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2026 CBJ Grip List Survey

WANTED: Routesetter Opinions for Grip List 2026 Survey

Routesetters, we're back with the annual CBJ Grip List Survey, and we want to hear from you—the people using these holds to create your masterpieces. This is your chance to geek out, share your opinions, and help great brands and shapers get the recognition they deserve.

We’ve got big changes this year - for the first time ever, we're using a five-star rating system, so you don't have to choose just one favorite. For each category, we listed every brand that received at least 1% (holds, macros, volumes) or at least 2% (other categories) of the vote in any of the past 3 years of the Grip List. There’s also space at the end of each question to add ratings for more brands.

The survey closes at midnight on Sunday September 13th , but don’t wait!

This year's survey is intended for anyone who sets routes commercially or for competitions.

You Can Win Too

Every respondent earns a chance to win an Edelrid Setter Belt or pair of Red Chili Voltage X shoes! Thank you Edelrid and Red Chili for sponsoring this year’s survey!

Thanks for your time!

PERMISSION & AGREEMENT

To ensure the validity of the Grip List Survey, your real name and email are required to complete the survey. However, your multiple-choice responses and brand ratings are strictly anonymous and will only be shared in the aggregate. We may quote great written answers in our Grip List Awards article, but all quotes will be anonymous unless you give us permission below to attribute them to you. CBJ’s privacy policy can be found here.
Do you agree to provide your real name, and are you willing to have your written answers attributed to you in CBJ’s Grip List Awards article?(Required)

NAME & AFFILIATION

To ensure the validity of the Grip List Survey, your real name and email are required to complete the survey. However, your multiple-choice responses and brand ratings are strictly anonymous and will only be shared in the aggregate. We may quote great written answers in our Grip List Awards article, but all quotes will be anonymous unless you gave us permission at the previous page to attribute them to you. CBJ’s privacy policy can be found here.
Name(Required)
Would you like to receive special offers from our survey sponsor Edelrid?(Required)
If you mark “yes” we will only share your email address, first name and last name—no more.
Do you have any affiliations with hold companies? (check all that apply)(Required)


SETTER BACKGROUND

Please note that your responses to the multiple-choice questions in this part of the survey will be kept strictly anonymous and only shared in the aggregate.
Where do you live?(Required)
How long have you been routesetting?(Required)
In the past 12 months, have you been paid to be a routesetter in a climbing facility or at a climbing competition?(Required)
Where do you primarily set routes?(Required)
How large of a business is your primary facility part of?(Required)
What kind of climbing is offered at your primary facility?(Required)
In the past year, do you feel there were more or fewer professional development opportunities available to you?(Required)
Do you feel safety standards are improving fast/well enough in the industry?(Required)

THIS IS THE END OF THE BACKGROUND INTRO QUESTIONS - THE VOTING STARTS ON THE NEXT PAGE!

HOLDS HOLDS HOLDS

Climbing holds are typically made out of PU or PE and are attached primarily with bolts. See this comparison of holds, macros and volumes.

The brands listed below received 1% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which HOLD brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

HOLDS HOLDS HOLDS

Climbing holds are typically made out of PU or PE and are attached primarily with bolts. See this comparison of holds, macros and volumes.

The brands listed below received 1% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
360 Holds
AG
Axis
Blocz
Bluepill
CCE
Cheeta
Cornerstone
Decoy
Escape
eXpression
Flathold
Grizzly
IBEX
Kilter
Ocelot
Pusher
Rock Candy
Rockcity
So iLL
Squadra
SupR
Teknik
Trango
Unit
Unleashed
Urban Plastix
Xcult
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

MACROS MACROS MACROS

Climbing macros are typically made out of fiberglass or ABS/VTF and are attached with screws. See this comparison of holds, macros and volumes.

The brands listed below received 1% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which MACRO brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

MACROS MACROS MACROS

Climbing macros are typically made out of fiberglass or ABS/VTF and are attached with screws. See this comparison of holds, macros and volumes.

The brands listed below received 1% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
360 Holds
Absolute
AG
Agripp
ArtLine
Blocz
Bluepill
Cheeta
Elevation
eXpression
Flathold
IBEX
Kilter
Morpho
NEXT
Rockcity
Squadra
SupR
Unit
Unleashed
Xcult
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

VOLUMES VOLUMES VOLUMES

Climbing volumes are made out of plywood and are attached primarily with screws. See this comparison of holds, macros and volumes.

The brands listed below received 1% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which VOLUME brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

VOLUMES VOLUMES VOLUMES

Climbing volumes are made out of plywood and are attached primarily with screws. See this comparison of holds, macros and volumes.

The brands listed below received 1% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
AVA
Axis
Banana
Blocz
Bluepill
Cheeta
Dimension
DIY by gym
EP
Fit
Level
MW
Nicros
Rock Candy
Rockcity
Simpl
Solution
Stax
sToKed
Usable Surface
Walltopia
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

SHAPERS

The shapers listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which SHAPERS do you have HANDS-ON experience with their shapes?

SHAPERS

The shapers listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
Dan Yagmin
Dario Stefanou
Frank Bogerman
Gautier Supper
Ian Powell
Jared Roth
Jason Kehl
Jimmy Webb
Joey Jannsen
Joseph Hoffmann (was Wetzel)
Julius Kerscher
Laurent Laporte
Manu Hassler
Peter Juhl
Roy Quanstrom
Ty Foose
Will Watkins
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

MANUFACTURERS

Manufacturers are the factories that make the final product, not necessarily the shapes, and often they produce for many different brands. The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which MANUFACTURER brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

MANUFACTURERS

Manufacturers are the factories that make the final product, not necessarily the shapes, and often they produce for many different brands. The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
360 Holds
Absolute
AG
Aragon
Binary
Blocz
Composite X
Kastline
Peak Performance Polymers
Schlamberger
Xcult
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

TRAINING BOARD HOLD SYSTEMS

The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which TRAINING BOARD HOLD SYSTEM brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

TRAINING BOARD HOLD SYSTEMS

The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
Beastmaker
Decoy
Grasshopper
Kilter
Lumo
Moon
Tension
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

ROUTESETTING APPS

Routesetting apps are used to manage routesetting across a gym - boulders and routes.

The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which ROUTESETTING APP brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

ROUTESETTING APPS

Routesetting apps are used to manage routesetting across a gym - boulders and routes.

The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
Climb Time
DIY spreadsheets
Griptonite
Pebble
Plastick / KAYA
Social Boulder
TopLogger
Vertical-Life
WeClimb
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

SPRAYWALL APPS

Spraywall apps are used to organize routes on a specific wall that has many hold options and overlapping routes.

The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others on the next page.
Which SPRAYWALL APP brands do you have HANDS-ON experience with?

SPRAYWALL APPS

Spraywall apps are used to organize routes on a specific wall that has many hold options and overlapping routes.

The brands listed below received 2% or more of the vote in any of the prior three years. You can write-in others below.
Boulder Book
BoulderBot
Crux Climb
Retro Flash
Stōkt
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Be sure to include both their name and your 5-1 star rating for them.
Anything you write here may be used in our editorial, but you won't be quoted directly unless you gave that permission at the beginning of the survey.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!

Climbing Business Journal

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