If you’re looking for a way to make those challenging climbing moves easier, heel hook climbing maybe the right technique for the job. Hooking is a basic climbing technique that uses your heel to hook onto an edge or hold, giving you more leverage to pull yourself up.
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It’s beneficial on overhangs and routes with few handholds. Here I’ll teach you how to do the heel hook climbing move safely and effectively, as well as reasons why it should be a part of your climbing arsenal in the first place.
What is the Heel Hook Climbing Technique?
The heel hook is a climbing technique where the climber hooks their heel over a hold and uses their legs to generate leverage and pull themselves up. This technique can be used indoors and outdoors and is an essential skill for any serious climber to master.
There are a few different ways to perform a heel hook, but the most important thing is to get a good purchase on the hold with your heel. Then, once your heel is hooked, you can use your legs to generate leverage and pull yourself up.
When To Use The Heel Hook
One of the benefits of the heel hook is that it can be used to rest on a climb. This can be helpful if you are feeling fatigued or need a break. To do this, simply hook your heel over hold and let your body weight rest on your leg.
The heel hook can also be used to dyno (dynamic move) to a higher hold. To do this, hook your heel over the hold you want to reach, and then use your leg to jump explosively and reach for the hold.
Heel Hook Bouldering
Heel hooking is also a popular technique in bouldering, where climbers use their hands and feet to scale short walls or rocks without the use of ropes. Boulderers often use heel hooks to rest on holds or to make big moves between holds.
To heel hook on a boulder, simply find a good hold for your heel and hook it over the edge. You can then use your legs to generate leverage and pull yourself up.
The heel hook is an essential climbing technique that every serious climber should master. With a little practice, you’ll be hooking your way to the top of any climb in no time!
How to Heel Hook When Climbing (Step by Step)
Hooking is a climbing technique where you use your feet to hook onto ledges, edges, or holds to gain leverage and pull yourself up. Heel hooking involves hooking your heel around the hold and then pressing down with your foot to generate upward force.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to heel hook:
- Start by finding a good foothold that you can hook your heel around. It should be a large enough hold that your entire foot can comfortably fit on top of it.
- Place your foot on the foothold and hook your heel around the back of the hold. Make sure that your toes are pointing upward and that your ankle is flexed so that your heel is firmly in place.
- Once your heel is hooked, start to press down on the hold with your foot. This will create an upward force and help you to pull yourself up.
- As you continue to press down, begin straightening your leg, so your body starts to move upward.
- Use your arms to pull yourself up the wall until you reach the top.
Heel hooking is excellent for generating extra power and leverage when climbing. It can be used on both vertical and overhanging routes and is often the key to completing difficult moves.
With practice, you’ll be able to hook your heel around any hold, no matter how small. So give it a try the next time you’re out on a climb!
Heel Hook Training Climbing
If you want to get better at heel hooks climbing, it’s important to practice on a regular basis. You can do this by setting up a training climb with holds that are specifically designed for heel hooks.
Here’s a quick guide on how to set up a heel hook training climb:
- Start by finding two holds that are close together. The first hold should be large enough to fit your entire foot comfortably, while the second one should be small and challenging to hook.
- Place your foot on the first hold and hook your heel around the back of it. Make sure that your toes are pointing upward and that your ankle is flexed so that your heel is firmly in place.
- Once your heel is hooked, press down on the hold with your foot. This will create an upward force and help you to pull yourself up.
- As you continue to press down, begin straightening your leg, so your body starts to move upward.
- Use your arms to pull yourself up the wall until you reach the second hold.
Repeat this process until you reach the top of the climb. As you practice, try to increase the difficulty of the holds you’re using. This will help you to build strength and confidence in your heel hooking ability.
Other Rock Climbing Technique Hooks You May Need
In addition to the heel hook, there are a few other hook climber techniques that you might need the next time you’re working on a project.
Toe Hook Rock Climbing
The climbing toe hook involves hooking your toes around the hold and then pressing down with your foot to generate upward force. This technique can be used on vertical and overhanging routes and is often the key to completing difficult moves.
Knee Bar Climbing
Another hooking technique is the knee bar. This involves hooking your knee around the hold and then pressing down with your leg to generate upward force. This technique is often used on overhanging routes with few footholds available.
Finger Hook
Finally, the finger hook is a hooking technique used on small holds. To do this, hook your fingers around the hold and then press down with your hand to generate upward force.
FAQ’s Rock Climbing Hooking the Heel
How Do You Know When to Heel Hook?
The best heel hook is when you need to make a big move. You can also use a heel hook when you’re starting to get pumped and need to conserve energy.
How Do You Heel Hook and Toe Hook?
Start by hooking your heel onto the hold. Then, reach your toe up and hook it onto the hold. Finally, pull down with your heel and toe to lock yourself into the position.
What Is a Knee Bar in Climbing?
A knee bar is a technique where you use your knee to bar the wall, allowing you to rest or make a big move.