The Hardest Boulder Problems in the World
These are the most difficult boulders sent by the end of November 2025
In October 2016, Nalle Hukkataival made the first ascent of Burden of Dreams, the first V17 ever climbed. Nearly a decade later and there are over a dozen V17 problems, some proposed and some confirmed, and one proposed V18.
Exodia V18 (9A+)
First Ascent: Elias Iagnemma, November 2025
Repeats: None
Burden of Dreams V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Nalle Hukkataival, October 2016
Repeats: Will Bosi, Simon Lorenzi, Elias Iagnemma, Lee Sungsu
Soudain Seul V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Simon Lorenzi, February 2021
Repeats: Nico Pelorson, Camille Coudert, Adam Ondra, Sam Richard
Return of the Sleepwalker V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Daniel Woods, March 2021
Repeats: Will Bosi, Noah Wheeler, Simon Lorenzi, Ryuichi Murai
Alphane V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Shawn Raboutou, April 2022
Repeats: Aidan Roberts, Will Bosi, Simon Lorenzi, Jakob Schubert, Sean Bailey
Megatron V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Shawn Raboutou, Summer 2022
Repeats: Hamish McArthur
Spots of Time V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Aidan Roberts, February 2024
Repeats: Will Bosi
Shaolin V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Sean Bailey, February 2024
Repeats: Noah Wheeler
Arrival of the Birds V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Aidan Roberts, March 2024
Repeats: Sean Bailey
No One Mourns the Wicked V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Nathaniel Coleman, December 2024
Repeats: Hamish McArthur
The Big Slamm V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Elias Iagnemma, January 2025
Repeats: None
Mount Doom V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Nicolai Užnik, March 2025
Repeats: Jakob Schubert
Realm of Tor’ment V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Will Bosi, May 2025
Repeats: None
Blackflip SDS V16 (8C+)/V17 (9A)
First Ascent: Vadim Timonov, May 2023
Repeats: None
L’Ombre du Voyageur V17 (9A)/V14 (8b+)
First Ascent: Charles Alberta, October 2023 (barefoot)
Repeats: Pietro Vidi, June 2025 (crack gloves, knee pads)
