Spring is always abuzz with something new, and this season’s Buyer’s Guide has plenty for your climbing gym or personal kit. AI-powered upgrades to modern tech, marketing campaigns made easier, fresh savings on auto belay trade-ins, modular mats, a routesetting harness built for comfort, plus a wide range of climbing and training tools and accessories, from eco chalk bags and brushes to portable chairs and crashpads…We round up all these latest releases and much more below.

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
– Awesome Woodys – BETA – Endless – Friction Labs – Frictitious – Grip Better – Grizzly Holds – Metric – Midnight Lightning – Petzl – Redpoint HQ – Revival – Trango – TruBlue –

BETA

BETA has launched AI Intelligence, a new feature added to its reporting dashboard for climbing gym operators. The overlay reads and interprets existing dashboard data; identifies trends and outliers across visit cadences, purchase cycles and engagement patterns; and surfaces operational and strategic suggestions—including staff prompt templates and strategic recommendations—directly within the dashboard. Included on the Enterprise Tier at €799/mo.

GRIZZLY HOLDS

Grizzly Holds has released the SDS Chair, a portable folding chair designed for use at climbing gyms, competitions, and outdoor sessions. $39.99

MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING

Midnight Lightning has released the Vegan Eco-Brush 2.0, an updated version of their plant-based climbing brush featuring a 75% increase in sisal bristle density over the original model, along with a bamboo handle. The brush contains no animal products and no plastic components. $18.95 CAD

REDPOINT HQ

Redpoint HQ has introduced Dispatches, a new feature within their platform that allows gym operators to create and send newsletter-style email campaigns to specific customer segments without a separate third-party email marketing system. Included in all existing plans, which start at $248/mo.

REVIVAL

Revival Climbing is now offering Modular Carpeted Mats. The system has three main sizes (4’x6′, 5’x8′, 6’x9′), two thicknesses (8″, 12″), light or dark grey varieties, single-density foam, and many custom options available. They’re designed for quick installation using 26oz heavy-duty gym carpet top, 1000d Cordura sides, and a PVC-coated vinyl bottom as a vapor barrier. Starting at $680.

TRANGO

Trango has released a variety of new products. The Equinox Viper Full Body Harness ($513.18) is designed for comfort while working at height with an extra-wide platform, four reinforced gear loops, and quick-release buckles. The Regulock Screwlock Armbar ($16.95) is an HMS locking carabiner with an oversized gate opening and multiple locking options. The Altus Crash Pad ($399) has a 47″x35″ landing surface with 5 inches of multi-layer foam, a shell made from 98% recycled fabric, and a fully adjustable carrying system. The Cyrrus Crash Pad ($89.95 or $99.95) is a 2- or 3-panel topper pad made with Oeko-Tex® certified, bluesign®-approved fabrics. The Photon Eco Friction Kit ($36.95) includes a Photon Eco Chalk Bag, an Icon Brush and 50g of REAL Powder Chalk, all in a single package.

TRUBLUE

TruBlue Technologies has updated their trade-in program, allowing facilities to trade ageing and first-generation TruBlue devices, or competitor auto belays, toward the purchase of a new TruBlue iQ or iQ+, which are prepared to meet the new 2026 EN Standard being released later this year. Savings can be over $1,000 per unit, and monthly installment payments are available.

AWESOME WOODYS

Awesome Woodys now offers their Home Bouldering Wall Kit, a 8’x8.75′ freestanding adjustable wall that can fit spaces with a 7′ height. Two layouts are available: the Mini Moon (holds/lights sold separately) and the Spray Wall (includes 50 holds). $4,257.95

ENDLESS

Endless Climbing’s new Cool-Stretch Chalkbag uses Ultra Stretch as a liner—a stretchy antimicrobial fabric designed to give a cooling sensation to the touch—rather than traditional fleece, and has a UX10 (Dyneema) shell. Available in four color options for $55.

FRICTION LABS

Friction Labs now sells Pro Tape, a latex-free stretch cotton athletic tape. Packs of three 0.5″ x 10-yard rolls are $19.99.

FRICTITIOUS

Frictitious has launched the Doormount Pro, a portable steel and aluminum hangboard mount designed to fit more doorframes. The two hangboard options start at $215.

GRIP BETTER

Grip Better is a new company offering Grip Rings made with sustainably sourced natural rubber in 30lb, 40lb or 50lb resistances. $14.95 each or all three for $34.99.

METRIC

Metric Climbing has released the Tec Bloc 2 footwork trainer designed by Matt Chapman, which features 6 sloping edges designed to build balance, stronger toes and ankles, and complex coordination. $34

PETZL

Petzl’s new Pandion harness is designed for group use with adjustable leg loops and either steel (with optional gear loops) or stainless steel hardware. Wholesale pricing starts at $50.97.

Want to include your products and services?

Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 18 New Climbing Products and Services for Spring 2026 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

Looking for a boost to start your new year on the right foot? This season’s Buyer’s Guide has you covered, with new resources for gym operators and climbers alike. Support for launching your next gym project, eucalyptus wall panels to reduce your footprint, new POS and routesetting management tools, marketing and social media templates, fresh designs of climbing bags and crash pads, braking and clipping assistance…You’ll find all these new releases and more in the roundup below.

