The Hard 100: The Hardest Boulders In the World (2024 Edition)

Those who have been around the bouldering bloc long enough will know that the progression over the last few decades has been outrageous. Thanks to a handful of dudes who refuse to let a little thing like gravity hold them back, we’ve gone from saying “No way, that’s impossible” to “What’s next?” in a matter of years.

But how do we keep track of it all? Enter the V-scale and Fontainebleau grading systems, the barometers of bravado that climbers use to measure their mettle. With boulder grading systems like these, we’ve been able to track the evolution of bouldering and set a global standard that unites climbers and climbing difficulty from all corners of the globe.

Keeping tabs on thousands of ascents is no easy task, which is why we have created the Hard 100: Bouldering Edition, an archive where you can explore the toughest, meanest, most finger-twisting boulder ascents this generation of crushers have sent.

The 100 Hardest Boulders In The World

Below you will find the complete list of the hardest boulder problems in 2024. For the sake of our teams sanity, as well as yours, this list only covers boulder problems graded V15/V16 (8C/8C+) and above. If we were to extend this list to V15, the Hard 100 list would be infinitely more difficult to manage.

Boulder Problem	Grade	Date of FA	Country	Climbers
Burden of Dreams	V17 (9A)	October 2016	Finland	Nalle Hukkataival Will Bosi Simon Lorenzi Elias Iagnemma
Return of the Sleepwalker	V17 (9A)	March 2021	USA	Daniel Woods Will Bosi
Alphane	V17 (9A)	April 2022	Switzerland	Shawn Raboutou Aidan Roberts Will Bosi Simon Lorenzi Jakob Schubert
Megatron	V17 (9A)	Spring 2022	USA	Shawn Raboutou
L’Ombre du Voyageur	V17 (9A)	November 2023	France	Charles ‘Barefoot’ Albert
Backflip SDS	V16/V17 (8C+/9A)	May 2023	Russia	Vadim Timonov
Soudain Seul	V16/V17 (8C+/9A)	February 2021	France	Simon Lorenzi Nico Pelorson Camille Coudert
Devilution	V16 (8C+)	January 2024	USA	Sean Bailey Shawn Raboutou
Big Conviction	V16 (8C+)	January 2022	France	Simon Lorenzi
Big Z	V16 (8C+)	December 2020	USA	Shawn Raboutou
Bookkeeping	V16 (8C+)	December 2022	USA	Drew Ruana Colin Duffy
Brutal Rider	V16 (8C+)	May 2020	Czech Republic	Adam Ondra
Celestite	V16 (8C+)	March 2023	Switzerland	Dave Graham
Creature from the Black Lagoon	V16 (8C+)	September 2016	USA	Daniel Woods Dave Graham Jimmy Webb Daisuke Ichimiya Griffin Whiteside Shawn Raboutou Carlo Traversi Drew Ruana Matt Fultz Dylan Barks Andy Lamb Dylan Barks
Daños Con-Laterales	V16 (8C+)	June 2022	Spain	Ignacio Sánchez González
Distortion	V16 (8C+)	August 2022	USA	Drew Ruana
Drop a Line	V16 (8C+)	November 2016	Switzerland	Pirmin Bertle
Ephyra	V16 (8C+)	March 2019	Switzerland	Jimmy Webb Niccolò Ceria Giuliano Cameroni Will Bosi Yannick Flohé
Epitaph	V16 (8C+)	April 2022	Japan	Toru Nakajima
Euclase	V16 (8C+)	April 2022	Switzerland	Dave Graham
Floatin’	V16 (8C+)	December 2021	Japan	Ryuichi Murai Ryohei Kameyam Florian Wientjes
Fuck the System	V16 (8C+)	July 2021	Switzerland	Shawn Raboutou Dave Graham Clément Lechaptois
Ganesh	V16 (8C+)	February 2022	Italy	Elias Iagnemma
Gakidō	V16 (8C+)	March 2022	Japan	Shinichiro Nomura Ryuichi Murai
Grand Illusion	V16 (8C+)	August 2020	USA	Nathaniel Coleman Sean Bailey Daniel Woods Matt Fultz Zach Galla
Hallucination (Post-Break)	V16 (8C+)	December 2021	Japan	Kazuma Ise
Honey Badger	V16 (8C+)	August 2022	England	Will Bosi
Howl at the Moon SDS	V16 (8C+)	May 2023	USA	Drew Ruana
Hydrangea	V16 (8C+)	November 2019	Japan	Akira Waku
Hypnotized Minds	V16 (8C+)	October 2010	USA	Daniel Woods Rustam Gelmanov Dave Graham Matt Fultz
Hypothèse assis	V16 (8C+)	December 2018	France	Charles Albert
Into the Sun	V16 (8C+)			Bernd Zangerl
