8 Best Bouldering Holds in 2024 | LydiaScapes

Best Bouldering Holds

Are you looking into building a climbing wall at home during this period of home confinements and restrictions on going out? When you have finally set your mind to making it happen and start creating the wall structure, one of the most important investments are the little but highly important rock climbing holds.

However, rock climbing holds come in so many shapes, material, sizes and quantities, so it’s important to get good and reliable brands that will justify this big and hefty purchase. Read on to find out what our top pick for the best climbing holds out there, for both you and your kids!

Best Bouldering Holds

What are the Best Bouldering Holds?

Below you’ll find the list of the top 8 Best Bouldering Holds. We compiled this list from bouldering holds we have used, asked others about, and researched further to give you the best possible roundup. With many years of experience with climbing holds for boulderers you can be assured that this article will give you what you’re looking for.

We also wrote a buying guide and answered some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) at the end of this article.

1. Atomik Climbing Holds Bolt Ons

Atomik Climbing Holds Bolt Ons
Specs
Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)
Weight: 3.97 pounds (1.8 kg)

This Atomic Climbing Holds set come with 21 premium quality small hand and foot holds. They are bolt-in holds that come with all the necessary hardware and a lifetime warranty. Just keep in mind that the holds are by no means jugs, so they might be a better option for kids with small hands or advanced adult climbers with great footwork.

Pros

  • Lifetime warranty
  • Great for kids or advanced adults due to their small size

Cons

  • Premium Pricing
  • Not a wide variety of shapes and sizes

2. Metolius Mountain Gear Holds Set

Metolius Mountain Gear Holds Set
Specs
Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)

The Metolius Mountain Gear 75 Climbing Holds set may be our most expensive option, but it is also the biggest and most complete set. With the holds that come in this set, you’ll be practically covered for any hold shape or size that you need. It comes with just about any type of handhold and foothold that you could ever imagine, so you’ll be sure to have a wide variety of options when it comes to setting routes and boulders.

Pros

  • Wide variety of hold types
  • All you need to complete an at-home climbing wall

Cons

  • Expensive, so they will be an investment
  • Can be brittle
  • So many parts can be confusing to set up

3. Rocky Mountain Bolt On Holds

Rocky Mountain Bolt On Holds
Specs
Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)

The Rocky Mountain Bolt On Rock Climbing Holds with Hardware is a monochrome climbing hold set that offers wear-proof, waterproof and UV-proof holds, making it a great option for anyone looking to build their home climbing wall outdoors. They are all-natural holds that are a great option for climbers of all ages. The set comes with a variety of sizes, ranging between jugs and crimps, so you’ll be able to deck out your wall for a multitude of training purposes.

Pros

  • Wear-proof, waterproof and UV-proof holds
  • Made from recycled, natural non-toxic materials

Cons

  • Only come in one color
  • Can’t see the types of holds you’re getting in advance

4. Nicros Simple Climbing Jugs

Nicros Simple Climbing Jugs
Specs
Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)

5. Swing Set 24 Climbing Holds

Swing Set 24 Climbing Holds
Specs
Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)

If you are looking for something cost effective and without requiring too much of a high difficulty ( aiming at beginners or toddlers at home), you can get this set of 24 green textured holds that comes with 2 hold mounts per hold.

Pros

  • Great Value
  • 2 hold mounts for steadier placement

Cons

  • Beginner level with not much variation
  • All the holds are same size and style
  • Not suited for advance climbers/ boulders looking to get a good challenge

6. Kids Friendly Option Climbing Monkey Holds

Kids Friendly Option Climbing Monkey Holds
Specs
Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)
Weight: 11.02 pounds (5 kg)

If you’re building your home climbing wall for the little ones to enjoy, we’ve got the best option for you. Climbing Monkey Climbing Holds are a kid-friendly set that come in a variety of fun colors. These 25 climbing holds are perfect for creating a fun and unique way for your kids to play and be active.

Pros

  • Come in a variety of fun colors
  • Designed especially for children and their tiny climbing feet
  • Made with durable, weather-resistant plastic

Cons

  • Not suitable for adult climbers

7. Topnew 25 Rock Holds for Climbing

Topnew 25 Rock Holds for Climbing
Specs
Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)
Material: Resin, Plastic
Variations of Colors: Multi-color

These 25 climbing holds are appropriate for climbers of all ages and come in 5 bright colors and 3 unique shapes. All necessary nuts and bolts are included, allowing for easy installation, and the long bolts are appropriate for a variety of surfaces. These holds are sturdy enough to hold a 230 pound adult, so both parents and children can enjoy.

