bit more about what MR is and what you need to consider if you want to become and MRT member.

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Womenclimb Adventure Sports Quiz
In Climbing Geekery

So, as part of our Get Outdoors month, we're promoting all things outdoors.  Play our fun quiz - test your knowledge of Adventure and Extreme sports.  Maybe you'll find something new to have a go at.  Whatever you do, let us know about it.

What you’ll need: A pen and paper or your phone/ tablet/ computer ready for you to type

The Womenclimb Adventure Sports Quiz

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Why should I go bouldering?
In Articles, Beginner Climber, Climbing Geekery, Indoor Climber

If you don't understand bouldering, or are unsure about what it's all about, then follow our contributor Emily Thompson on her journey of discovery, starting this week, with her thoughts on feeling like a fraud, having never been bouldering and having piles of insecurities about giving it a go.  This is a live activity - Emily is reporting on her journey as she does it, so we have no idea how it will turn out or what she will discover.  To learn more as her journey unfolds, sign up now to our newsletter and we will let you know when the next instalment is out. 

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The Best British Climbers?
In Articles, Climbing Geekery, Trad Climber

Last year I was asked to put together a list of climbers ‘of note’ to help a member of staff working in an outdoor centre. The centre had a series of rooms, all named after male climbers and she wanted to encourage the inclusion of notable female climbers. If you’re curious about who's on the list, read on. You might disagree, leave us a comment if you do!

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15 Knee Surgery Tips for Climbers
In Climbing Geekery, Sport Climber

There are all types of knee surgery, from ligament repairs and reconstructions to cartilage trims and kneecap scrapes.  Two of the Womenclimb team have been in for knee surgery in the last 12 months (August 2015 and Feb 2016) for meniscus repair and ACL reconstruction respectively.  They have put together their top tips to help climbers who have knee surgery.

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Climbing without an ACL
In Articles, Beginner Climber, Climbing Geekery, Indoor Climber, Sport Climber, Trad Climber, Womenclimb Favourites

For my entire climbing life, I have climbed with an ACL injury.  The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments in the knee, forming a cross shape with the Posterior Cruciate Ligament. It provides crucial stability to the knee, preventing the knee from twisting and rotating.  You can find out more in this Youtube video about what the ACL is and what it does.

Background - how I tore my ACL

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Climbing Injuries // Meniscus Tear Repair: Pt 1
In Articles, Beginner Climber, Climbing Geekery, Indoor Climber

The trials and tribulations of a meniscal repair - Knee Surgery Recovery

In August 2015 Beth Thomas went into hospital to have a repair of torn cartilage (also known as meniscus) in her left knee.  This article series is about her journey, from hospital to getting back to climbing.  Thank you to Beth for sharing.  We would love to hear your comments about her journey - please tell us what you think about her story.   

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Climbing Injuries // Meniscus Tear Repair: Pt 3
In Articles, Beginner Climber, Climbing Geekery, Indoor Climber

In August 2015 Beth Thomas had a repair of torn cartilage (meniscus) in her left knee.  This is the final article in the series that charts her journey from hospital to getting back to climbing.  We would love to hear your comments about her journey - please tell us what you think about her story.   If you want to read the first parts you'll find them here: Climbing Injuries // Meniscus Tear Repair: Part 1 & Part 2

Climbing after an operation

4 months on

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Climbing Injuries // Meniscus Tear Repair: Pt 2
In Articles, Beginner Climber, Climbing Geekery, Indoor Climber

Training and Complications after Knee Surgery

In August 2015 Beth Thomas went into hospital to have a meniscus repair for torn cartilage in her left knee.  In her last article she talked about the first part of her journey to recovery and the first weeks after her meniscectomy.  Today she talks a bit about the realities of her recovery - the workarounds and the setbacks.  Tell us what you think.  If you've not read the previous article you can find it here: Climbing Injuries // Meniscus Tear Repair: Pt 1

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The lowdown: Anodised Climbing Gear
In Beginner Climber, Climbing Geekery, Trad Climber
Climbing Gear on an Alpkit Bouldering matt

A trad rack of assorted anodised and non-anodised nuts, cams, slings, carabiners and more!

Is there a difference between anodised and non-anodised climbing gear?  If you've been into a climbing shop recently or been trad climbing you will probably have seen loads of nuts hanging around - some just silver and others in bright shiny colours.  The coloured ones may look very nice, but why would you spend extra money on anodised climbing nuts or anodised friends/ camming devices?

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Winter Mountaineering, Mixed Climbing and Ice Climbing - What's the difference?
In Articles, Climbing Geekery, Winter Climber or Mountaineer

In our efforts to give a succinct overview of Winter Climbing, we thought it would be useful to provide other short definitions as follows:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Winter Mountaineering is generally considered to be something different to Winter Climbing and to be larger in scope or scale than ‘climbing’.

Fundamentally, mountaineering most often involves summiting a mountain.  It also often refers to longer ‘classic’ lower grade routes – usually no harder than Grade II, very occasionally graded II/III.

It is usual to climb a mountaineering route with a single axe, although on the harder ones many people now carry a second tool ‘just in case’!

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Hex
To Hex or not to Hex
In Climbing Equipment, Climbing Geekery, Winter Climber or Mountaineer

I have been in the market for a set of hexes for some time now.  What I’ve found is that even when I have cams and nuts, I quite often feel that I need a nut that’s just a little bit bigger – to slot into a gaping hole and protect me from a fall.

So when I saw someone selling their hexes for £20 I jumped at the offer.  When I arrived to collect them I realised with much consternation that they all looked like this:

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