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
– 8BPLUS – Asana – Chris Ryan Studio – Clava – Clift – ClimbAlong – Climbskin – Climb-Time – Edelrid – EP Climbing – Griptonite – Megabeta – Midnight Lightning – No Grip – Raed – RouteTagsPro – Send Edition – Trango –

ASANA

Asana Climbing just dropped the Focus Crash Pad available in two colorways: Agate and Geode. The 48″x36″x4″ pad weighs only 11lbs while featuring their Deluxe Suspension System, a three-layer foam system, metal cam buckles, and three handles for carrying the pad. $199

CHRIS RYAN STUDIO

Chris Ryan Studio is now offering the Project Launch Plan, a suite of services designed to pull ideas together and gain clarity and confidence when preparing to build a new climbing facility. The plan includes two 1-1 sessions with Chris, the Project Launch Brief—which outlines opportunities, concerns and next steps—and access to customizable digital tools. $997

CLAVA

Clava, a full-featured gym management software solution, has recently entered the North American market. Their cloud-based platform has multi-location support and brings together POS, CRM, membership and waiver management, discount and loyalty programs, and open integration. They offer a comprehensive migration designed to have 0% downtime, as well as an in-house payment processing option. Pricing ranges from $0/mo with transaction fees of 4% + $0.30 up to $799/location/mo with your own payment provider. Book a demo here.

CLIMBALONG

ClimbAlong has introduced a new automated setup flow for S.C.O.R.E. Basic, designed to help climbing gyms run simple competitions with minimal administrative work. The software features registration, digital scorecards for both athletes and teams, judged and self-scored formats as well as other variations, live results online, and climb management. Starts at €99/competition and includes email support.

CLIMB-TIME

ClimbTime Creative is a new service offering climbing gym designs and graphics for use as social media posts, printed posters, digital ads, emails and merchandise. The service includes unlimited requests and unlimited revisions, and it promises 24-hour turnaround with a month-to-month commitment. $249/mo

EDELRID

Edelrid has launched their OHMEGA, a brake assistant designed to be attached to the first bolt of sport routes, both indoors and outdoors. With three levels of braking, it has a cam that activates when the climber falls, reducing impact on the belayer. The OHMEGA also has an integrated pulley that is designed to keep the friction generated at the first bolt lower than when using a quickdraw, so that climbers don’t feel encumbered. The device weighs 190g and is approved for 8.6mm to 10.5mm ropes. $129.95

EP CLIMBING

EP Climbing recently began offering eucalyptus wall panels to expand the options of sustainable materials for new climbing facilities. In response to the 2022 European sanctions that hit Russian and Belarusian timber, their R&D team spent several years developing eucalyptus panels that would match birch’s performance while supporting responsible forestry practices. The result meets rigorous testing standards (EN 12572-1/2/3), carries FSC® certification, and has equivalent performance to other EP walls, from traction and impact resistance to structural and dimensional stability.

GRIPTONITE

Griptonite has introduced Smart Targets, an enhancement that is included in their Route Manager platform to help routesetting teams set and achieve goals. Users can set goals of how many routes of each grade they would like in a given zone, rope type (lead, auto belay, top rope) or sector, and then they can analyze how well the team hit those goals. Pricing begins at €85/mo billed annually.

MEGABETA

Megabeta just launched their 8L Sling Bag, a crossbody bag designed for climbers. It’s designed to be smell-proof using activated carbon cloth, is made with REPREVE recycled polyester from plastic bottles, and has two exterior pockets. $119

MIDNIGHT LIGHTNING

Midnight Lightning has redesigned their Chalktopus with new colors and now post-consumer recycled fabric (up to 94% recycled by weight). The patented TentaTech tentacles gather loose chalk to coat your hand when grabbed. $10.95 USD

ROUTETAGS.PRO

RouteTags.Pro is a new business started by routesetter Matt Hulet that produces customized tags to mark routes on the wall. The 54mm by 86mm tags are made from either 0.8mm- or .045mm-thick aluminum in a choice of 8 different colors. They are designed to be reused many times and can be recycled. Prices start at $0.95/tag.

TRANGO

Trango recently launched two new products: The Beta Stick EVO ($75.06 to $144.17) is a telescoping stick clip with a completely redesigned head, has a wire arm for both solid and wire gate carabiners, and is available in four sizes, with extended lengths ranging from 5ft to 22ft. The Rope Tote ($112.65) has reinforced foam sides and sturdy base to provide structure and protection, metal snap springs to keep it open, interior and exterior daisy chains and pockets, and fits a 70m rope with room to spare.

8BPLUS

8BPLUS has released new tee shirt designs made with 100% certified organic cotton. $39.90

CLIFT

The Clift Track recently hit the market as an easily-installed, battery-powered device that detects climber presence and tracks route and wall usage. The devices are €199 each with a minimum purchase of two units and require the €49/mo Clift Cloud service for real-time analytics.

CLIMBSKIN

Climbskin has released Performance Foot Cream, designed with natural ingredients to deodorize and hydrate the skin. €19.90

NO GRIP

No Grip has released Spazzola Tresessanta, a new brush with 360 degrees of bristles, a replaceable head, and an aluminum handle. €19.90

RAED

The new ZÆD released by RAED is a soft belay brake assistant designed for climbers with weight differences and is available as the mini ($101) or pro ($132).

SEND EDITION

Send Edition released 77 Drills to Help You Climb Better, a training resource intended for beginners, experienced climbers, and coaches and trainers. $27.99

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Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 20 New Climbing Products and Services for Winter 2025-2026 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

Students are back to school and climbers are flocking to crags, which for many of us can only mean one thing: the active fall season is here, so it’s time to shake off the summer rust if you haven’t yet and put our recharged batteries to good use. This issue has plenty of new releases to help fuel the forward momentum toward your professional and climbing goals, from high-tech advancements on and off the wall to fresh tools for training the body and mind, high-quality equipment for our gyms or own racks, plus inspiration to make our progress more sustainable. Enjoy!

