Climb Smarter Not Harder – Improve Efficiency with these Energy-Saving Climbing Tips
Learn To Climb ● May 28, 2025
by Spot Coach Anika Shoemaker
Want to climb harder routes with less effort? Learning how to climb efficiently is one of the most effective ways to improve your performance and reduce fatigue.
Climbing efficiently comes up a lot in the coaching world, as we are often trying to find ways to maximize movement while saving energy. Efficient climbing is climbing that allows for no hesitation, second guessing, or wasted energy/movements.
There is a certain amount of energy required to finish a climb, and your goal should be to exceed that required minimum as little as possible. Below, we’ll break down key climbing techniques and movement strategies to help you climb smarter, not harder. These energy-saving tips can help you avoid common mistakes and boost your endurance on the wall.
Why Climbing Efficiency Matters
Efficiency in climbing is important because strength and endurance are limited resources. As climbers, we have a finite amount of “gas in the tank” on each attempt / during each session, and each move depletes it. Whether you’re tackling long, endurance-heavy rope climbs or short powerful boulders, climbing efficiently saves more energy for those critical final moves. Learning to maximize movement and delay muscle fatigue can be the difference between sending your project and repeatedly falling near the end.
Mastering Foot Technique
One of the easiest ways to climb more efficiently is by treating your lower body as just as important—if not more—than your upper body. Since your legs are much stronger than your arms, diverting as much weight to them as possible reduces the load on your upper body and helps you conserve energy.
To keep weight in your feet, think of the tips of your shoes like talons. Use your toe as a “hook” to pull your body underneath the holds and close to the wall. Often the placement of the feet can be energy-consuming.
Find yourself constantly readjusting your feet on the wall? Try to plan out where you would feel best supported by your feet to reach the next hold, and place them correctly the first time (slow and strong). Correct footwork the first time around saves energy and gives you a stable base for your next move.
Hip Movement & Body Positioning
Proper hip positioning is crucial for efficient climbing.Keeping your hips close to the wall centers your gravity over your feet reducing strain on your upper body.
As you move, try turning one of your hips in (the same hip of the arm that is moving) to shorten the distance between your trunk and the wall. This subtle rotation reduces the amount of static strength needed to reach the next hold.
When your hips sag or drift too far from the wall your body acts like a lever, dramatically increasing the pull on your arms. Staying close to the wall allows for less taxing, more efficient movement.
Route Reading: Climb Following a Plan
One of the most effective ways to climb efficiently is by reading your route before you leave the ground. Reading or “sequencing” your route from bottom to top—bothhands and feet—saves you from wasting energy making decisions on the wall.
Creating a sequence means planning as much as possible from the ground, so you are prepared for strong and smooth movement once you pull off the ground. Start by scanning the route from bottom to top, visualizing your hand and foot placements. Identify key holds, body positions, rests and potential crux sections. The goal is to plan a sequence that allows for smooth, controlled movement and minimal hesitation once you’re on the wall.
Good route reading also means having a backup plan. Create a “Plan B” for the crux sections in case your first plan for that section fails. It can also be helpful to practice mental rehearsal. Envision yourself doing each move and trying to think about which positions will be most comfortable.
All of these actions minimize physical and mental load once you pull off the ground. Practice route reading before each climb and you’ll be climbing more efficiently in no time.
Move with Purpose: Momentum, Commitment & Overgripping
A common energy drain for climbers is overgripping—holding on tighter than necessary out of fear or habit. This often leads to unnecessary tension in the upper body, especially in the arms and shoulders. To climb more efficiently, focus on relaxing any muscles not actively in use, and apply only the amount of grip needed to stay on the wall. Squeezing every hold as hard as you can might feel more secure, but it burns through valuable energy fast.
In addition to grip control, mastering your timing and commitment can drastically reduce the effort needed for each move. Moving with momentum—rather than forcing every move statically—takes advantage of your body’s natural physics. Think of the difference between doing a strict pull-up and jumping into one: dynamic movement, when timed well, requires less raw strength. Combining controlled momentum with intentional grip management allows you to move fluidly and conserve energy, especially on steep or powerful terrain.
Anika Shoemaker is a competitive climber and a Spot Team coach. She offers private instruction for both adults and youth climbers.