Activities The Great Outdoors Half Crimp Grip: Essential Climbing Handhold How to Use Climbing Handholds Share PINTEREST Email Print Make a half crimp grip by curling your fingers onto an edge. Put your thumb against your index finger or the rock. Photograph © Stewart M. Green The Great Outdoors Climbing Basics Gear Health & Safety Highest Mountains Hiking Skiing Snowboarding Surfing Paddling Fishing Sailing Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Learn More By Stewart Green Stewart M. Green is a lifelong climber from Colorado who has written more than 20 books about hiking and rock climbing. our editorial process Stewart Green Updated March 17, 2017 The half crimp grip also called an open hand crimp, is the same hand and finger grip for using small handholds when you climb as the full crimp, except that your thumb doesn't lock on top of your index finger after your hand is placed on an edge handheld. Half Crimp is Weaker Than Full Crimp The half crimp grip is more comfortable, ergonomic, and less stressful on your finger joints than the full crimp grip. It is, however, a weaker grip than the full crimp since your thumb isn't pressing downward and it is less secure for moving upwards. The half crimp, like the full crimp, is best used on narrow edges where you can place the pads of all four on your fingertips. Use Half Crimps to Avoid Injury Use the half crimp grip whenever possible instead of the full crimp and your fingers will thank you. The full crimp grip places extreme forces on the tendons and joints of your fingers, leading to long-term damage and injury if you use it regularly on the rocks. The half crimp, however, builds hand and forearm strength as well as contact strength for hanging onto sloping handholds. Train the half crimp in climbing gym workouts such as bouldering to increase your crimp strength just don't overdo the training and injure your fingers.