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
– 8BPLUS – Apex Cool Labs – Approach – Asana – Beta Break – Boulder Bluff – Death Grip – Endless – Escape – Griptonite – Head Rush – Kinetik –  Lizcore – Rhino Skin Solutions – Rise Above Consulting – Rúngne – Trango – Unblocd – WhiteOak – Wild Country –

APPROACH

Approach recently launched Approach Learning, an on-demand training portal built into their software that’s specifically designed for climbing gym teams. The self-guided digital resource covers essential workflows for staff, such as signing waivers, editing customer profiles, selling merchandise, processing checkins and more. Their goal for the portal is to make onboarding smoother. Approach Learning is included at no additional cost.

ASANA

Asana has expanded their flooring options to include the new Pallet of Pads system. A pallet consists of 6, 8, 9 or 10 modular pads that can be combined to create a wide variety of padded surfaces and fit just about any climbing wall. Each pad is 48″ x 36″ x 8″ in size and has dual-density open- and closed-cell foam, a 1000 denier nylon shell, two drag handles, Velcro around the top perimeter, and triple stitching in stress points. Each set comes with Velcro seam covers to attach the pads together, plus a custom fit 1680 denier ballistic nylon topper that is water-resistant and has Velcro around the full perimeter. The whole system is designed for easy service and maintenance, so it can be a long-term solution. $3,000 to $4,150, with free shipping to the lower 48 states.

DEATH GRIP

Death Grip is a new brand of high-performance chalk in plastic-free packaging. The line includes 100% pure magnesium carbonate chalk formulations: Doom Stones Block ($15.99 for 4x60g discs) and Doom Stones Chunks ($12.99 for 125g or $18.99 for 283g), made from 100% pure magnesium carbonate; and Bone Dust ($14.99 for 125g) powder, sourced from seawater and refined by solar radiation. They also offer Dark Tide Liquid ($9.99 for 60ml) using the same seawater/solar source plus ethanol.

GRIPTONITE

Griptonite has launched two new features for climbing gyms—API Integrations and Challenges—as well as introduced a competition-only pricing tier, allowing gyms to access just the competition functionality alongside a new web-based results service. The API Integrations allow gyms to leverage a two-way connection directly with select POS, CRM, booking and access control systems.  The new Challenge feature equips loyalty/rewards programs with ready-made templates like Check-In, Bring a Friend and Climb of the Week. The new features are included with plans that start at $85/mo.

HEAD RUSH

The new TRU-ALERT Height Sensor from Head Rush Technologies is the company’s latest product designed to protect auto belay climbers who forget to clip in. If a climber is not clipped in, a warning sound is emitted at 1.5m, and if the climber reaches 2.5m, a full safety alarm goes off. The device attaches to the harness, so no wall alterations are necessary, and it’s compatible with all major sequenced connectors. Each TRU-ALERT Height Sensor is $300, and additional Reset Remotes are $300.

LIZCORE

Lizcore gymOS, a full-featured climbing gym operational software solution, is now available. The new platform has a wide variety of integrated features, including memberships, routesetting, access control, climber tracking and competitions, and it also works seamlessly with their Safety Gate® auto belay devices. Through Lizcore, managers get dashboards that provide quick access to key data and insights; climbers get performance tracking, route feedback, challenges and more. Plans currently start at €45/mo.

RHINO SKIN SOLUTIONS

Rhino Skin Solutions manufacturing is now 100% solar-powered. The facility in Redmond, Oregon, completed installation of their 12,000 kWh system this summer.

RISE ABOVE CONSULTING

Recently Rise Above Consulting brought on Pete Ward as a partner and expanded their services. The network’s turnkey solutions for gym start-ups are customized and include benchmarked data, market research, a 7-year financial model and full business plan for $10,000. They also offer a three-day, facilitated strategic planning process—both onsite or remotely—as well as customized one-on-one coaching, group programs, and two-day immersive bootcamps focused on leadership, people operations, crisis management and more. Their consulting packages begin at $2,000 for 10hrs.

RÚNGNE

Rúngne now has three chalk products available. Their Magdust ($24 for 200g) blend is 30% chunks and 70% powder, while their Magdust Superdry ($26 for 200g) blend is 100% fine powder and formulated for humid conditions. And their Magball ($17 for 60g) is a refillable mesh ball. Rúngne’s chalk products are 50% off to wholesale customers through their partner program.

TRANGO

Trango has released their Reaction World Cup Quickdraw, the official quickdraw of the IFSC World Cups. Available in five lengths (15cm, 25cm, 50cm, 70cm, 100cm), these quickdraws use 2.5cm-wide webbing and rubber keepers to add stability for clipping. $29.95 to $35.95.

UNBLOCD

Unblocd just launched Climbing Injury Recovery. The new online course addresses psychological challenges during rehab, including motivation, fear of re-injury, and regaining enjoyment in climbing. Gyms can offer Unblocd memberships—which include this course—to customers as part of a partnership. Those memberships start at $15.84/mo with a partner discount.

8BPLUS

8BPLUS has dropped two new chalkbag designs, Eddie and Oli. Both chalkbags include a belt, a harness clip, two brush holders, and a 12.5cm-wide opening. $34.90

APEX COOL LABS

Apex Cool Labs has upgraded their Narwhals palm-cooling devices. Designed to mitigate heat stress, accelerate heart rate recovery and improve strength gains, they utilize an insulated reservoir, specialized freeze pack and heat pipes to provide 2+ hours of cooling. The 11″ x 4.3″ devices weigh 3lbs when full and can be setup in 60 seconds if the freeze packs have been prepared overnight. $399 for a set of 2.

BETA BREAK

Beta Break is a new card game made for the climbing gym. After choosing a bouldering problem, each card drawn directs the player(s) to climb the problem in a certain way. Designed to be played alone or with friends, the game is available in both a pre-printed format ($19.99 to $24.99) and as PDFs you can print yourself ($7.99).