Insomniac	V16 (8C+)	July 2021	USA	Drew Ruana Daniel Woods Shawn Raboutou Jimmy Webb
Isles of Wonder Sit	V16 (8C+)	July 2022	Wales	Aidan Roberts Will Bosi
La Révolutionnaire Extension	V16 (8C+)	November 2017	France	Charles Albert Ryohei Kameyama Niccolò Ceria Tim Reuser Michiel Nieuwenhuijsen
Ledoborec	V16 (8C+)	May 2020	Czech Republic	Adam Ondra
Maxwell’s Demon Low	V16 (8C+)	Februray 2023	USA	Drew Ruana
Moonlight Sonata	V16 (8C+)	October 2021	USA	Taylor McNeill Matt Fultz
Nayuta	V16 (8C+)	April 2017	Japan	Dai Koyamada Yuta Imaizumi
Nexus	V16 (8C+)	October 2021	Japan	Ryuichi Murai
No Kpote Only	V16 (8C+)	December 2018	France	Charles Albert Ryohei Kameyama Nico Pelorson
Off the Wagon Sit	V16 (8C+)	October 2018	Switzerland	Shawn Raboutou Daniel Woods Jimmy Webb Giuliano Cameroni Sergei Topishko Yannick Flohé Niccolò Ceria Florian Wientjes Francesco Berardino
Poison the Well	V16 (8C+)	February 2019	Switzerland	Giuliano Cameroni Jimmy Webb
REM	V16 (8C+)	February 2019	Switzerland	Giuliano Cameroni Paul Robinson
Return of the Dreamtime	V16 (8C+)	January 2023	Switzerland	Yannick Flohé
Sleepwalker	V16 (8C+)	December 2018	USA	Jimmy Webb Daniel Woods Nalle Hukkataival Drew Ruana Nathan Williams Matt Fultz Pablo Hammack Ryuichi Murai
Terranova	V16 (8C+)	November 2011	Czech Republic	Adam Ondra
The Ice Knife Sit	V16 (8C+)	November 2013	USA	Daniel Woods Drew Ruana
The Lion’s Share	V16 (8C+)	Februray 2023	Switzerland	Adrian Robert
The Process	V16 (8C+)	January 2015	USA	Daniel Woods
The Story of Three Worlds	V16 (8C+)	June 2022	Switzerland	Shawn Raboutou
Vecchio Leone Sit	V16 (8C+)	November 2022	Switzerland	Aidan Roberts Matt Fultz
United	V16 (8C+)	November 2019	Japan	Ryuichi Murai
Box Therapy	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	October 2018	USA	Daniel Woods Drew Ruana Sean Bailey Katie Lamb Brooke Raboutou Shawn Raboutou
Bokassa’s Fridge Sit	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	March 2006	Germany	Florian Wientjes Nils Favre
Crisis	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	December 2014	Spain	Nacho Sánchez Jonatan Flor Alberto Rocasolano
El Indomable	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	October 2017	Spain	Alberto Rocasolano Nacho Sánchez Pablo Zamora
Gioia	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	March 2008	Italy	Christian Core Adam Ondra Nalle Hukkataival Niccolò Ceria Elias Iagnemma
Hazel Grace Sit	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	June 2021	Switzerland	Giuliano Cameroni Florian Wientjes
Low Priora	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	October 2020	Russia	Vadim Timonov Alexey Rubtsov
Minimalomania	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	March 2013	Switzerland	Pirmin Bertle Alexander Rohr
The Wheel of Life Direct	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	November 2012	Australia	James Kassay Jorg Verhoeven
Tonino ’78	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	January 2004	Italy	Mauro Calibani Julien Nadiras Antione Vandeputte
Vrtule	V15/V16 (8C/8C+)	October 2017	Czech Republic	Adam Ondra

Hard 100 Footnotes

• All boulders are shown as their “suggested grade” factoring in the initial proposed grade and the consensus of repeats from other climbers. If two different degree of difficulty is still debated, then the boulder is shown as a split grade (V15/V16). If the general consensus has settled on a grade after multiple repeats, then that grade will be shown (Gioia at V16, for example).
• No problem below V15/V16 will make it onto the list. Based on the initial FA grade, there are boulders that would have a spot on the Hard 100, but after subsequent downgrading, they no longer meet the minimum V15/16 threshold. 
• This list is based on ascents up until 1st March 2024.

