Why create topos on 27 Crags?

27 Crags is on a mission to document every climbing crag in the world. Topo authors — climbers like you — are what make that possible.

What are Premium topos?

Premium topos are high-quality climbing guides with detailed route information, photos, sector info and access details. They're a way for topo authors to earn income on 27 Crags — climbers need a Premium subscription to access them, and 50% of that revenue goes directly back to the authors.

What you get as a topo author

• Making topos is completely free — no subscription or upfront cost needed

• You earn money every time someone uses your Premium topo — monthly earnings range from a few euros to over €1,700 during peak season, based on size, quality and usage of the topo

• You can donate your topo income directly to a local bolting or access fund, supporting your climbing community

• You keep full ownership of your content and stay in control at all times

• You can track exactly how many climbers have used your topos and how much they've generated each month

• Other climbers can help keep your topos updated by submitting suggestions, which you approve or reject

• Your topos get immediate visibility to an international climbing audience, plus promotion through the 27 Crags website and social media

• You don't need any technical skills — creating a 100-problem bouldering area takes around 2–3 hours in the field with the app

• No exclusivity — you can still create a printed guidebook or list your topos on other platforms alongside 27 Crags

• If you already have a printed guidebook, going digital doesn't hurt sales — our authors report that offering both increases overall sales

How 27 Crags compares to a printed guidebook

• No printing, design or distribution costs — it's completely free

• Your topo is immediately available worldwide the moment it's published

• Creating a topo takes a fraction of the time a printed guidebook requires

• You can update your content at any time — keeping it accurate is effortless

Who makes topos?

We work with climbers who have opened new routes, developed local areas, dealt with access issues, or simply want to share great climbing information. There are already hundreds of topo authors contributing globally — and the group keeps growing. Anyone can join.

Planning to make a topo outside your local area? If you're creating a topo for an area you don't live in, aren't very familiar with, or haven't developed yourself, get in touch with Tim at tim@27crags.com before you start. He can check the local topo situation, help avoid duplicate work, and answer any questions.