Climbing Wall for Kids and Adults: Why You Need It, Which One to Choose, and How to Build It Yourself

Climbing Wall Activities After spending an entire year on the couch, you are unlikely to conquer even the simplest climbing route. Engaging in climbing requires consistent training, and not just general physical training!

General physical activities are great but not enough!

Running, swimming, fitness, gym workouts, and so on will help strengthen your body, but without specialized training, you won’t find yourself standing at the summit, exhilarated with joy.

To develop your climbing technique, you need to practice regularly, either on an actual rock route or its simulator.

Consider yourself lucky if you live in an area with a natural rock terrain. In this case, you have access to a training spot located in a natural environment with all its inherent opportunities.

Beginner’s Climbing Wall

And the opportunities are plenty:

Training and improving your climbing skills in a natural authentic environment;
No restrictions on choosing training times (even in the middle of the night!);
Weather conditions help you prepare for unforeseen route challenges (after rain, under scorching sun, etc.);
Outdoor training while being close to the rock will boost your immunity;
Your agility might attract the attention of a passerby of the opposite sex (what if it’s destiny?).

By following our advice on choosing clothing and gear , you can engage in daily sessions outdoors that will transform you into a real-life Spider-Man.

But what if you’re not so fortunate? And you live in a plain, forested, or similar area where there are no rocks in sight? Does that mean you’ll have to give up the breathtaking dream of a dizzying climb? Absolutely not! Your dream can become a reality with the help of a climbing wall, more specifically, an artificial climbing wall.

Climbing Wall Panel

It’s believed that climbing walls originated in America, gaining popularity only about 35 years ago.

A climbing wall is an artificial climbing surface designed to simulate rock climbing. It can be installed indoors or outdoors.

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Indoor climbing wall setups offer a number of advantages:

You can train in any weather (“what’s snow, hail, or rain to us…”);
You can train year-round (even if it’s -30°C outside!);
Routes are tailored to different skill levels (beginners have their routes, and pros have theirs);
There is a padded surface below, minimizing the risk of injury from falls;
Artificial surfaces are kept clean and are frequently wiped down by climbers (natural rock surfaces are often quite dirty—just one training session can leave your clothes stained or even torn).

A climbing wall consists of a metal frame covered with plywood. Climbing holds are attached to it. Manufacturers often get creative with these designs!

Not only do these artificial walls often look real, but they can also feel like authentic rock surfaces. However, there are simpler versions of climbing walls available.

Rock Wall

Naturally, pricing reflects this variety: access typically costs from 100 to 350 RUB per session.

Training with an instructor will be more expensive (starting at 750 RUB).

Many facilities also have schools . A school is its own world, where fellow vertical thrill-seekers reside. There, you’ll not only train but also gain invaluable energy from sharing experiences with like-minded climbers.

Climbing Wall Club

And imagine all the interesting and useful insights you’ll gain from professional instructors! Schools organize competitions and excursions to natural climbing sites.

A fantastic alternative to visiting climbing centers is setting up your own at home.

Home and Garden Climbing Wall

This comes with a host of benefits:

Exclusive personal use;
Always within reach (or, should we say, foot’s reach!);
A morning workout option for staying energized all day or an evening release for daily stress;
You can customize routes and difficulty levels yourself. If hands are not for boredom, then you can build a climbing wall yourself.

You will need plywood, climbing holds of various shapes and difficulties (depending on your budget!), fastening anchors, nuts, and bolts of varying lengths.

Climbing wall DIY for kids Depending on your level of craftsmanship, you can assemble a unique workout structure for developing arm and leg muscles in a maximum of a few days.

Check out the climbing holds from the Russian manufacturer in Samara, SmileHolds, starting at $4.5.

For a home climbing trainer, securing 20 climbing holds is sufficient. This won’t be so much about moving upwards (after all, you can’t eliminate the ceiling, and standard apartment heights are 2.5 – 2.65 m) but more about horizontal movement.

How to make a climbing wall

However, this is more than enough to gain the skills needed for climbing rock routes. You can truly admire the height during real climbs on natural rock routes.

If you don’t want to build it yourself, you can purchase a climbing wall. Prices vary:

Russian manufacturer OOO “Sorel” – from $1600;
Ukrainian manufacturer KROK – from $150;
Kharkiv Sports Equipment Factory – from $70.

In this case, the price depends on the configuration.

If you have kids in your family, an excellent alternative to a Swedish wall for children is a climbing wall for kids.

Children's climbing playground

In addition to strengthening arm and leg muscles, kids develop agility and problem-solving skills through regular climbing wall activities.

A home children’s climbing wall is compact and can be installed on a wall in a children’s room. These trainers are typically equipped with mats for children’s safety.

The Russian company “Sorel” manufactures bright custom climbing walls for kids. You can choose the color and design individually, with prices starting at $300.

Installing climbing walls for children is currently very popular because modern children often lead sedentary lifestyles.

Outdoor climbing wall

A children’s climbing wall can be installed in your backyard. Believe me, it will become the most beloved gathering spot in the neighborhood.

The Russian company “ASM-Sport” builds climbing walls of all configurations and modifications for residential yards and other locations.

Alternatively, you can go for a simpler option and buy an inflatable climbing wall. This bright trainer will not only benefit your child but also decorate your yard. These climbing walls are typically equipped with safety ropes and a platform with fencing.

Photo of an outdoor climbing wall

If you’ve embarked on the rock climbing journey vertically , don’t stop. Hone your skills! Train: at home, in the yard, at a sport complex, or on natural terrain… The results will amaze you!

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