Solo climbing, or soloing, is a style of

climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done fo ...

in which the climber climbs alone, without the assistance of a

belayer Belaying is a variety of techniques climbers use to create friction within a climbing system, particularly on a climbing rope, so that a falling climber does not fall very far. A climbing partner typically applies tension at the other end of t ...

. It is not to be confused with

bouldering Bouldering is a form of free climbing that is performed on small rock formations or artificial rock walls without the use of ropes or harnesses. While bouldering can be done without any equipment, most climbers use climbing shoes to help sec ...

, a short ascent which by definition is done without the assistance of ropes, harness, or climbing partner. Forms of solo climbing include: *

Roped solo climbing Roped solo climbing or rope soloing is a form of solo climbing without a climbing partner, but with the safety of rope protection. Variations *Roped solo free climbing refers to top roping on a fixed rope, a traditional (aka trad) climb, or ...

is climbing alone with a rope backup in case of fall. Roped soloing is especially useful in rescue situations. There are two ways to rope solo: ** Lead solo, in which the climber uses a

self-locking device Self-locking devices are devices intended to arrest the fall of solo climbers who climb without partners. This device is used for back rope solo climbing for "ground-up climbing" or "top rope self belaying". To date, several types of such self-loc ...

which is used to arrest a fall. One end of the rope may be anchored below the climber with the coils of rope in a bag on the climber's back, or for single-pitch climbs the device may be secured at ground level, and the climber tied into the end of the rope. ** Top rope solo, in which the climber uses a self-locking device and climbs as if

top roping Top rope climbing (or top roping) is a style in climbing in which the climber is securely attached to a rope which then passes up, through an anchor system at the top of the climb, and down to a belayer at the foot of the climb. The belayer takes ...

. If weight is put on the rope during the climb, it is a form of aided climbing. *

Free solo climbing Free solo climbing, or free soloing, is a form of technical ice or rock climbing where the climbers (or ''free soloists'') climb alone without ropes, harnesses or other protective equipment, forcing them to rely entirely on their own individual ...

(known in the UK as ''soloing'') is perhaps the best-known solo technique. The term describes climbing without the use of any rope or other forms of

protection Protection is any measure taken to guard a thing against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although th ...

, wherein a fall could result in serious injury or death. **

Deep-water soloing Deep-water soloing (DWS), also known as psicobloc, is a form of solo rock climbing that relies solely upon the presence of water at the base of a climb to protect against injury from falls from the generally high-difficulty routes. While typica ...

, or ''psicobloc'', is a subtype of free solo climbing performed on cliffs overhanging water so that in case of a fall, the climber lands safely in the water. ** Deep net solo is a subtype of free solo climbing in which the climber has a net below them and climbs without a rope. It is a newer version of deep water soloing that can be done indoors.

References

Types of climbing Solo activities {{Climbing-stub