BOULDER BLUFF

Boulder Bluff is a new bouldering-themed bluffing card game. Players draw tokens from the ‘chalkbag’ to help (or hinder) their climb, with a goal of topping as many routes as possible. Designed for 2 to 4 players and takes 30-45 minutes to play. €27.23

ENDLESS

Endless Climbing is now selling The Ultra Chalk Bucket. It’s made with Ultraweave 400 TX, a fabric with tensile strength that’s designed to be strong—15x stronger than steel at the same weight—as well as lightweight and abrasion resistant. It also features their Magnetic Brush Sleeve, a magnetic roll-down closure and a storage pocket, is available in a variety of colors, and weighs 210 grams. $89

ESCAPE

Escape recently released their RockRidger Hoodie for men and women. The jackets are designed for long reaches, with extra arm material, and has a hood designed to fit comfortably under a helmet. $99.95

KINETIK

Kinetik’s latest pad is the KiloNewton Prime, which has three layers of foam that are combined to make a 5″ deep,  56″ x 48″ landing zone. The pad features an adjustable torso length, shoulder straps, load lifting straps, as well as their ‘houdini’ flap, drag handles, and a multi-pad carry system. $325

WHITEOAK

WhiteOak has introduced their Footwork Panel, a dual-sided footwork trainer that’s designed to help climbers develop precise foot placement, balance, and control. It has an engraved grid, is adjustable from -25° (slab) to +25° (overhang), and is made from birch plywood. $119 for the panel, or $139 with 16 footholds included.

WILD COUNTRY

Wild Country recently launched their Progress Backpack 18L, which is built to be light, compact and streamlined for multipitch use. The ‘high-on-back’ fit keeps the pack away from gear loops and chalkbags, and the main compartment can be accessed from the top drawcord or side zipper. It’s compatible with hydration bladders, has a removable hip belt and internal back for packability, and has integrated daisy chains. $109.95

Want to include your products and services?

Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 28 New Climbing Products and Services for Fall 2025 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

It’s the summertime, and whether your weather is fine or not, there’s plenty in this Summer Buyer’s Guide to get you and the climbers at your gym in the sending spirit, through the dog days and beyond. Fresh designs of pads and apps; bags and buckets built for long sessions; an ergonomic new belay device; customizable training tools and complete courses; an outdoor wall for the backyard; an AI-powered system for tracking and optimizing climbs—we’re just scratching the surface. All that and much more below.

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
– 8Bplus – Asana – Awesome Woodys – Clift – ClimbTime – ClimbAlong – Graypoint – Griptonite – Hangdog – Lizcore – Megabeta – Organic – Petzl – Rock River Domes – SNAP – Tension – Theoretical – Trango – Unblocd – ZIGZAG –

8BPLUS

New from 8BPLUS this season is their Finger Tapes. The 38mm x 10m (1.5″ x 11yds) rolls are 100% cotton, plastic-free, urethane-free, hypo-allergenic, have a zig-zag edge for easy tearing, and come in three colors/prints. For retailing they are available boxed or as hangers. $8.90

ASANA

Asana has fresh designs for most of their crashpads. Their VersaPad Lux ($170) is 74″x44″x0.75″, their Hero Pad Photon ($249) is 48″x36″x4″, and their SuperHero Pad Lumen ($349) is 57″x40″x4″. Both the Hero and SuperHero feature heavy-duty 1680 ballistic nylon shells, suspension systems, flaps with a metal cam buckle closure, and four yellow carry handles.

CLIMBALONG

ClimbAlong recently released their S.P.O.T. system (Smart Performance Observation Tool), an AI-powered routesetting management platform designed to support the entire routesetting lifecycle. By using mounted cameras, each covering approximately 20 meters of wall, the system tracks climbs 24/7 and collects numerous customizable datapoints. It analyzes hold usage, route popularity, and climber behavior to provide insights that help optimize routesetting workflows. Intro pricing for 2025 is €69/mo without cameras and €299/mo with two cameras.

CLIMBTIME

The ClimbTime App recently relaunched with a retooled design and set of features. Gyms are able to host and score climbing leagues and comps, create and manage events and clubs, post news to customers as well as help them find partners. There is also an integrated routesetting management platform that allows customers to log climbs. The app is free for gyms.

GRIPTONITE

This season Griptonite dropped a big update to their competition platform, adding three updated scoring schemes (Olympics, World Cup 25, Custom) and a new app interface. They also added Multi Site Series, for sequential or concurrent leagues across different locations that accumulate into a master series. These updates are included with their Advanced package for £65/mo.

MEGABETA

Megabeta has released their TotePack, a convertible tote bag / backpack featuring activated carbon cloth that creates a smell-proof pocket for climbing shoes. The 24L bag also has a laptop sleeve, a roll-top closure, and comes in three colors. $1 down now gets it for  $134; regular price will be $159.

ORGANIC

Organic has launched their Snack Sack Chalk Bucket. The 9″-tall by 6.5″-wide bag has a roll-top buckle closure, a zipper pocket, an open pocket, a brush loop, and a 20-magnet closure system. Made in the USA and available in a variety of colors. $35

ROCK RIVER DOMES

River Rock Domes is now offering custom-made climbing domes. Their self-build kits feature aluminum frames using stainless steel hardware and include 12 panels and 1 kickboard—everything needed except holds and padding. $11,950 (subject to change based on market fluctuations).

