Now, it doesn't stick as good as a climbing foot or a shoe, a human foot would, but I think, you know, in that respect, my calves don't get tired on that side and I - my wife says it's completely aid climbing, which she says it's cheating.

NPR: Craig DeMartino: Winner in the Extremity Games

If free soloing (using only rock shoes, without the protection of a rope) is the purest form of climbing, then aid soloing is the slowest, most cumbersome kind one can imagine, mixing, as it does, terror and tedium.

WSJ: Training for the Big Wall | By Michael J. Ybarra

Engineers are already benefitting from Full's discovery as they are finding ways to build climbing robots with better tails that could in the future be used to aid in search-and-rescue operations or even space exploration.

CNN: Snails inspire design for state-of-the-art robots

The strength of the 2008 junior champion's game is her ball-striking and it came to her aid in game eight as she broke to love with a fizzing return of serve, but Jankovic was climbing all over the Robson second serve and she broke once again to seal the set in 31 minutes.

BBC: Wimbledon 2010: Laura Robson beaten by Jelena Jankovic

Jumaring, or climbing fixed lines with mechanical ascenders, is another Big Wall skill you need to master to efficiently aid climb one I was still figuring out.

WSJ: Training for the Big Wall | By Michael J. Ybarra