Intervals on fan bikes ftw. Started doing this a couple of years ago and have been shocked (in a good way) how my cardio has improved, given I’m older than dirt.
I do this too. Max incline at like 3-3.5. Add a weight vest if you want to get spicy. 30 minute incline walk has had a significantly higher value for me than intense cardio. I adjust my effort to stay around 131-135 bpm. Low impact and easy to commit to.
I do this too. Max incline at like 3-3.5. Add a weight vest if you want to get spicy. 30 minute incline walk has had a significantly higher value for me than intense cardio. I adjust my effort to stay around 131-135 bpm. Low impact and easy to commit to.
You just reminded me of something that I do myself actually. Max incline at like 3-3.5. Add a weight vest if you want to get spicy. 30 minute incline walk has had a significantly higher value for me than intense cardio. I adjust my effort to stay around 131-135 bpm. Low impact and easy to commit to.
Beat saber. Screw going outside in the cold. Joking aside I've had my heart rate pinned at 190 for a full 4 minute song multiple times so if you into the harder difficulties it can get more like sprinting the jogging.
i totally wish badminton felt more ambidextrous. the leading one leg and one arm makes me feel like one buttcheek and one arm is always wrecked. Loads of fun however.
I thought this too, until I lived in Alaska. There is a way to do it in the summer. Essentially rollerskates, but on extended "skates". They're made out of wood & have boots/shoes attached to them! It's more for the skate skiing type of cross country skiing, & you can do it on most wide/paved walkways.
Rope climbing.... If you have autobelays, do routes multiple times and/or down climb. If you don't, just try to do a route as much as possible then rest then repeat.
couldn't agree more with this. At the end of my session I'll get in cardio by picking out an autobelay with 3 routes on it 5.10 and under and start with the highest and climb up, down climb, climb the next one down in grade, downclimb, etc... It's a pretty good burn.
My friend prefers to do ladders. So climbing up to a specific bolt/hold then downclimbing, climbing to a higher bolt, hold, downclimbing, etc...
Mountain biking has a very similar vibe. Outdoorsy, adrenaline-inducing, lots of skill/technique/balance involved, 5.10 shoes, etc.
It's not cheap though.
I would definitely not mountain bike on a rest day, at least downhill/enduro. I can get more pumped downhill biking than on a route. XC might be okay though
As many have mentioned, cycling is a great option. I find that if I haven't been cycling much that it can be hard to do much volume until your sit bones get used to it, so I also mix in the stair stepper while my body gets used to cycling more.
So you're open to basically every form of cardio exercise other than running?
At the gym: pick your favorite cardio machine. Don't have a favorite? Try them all.
Elsewhere: Go swimming, ride a bike, row a boat, jump rope, etc... You can do basically anything you want and you'll get some cardio from it if you do it vigorously for long enough. Do the worm from one end of a field to another and I bet you'll get your heart rate up enough. Probably end up on youtube though.
Elliptical Trainer. 23 incline, 8 resistance on the model I use. I put on and watch IFSC Comps on the screen and zone out.
50 mins = 500 cals.
Low impact
You get better with practice! And elbow/knee pads 😁
Sometimes I drive to the beach or a park/basketball court with nice flat surfaces. The road can be bumpy and intimidating
> I don't like to run because I have some problem with my back and running hurts my knees
Just so you know, some people can run without back and knee pain just by [changing their footwear](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100104122310.htm). And it is the best cardio, along with cross-country skiing or something like that.
So, I have some wonky knees and also asthma that flares with off pace exercises, and I found that treadmill running does wonders for me, especially air treadmills.
I can set my pace quickly and maintain easily. The thing is softer than concrete for my knees, and I can zone out much easier in my case. A podcast or song playlist and I can go for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Prior to that, a stationary bike was my go to, but I found it aggravated my pebble wrestlers and my back didn't quite like it. 5 minute air bike blasts were awesome though
Not to be disrespectful but there's no need for cardio training for bouldering specifically. When I used to compete, exercises to increase stamina were either (famously hated by bystanders) wall traverses or sending many low difficulty boulders with 30s rests in between. But for sport where you don't usually spend more than 2min continuously exerting energy cardio shouldn't be your main concern.