TENSION

The Pro Edge Platform is Tension’s latest training tool: a highly customizable, no-hang system. The billet aluminum frame has three color options (gold, black, raw) and houses a range of interchangeable edge inserts, including four 10mm to 25mm edges and pockets made from sustainably sourced Kebony wood, as well as 3D-printed edge inserts from Specialized Masochism. An optional Quick Clip makes swapping inserts faster than with the standard brass screws. Starts at $99.

TRANGO

This season Trango released three new products: a belay device, chalk bag and backpack. Their Vergo ($99.95) assisted belay device is designed to never need overriding, even when feeding slack; comes in six colors; and is recommended for rope diameters 8.9mm to 10.7mm. Their Photon Chalk Bag ($16.95) weighs just 2 ounces, comes in three colors, and includes a 45″ waist belt. Their City Sender Eco ($129.95) has a clamshell design with full-length zippers, vented shoe compartment, sunglass pouch, bottle sleeve, interior daisy chain, removable waist belt, and meets the Global Recycled Standard for process and materials.

UNBLOCD

Recently launched, Unblocd is a scalable mental skills training platform built specifically for climbing gyms. The offering includes online staff training courses, optional on-site staff training, and plug-and-play resources for running social events focused on the mental side of climbing. Gyms can also offer their customers access to Unblocd’s online membership—which includes mental training courses and live Q&As—with a 50% discount and shared revenue going back to the gym. Consumer memberships start at $15.84/month with the partner discount, and gym licenses start at $19/month per staff member.

AWESOME WOODYS

Awesome Woodys just released their Pinch Block Set, a set of six wooden pinches from 19mm to 105mm for training exercises. AUD $195 for the full set.

CLIFT

The Clift App recently launched to power their Interactive Wall, a system for any climbing wall that combines light-up sensors, real-time tracking, and digital challenges. Starts at €8,990.

GRAYPOINT

The new Variable Crimp Rig from Graypoint features an edge that adjusts from 0mm to 20mm using the dial on the back. $150

HANGDOG

Hangdog’s new patent-pending Magic Wand is a compact stick clip that extends from 1ft to 6.6ft, is designed to be carried and used mid-route, and has three attachment options for different carabiners. $25.99

LIZCORE

Lizcore’s recently released Safety Gate® is designed to improve auto belay safety using AI and smart cameras on a wall-mounted device that holds the tether until the sensor is activated by the climber’s wristband. Pre-orders for €1,624.81 or rentals available for €20.50/month.

PETZL

Petzl has launched ePPEcentre, an app designed to manage and track inspections of a gym’s rental and operational equipment. Plans start at $6/mo.

SNAP

The new Air Shock 1 from SNAP is a 150cm x 120cm x 15cm, inflatable crashpad weighing 5.5kg, with a shoulder strap carrying system. €470

THEORETICAL CLIMBING

Theoretical Climbing’s JUSTboard is a new hangboard with adjustable-width, interchangeable, 8mm to 20mm edges. $44 for the board and first set of edges; $30 for each additional set of edges.

ZIGZAG

ZIGZAG’s new Impact Chalk is 50/50 powder/nuggets made of 100% magnesium carbonate. It is packaged in a custom blend of post-consumer recycled plastic and sugarcane to prioritize recovery and reuse of existing plastic waste over the creation of new materials. $19.95 for 200g.

Want to include your products and services?

Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 24 New Climbing Products and Services for Summer 2025 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

Spring is in the air for many of us, which means trade show season is upon us as well in the climbing industry. The Indoor Climbing Expo wrapped up last week, next month the CWA Summit gets underway, and in May the Asian Climbing Summit will make its debut. This season’s Buyer’s Guide highlights 24 new climbing products and services you might spot from the show floors or at a gym near you. Enjoy!

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
– Adapt Book – Asana – Belay Safe – Boulder Monk – CAMP – ChupaClimb – Crux Climbing – Flashed – Escape – Grifter – Head to Toe – Madrock – Movement Hub – Myléore – Petzl – Slapchalks – Theoretical Climbing – Trango – Walltopia – Warrior’s Way –

ASANA

Asana recently released the Groove Mat, a non-padded surface designed to help keep you organized, comfortable and clean. The 72″ x 42″ mat weighs 3lbs, has handles, and is made using a waterproof vinyl base and polyester deck. $99

CHUPACLIMB

ChupaClimb has begun selling its new Finger Tape. Available in 6 colors, the non-elastic tape is latex-free and made with 100% cotton fabric. Rolls of 3.8cm x 9.14m are packed in a re-usable aluminum jar. €6.00

CRUX CLIMBING APP

Crux Climbing is an app for climbers to set and share custom climbs at their gym. By using photo scans in real time, Crux allows climbers to create climbs on any wall in the gym—not just the spray wall—using the holds that are already on the wall. Users can set a climb by taking a photo, tapping on the holds, and posting it for others to try, with no extra work required by gym staff. Additional features include leaderboards, climber statistics, event notifications, and more. Crux is free to try, and plans range from $8/mo to $50/mo.

FLASHED

Flashed is now selling 13mm Finger Tape. This narrower option complements the 38mm-wide version they have had for years, and it’s available in 4 colors. $3.64 USD

GRIFTER

Grifter recently launched with its Electric Skin File. Designed for portability, the USB-C rechargeable file has three speeds, is available in two colors, and comes with 10 replaceable 120-grit sanding heads. $48.95

MADROCK

Madrock has recently released its new D2.ONE HV shoe. It’s a hybrid version of the Drone 2 and Drone CS, with a downturned toe, moderate stiffness, synthetic uppers, hook-and-loop closure, and Madrock’s proprietary Science Friction 3 rubber. Vegan-friendly. $149

TRANGO

Trango has just launched its new REAL Chalk collection of products. All of the products feature 100% pharmaceutical-grade, non-mined, magnesium carbonate sourced directly from seawater, and most of the packaging uses various biodegradable, recycled and recyclable materials. REAL Powder Chalk consists of ultra-fine particles and comes in 50g ($6.50), 250g ($13.95) and 500g ($24.95) sizes. REAL  Chunky Chalk ($25.95) includes 10 chalk pucks to break down to your ideal texture. REAL Liquid Chalk ($6.95) is 100ml and uses pharmaceutical-grade alcohol.

