Comparison
Boulder Block™ vs The Block by Tension — two different tools
The short answer
They are different products from different companies. The Block, made by Tension Climbing since 2018 and priced at $59, is a no-hang training tool: you lift a load with your fingers to build measurable strength, and for that it is the better choice. Boulder Block™, made by Climber's Gift at $69.99, is a handheld climbing game with twelve screw-on resin holds and 32 routes, built to be picked up for a few minutes on the days you are not training. Many climbers own both.
The two, side by side
The Block, by Tension ClimbingFor strength
A no-hang training tool: you lift a load with your fingers instead of hanging your bodyweight, which makes the load easy to control and progress. Tension has sold it since 2018 and describes it as a worldwide favorite. If your goal is measurable finger strength, it is the stronger tool of the two.
Boulder Block™, by Climber's GiftFor daily use
A handheld wooden block with twelve screw-on resin climbing holds and a deck of 32 routes across four levels. You hold it and climb it with your fingers. It is a game rather than a loaded training tool, built to be picked up for a few minutes on the days you are not training at all.
Compared
| Boulder Block™ | The Block (Tension) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Climber's Gift | Tension Climbing |
| What it is | A handheld climbing game | A no-hang training tool |
| How you use it | Hold it and climb routes with your fingers | Lift a load with your fingers |
| Structure | 32 printed routes across 4 levels | A training protocol you choose |
| Holds | 12 screw-on resin climbing holds, rebuildable | Machined maple: edges from 6 to 20mm, pockets and pinches |
| Better for measurable strength | No | Yes |
| Better for being picked up daily | Yes — it lives on a desk | Used with a weight, band or hanging setup |
| US price, September 2026 | $69.99 | $59.00 |
Prices are each maker's US list price, checked on 10 September 2026. The Block's details are taken from Tension Climbing's own product page.
How to choose
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Start with what you want your fingers to do
If you want to get measurably stronger and you will follow a program, buy The Block. If you want something that keeps climbing in your hands between sessions, or while you cannot get to the wall, that is a different job and a different tool.
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They are not two versions of one product
The names are close and search results mix them up, but these are different products from different companies. Neither is a copy of the other. Comparing them is less like comparing two brands of the same thing and more like comparing a barbell to a puzzle.
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Plenty of climbers own both
They do not compete for the same time. One is for training sessions; the other is for the rest of the day. If you already train with The Block, a Boulder Block is not a replacement — it is for the hours in between.
Questions climbers ask
Is the Boulder Block the same as the Tension Block?
No. The Block is made by Tension Climbing and is a no-hang finger-strength training tool. Boulder Block™ is made by Climber's Gift and is a handheld climbing game with twelve screw-on resin holds and 32 routes. They are different products from different companies, and neither is a version or a copy of the other.
Which one is better for finger strength?
The Block. It lets you load your fingers precisely and increase that load over time, which is how strength is built. We would rather say so plainly: if strength is the goal, buy the tool designed for it.
Then why would a climber want a Boulder Block?
For the days they are not training. It sits on a desk, has a next route waiting, and gets picked up for a few minutes at a time — at work, on the sofa, or while they are away from the wall with an injury, a new baby or a busy month. A tool that gets used most days does a different job from one used in scheduled sessions.
Which is better for a beginner?
Newer climbers are commonly advised to build up climbing volume before structured finger training, and to progress slowly when they start. The Block makes it easy to start with a very light load. Boulder Block™ has easy Yellow routes meant to be completed on the first day. If you are recovering from a finger injury, ask a physiotherapist before using either.
Are there other products called Boulder Block?
Cheaper look-alike handheld blocks are sold on marketplaces, usually with molded plastic holds and no route deck. Those are different products too. Boulder Block™ is Climber's Gift's brand name, and our guide to telling the original from a copy covers how to check.
Sources
- 1. The Block — product page — Tension Climbing
- 2. Lattice Training — articles on finger strength — Lattice Training
- 3. Training for Climbing — Eric Hörst
- 4. Hooper's Beta — physiotherapy and injury guidance for climbers — Hooper's Beta
- 5. Boulder Block Honest Review — an orthopedic occupational therapist's independent assessment — ChadGOrthoOT (YouTube)
- 6. The original Boulder Block™ — and how to tell it from a copy — Climber's Gift
We make one of these two products, so read this with that in mind — and notice that on the question most climbers care about, strength, we recommend the other one. Details about The Block come from Tension Climbing's own product page; nothing here is a test of their product.
Twelve real resin holds, 32 routes, four levels. Sixty days to change your mind.
See the Boulder Block