To be honest, I think bouldering is more dangerous. I have had more friends get injured bouldering than roped climbing. People that are more afraid of tying in don't understand that it is essentially the same thing as bouldering but a few more feet off the ground with the constant protection of a rope so your ankles aren't going to shatter when you fall.

I also prefer roped climbing because the objective makes much more sense to me. Bouldering is good to gain power and overall strength, but it has always seemed like a contrived variation to the sport. But I do respect the minimalism of just a pad and the rock.

Oh and where I boulder the problems are sandbagged and hard. But overall it's still climbing, rope or not, gear or bolts.

because many of them cant do it .. and think that 5.7 "trad" climb makes em sooo hardcore ...

other than common sense and being safe with a positive attitude ... the first thing i look for in partners is climbing partners is actual climbing ability ... if a person boulders and sports climb hard, i know that at least theyll have the ability to get through cruxes ... unlike some "hardcore" 5.7 trad climbers who need to be dragged up a climb

of course everyone has a good laugh when that boulderer/sport climber laybacks handcracks and falls on an easy offwidth ... but give it a season and theres a good chance theyll pick up the technique and outclimb you easily

its ironic when so many MPers hate on bouldering when THIS climber actually sees positives ...

Well, I use to boulder but a broken ankle later I prefer roped climbing. I have yet to break anything serious while roped in...

For me (I don't hate bouldering) if I travel far to some cool place to climb, I don't see myself wanting to boulder when I can rope climb (trad, toprope, sport..)
I think it's just because I enjoy the destination of a good climb. Getting to a good lookout, the rhythm and process of trad climbing or just longer climb in general.
I have very very limited experience outdoor bouldering but I very much enjoy it in the gym. This year I promised myself I'd go boulder some more. The challenge is super cool. I admit that I do get annoyed and put off by the hand/finger pain that comes with bouldering.

I'm not a fan of sit starts

Every aspect of our activity compliments the other. If you eschew bouldering you're missing out on a good workout that will no doubt benefit you some day when you have to crank a powerful move on a shitty hold. Climb everything you can get your hands on folks! Ice, Snow, Cracks, Crimpers, Slopers, Slabs, Crags, Walls, Pebbles, it's all good fun.

Even if roped climbing is your gig, a month of bouldering during the off-season will be beneficial. When done sensibly, bouldering will improve one's core and contact strengths. Get a good pad and some good spotters though; a busted ankle is a real downer.

People who 'hate' bouldering generally either suck at it/don't understand it/are old and can't take the impact or any combination of those things.

I think bouldering is like having sex...


...by yourself.

Here are a couple of reasons why:

1. When you want to get out but can't find a partner, just go bouldering.
2. It's gets the job done but there is something missing (rope gear...)

Bouldering is mega fun and is totally a worthy pursuit in and of itself. Usually plenty of little cuties in the pictures I see to boot. The only truly silly form of climbing is the "uber drytool gang", like the ALL ice gear with NO ice in sight and a bolt at your waist gang. That's really bad.

Dave MacLeod - nuff said? Hardest trad in the world, V14
Go to his web site to see how all types of climbing are accomplished.

Maintain a balance. I boulder hard so I can route climb hard. I route climb hard so I can do longer boulder problems. Any person that sees that you need one more then the other is a fool.

Maintain a balance. I boulder hard so I can route climb hard. I route climb hard so I can do longer boulder problems. Any person that sees that you need one more then the other is a fool.

I'm with the other guy who stopped bouldering over busted ankles. That, and, i rarely found a problem that inspired me. No hate though.

Its all stupid, none of this makes your mama proud!

Bouldering is the silliest way to get strong and make your physical weaknesses very clear. To me, the lines aren't inspiring- maybe highballs are, but I'll probably never do one. Bouldering isn't the grandest of pursuits to me. I would rather do a "100ft 7" than a V4 problem with 8 moves.

The reason I attempt V4 problems with 8 moves is because I want to improve. Bouldering is arguably the best way to improve overall power, contact strength, and footwork. IMHO, anyone that is serious about climbing and serious about getting better at it that doesn't incorporate bouldering into their regimen somehow, isn't that serious about it; like the person that said this:

Even Daniel woods says bouldering is just training for real rock climbing.

1- every fall= groundfall
2- begins at hard 11
3- Hank is right, cuties, but they often crush

Exercises in frustration.

I don't hate bouldering, it just isn't good for my body. I have knee and hip (labrum tear) issues. The repeated impact from 10-15 feet up is terrible for me. Actually, it sounds like doctors are starting to agree that bouldering is probably one of the most destructive subsets of climbing out there.

I do roll my eyes anyone espouses some sort of "purity" regarding their subgenre of climbing. Boulderers happen to espouse this more, but whatever.

I don't think the two should be mutually exclusive. I've always climbed routes and bouldered to some extent, just with a greater emphasis on one or the other at different times.

I used to climb routes a lot, then I decked and broke my back. When I started climbing again a year later I was too afraid to lead anything. I started bouldering a lot, and really enjoyed it. But when I started bouldering harder, I started getting hurt. One broken ankle, a sprained ankle a couple months later, and a torn pulley convinced me to start climbing routes again.

Although, now I'm wondering if maybe I'm just accident prone and should give up climbing altogether.