As climbing increases in popularity, so too, have the variations of the sport. The history of climbing is rich with information, innovation, and people. In a nutshell, here are the most commonly known types of climbing techniques and terms you might hear out on the rock Trad (the grandparent of climbing), lead, bouldering––originally a training method, top-rope, gym (or, “artificial wall climbing”), and sport to name a few. Each style of climbing differs and some even overlap, but the equipment involved, how you hang off the wall (or, if you even hang at all), and whether you reach heights in the gym or out in nature will determine your style.