A flat lasted shoe is generally the best option for comfortable jamming in hand cracks. To have a more enjoyable experience, wear a climbing shoe with a relaxed fit that isnвЂ™t too aggressive or downturned. Like all forms of climbing, good footwork is essential. Jamming your feet can be uncomfortable at first, but donвЂ™t let that discourage you. ItвЂ™s helpful to follow these general guidelines, but also be prepared to improvise and be adaptive with your movements. This shuffle technique is often the most comfortable option if the crack treads, or traverses, off of straight vertical.

In this orientation the hand sequence doesnвЂ™t alternate, but rather shuffles up the crack, keeping the same hand on top for several moves. As the crack narrows a little to вЂњtight handsвЂќ I tend to place my top hand thumbs down, and my bottom hand thumbs up. For вЂњperfect handsвЂќ I tend to alternate the top jamming hand, and stick to thumbs up orientation. You can place your hands into the crack either thumb up, or thumb down, depending on a few variables. Your thumb and thumb muscles are great points of contact and should be tucked into the palm to secure the jam, or dramatically change the width of your hand. To form the jam, cup your hand and expand it against the inside walls of the crack. At this size, your hand will slot comfortably into the crack with little complication. An ideal hand-crack or вЂњperfect handsвЂќ will vary on the individualвЂ™s hand size, but is usually somewhere between 1.5 вЂ“ 2.5 inches in width. This size is often the most straightforward, and the technique required can be learned relatively quickly. A hand crack is a perfect starting point for any aspiring crack aficionado.

How to crack your thumb