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Hard, non-contrived bat hangs?

Original Post
Hunter S · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2023 · Points: 756

I recently sent a V8 boulder (Static Reach) via a tricky bat hang.  I had never before done a bat hang that was not seriously contrived, even in a gym.  It got me wondering what other examples of this there are in the wild.  What are examples of routes or boulders with bat hangs that are actually useful in the context of the climb? 

In particular, I wonder what is the hardest bat hang somebody has done on a climb.

Alex R · · Golden · Joined May 2015 · Points: 228

Using this definition of bat hang I found:

"A type of climbing move in which the climber locks his or her knees and/or feet in a manner that enables him to remove his hands and hang upside down while on an overhanging route."

It seems like most offwidth inverts would count as bat hangs. Which might make the hardest climb using a bat hang Century Crack.

Sam M · · Sydney, NSW · Joined May 2022 · Points: 1

I remember a great print photo spread of Zac Vertrees at the Underworld in the Blue Mountains in the 2000s in a magazine, doing a legit bat hang on a monster sport route.

J1, which is (ironically) the second problem in this video


"Brad Brad"


Kyle Smith · · Southern Nevada · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 2,004

Swing Dance is a problem that most people find easiest going feet first/bat hang.

Brandon C · · Oakland, CA · Joined Jul 2020 · Points: 0

Overlooked, Pawtuckaway NH.

It’s a classic climb for the grade at P-way. I’ve seen some do it without the bat hang, but for most people, the bat hang is the only way.


https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105945306/overlooked

Not Not MP Admin · · The OASIS · Joined Nov 2018 · Points: 17

Weird flex, but I’ll play along. Te Cuelgas Guey - has to be a contender at V13. It’s also probably one of the sickest boulders out there and never seen it down without the bat hang/double toe hook. Not sure it’s possible without that beta, which makes it so epic.

Alex Fischer · · Albuquerque, NM · Joined Jun 2018 · Points: 772

Whip Tide, and the adjacent Man Overboard at Waimea/Rumney both share an excellent bat hang. I've done it; I hung off it hands free for a good while. Truly surreal. You can even clip the next bolt off the bat hang.

that guy named seb · · Britland · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 236

There is a yet unclimbed project which involves a bat hang as the only beta for progression (I found it which I'm very proud of), that's near where I grew up. Considering the grade of who had tried it it's at least 8a but most likely quite a bit harder. 

Go Back to Super Topo · · Lex · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 285
that guy named seb wrote:

There is a yet unclimbed project which involves a bat hang as the only beta for progression (I found it which I'm very proud of), that's near where I grew up. Considering the grade of who had tried it it's at least 8a but most likely quite a bit harder. 

Link? Sorry, but posting something like this isn’t much different than saying I set this sick feet first, dyno-into-a-bat hang at the gym and none of the comp kids can do it so it’s probably 9a. I guess my point is that I’m not sure undone routes should be in consideration as the OP asked for specific (presumable existing) climbs where the easiest/most accepted beta is a bat hang and a project doesn’t really have a set-in-stone accepted beta per se.

David Bruneau · · St. John · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 2,650

Black Eagle, the most popular V9 at the Niagara Glen in Ontario ( youtube.com/watch?v=OuZsJZQ…). Inverting to a bat hang is the most reliable way to do the crux.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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