Smearing (climbing)

Smearing is a term used in rock climbing.

It is the practice of using the sole of a shoe against a flat rock face. Smearing can be one of the most insecure and technical techniques used in climbing, requiring a combination of leg/ankle tension, foot placement, and good balance. It is frequently used on slabs, and in other situations with sparse or sloping footholds.

Smearing can be one of the techniques with which novice climbers are least confident - however, it is crucial to learn how to smear properly at an early stage, as it tends to help in the development of a more elegant and less tiring style of climbing whereby a greater amount of weight is placed on the feet, and less on the arms and hands.

Types of rock on which smearing can prove particularly useful include gritstone, granite and sandstone.