[Editor’s Note: This article was first published on February 25, 2022, and was updated on June 7, 2024, to reflect changes in the training boards market.]
Installing a training board in a climbing facility has become a no-brainer. With just a small footprint of space, and powered by app and LED technology, your customers can train on thousands of new boulder problems. No routesetter required.
Choosing your hold system may be the first step, but next it’s time to decide what to do about the wall and frame itself. True, it’s possible to make do with DIY walls, and many gyms opt for that solution. However, there are many prefabricated, engineered walls on the market offering a level of professional quality and advanced features that are difficult for DIYers to implement on their own.
Here are factors to consider when choosing a training board wall:
- SIZE: How much room do you have? For years the standard wall size has been 8×12 feet, but other sizes are available, from micro 6×7 to huge 16×14 frames. Most of these walls are designed to fit within a typical bouldering gym ceiling height of 15 feet, and some sizes even fit within a garage.
- ANGLES: What angles do you want to provide your customers? Typically boards have been in the 25°-40° range, but today’s frames often push that range to 10°-60° and even further. Vertical and slab boards are growing in popularity, too.
- ADJUSTABILITY: How does the wall change angles, if at all? Hand crank, or electronic system? The adjustability of the frame has a huge impact on your customer’s experience, and it’s also a major driver of the cost of the wall.
- STRUCTURE: Is the frame freestanding or attached to an existing structure? What is best for your long-term use? Both options have pros and cons.
- BUDGET: A new training board is not a trivial expense, and so the cost of the system and perhaps the availability of financing options matters.
Below are several options on the market today for prefabricated training board walls.
All details above are accurate as of the publishing date. However, there is constant innovation with these products, and new options may have been added or prices may have changed since then. Pricing below excludes taxes and delivery.
FULL-SIZE CLIMBING TRAINING BOARD FRAMES
BenkyFrame
- First sold: 2021
- Available extras: custom angles, padding options, professional installation
- Pricing: starts at €15,000
Learn more about the BenkyFrame at www.benkyclimbing.com
Digital Board
- First sold: 2017
- Available extras: any size/shape of wall can be digitized
- Pricing: starts at £750
Learn more about the Digital Board at digital-climbing.com/digital-brand-board/
Eldo Board
- First sold: 2021
- Available extras: padding options, professional installation, indoors or outdoors
- Pricing: starts at $15,995
Learn more about the Eldo Board at www.eldowalls.com
Grasshopper Adjustable Climbing Wall
- First sold: 2019
- Available extras: XL sizes by conjoining walls, custom CNC panels, padding options, professional installation
- Pricing: starts at $6,700, with financing available through SweetPay
Learn more about Grasshopper Adjustable Climbing Walls at www.grasshopperclimbing.com
Kumiki EverActive® & EverActive® Jr Adjustable Walls
- First sold: 2019
- Available extras: custom color frame/panels, padding options, professional installation
- Protected by U.S. Patent 10,918,925 (patent pending for EverActive Jr)
- Pricing: starts at $4,999, with financing available through Navitas
Learn more about Kumiki EverActive® Adjustable Walls at www.kumikiclimbing.com
LEMUR Design Adjustable Wall
- First sold: 2019
- Available extras: custom sizes, panels marked for Kilter Board holds, padding options, professional installation
- Pricing: starts at $7,056, with financing options
Learn more about LEMUR Design Adjustable Walls at www.lemurdesign.ca or at www.settercloset.com
Freestanding MoonBoard
- First sold: 2015
- Available extras: padding options
- Pricing: starts at £9,000
Learn more about the Freestanding MoonBoard at www.moonclimbing.com
Nectar Board
- First sold: 09/2023
- Available extras: light-up hold set (coming Fall/Winter 2024)
- Pricing: starts at $34,000
Learn more about the Nectar Board at www.nectarclimbing.com
OnSite Training Wall
- First sold: 2020
- Available extras: custom sizes, padding options, professional installation; standard set at 55 degrees, inquire for a steeper angle
- Pricing: starts at $2,325
Learn more about Onsite Training Walls at www.theonsite.com
Revival Adjustable Climbing Wall
- First sold: 2021
- Available extras: digital electronics, custom-sized padding, professional installation
- Pricing: starts at $5,000, with financing available through SweetPay
Learn more about the Revival Adjustable Climbing Wall at www.revivalclimbing.com
Vertical Solutions Adjustable Training Platform
- First sold: 2021
- Available extras: custom sizes, padding options, required professional installation (nationwide)
- Pricing: starts at $30,000, with financing options
Learn more about the Vertical Solutions Adjustable Training Platform at www.vsclimbinggyms.com
Walltopia Adjustable Angle Board
- First sold: 2017
- Available extras: padding options, professional installation, holds, routesetting, touchscreen tablet upgrade for angle control
- Pricing: starts at €17,500
Learn more about the Walltopia Adjustable Angle Board at walltopia.com/products/training-boards/
COMPACT CLIMBING TRAINING BOARD FRAMES
ArtLine Homewall
- First sold: 2021
- Available extras: hold/volume packages
- Pricing: starts at €1,550
Learn more about the ArtLine Homewall at www.artline-holds.com
Escape Climbing Freestanding Board
- First sold: 2018
- Available extras: padding and holds; DIY panels
- Pricing: starts at $4,699
Learn more about the Escape Climbing Freestanding Board at escapeclimbing.com
Interface Ground-Up Wall
- First sold: 2020
- Available extras: padding options, hold packages
- Pricing: starts at £1,045
Learn more about Interface Ground-Up Walls at www.interfaceclimbing.com
Rockstar Volumes Rocket Wall
- First sold: 2020
- Available extras: padding options, hold packages
- Pricing: starts at $1,700, with financing available through Affirm
Learn more about Rockstar Volumes Rocket Walls at www.rockstarvolumes.com
Treadwall Boulderboard® Training Station
- First sold: 2010
- Available extras: hangboard attachment, upgrade for outdoor use, hold packages, professional installation
- Pricing: starts at $1,250
Learn more about the Treadwall Boulderboard® Training Station at www.treadwallfitness.com
Editor’s Note: ArtLine, Benky, Digital, Eldorado, Grasshopper, Kumiki, LEMUR, OnSite, Revival, Rockstar, Treadwall, Vertical Solutions and Walltopia are financial supporters of CBJ.
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