Editing Bouldering (section)

== Grading ==
{{Main|Grade (bouldering)}}
[[File:Indoor Bouldering V3 Rock Spot.webm|right|thumb|150px|A climber completing an indoor V3 problem]]

Bouldering problems are assigned numerical difficulty ratings by route-setters and climbers. The two most widely used rating systems are the V-scale and the Fontainebleau system.{{Sfn|Hill|2008|p=234}}

The V-scale, which originated in the United States, is an open-ended rating system with higher numbers indicating a higher [[degree of difficulty]]. The V1 rating indicates that a problem can be completed by a novice climber in good physical condition after several attempts.{{Sfn|Sherman|2001|p=66}} The scale begins at V0, and as of 2024, the highest V rating that has been assigned to a bouldering problem is V17.<ref name="first9Aboulder">{{Cite web |date=24 October 2016 |editor= |title=Nalle Hukkataival Climbs Burden of Dreams and Proposes World's First 9a Boulder Problem |url=https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/climbing/nalle-hukkataival-climbs-burden-of-dreams-and-proposes-worlds-first-9a-boulder-problem.html |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=Planet Mountain}}</ref> Some climbing gyms also use a VB grade to indicate beginner problems.<ref>{{cite web |date=2013 |year= |title=Climbing Grades |url=http://www.spadout.com/wiki/index.php/Climbing_Grades |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194956/http://www.spadout.com/wiki/index.php/Climbing_Grades |archive-date=29 October 2013 |access-date=4 January 2025 |publisher=Spadout}}</ref>

The Fontainebleau scale follows a similar system, with each numerical grade divided into three ratings with the letters ''a'', ''b'', and ''c''. For example, Fontainebleau 7A roughly corresponds with V6, while Fontainebleau 7C+ is equivalent to V10.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Horan |first=Bob |title=Bouldering Colorado |date=2008 |publisher=Morris Book Company |isbn=9780762736386 |edition=1st |series=Falcon Guides |location=Helena, Montana |pages=3}}</ref> In both systems, grades are further differentiated by appending "+" to indicate a small increase in difficulty. Despite this level of specificity, ratings of individual problems are often controversial, as ability level is not the only factor that affects how difficult a problem may be for a particular climber. Height, arm length, [[flexibility]], and other body characteristics can also affect difficulty.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Horst |first=Eric |title=Learning to Climb Indoors |date=2012 |publisher=Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-7627-8005-1 |edition=3rd |series=Falcon Guides |location=Lanham, Maryland |pages=11-12}}</ref>