WALLTOPIA

Walltopia has just released two new products: the Quantum Board and SmartGate. The Quantum Board holds are made with CompX’s softer SKUISH material and feature full-perimeter lights. The board has holds on the outside corners, the app accommodates multiple climbers at the same time, and there are two available sizes. Including frame, panels, holds and LEDs, the 12 x 12 version is €32,997 and the XL version is €44,997. The SmartGate is a belay attachment monitoring system designed to reduce auto belay accidents. Two parts work together—a sensor in the vinyl gate and sensors embedded in the wall about 2.5m high—to enable the system to detect when a climber is on the wall and forgot to clip in, which triggers a visual and audible alarm. The 1.2m-wide version is €795, and the 1.5m-wide version is €865.

ADAPT BOOK

Longtime coach Kris Hampton recently published Adapt, which follows his journey to climbing one hundred 5.13s. In the book Kris digs deep into the decisions made, hurdles confronted, and lessons learned along the way. The book tells the story and shares those lessons with readers—what it takes to persist, adapt and succeed.

BELAY SAFE

BelaySafe is a patented top rope belay assist device with adjustable friction, using a series of one-way pulleys and pivoting cams. It’s designed to mount to traditional climbing gym anchors, made from 6061 hardened aluminum, and can accommodate ropes with 9.5mm to 11mm diameters. $749

BOULDER MONK

Boulder Monk recently released its new The Temple Chalkbag. The roll-top design has two pockets—zippered and mesh with elastic—four brush holds, and a magnetic and clip closure. CHF 39.90

CAMP

CAMP has announced a partnership with Janja Garnbret featuring a collection of products. The Photon Lock Janja ($12.95) is a locking screwgate carabiner weighing 43 grams, and the Photon Express KS Janja ($145.95 or $151.95 for 6) is a 546-gram or 582-gram quickdraw with both a straight and bent gate carabiner available in 12cm and 18cm lengths.

ESCAPE

Escape just launched its redesigned 55L Sport Pack. The pack features durable TPU coated fabric, double zipper access, an included rope tarp, and adjustable hip and chest straps. $99.95

HEAD TO TOE

Head to Toe recently began selling its updated MetacarpEdge V2, a portable finger trainer and warm-up device. The device’s unique, unlevel edge is designed to train each finger in a biomechanically advantageous position. The edge depth is 30mm, and it comes with an insert to convert to a 20mm depth. It’s available in four textures and two sizes, with an option for custom sizing for an additional $10. $35-$45

MOVEMENT HUB

The Movement Hub was just launched—an online education platform for routesetters, founded by routesetters Gracie Martin and Alexander Lemel. They feature weekly video updates with fresh content from world-renowned experts, a global community, and live sessions with monthly Q&As. $39.50/mo

MYLÉORE

Myléore now has liquid chalk available in four sizes, with bottles for the two smaller sizes made from plant-based plastic. They use 99.7% pure magnesium carbonate and 99.8% pure isopropyl alcohol. Reseller prices are available with purchases of 24 units or more. €10.90 for 150ml, €15.90 for 250ml, €25.00 for 500ml, and €50.00 for 1L.

PETZL

Petzl recently updated its Luna women’s harness. The new version is 20% lighter through reduced seams, a 20mm waistband and buckle (down from 28mm), a 15mm belay loop (down from 18mm) and now features recycled main fabric in the waistband and recycled packaging. $94.95

SLAPCHALKS

Slapchalks has released its third generation Obsidian Pro Rock Climbing & Ninja Shorts (and also a women’s version). The shorts feature mesh zip pockets on both legs designed to hold chalk balls, for quick chalk-ups during climbing or ninja. The updated version uses a new fabric that is 88% recycled polyester (14 bottles per m²) and 12% Spandex. $115

THEORETICAL CLIMBING

Theoretical Climbing’s Maestro is a new device designed to help users control their pacing while climbing. It’s a wearable metronome that vibrates every second, helping climbers have a better perception of time. Weighing 10g and measuring 1.9″ x 1″ x 0.42″, it’s intended to be worn against the skin to help with pacing, timing rests, and preventing timeouts during comps. $45

WARRIOR’S WAY

The Warrior’s Way recently launched its Mental Training for Competitive Youth Teams. This immersive clinic is designed to help youth climbers navigate their fears, actualize their performance, and empower them—especially climbers shifting from top rope to lead. The clinics are 5 hours long with a maximum of 6 students. Youth team coaches are required to attend, so they can continue the training afterward. Host facilities pay a $800 fee, plus travel expenses.

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Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 24 New Climbing Products and Services for Spring 2025 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

It’s not too late for some last-minute holiday shopping, and this buyer’s guide has you and your colleagues covered with gift ideas big and small. Hypo-allergenic climbing tape as stocking stuffers? Check. A lightweight sport climbing harness or new lace-up shoes for yourself or your climbing partner? Check, check. A brand-new training board, freestanding wall, or software and safety upgrades to give your gym a boost heading into 2025? Check, check, check, check. Also inside this edition is support for larger new year’s resolutions, from a first-of-its-kind market analysis toolset for gym developers to consulting for new facilities and even a new franchise model focused on young crushers. Enjoy!

