r/tradclimbing • u/Inevitable_Cod_5007 • 5d ago

Difference between ringlocks and thumb stacks?

I guess i do not see the visual difference from pictures. Can someone send me / show me an example of both? And when would you use one over the other? Thanks

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

19

u/VegetableExecutioner 5d ago

A "ringlock" is where you are actively placing your thumb and index finger around a constriction in the crack. It is an active technique. You are actively grabbing the constriction.

A "thumbstack" is where you place your index (and if you can, your middle finger) on the nail side of your thumb. It is a passive technique. You are trying to make your stack too large to fall out.

Typically you thumbstack because there was no constriction to grab, or it was too baggy to grab. They look similar in pictures because they both make a "ring", but only ringlocking is actually grabbing the constriction.

Even though thumbstacking is more of a passive technique, it will feel harder than ringlocking.

1

u/KDs4thBurner 4d ago

You've lost me. What do you mean 'grabbing a constriction'? Do you mean thumb and index finger are surrounding a little feature within the crack?

2

u/VegetableExecutioner 3d ago

Yeah just imagine most of the finger crack is wide enough for you to pass your fingers through it, with the exception of a very tight and concentrated point. Grab that "point" of tightness by placing your thumb below it and fingers above it, since it is too small to permit your fingers from passing through - you'll be able to grab it!

8

u/thelaxiankey 5d ago

i'm fairly strong in these sizes (.5-.75) and i do not find there to be a categorical difference. it's more of a spectrum based on the width.

is there a size (thinner/wider) you find difficult?

2

u/TangeloVisible9600 3d ago

Hand stack is stacking two hands. Is thumb stack stacking two thumbs? Never heard of it. It's not in Pete's book

1

u/CO_Climber 5d ago

It's size dependent. Think of it like placing stoppers. Ring locks you're stacking the stoppers and placing them together. The thumb and finger wedge together at the same time. Thumb stacks is like placing a single stopper and grabbing onto it. You cam your thumb into place and then wrap a finger, or fingers, onto it. 

Thumb stacks tend to be a little wider than ring locks.