8 Best Climbing Books In 2021

Climbers are sometimes considered with skepticism by the masses. Some of us may fall prey to the romance of challenging unclaimed heights, while others might struggle to comprehend what pushes someone to risk their neck. A friend's insight into a climber's life may, therefore, prove helpful to understand these peculiar personas. Long-time friend and colleague of the famed Alex Honnold, Mark Synnott delivers an inside perspective of life on the rocks, in particular, the one that led to the now-famous free solo climb of El Capitan.

Not only does Synnott take us backstage for that particular climb, but he also revisits and confronts his personal history and obsession with climbing and his strive to live life to the fullest. In "The Impossible Climb", Synnott paints a broad picture of the significance of Yosemite's famous peak, compiling stories of the first climbers as well as recounts of his adventures halfway around the globe. 

"The Impossible Climb" becomes an emotional drama about passionate people pushing themselves to the extremes and looking to achieve a delicate balance in nature, all the while guiding us to reflect on our struggles and motivations, urging us to look deep inside ourselves to find what pushes us forward. After all, each one of us has an engine driving our days, we just need to remember to keep it well-fueled and ready to go.

As the title suggests, "The Rock Climber's Training Manual" delivers an effective step-by-step guide to constantly improving your rock climbing. Drawing on the experiences of elite climbers, the book develops from the famous "Rock Prodigy" training method and expands on it, proving a very useful tool to quickly take your climbing to the next level. 

With concise and easy language, the manual describes daily schedules specifically designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced climbers and training programs tailored for trad, sport climbing, or bouldering. The wealth of information continues with over two hundred full-color illustrations that let you visualize the correct techniques and eleven exercise protocols that describe every training activity in detail.

The manual incorporates the latest advancements in sport science and users report experiencing significant improvements after following the instructions described by the authors. If you're willing to put in the work and the hours of practice, this may well be one of the best rock climbing books you can find or at least one that can have a significant impact on your abilities.

Craig Luebben's first edition of "Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills'' has helped hundreds upon hundreds of aspiring rock climbers become familiar with the sport, and now his friend and fellow climber Topher Donahue have expanded the content. Donahue has kept the core of Luebben's precious teaching and brought key info up to date with the latest practices, complementing it with stunning photographs.

Rock climbing can seem daunting to any newcomer, but by following the trail carefully laid by Luebben and Donahue, the whole activity is decoded and simplified, providing even the complete novice with the tools to ascend their first rock walls. In the second edition, European climbing techniques find space alongside North American ones, and three never-before-published techniques are shared. These are the Adjustable Hitch, High Friction Tubes, and the Bright Method, and we leave you with the pleasure of discovering them. 

Despite having fallen victim to a lethal accident in the North Cascades, Luebben's teaching stays alive in this text and continues inspiring and educating ever-growing numbers of new and ambitious climbers. For those looking for books about rock climbing to know what to expect when they head out the door, few come as well recommended as the second edition of "Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills''.

Readers fascinated with personal stories of loss and redemption will much appreciate "Learning to Fly: A Memoir of Hanging On and Letting Go", by Steph Davis. After making a name for herself as one of the best climbers in the world, Davis has found herself stranded and seemingly without a purpose in life after her husband makes a controversial climb in a national park. This is the story of how, with the only company of her dog, Davis discovers BASE jumping during the search for a new identity.

Despite this being as close to the complete opposite of climbing as one could imagine, the book describes how Davis opens herself up to this new experience and new self, eventually getting to the point where she can love again even following a heartbreak. Complemented by beautiful black and white photographs, the book tells an emotional tale of rediscovery and self-transformation, which is bound to inspire and motivate countless readers, in the climbing world or outside of it.

Rock climbing books often focus on how much you can learn to control yourself and your emotions, and while "Learning to Fly" may begin from a similar starting point, it leads us through a journey in which we learn to accept how little we can control and learn to trust and enjoy ourselves nonetheless. This is an inspiring account and a volume that is bound to make us think more about the way we lead our lives.

John Kettle is the UK's foremost climbing movement specialist and he has condensed two decades’ worth of experience in this essential climbing manual. The book explains how climbing is, at its core, a skill-based sport and does not solely focus on repetitive training, flexibility, endurance, or simple raw strength. The text aims to get you moving as smoothly and effortlessly as you can on the rock, whatever your ability and experience.

"Rock Climbing Technique" comes illustrated with over 35 skills exercises meant for all kinds of climbers, complemented by online videos aimed at helping you develop those fundamental skills you will need to feel at home even on the steepest walls. Achieving smooth, relaxed, and powerful movements is Kettle's objective, and he has spent years as a professional training coach perfecting the path to get there. 

Divided into specific chapters focused on particular techniques, the book provides a comprehensive guide to improving your skillset before heading to the walls you aim to conquer, and users report feeling a significant difference in their abilities and confidence to tackle a climb. For those looking for the best rock climbing books to work on their skills or gift to a fellow avid climber, "Rock Climbing Technique" may well be the definitive choice and the benchmarks against which all other manuals are tested.