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
8BPLUS – ABC Climbing Academy – Chris Ryan Studio – Climbing Business Journal – Crux Climbing – Eldorado Climbing – Flashed – Head Rush – ICP – KinetiK – Misty Mountain – Nicros – Nomad Walls – Petzl – Rock Gym Pro –

8BPLUS

8BPLUS recently released its Finger Tape, with three different color patterns. Each 100% cotton, hypo-allergenic roll is 38mm x 10m and made with high-performance adhesive designed for high pressure and friction. With a zig-zag edge for easy tearing into any width and length, the tape is plastic and urethane free and uses an adhesive that leaves small pores in the glue to wick your sweat away. $8.90

ABC Climbing Academy

ABC Climbing Academy is a new franchising business with gyms specifically created for kids and junior climbers. Built on the success of ABC Kids Climbing in Boulder, Colorado, their second location in Naperville, Illinois, will open soon. Franchise territories are currently available across the U.S. New facilities must be located where populations of at least 150,000 people are within 15 miles, and buildings can be 3,000 to 25,000 square feet, with a minimum of 21ft clearance height. The initial franchise fee is $60,000, with 6% royalty and an expected total investment between $1M and $2.6M.

Chris Ryan Studio

Chris Ryan Studio has revamped its Project Launch Program, a consulting package for new climbing facilities. The program gives participants end-to-end access to Chris Ryan’s expertise and experience at every step, from ideation to opening. Individualized consulting is paired with tools, templates and guidance meant to fill in the gaps and help organize your building project. Program options range from $597 to $1,497.

Climbing Business Journal

CBJ just launched its Climbing Gym Market Report and Dashboard, the climbing industry’s first publicly available, comprehensive and interactive U.S. climbing gym market analysis toolset. The tools are designed to assist climbing gym developers with evaluating existing and new climbing gym markets in the U.S. for climbing gym development, providing developers with insights into key market variables, climbing gym and wall density, relative new climbing gym opportunity, and much more. The report is $800, with discounts for CBJ members.

Crux Climbing

Crux Climbing is an app for climbers to set and share custom climbs at their gym. By using photo scans in real time, Crux allows climbers to create climbs on any wall in the gym—not just the spray wall—using the holds that are already on the wall. Users can set a climb by taking a photo, tapping on the holds, and posting it for others to try, with no extra work required by gym staff. Additional features include leaderboards, climber statistics, event notifications, and more. Crux is free to try, and the full version can be purchased by gyms for $49/month.

Eldorado Climbing

Eldorado Climbing recently added the new Switchboard to its collection of DIY and homewall products. The compact adjustable wall is 8ft tall and 7.5ft wide, with angle settings at 15, 25 and 35 degrees. The wall can be double-sided, providing both overhang and slab climbing simultaneously, and has finishes designed for both indoor and outdoor uses. The structure is freestanding, with no wall or floor mounts required, and holds and padding are not included. Prices range from $2,499 to $5,299.

Flashed

Flashed has released the new Let’er Buc’ket, a bespoke chalk bucket for retail shops (note: to view the link you must have wholesale login). Customers have full control over the print design of each Let’er Buc’ket, creating an opportunity to brand gyms, events and more. Made from 1000D Ballistic Nylon—with a large pocket, three elastic brush holders, and roll-top closure—it’s sized to accommodate two hands for chalking up. $29.99 CAD / $23.99 USD each with a minimum order of four units.

Head Rush

Head Rush has introduced its new TRU-CLIP Connector, a safety device designed to remove human error from the auto belay clipping process. This new connector can’t be clipped incorrectly or incompletely according to the Head Rush website, and it’s designed to reduce staffing costs and accommodate groups and climbers with little climbing experience. The stainless steel device doesn’t require recertification and comes pre-attached to TRUBLUE webbing. Key Links are required ($170 for four), and Head Rush recommends one per rental harness plus one per auto belay, to streamline operations. TRU-CLIPs are $160 add-ons to new TRUBLUE devices or replacement webbing.

ICP

ICP has launched its Airboard, a new training board frame designed to hang from any structural wall or roof. The size options—8×10, 10×10, 10×12, 12×12—accommodate all the popular board hold systems, with options for a kickboard, mechanical winch, and three different colors. Angle adjustment is manual. Pricing ranges from $5,136 to $11,482, which includes U.S. delivery to your door but excludes taxes. Available worldwide.

Nomad Walls

Nomad Walls recently unveiled its Nomad Rise, a mobile bouldering wall built on a custom 24ft trailer that takes under an hour to set up, according to Nomad (see it in action). The two-sided, weatherproofed structure has two 360-square-foot walls, each adjustable from 5-degree slab to 20-degree overhanging using electric actuators. Fall protection mats are included and integrated. The wall is towable with any standard pickup truck and is designed for climbing events, for creating a mobile gym, and pop-up climbing showcases. Pricing starts around $80,000, with a smaller version in development for around $50,000.

Rock Gym Pro

Rock Gym Pro has introduced the Customer Quick Configure, a new tool designed to simplify customer record management and improve efficiency in day-to-day operations. Facilities can create templates which include a list of multi-step changes that a staff member can apply with a single click, reducing training time and human error. Customer Quick Configure is included at no extra cost with all plans.

