Favorite Climbing Volumes of Routesetters Since 2016

Volumes are features made from wood that setters bolt or screw onto climbing walls. They range in size, with the smallest being no larger than the average climbing hold, while larger volumes can be six feet wide or more. The purpose of volumes is typically not just for them to be gripped but to more drastically change a wall into a three-dimensional surface. The invention of volumes has been credited by many prominent setters of the 90s and early 2000s as the first leap into modern routesetting. Setters can attach screw-on holds directly to them, stack multiple volumes together, or use them alone. Their size and versatility make them a staple in modern gyms and competitions, where they’re used to force movement, create new body positions and add visual impact. The modular nature of volumes gives setters an elevated degree of creative possibilities.

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Notes: In 2020 we began recognizing Macros and Volumes as two different categories. In 2019 we began including survey responses from the entire world, previously only responses from North America were counted.