Finger Bouldering is a handheld climbing game that brings the world of climbing to your fingertips. Created by Jacob Karlin in 2020, Finger Bouldering takes the dynamics of rock climbing and transfers it to a miniature hand puzzle that provide a fun challenge for climbers and non-climbers alike.

Hi! I'm Jacob Karlin, an inventor and climber from Brooklyn, New York! I am passionate about artistic route setting, dynamic movement of the human body, and all things related to climbing. I strive to consistently innovate with my creations to push the boundaries of what is possible in creating super dynamic bouldering challenges!

In regular bouldering, the objective is to climb the boulder without falling off. In Finger Bouldering, the objective is to "climb" the boulder without dropping it. To Finger Boulder, the climber picks up the boulder from the starting hold(s) and maneuvers to the finish holds using their fingers.

In 2020 creator of Finger Bouldering, Jacob Karlin created a board game called “Finger Bouldering” based on the sport of rock climbing. While working on the game, Jacob invented a therapeutic device for people with arthritis called the “Plyoball.” The Plyoball was essentially an unevenly weighted ball with bumps that the user rotated with their fingers to work out the muscles of their hand. Eventually Jacob combined the two concepts, thus birthing the sport of Finger Bouldering.