Pros

  • Relatively easy to assemble,
  • Extremely sturdy,
  • Straightforward mounting system

Cons

  • Limited variety in hold shape,
  • Bolts not be suitable to mount on thin wooden surfaces

8. ProHold 22 Assorted Kids Climbing Holds

ProHold 22 Assorted Kids Climbing Holds
Specs
Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper)

Verdict

Based on all of our experience with climbing holds for boulderers, we found that Atomik Climbing Holds Bolt Ons is the best bouldering hold available today.

Our Premium Option is Metolius Mountain Gear Holds Set with all the best features and high-quality materials, but that’s only if you have more money to spend.

However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the Rocky Mountain Bolt On Holds as an affordable alternative.

Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:

What You Should Know Before Buying bouldering holds

Features to look out for that differentiate

There are a number of different aspects that you should pay attention to when choosing your climbing holds. First off, the shape of the climbing hold is important to keep in mind, as it will show you what kind of hand grip it will train, such as crimps, jugs or slopers. This is especially important to keep in mind depending on if your wall will be used by children, beginner climbers, or advanced seasoned climbers.

Next, you should pay attention to the size of the climbing hold. As a general rule, larger climbing holds and jugs are easier to hold onto, while smaller crimpier holds tend to be more difficult.

Finally, you should pay attention to the material and texture that your rock climbing holds are made of, as this will affect how they wear and hold up to certain weather conditions. The material that the hold is made of will also influence the texture/ grip and changing the climbing experience. Depending on the shape, different textured holds like a sandstone finish may be easier to grip, while smoother surfaces can be gentler on the fingers and easier to clean too. Wooden slopers, for example, tend to be considered a very advanced hold that would likely not be appropriate for beginners or children.

Precautions to Note

Building your own climbing wall is a project that requires extensive design and safety precautions so that you do not have your walls or structures collapsing on you. It’s a good idea to get tips from someone with experience in building and/or carpentry before setting off on doing your own home climbing wall! Make friends with other climbers who have ever installed or build their own home rock climbing gym.

How to Choose the Best Climbing Holds

To choose the best climbing holds, you first need to understand your purpose and objective.

Do you want to train crimp strength?

Endurance?

Have somewhere for your kids to climb?

You can’t make your purchase before answering a number of important questions, so ask yourself what you will primarily be using them for, the frequency of use and lastly, the target users before buying – is it for yourself, friends or your young children and kids back at home to play?

How to install climbing holds for home wall

To install your own climbing holds in your house, you’ll have to first have your climbing structure/ wall ready. Have a look where in your house would be the best option. Often times, the garage or basement can be the best options. Often times, the garage or basement can be the best options. The most popular material to build a home wall is out of plywood. If you have an appropriate size concrete wall available, it’s another great option.

The most important aspect is finding the area with the most possible space to set up a couple of routes. With more routes, you are less likely to get bored of doing the same moves over and over again. After installing the wall, you’ll simply have to drill your holds in to create different routes and boulder problems. The general rule is the farther apart the holds are, the harder the climb will be, and vice versa!

Additionally, the angle that your wall is built has a significant influence on the difficulty of the climbs. A vertical wall will be an appropriate setup for children and beginners, while an angled overhanging wall will be much more difficult. If you have an overhanging wall, you might want to buy bigger jug holds, making it easier to climb on, while smaller holds on a vertical wall could even be appropriate for beginners to intermediate climbers.

Small note, don’t forget to invest in some good and durable crash pads to cushion the falls.

Advantages of Getting Your Own Climbing Holds

There are so many advantages to having your own home gym and wall and getting your own climbing holds during this recent worldwide virus epidemic. To begin, you can choose exactly the design/ colour/ texture of holds that you want to tailor them to your outdoor or home climbing and training routine. You can make it as colourful as you like or focus more on getting holds that trains up your technical ability in bouldering and rock climbing alike.

Hygiene is the number one factor that makes your personal home climbing gym better than going to a shared climbing gym. You can make sure that whoever climbs it are not random strangers and you do not feel worried about your kids or yourself climbing and falling sick from shared usage.

Additionally, you can mix and match the different types you bought or receive as a climbing gift and eventually build up your own collection of holds and variations. Having your own personal climbing wall at home is so convenient, for the rainy days that you can’t climb outside, or when you don’t feel like making a trip to the climbing gym, or in certain situations where there is a country lockdown and you can’t leave the house, you know where you can train and build your own home playground with a rock wall, slackline and even trampoline!

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