Meat hook

A meat hook is a climbing technique where the climber uses the crook of their elbow or the bend of their arm to hook over a hold, feature, or edge on the rock. Rather than gripping with the hands, the climber drapes the inner elbow over the hold and pulls down, using the arm like a hook. This technique is commonly used on overhanging terrain when the climber needs to rest their forearms, reach far for the next hold, or when holds are too large or rounded for effective hand grips. Meat hooks can also refer to heel hooks or toe hooks used in a similarly aggressive, hooking fashion on steep terrain.

Examples

In lead climbing and sport climbing, a meat hook involves draping the crook of your elbow over a large hold or volume to gain purchase on steep terrain. For example, on a severely overhanging route with a large horn feature, a climber might throw their arm over it and lock the elbow crook around it to rest before attempting the next sequence. Boulderers use meat hooks on competition-style volumes where wrapping the arm provides more security than trying to grip the smooth surface. The technique is also useful on stalactites in limestone caves, where hooking the elbow around a tufa can provide a crucial rest on an otherwise pumpy route.