--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a…" description: "\"'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a 'gnarly dude' in surfing. Within the climbing culture, it means being a committed lifer: someone who has embr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/alex-honnold-10787_choice_dirtbag-is-just-the-term-we-use-like-a-g_1417514.jpg" --- # 'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a 'gnarly dude' in… ![“'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a 'gnarly dude' in surfing. Within the climbing culture, it means being a committed lifer: someone who has embraced a minimalist ethic in order to rock climb. It basically means you're a homeless person by choice.” quote by Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/alex-honnold-10787_choice_dirtbag-is-just-the-term-we-use-like-a-g_1417514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/alex-honnold-10787_choice_dirtbag-is-just-the-term-we-use-like-a-g_1417514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/alex-honnold-10787_choice_dirtbag-is-just-the-term-we-use-like-a-g_1417514.jpg) > “'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a 'gnarly dude' in surfing. Within the climbing culture, it means being a committed lifer: someone who has embraced a minimalist ethic in order to rock climb. It basically means you're a homeless person by choice.” [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A ‘dirtbag’ is a climber who embraces minimalism, living simply to focus on climbing. **In simple terms:** Climbers who choose a minimalist lifestyle. Key Takeaway Embrace simplicity to pursue passion. Themes minimalism dedication identity Mood adventurous raw Type cultural personal When to use this quote - rock climbing - budget travel - alternative housing - personal branding Key Concepts Existentialism subculture freedom Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms does minimalism grant you? - What sacrifices are you willing to make for climbing? A Different Perspective Such a lifestyle may limit comfort and security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Climb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climb/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Dirtbag Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirtbag-just-5011269/) [Homeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeless/) [Means Homeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-homeless-4235683/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Rock Climb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-climb-1767972/) ## Related quotes > [With climbing you can go to the most beautiful places on the planet and practice. Anywhere there is rock, you can climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/with-climbing-you-can-go-to-the-most-beautiful-places-on-the-planet/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [I had to succeed. Failure means I would have to be homeless again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-tahari/i-had-to-succeed-failure-means-i-would-have-to-be-homeless-again/) [Elie Tahari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-tahari/) > [I'm not afraid of heights. I rock climb. I can repel off the side of a building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-hudson/i-m-not-afraid-of-heights-i-rock-climb-i-can-repel-off-the-side-of-a/) [Kate Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-hudson/) > [To be clear, I normally climb with a rope and partner. Free-soloing makes up only a small percentage of my total climbing. But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/to-be-clear-i-normally-climb-with-a-rope-and-partner-free-soloing/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I don't actually care what I climb, only how it affects me. 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So... why bother ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-scott/if-you-want-to-climb-it-badly-enough-you-will-so-why-bother/) [Doug Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-scott/) > [“If you're feeling like life is hard and you keep climbing the rough side of the mountain, remember this: the rough side is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/if-you-re-feeling-like-life-is-hard-and-you-keep-climbing-the-rough/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [I have the tools to climb the mountain so I don't mind climbing mountains. I have climbed mountains since I was growing up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-have-the-tools-to-climb-the-mountain-so-i-don-t-mind-climbing/) [Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/) > [“Where I'm is one of those stair climbing machines the agent has installed. You climb and climb forever and never get off the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/where-i-m-is-one-of-those-stair-climbing-machines-the-agent-has/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Alex Honnold > [I think it's great that so many people are enjoying climbing. I've always loved climbing; I don't see why other people wouldn't enjoy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-think-it-s-great-that-so-many-people-are-enjoying-climbing-i-ve/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I'm sponsored by the solar company Goal Zero, and they were gracious enough to install panels on my van and a nice battery system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-m-sponsored-by-the-solar-company-goal-zero-and-they-were-gracious/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [In a general sense, I think it's bad to bring too much money into climbing, since it takes away a little from the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/in-a-general-sense-i-think-it-s-bad-to-bring-too-much-money-into/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I love my climbing shoes. Virtually all of my big solos have been in the TC Pros. 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So far I've noticed no difference at all in my climbing, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-am-a-vegetarian-and-i-sort-of-aspire-to-vegan-hood-so-far-i-ve/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I took a test once; they said I was a genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-took-a-test-once-they-said-i-was-a-genius/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [At the crux of Half Dome, at the very top of the wall, imagine, like, a smooth wall of rock - a nearly vertical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/at-the-crux-of-half-dome-at-the-very-top-of-the-wall-imagine-like-a/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [I generally don't climb something if it makes me feel fear. 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You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Dirtbag' is just the term we use, like a 'gnarly dude' in surfing. 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