French Grade

The "French Grade" in bouldering refers to a system used to measure the difficulty of a climbing route, mainly in rope climbing but sometimes applicable in bouldering contexts. It uses a numerical system starting from 1 (easiest) to about 9b+ (hardest known), often combined with letters (a, b, c) and/or symbols (+) for further distinction within each number. The French Grade assesses the overall difficulty, including technical moves, endurance required, and exposure. It's widely used in Europe and internationally recognized.

Examples

The French grade is used to rate the difficulty of climbing routes, primarily for sport climbing. Typically written as a number followed by a letter (e.g., 6a, 7c+). - Jenna attempts a 6b route, finding it challenging but doable after several tries. - Marco climbs a 7a, enjoying the mix of technical moves and endurance. - Sarah pushes her limits by working on an 8a and practicing specific sequences repeatedly. - Luis warms up on a 5c before tackling harder climbs throughout the day. - Anna celebrates sending her project, a tricky 7b with a powerful crux.