Popular Climbing App Redpoint Updated With Apple Watch Ultra Support

$139.99 seems ridiculous, but then I remembered most people stopped climbing rocks before they were allowed to carry their own lunch money.

Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your comment, randyhudson, but it feels like you're being purposefully dismissive. I hope that's not the case. Throughout threads about the Watch Ultra, I've seen snide remarks toward diving, back country hiking, and now rock climbing. I wonder if some people think we should stay inside and watch television all day instead? :rolleyes:

IMO, niche software should be expensive. All software should be more expensive than it is, really, given the work, knowledge, and effort required. I get that not everyone is made of money, but come on. Software development is a skill and an art. Developers should be compensated fairly.

Do any rock climbers here wear a smart watch or any watch while climbing? I would imagine it would distract and possibly get in the way, or snag on a rough surface.

I've only done basic rope/belay climbing and didn't feel a particular need to track what I was doing at the time, so no, I probably wouldn't wear any watch while doing it, but like all things... people who are more serious about the activity may want to track certain metrics. I personally would be more worried about bashing any watch against the rock surface than it getting involved in ropes/etc., but I'm a bit of a clutz that way. :p

Do any rock climbers here wear a smart watch or any watch while climbing? I would imagine it would distract and possibly get in the way, or snag on a rough surface.

I'm an avid boulderer/sport climber both indoor and outdoor for over 20 years and I would never wear anything on my wrist while doing so. I can't speak for all climbers but it would limit my wrist flexibility and movement of my wrist joint.. I keep my iPhone and AW in a fanny pack during sport climbing and leave them in my backpack during bouldering

Never heard of it, might have to check it out

$139.99 seems ridiculous, but then I remembered most people stopped climbing rocks before they were allowed to carry their own lunch money.

I personally find top rope and bouldering to be both fun and physically intensive. Your condescension isn't really welcome here.

$139 does seem like a lot, but to pay that much for useful software that you get lifetime upgrades for with no subscription is great, especially when you consider that $139 is equivalent to just under 5 years of the annual cost. What's wrong with supporting software in a way that isn't just another subscription?

$139.99 seems ridiculous, but then I remembered most people stopped climbing rocks before they were allowed to carry their own lunch money.

I'm curious if you can write a much more effective, efficient and informative WatchOS app? I know I couldn't in my dreams!

While the cost is expensive Rock Climbing isn't the traditional ascension up a rocky cliff. Many like myself enjoy indoor climbing. Great for concentration, random-efficient thought and incredible arm and hand strength and grip respectively. You should try it about 10x ... you'll see not even chin-ups/pull-ups grants you that kind of grip/strength.

Not to mention dexterity and flexibility all over your body, the likes of which I think Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu warm-ups grants.

Do any rock climbers here wear a smart watch or any watch while climbing? I would imagine it would distract and possibly get in the way, or snag on a rough surface.

Great question, and I'm not sure. But the loud SOS alert sound and location features would be INCREDIBLY life saving!

60 decibels (? I think) for speaker sound off a cliff could reach several miles in the 10s+, use that with SOS location safety ... I recall reading a few climbers falling (think Crash Detection would help here as well) where people were unable to find them. This would help if automatically!

I personally find top rope and bouldering to be both fun and physically intensive. Your condescension isn't really welcome here.

$139 does seem like a lot, but to pay that much for useful software that you get lifetime upgrades for with no subscription is great, especially when you consider that $139 is equivalent to just under 5 years of the annual cost. What's wrong with supporting software in a way that isn't just another subscription?

:Love:

Apple is on the right track, but they don’t do anything bold anymore. I tried the new ultra at the store. I really did like the real estate. But the form factor is still wrong.


Make it rectangle, like and iPad. Then you can actually type like a normal person, view sites. And it fits along the length of the arm. Like a pip boy but less square. Why won’t they do this?

It's a smart and fitness watch, not a full wrist computer. What you're describing might work for some people but I have zero interest in anything like that, especially on a watch such as the ultra.

I want fitness/activity/durability first, and smart stuff second. I don't want to type and I definitely have zero desire to browse the web; that's what the iphone is for. I would destroy something like that in short order. Trail running and I smack it on a rock? Going bouldering, which I do 3-4 times per week, with such a device? No thanks.

Edit: I had to look up what a pip-boy is. That's not Apple's market.