Types of rock climbing wall
Traverse Walls
- Use climb sideways rather than up.
- No special training or equipment is needed.
- Saftey surfacing is not always necessary.
- Engineering calculations are not always necessary.
- Suitable for play areas though to experienced climbers.
- Indoors or out.
- Budget: low to medium.
Boulders and Bouldering Walls
- Users climb low ‘problems’ (max height of wall 4m) above safety matting. Numerous problems of varying difficulty can be set on a bouldering wall.
- Bouldering walls require a lot of floor space to allow for a safe fall zone from a steep climbing surface therefore, they usually require a dedicated space and are often unsuitable as add ons to sports halls.
- Bouldering is an excellent team building activity as groups work together to solve challenging problems that may require numerous attempts.
- Users: children to experts.
- Indoors or out.
- Budget: Low to high.
Top Rope Climbing Walls
- Top rope walls are typically above 6 metres in height. A rope is fixed to anchors at the top of the wall and used to safeguard the climber as they ascend and to support them as they are lowered back to ground.
- Top rope walls can be built directly to an exisiting wall, though engineering calcs will need to be carried out. Can be built in many angles from gentle slabs to overhangs.
- Trained staff and special equipment are required: ropes, harnesses, helmets, rock shoes and belaying devices.
- Indoors or out.
- Budget: low to medium.
Lead Climbing Walls
- Lead climbing is when the climber trails the rope behind them as they climb, clipping it into to anchor points as they ascend. It allows the climber to safely ascend routes that do not follow a straight line or that are very steep. It requires experience and confidence in equipment. Lead climbing is an essential skill for climbers aspiring to climb outdoors, though the move from top roping to lead climbing is an aspirational step in itself for enthusiastic indoor climbers.
- Indoors or out.
- Budget: medium to high.