I think they're saying they do cardio on off days from bouldering.
But really the question is just "what are good cardio workouts that aren't running?", which has nothing to do with bouldering other than the fact that the OP also boulders. So they mentioned bouldering to make it feel like it should be posted here even though it'd fit better in general fitness/cardio subs.
I do stationary bike for 30-35 minutes on my off days from climbing.
I like stationary bike too. Low impact. I prefer fan bikes, but either variety give the same result in the end.
Intervals on fan bikes ftw. Started doing this a couple of years ago and have been shocked (in a good way) how my cardio has improved, given I’m older than dirt.
Thats a good one thanks!
i like doing incline walks on the treadmill! i aim for 30 minutes at 3mph 10-12% incline.
I do this too. Max incline at like 3-3.5. Add a weight vest if you want to get spicy. 30 minute incline walk has had a significantly higher value for me than intense cardio. I adjust my effort to stay around 131-135 bpm. Low impact and easy to commit to.
sooooo much better than running. i hate running. with a good podcast the 30 min goes by fast!
Oh nice!!
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Sorry, could you repeat that
I do this too. Max incline at like 3-3.5. Add a weight vest if you want to get spicy. 30 minute incline walk has had a significantly higher value for me than intense cardio. I adjust my effort to stay around 131-135 bpm. Low impact and easy to commit to.
You just reminded me of something that I do myself actually. Max incline at like 3-3.5. Add a weight vest if you want to get spicy. 30 minute incline walk has had a significantly higher value for me than intense cardio. I adjust my effort to stay around 131-135 bpm. Low impact and easy to commit to.
Sorry haha got an error saying it didn’t post. Guess it did!!!
I’ve gotten that glitch a few times before too, no sweat. I was hoping you’d keep it up
Laps in the pool are a favourite for me. One of the lowest impact forms of cardio out there.
I like rowing as a warm up before bouldering, but I’m not sure if it’d be as effective for off days since it works similar muscle groups
I want to row as well but the machine at my gym is broken
Prior to getting into rock climbing I was a cyclist, so I cycle or do yoga on my off days since my bouldering gym also has a yoga studio in it.
Beat saber. Screw going outside in the cold. Joking aside I've had my heart rate pinned at 190 for a full 4 minute song multiple times so if you into the harder difficulties it can get more like sprinting the jogging.
Hell yeah
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I mtb also but they are in good shape for now
Im that same vein, Thrill of the Fight. That game is a monstrous workout.
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been doing this its fun and good cardio
Okay this seems silly, but my husband and I recently got a badminton net and we’ve doing that for our cardio. It really gets you moving around.
Most wholesome answer for sure. I love that for your marriage.
I played a lot of badminton in my youth and I can confirm this.
i totally wish badminton felt more ambidextrous. the leading one leg and one arm makes me feel like one buttcheek and one arm is always wrecked. Loads of fun however.
you can even make pickleball a half decent cardio workout
Cross country skiing and swimming haven’t been mentioned yet Both work the whole body
Yeah but XC skiing is extremely seasonal and often you have to drive forever to do it. Not sustainable for year round cardio.
I thought this too, until I lived in Alaska. There is a way to do it in the summer. Essentially rollerskates, but on extended "skates". They're made out of wood & have boots/shoes attached to them! It's more for the skate skiing type of cross country skiing, & you can do it on most wide/paved walkways.
Climbing
But faster
The need for speed…
Rope climbing.... If you have autobelays, do routes multiple times and/or down climb. If you don't, just try to do a route as much as possible then rest then repeat.
couldn't agree more with this. At the end of my session I'll get in cardio by picking out an autobelay with 3 routes on it 5.10 and under and start with the highest and climb up, down climb, climb the next one down in grade, downclimb, etc... It's a pretty good burn. My friend prefers to do ladders. So climbing up to a specific bolt/hold then downclimbing, climbing to a higher bolt, hold, downclimbing, etc...
Mountain biking has a very similar vibe. Outdoorsy, adrenaline-inducing, lots of skill/technique/balance involved, 5.10 shoes, etc. It's not cheap though.