Timeline of Bouldering Progression 

There’s no denying that the modern standard of bouldering is absolutely nuts, but to get to where we are today, decades of progression from legends of yesteryear had to pave the way. So then, it’s only right that we take a moment to appreciate some of the big milestones in Bouldering history. Without these guys and calls throwing down some gnarly beta, the modern standard of V16 or V17 bouldering wouldn’t have been possible. 

Grading is an immensely subjective affair, which is why problems are up and downgraded as more climbers make ascents of established boulders. This makes keeping track of “firsts” and key milestones a little tricky. Nevertheless, here are a few of the biggest moments every climber can appreciate:

• 1977: An ascent of Le Carnage in Fontainebleau by Jérôme Jean-Charles is considered the first-ever ascent of a 7B+ (V8).
• 1989: Catherine Miquel makes the first female V8 (7B+) ascent of Le Carnage. 
• 1996: After three days of work, Fred Nicole makes an ascent of Radja, the first boulder to be awarded the grade of V14/8B+.
• 2000: Dreamtime is suggested as V15 by Nicole, the first boulder at this grade. This was later downgraded to V14, but after a key hold breaking in 2009, Dreamtime is again considered V15.
• 2002: Fred Nicole tops out Monkey Wedding in the Rocklands, which is the first consensus V15/8C in history. 
• 2004: Mauro Calibani climbed Tonino ’78 (first proposed V16, downgraded to V15/V16).
• 2008: Christian Core sends his long-term project Gioia, suggesting a grade of V15. After Ondra claimed the second ascent in 2010, he suggested an upgrade to V16, making it the first V16 ever.
• 2016: Ashima Shiraishi claims the first female ascent of V15/8C after climbing an Ascent of Horizon in Japan.
• 2016: Nalle Hukkataival claims the ascent of his long-term Lappnor project. The boulder, later named the Burden Of Dreams, is recognized as the first-ever V17 boulder, and the highest level of modern bouldering.
• 2023: Katie Lamb becomes the first woman to climb a V16 with her ascent of Box Therapy (quickly downgraded by Brooke Raboutou to V15)

What milestones have we missed? Drop’em in the comments below!

How many people have climbed V16?

Since Christian Core made the first V16 ascent of Gioia in 2008, the number of people who can send V16 has increased drastically. Even in 2023 alone, the standard of hard bouldering has grown exponentially, with 15 new crushers claiming an ascent of V16 or harder in the last 12 months. As of October 2023, there are 48 people who have bagged a V16 boulder problem. 

Perhaps you’re curious as to why we’ve held our tongues on the tantalizing topic of V17 boulders. This captivating subject has been merited with its own dedicated spotlight. If you’re eager to delve into the awe-inspiring world of V17 bouldering, then make sure to check out our guide dedicated to the hardest bouldering grade in the world.

Grade	Number Of Climbers
V17	9
V17/16	4
V16	51

Who has climbed the hardest Boulders?

It’s safe to say that there is no shortage of crushers out there. Some, like Dave Graham, Daniel Woods, Or Nalle Hukkataival have been the faces of gnarly bouldering for most of the 21st century. While these household names are undoubtedly some of the best boulderers out there, there are plenty of up-and-coming young guns that are carving out a legacy for themselves too. 

Shawn Raboutou has blown the collective mind of the climbing community by putting down first ascents for two V17s. On the other side of the pond, Will Bosi and Aidan Roberts are arguably some of the strongest boulders in the world right now, both with a handful of V17 ascents to their name respectively. 

Take a look at the table below for the leaderboard on who has climbed the most boulders graded V15/V16 and above.

