Why Do Climbers Tape Their Fingers?

Most climbers reach for the tape for one of three main reasons:

1. Injury Prevention

Long climbing sessions or repeated strain on sharp holds can put serious pressure on your fingers, especially the tendons and pulleys. Taping can give your fingers a bit of backup support and reduce the strain, keeping you climbing stronger for longer — and potentially avoiding injury altogether. 

2. Injury Support

If you’re already dealing with a tweak or minor pulley strain, a properly applied tape job can provide just enough support to keep things stable while you heal. It’s not a substitute for rest, but it can help you climb carefully while managing a minor issue.

3. Skin Protection

From split tips to flappers, taping over sensitive or worn skin can help you squeeze in a few more climbs without making things worse. Just be careful not to overdo it — tape shouldn’t be your solution for ignoring what your skin is trying to tell you.

Before we get into the different taping techniques, some of you might be thinking: “What the heck are pulleys? All I know is that my fingers hurt.”

Totally fair.

Here’s quick overview: your fingers are basically little pulley systems. Inside each finger, your flexor tendons (the things that help bend your fingers) run along your bones like ropes on a climbing wall. To stop those tendons from shifting out of place, your body uses a series of ligament loops called pulleys to hold everything where it should be.

The A2 pulley is one of the most important. It sits near the base of each finger and handles a lot of stress when you’re gripping small holds or crimping. Because of that, it’s also one of the most commonly injured pulleys in climbing.

An A2 pulley strain happens when this little loop gets overstretched or partially torn. You might feel a sharp pain or a weird pop, especially when grabbing small holds. It’s a sign that your body needs a break — and it's why learning how to tape properly can make all the difference between sending your project and sitting on the couch nursing an injury.

Common Taping Techniques

H-Taping (Pulley Support)

Your go-to for cranky A2 pulleys, this method creates an "H" shape, with two vertical anchors and a horizontal strip across the middle joint. It’s designed to reinforce the middle joint, to take pressure off the tendon when you’re pulling hard on crimps. 

X-Taping (Joint Support)

Perfect for sore or tender finger joints or if you’re worried about hyperextension. It limits movement just enough to keep things feeling stable, without totally locking you up so you still have some mobility.

Full Wrap (Skin Protection)

A full wrap can act as a barrier for torn or thin skin, a buffer between your wound and the wall! Just be sure not to wrap too tightly — you don’t want to cut off circulation or interfere with your grip.

H taping tutorial X taping tutorial Full wrap tutorial

Final Thoughts

Taping might seem simple, but doing it well takes a little know-how. Whether you're trying to protect yourself from injury, climb through discomfort, or keep fragile skin in check, finger taping is a skill worth learning.

While this blog focuses on finger taping, it’s worth noting that climbers also use tape in other ways — like wrapping their whole hands for crack climbing, or occasionally taping wrists, ankles, or elbows for extra support. But when it comes to protecting those small but essential finger pulleys, proper taping technique can make a big difference.

And if you're looking for climbing tape that holds up when things get sweaty or sketchy, pop into the Gear Shop — we’ve got what you need to stay ready and send strong.