Climbing hold types and how to choose
Choosing the right mix of climbing holds depends on your wall angle, target difficulty and climbing style. Here is what each type does on the wall:
Jugs provide large, positive handholds for warm-up routes, downclimbing and beginner-friendly problems. On steep walls, jugs become rest positions between harder sequences.
Crimps and edges demand precise finger placement and build contact strength. Smaller crimps suit advanced training; positive crimps work well on vertical and slightly overhanging walls for intermediate climbers.
Slopers require open-hand grip and body tension. They reward good footwork and core engagement — essential shapes for modern competition-style bouldering.
Pinches train thumb opposition and forearm endurance. They add lateral movement and body positioning challenges to any route.
Pockets isolate individual fingers and develop specific finger strength. Use them sparingly on training walls and more generously on lead routes.
Footholds are the most underrated category. Precise, well-textured footholds make the difference between a readable route and a frustrating one. VirginGrip footholds are available as screw-on (for plywood walls) and bolt-on (for commercial panels).
A well-rounded set for a home bouldering wall typically combines jugs, crimps, slopers and footholds at a density of approximately 10–12 holds per square metre. For a commercial gym, mixing Competition Line and Basic Line ensures variety across difficulty grades.
Fixation: bolt-on, screw-on or combined
Bolt-on holds attach with a single hex bolt through a T-nut. They are quick to swap, rotate and rearrange — the standard for commercial climbing walls with pre-drilled panels.
Screw-on holds use multiple wood screws and sit flush against the wall surface. They are ideal for plywood home walls where T-nut installation is impractical, and they work especially well as footholds and small crimps that benefit from zero rotation.
Combined holds accept both fixation methods, giving route setters maximum flexibility.
Material and sustainability
All VirginGrip polyurethane climbing holds are cast from a material developed in partnership with Ebalta (Germany) specifically for climbing hold production. The result is a PU compound that is highly abrasion-resistant, chip-resistant and skin-friendly — it grips well without tearing skin during extended training sessions.
Up to 40 % of the raw material is sourced from renewable feedstock, and the polyurethane carries Carbon Neutral Product certification. We currently offer 15 colours including fluorescent options and our signature VG Blue, all from pigments kept permanently in stock.
Learn more about our manufacturing process and materials on the VirginGrip Production page.
Boulder kits and lead sets
Not sure where to start? Our pre-configured boulder kits and lead sets bundle holds from a single series into a balanced selection for specific wall types:
- Boulder kits (e.g. Falcons Slab Boulder Kit, Fighters Boulder Kit) cover a 12–15 m² bouldering area with a mix of crimps, jugs, slopers and footholds.
- Lead sets (e.g. UFO Lead Set, Lagunas Lead Set) provide enough variety for 15–25 metres of vertical lead route, with footholds and rest positions included.
- Complete sets (e.g. Falcons Complete Set, Seashells Complete Set) deliver a full series in one order — ideal for gyms outfitting an entire wall section.