Climbers	Number of Hard Boulders Topped
Daniel Woods	11
Shawn Raboutou	11
Drew Ruana	10
Jimmy Webb	8
Will Bosi	6
Matt Fultz	6
Giuliano Cameroni	6
Nalle Hukkataival	5
Adam Ondra	5
Dave Graham	5
Ryuichi Murai	5
Aidan Roberts	4
Niccolò Ceria	4
Simon Lorenzi	4
Charles Albert	4
Florian Wientjes	4
Vadim Timonov	3
Yannick Flohé	3
Sean Bailey	3
Elias Iagnemma	3
Nico Pelorson	2
Daisuke Ichimiya	2
Pirmin Bertle	2
Ryohei Kameyama	2
Nacho Sánchez	2
Alberto Rocasolano	2
Camille Coudert	1
Colin Duffy	1
Griffin Whiteside	1
Carlo Traversi	1
Dylan Barks	1
Andy Lamb	1
Ignacio Sánchez González	1
Toru Nakajima	1
Clément Lechaptois	1
Shinichiro Nomura	1
Nathaniel Coleman	1
Zach Galla	1
Kazuma Ise	1
Akira Waku	1
Rustam Gelmanov	1
Tim Reuser	1
Michiel Nieuwenhuijsen	1
Taylor McNeill	1
Dai Koyamada	1
Yuta Imaizumi	1
Sergei Topishko	1
Francesco Berardino	1
Nathan Williams	1
Pablo Hammack	1
Nils Favre	1
Jonatan Flor	1
Christian Core	1
Alexey Rubtsov	1
Alex Megos	1
Toby Saxton	1
Antoine Girard	1
James Kassay	1
Jorg Verhoeven	1
Mauro Calibani	1
Julien Nadiras	1
Antione Vandeputte	1
Jakob Schubert	1
Katie Lamb	1

Which Country Has the Hardest Boulders?

With climbing becoming an international phenomenon, it’s hardly surprising how diverse the range of hard boulder problems there are across the globe. 

That said, if we dig a little deeper into the data, there are some interesting points here. Of the 64 boulders graded V15/V16 and over, all but three are in the Southern Hemisphere (One in Australia and two in South Africa respectively). Currently, there are no boulders in Central or South America. Considering there are over 9 million climbers in the United States It’s hardly surprising that 26% of the hard boulders are found in the USA. 

What is more surprising, however, is how many hard problems can be found in Switzerland. With 23% of the boulders on our list being found in Switzerland, this small European country undoubtedly has the highest concentration of hard bouldering over any other country.

Country	Number Of Hard Boulders
Australia	1
Czech Republic	4
England	1
Finland	1
France	7
Germany	1
Italy	3
Japan	8
Russia	1
South Africa	2
Spain	3
Switzerland	15
USA	17
Wales	1

Bouldering Grade Deflation

Legendary climber Nalle Hukkataival delves into the complex world of bouldering grades, putting a fresh spin on the understanding of progression in his blog post. He challenges the perception that the sport has stagnated over the last decade, suggesting it’s not a lack of progression, but a deflation in grading that’s at play.

Hukkataival believes the issue started with the first ascent of Dreamtime by Fred Nicole in 2000, which set a new high-water mark for difficulty, the 8C (V15) grade. But as the decade rolled on, it seemed like every new hard problem was also 8C, leading to a seemingly static state of progress. The twist? These new 8C problems were actually harder but were still graded relative to Dreamtime, which was later found to be easier than initially thought, leading to a wave of downgrades​.

Hukkataival laments the media pressure on climbers to strive for new grades, leading to overgraded problems, and the resulting confusion as many high-grade problems ended up being downgraded. He also underlines the need for a solid foundation for grading, despite the risk of being left behind in the professional climbing world​.

In his riveting conclusion, Hukkataival urges us to see grades as estimates or personal opinions of a climb’s difficulty, rather than absolute truth. He underscores the responsibility that comes with grading, especially for upper-scale problems, as it has a ripple effect on the grading of many other climbs. A poignant reminder that while grades are a small part of climbing, they still hold significant value in helping climbers understand and compare difficulties​.

Some interesting thoughts by Nalle, and a topic that certainly deserves more attention and open discussion within the climbing community, particularly as the sport continues to evolve and more climbers push the boundaries of what’s deemed possible.

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