The 10 Best Rock Climbing Holds
Special Honors
Moon Climbing MoonBoard If you want a home wall but don't always want to set your own routes, consider this standardized DIY wall kit. Intended for experienced climbers, it comes with a free app that tracks your progress and connects you to a database of routes set by the climbing community. moonclimbing.com
Rock Candy Colossals Few manufactured holds can simulate the large craters and features of real cliffs, but these oversized pieces come close. They're bulkier and more expensive than most home enthusiasts need, but professional routesetters will appreciate their size and versatility. rockcandyholds.com
Editor's Notes
December 16, 2020:
We've updated our list to reflect current availability, and we removed a few listings for durability concerns. Selecting climbing holds depends mostly on wall size and climber ability. Advanced climbers will naturally seek smaller holds like the Nicros Crimps or the Atomik Classic Pack. For large walls and home gyms, comprehensive packs like the Escape Climbing Starter Pack or Metolius Mega Pack will provide enough variety to set routes for beginners or experts.
Aside from size and shape, climbing holds may differ in how they're mounted. Many sets use T-nuts and bolts, which make it easy to rearrange holds into new configurations. Other sets (like the Metolius Greatest Chips) mount via screws, which are equally secure but more difficult to remove.
Most of our choices are durable enough to remain outside year-round, but playsets and jungle gyms will work best with a basic set like the Climbing Monkey 25. For dedicated climbers who want to mimic the feel of real rock, the Grip a Rock 20 Kit is the closest you'll get to the real thing.
Climbing is inherently risky, so make sure that you have adequate safety equipment or padding for your wall.
December 20, 2018:
Recognizing there are a whole range of experience levels out there when it comes to climbing, we've made sure to include sets in this list that run the gamut from the most basic to the advanced. The Climbing Monkey 25 Holds, for example, falls into the former category, making it the perfect addition to an outdoor jungle gym or playground for kids. The Escape Climbing Starter Pack, on the other hand, is a commercial-grade set that is really only appropriate for dedicated climbers looking to continue their practice at home. Other options, like the Atomik Climbing Classic Pack or Rocky Mountain Climbing Gear 25 Mixed, meet somewhere in the middle.