What is British Trad Climbing? | The World’s Most Committing Climbs | EDELRID
"What is British Trad Climbing? | The World’s Most Committing Climbs | EDELRID" is a rock climbing video (27 minutes) published by EDELRID on April 2, 2026 with 89K views. Available to watch free on CouchClimbs.
British trad climbing occupies a singular place in the climbing world — sparsely protected, geologically raw, and governed by an unwritten code that has shaped generations of climbers. In this 27-minute film from EDELRID, athlete Robbie Phillips guides viewers through what makes trad climbing on the British Isles unlike anything else on the planet, weaving together personal stories from the past year including a bold first ascent on the Isle of Skye and a hard onsight deep in the North West of Scotland. What sets this film apart is its depth of honesty — this isn't a highlight reel of sends, but a genuine attempt to communicate the culture, ethics, and gravity of a climbing tradition that outsiders rarely understand. The runouts are real, the commitment is total, and Robbie's passion for these cold, mossy crags is infectious. Whether you're a seasoned trad climber or someone curious about why anyone would climb this way, this film makes a compelling case that the British Isles might just be the most inspiring place on Earth to climb.
EDELRID · 27:34
British trad climbing is one of the biggest anomalies in the world of rock climbing. Hard, often serious-looking climbs that are sparsely protected — and yet a thriving community, fiercely passionate and driven. In the words of Edelrid athlete Robbie Phillips, it’s simply the best place to climb on Earth. In this film, Robbie explores this completely unique style of climbing — practised on a small but geologically remarkable group of islands — touching on the nuances of the ethics, and sharing a couple of stories from the last year. That includes a hard first ascent on the Isle of Skye (with the biggest runout of his life), and a hard onsight in the North West of Scotland. As a brand with a 160-year history and a deep connection to the environment and wild spaces, we wanted to support something a little different — a film that helps those outside the British Isles and Ireland understand what trad climbing here actually means. The ethics are deeply traditional, the climbing without doubt some of the most committing in the world, and we hope it inspires more international climbers to make the trip. This film is also just a precursor to a series following Robbie’s time in Ireland — so subscribe and stay tuned for those. A Film by Robbie Philipps https://www.instagram.com/robbiephillips/ Cinematography/stills by Ryan Balharry https://www.instagram.com/ryan_balharry/ Follow us! Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/edelrid_sport/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/edelrid/ https://edelrid.com/
Categories: Robbie Phillips, Britain, Trad