Climbing gym chain · Australia
9 Degrees grades, explained
9 Degrees was founded by Dutch-Australian climber and former physics researcher Martijn van Eijkelenborg, who opened its first gym in Alexandria, Sydney, in 2015; a second, at Parramatta, followed in 2017. It now runs five bouldering gyms in Sydney and two in Brisbane, aimed mainly at adults (16+). Every gym grades boulders on nine colour levels, but Sydney and Brisbane use a different colour order.
Bouldering grades
9 Degrees has nine difficulty levels, each a colour, and its website names eight of them. In order they run green, blue, teal, pink, red, black, purple and white, taken from its classes page and its Winter Boulder Series chart. No V-grades are published per colour, so these ranges are our estimate, spread over the V0–V12+ range the gym advertises.
| Level | V-scale | ≈ Font |
|---|---|---|
| GreenPlace below blue inferred from the 'green – teal' beginner class | V0–V1 | 4B–5B |
| Blue | V1–V2 | 5A–5C |
| Teal | V2–V3 | 5B–6A+ |
| Pink | V3–V4 | 5C+–6B+ |
| Red | V4–V6 | 6A+–7A |
| Black | V5–V7 | 6C–7B |
| Purple | V7–V9 | 7A+–7C |
| White | ≥ V9 | ≥ 7C |
9 Degrees uses this grading at all its gyms. That's its Sydney gyms. The Brisbane gyms (Enoggera and Morningside) put the colours in a different order, so they aren't listed here. Estimated by Gear Loop. The gym publishes only the order of its colours, so these ranges are our best guess from its chart and climbers' descriptions. Gyms reset and regrade often, and grades vary between setters, so treat this as a guide and check the boards when you visit.
5 9 Degrees gyms
Each gym's page has its address, how to book, and links to prices and opening hours.
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Questions
- What V-scale grade is Green at 9 Degrees?
- Green at 9 Degrees is roughly V0–V1, about 4B–5B in Font (our estimate).
- What V-scale grade is Blue at 9 Degrees?
- Blue at 9 Degrees is roughly V1–V2, about 5A–5C in Font (our estimate).
- What V-scale grade is Teal at 9 Degrees?
- Teal at 9 Degrees is roughly V2–V3, about 5B–6A+ in Font (our estimate).
- What V-scale grade is Pink at 9 Degrees?
- Pink at 9 Degrees is roughly V3–V4, about 5C+–6B+ in Font (our estimate).
- What V-scale grade is Red at 9 Degrees?
- Red at 9 Degrees is roughly V4–V6, about 6A+–7A in Font (our estimate).
- What V-scale grade is Black at 9 Degrees?
- Black at 9 Degrees is roughly V5–V7, about 6C–7B in Font (our estimate).
Sources
- 9 Degrees: info (9 colour levels, prices, first visit, FAQ)
- 9 Degrees: locations
- 9 Degrees: Winter Boulder Series (Sydney gyms, grading chart)
- 9 Degrees: WBS 2026 grading chart image
- 9 Degrees: classes (green–teal, teal & pink, red & black)
- 9 Degrees: Brisbane events (Grip & Rip '25 categories)
- 9 Degrees Brisbane: site (two Brisbane gyms, V0–V10)
- TopLogger: 9 Degrees Brisbane (Enoggera) boulders (gym's own climb log)
- TopLogger: 9 Degrees Alexandria boulders (gym's own climb log)
- SBS: 9 Degrees climbing its way to the top (Nov 2017)
- Climbing Business Journal: Australia buzzes with bouldering (Nov 2015)
- 9 Degrees: home ('Boulders from v0 to v12+')
Checked 3 October 2026. Gear Loop isn't affiliated with 9 Degrees.