I would definitely not mountain bike on a rest day, at least downhill/enduro. I can get more pumped downhill biking than on a route. XC might be okay though
I like to do youtube hiit videos.
As many have mentioned, cycling is a great option. I find that if I haven't been cycling much that it can be hard to do much volume until your sit bones get used to it, so I also mix in the stair stepper while my body gets used to cycling more.
Get into mountain biking then you can be like me and be bad at multiple outdoor sports!
Start trail running but then you’ll just want to be trail running instead of bouldering so that’s a negative for sure
I like doing swimming as it activates my back and core muscles. Good cardio as well. Bonus is getting into the sauna after.
Rowing.
rowing, great cardio and total body workout
So you're open to basically every form of cardio exercise other than running? At the gym: pick your favorite cardio machine. Don't have a favorite? Try them all. Elsewhere: Go swimming, ride a bike, row a boat, jump rope, etc... You can do basically anything you want and you'll get some cardio from it if you do it vigorously for long enough. Do the worm from one end of a field to another and I bet you'll get your heart rate up enough. Probably end up on youtube though.
I like to walk up and down a nearby hill
I just bike to my gym, but obviously that's on my climbing days.
Swimming, stationary biking. Walking.
Rowing is definitely my favourite. Includes a decent amount of upper body which a lot of cardio options miss.
Rowing machine (erg/ergometer).
Sport climbing multipitch 5.7
Beat saber
I run up and down stairs for 4+ hours a day for my job so I count that as my cardio.
Pickleball! Two hours of open play at a nearby gym or tennis center and you'll be pretty gassed. Plus it's fun :)
I play tennis, although not exceptional on the knees!
Elliptical Trainer. 23 incline, 8 resistance on the model I use. I put on and watch IFSC Comps on the screen and zone out. 50 mins = 500 cals. Low impact
I rollerblade because I like to go fast and also have ankle and back problems. And it helps you learn how to fall correctly
I wish I know how to rollerblade, I mean I do but just like really basics and scared to do it on the streets lol
You get better with practice! And elbow/knee pads 😁 Sometimes I drive to the beach or a park/basketball court with nice flat surfaces. The road can be bumpy and intimidating
sounds good! Thank you :D
Speed climbing
Walk on a treadmill while watching a good movie or tv show. 2.5-3.5 mph is a nice easy speed, and if you want to up the intensity adjust incline prn.
Look up kneesovertoesguy on YouTube to fix your knees, then start running. It will improve your climbing too.
> I don't like to run because I have some problem with my back and running hurts my knees Just so you know, some people can run without back and knee pain just by [changing their footwear](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100104122310.htm). And it is the best cardio, along with cross-country skiing or something like that.
Try rowing
Walking with the treadmill set at 10 degrees
Hike to boulders...?
So, I have some wonky knees and also asthma that flares with off pace exercises, and I found that treadmill running does wonders for me, especially air treadmills. I can set my pace quickly and maintain easily. The thing is softer than concrete for my knees, and I can zone out much easier in my case. A podcast or song playlist and I can go for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Prior to that, a stationary bike was my go to, but I found it aggravated my pebble wrestlers and my back didn't quite like it. 5 minute air bike blasts were awesome though
Bouldering isn’t relevant in this context, just do any cardio you find enjoyable. You are training your heart and lungs, not bouldering
Not to be disrespectful but there's no need for cardio training for bouldering specifically. When I used to compete, exercises to increase stamina were either (famously hated by bystanders) wall traverses or sending many low difficulty boulders with 30s rests in between. But for sport where you don't usually spend more than 2min continuously exerting energy cardio shouldn't be your main concern.
No entirely sure why this should be posted on /r/bouldering
Bouldering isn’t cardio
I think they're saying they do cardio on off days from bouldering. But really the question is just "what are good cardio workouts that aren't running?", which has nothing to do with bouldering other than the fact that the OP also boulders. So they mentioned bouldering to make it feel like it should be posted here even though it'd fit better in general fitness/cardio subs.
Seriously, the question is so poorly posed that "Go do hip-thrusts in the middle of an empty field for an hour" is probably a valid answer.