Top Reasons We Switched to Circuits versus Fixed V-Grades

Why Our Climbing Gym Switched to Circuit Grading Instead of Fixed V-Grades

If you’ve walked into Agility Boulders lately and noticed colored circuits instead of fixed V-grades, you’re not imagining things—we’ve changed how we grade boulders.

At Agility Boulders, we have re-tuned our approach to grading climbs. While we started using traditional V‑grades when we opened in 2021, we’ve now embraced circuits. We have six overlapping circuits, each covering about three V‑grades.

A circuit is a group of boulders of the same color that all fall within roughly the same difficulty zone.

 

Here are the top reasons why circuit‑style grading shines:

1. Encourages Exploration and Play, Not Grade Fixation

Circuit grading uses difficulty ranges rather than exact numbers. Climbs are grouped into circuits, such as Green or Yellow, with overlapping zones. This design invites climbers to try boulders outside their expected abilities.  The result? More playful exploration, less self‑judgment, and more discovery of untapped strengths. 

2. Reduces Grade Anxiety, Eases Access

Without rigid V‑grades, climbers hesitate less. Circuits reduce intimidation and inspire curiosity, letting you choose routes for fun rather than fixed grades. This encourages people to try different routes without psyching themselves out, prompting them to notice where climbs get tricky rather than dismissing a climb based on a V-grade number alone.

3. Reflects Subjectivity with Flexibility

Climbing difficulty is subjective, as body type, experience, and style preferences all affect perception. Circuit grading acknowledges that subjectivity. Instead of seeing a climb as simply ‘too hard (V6)’, climbers can think, ‘it’s in my circuit—maybe I just need a different approach.

4. Supports Better Training and Progress Tracking

Circuits are more than labels; they’re training zones. Grouping climbs into grade ranges enables more efficient training and gives climbers a clear sense of their current capability. With a circuit spanning about three V‑grades and overlaps, climbers can establish a zone where they feel challenged but not overwhelmed.

5. Eases Transition and Encourages Growth

Because circuits overlap, members aren’t boxed into one range. A climb in the Blue Circuit (V3–V5) may overlap Yellow Circuit (V1–V3) or Pink Circuit (V5–V7). Overlapping circuits provide better insight into where your skills lie and help you move forward with confidence.

6. Helps Focus on Movement Quality and Variety

Fixed grades can lead to rigid patterns, for climbers often climbing what they’re strong at. But circuits group climbs by difficulty range, not style, encouraging climbers to choose based on movement variety. Circuits invite climbers to try problems outside their usual style—slopers if you’re a crimp lover, compression if you usually avoid it—so movement skills grow in all directions. This structural diversity fosters better overall movement skills.

7. Inclusive for All Body Types and Communities

Because grading is subjective, circuits allow for a wider range of body types and skill sets. Instead of arguing over a single number, we focus on whether a climb fits a shared difficulty zone that feels fair to a wide range of climbers.

8. Adaptable for Every Gym’s Unique Community

Circuits are customizable to the gym’s clientele. Circuit‑style grading broadens the scope of difficulty through wide ranges and/or overlapping grades, and is malleable to suit any gym’s style or needs. Whether your gym serves beginners, performance-driven athletes, or those seeking a lush movement experience, circuits can reflect that intent.

Making Climbing Welcoming, Curious, and Skill‑Driven

At its heart, climbing is a deeply personal, physical, and creative journey. Circuit grading doesn’t eliminate V‑grades; it reframes them. It provides flexibility, motivation, and positive framing for climbers to try and fail forward.

By using circuits:

- Climbers worry less about numbers and more about movement.

- Routesetters gain adaptability to match gym culture.

- Everyone feels invited to climb outside their comfort zone, explore new styles, and measure progress against themselves, not the grade.

For a gym like ours, this system fosters curiosity, variety, confidence, and genuine progression.

Next time you’re in the gym, pick the circuit color you’ve been living in and try one color higher on a few problems. Notice how the movement feels, not just the grade—that’s exactly what this system is built for.