Bouldering: which types it suits

Bouldering is climbing on short walls without ropes, with thick crash mats covering the floor. Holds are marked by colour or tape into graded 'problems', and you've solved one when you reach the top using only its holds. Indoor walls reset their problems regularly, so the same wall becomes a fresh set of puzzles every few weeks. Kit is just climbing shoes and chalk, and most gyms rent shoes, so you can turn up empty-handed.

Bouldering suits people who love a puzzle you solve with your hands and feet. Several people will often take turns on the same problem, swapping ideas like 'left foot first here', so it's easy to start chatting with complete strangers. It hooks people who care more about the thrill of cracking a new problem than about any record, and who want exercise that feels like a day out with friends.