KinetiK

KinetiK has launched it’s new Newton Prime crashpad, a simplified version of it’s Newton. It features a pack system with torso adjustment from 15″-21″ and load lifting straps, their “Houdini flap” to cover the carrying straps, three-buckle closure, two drag handles, and the ability to carry multiple pads together. The 48″x36″x4″ pad has three layers of foam to optimize the landing experience. $199

Misty Mountain

Misty Mountain just released the Flashin’ lightweight sport climbing harness. It features a side-entry buckling system, adjustable leg loops, four gear loops, and is available in two flashy color options. An extra belay loop is available for $10 extra. $139.95

Nicros

Nicros has expanded its range of Playground Boulders in five sizes, from 24 to 400 square feet. The boulders are molded from real rock using UV-resistant fiberglass with an anti-graffiti coating. Excluding delivery and installation, pricing starts at $1,400 for the Lil’ Buddy up to $22,137 for the Large Boulder, with discounts for purchases of multiple boulders.

Petzl

Petzl recently launched the SITTA, an ultra-light performance climbing and mountaineering harness. It has a thin and flexible waistbelt and leg loops designed to pack down small, plus five gear loops. $174.95

Want to include your products and services?

Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 15 New Climbing Products and Services for Winter 2024/2025 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

School is back in session, sweater weather is arriving in many places, the colors are starting to change, and those signs can only mean one thing: the fall climbing season is here! The autumn sending has already been going down at crags and gyms, fueled no doubt by pumpkin spice and everything nice but also by the latest climbing products and services. This Buyer’s Guide features dozens of new arrivals and innovations at industry brands, from high-performance chalk to customizable gear protectors, speed holds adapted to youth climbers, an entire youth training center concept, and an assisted climbing device designed to open climbing up to more people—regardless of physical ability. Enjoy!

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
12Climb – ArtLine – Asana – Butora – Capitan – Climbing Covers – EP – Escape – Flashed  –Footing Vertical – Friction Labs – Gnarly Doods – Granite Insurance – Griptonite – Maverick Climbing – Organic Climbing – Petzl – Power Company – Ropeless – SoiLL – Spider Chalk – The North Face – Trango

12Climb

12Climb has created an app that tracks your climbing, with easy activity logging to help motivate you for new achievements. The app also has features for gym operators, including Route Management, where you can add routes to the app with QR tags; Events, with live ratings, different level groups and custom filters; and Analytics, with information about your visitor’s preferences, routes and setters. The Basic gym management option is free, while the Premium option is $69/month (or $59/month with the annual billing).

ArtLine

New from ArtLine: speed holds finally adapted to youth climbers! The shape is based on the official IFSC model but in a smaller size and with more pronounced grips. The FFME has determined a standardized setup of 8 meters high with a 5° inclination, made up of 12 handholds and 4 footholds. Its layout is similar to the official senior grid but is lower, and the holds are closer together to facilitate the ascent of smaller sized bodies. ArtLine is distributed in North America by Bold Climbing.

Asana

The Couch Crash Pad is the newest addition to Asana‘s lineup. Whether you’re setting up your home woodie, sprucing up your van or just looking for a stylish and comfy place to relax, this versatile piece has you covered. The new pad fits most crash pad couch frames and is made of dual-density foam. $199, with free shipping.

Butora

The Sierra is a new, intermediate-style shoe with a lace closure system from Butora. The medium-stiff shoe features an ABS midsole, laced closure system for precision fit, and a comfortable upper. A stiffer midsole platform paired with a power-inducing last shape results in a high-value edging shoe at a great price point. The Sierra’s last features a full-sole construction, for increased stability while edging on the smallest of holds, as well as heel tensioning that runs from heel to forefoot—providing all-around comfort and increased power and precision in the forefoot for superb edging performance. Offered in a unisex med-high volume fit—priced at $139.95 for climbers—the Sierra is part of Butora’s lineup as a high-value, high-performance edging shoe with a lace closure system.

Capitan

Capitan, a CRM software platform for climbing gyms, has launched its new automated membership referral system. The referral system drives membership growth by leveraging the enthusiasm and network of existing members. Through Capitan’s Climber App, members can easily access and share their unique referral codes with friends and family. For more information, schedule a call here to explore how the new referral system can help your organization or contact info@hellocapitan.com.

Climbing Covers

Take your gear to the next level of branding. Climbing Covers from Conscious Climbers provides customizable gear protection designed to meet the unique needs of gyms, professional climbers, guiding companies and lifestyle brands. The covers aren’t just eye candy; they also offer protection from wear and tear, improving your gear’s longevity. Customizable quickdraw covers are $860 for 350 units, or scale up with 700 units for $1715.

EP Climbing

EP Climbing, a climbing wall manufacturer and official supplier to the IFSC and USA Climbing, is now offering a complete Youth Training Center. Designed with input from top youth coaches and routesetters, the facility concept was built to meet the highest standards for athlete development. Key features of the design include a 1,200-square-foot bouldering wall with competition angles, a 14-foot spray wall for advanced training, and a $10,000 allowance for elite-level holds and volumes. The build also comes with durable, 12” UCS Spirit nylon bouldering pads and has customization options for future expansion. Invest in excellence with a comprehensive training center, starting at $160,000.

Escape Climbing

Chunky Nuggets Chalk from Escape Climbing, as the name suggests, consists of larger, coarser particles, in contrast to the smooth, fine particles found in Escape’s Feather Dust chalk. Particle size is a matter of personal preference; climbers who appreciate chunky chalk often enjoy breaking the chunks into a powder and working the chalk into their fingertips. The larger particles can create a more textured surface on your hands, providing a subtly different grip experience. Chunky Nuggets Chalk adheres to your hands, so you have more coverage with less product—which means fewer interruptions, less mess, and more focus on the climbing moves ahead. $12.99 for 200g or $59.61 for 7 gallons.

Flashed

Flashed worked closely with professional routesetters to develop its new 21.5 Setter Bucket to add to your kit. The setter bucket comes with a 21.5-gallon, collapsible plastic bucket; no need to shop around for a separate plastic bucket, it all comes as one. It can easily fold down to 4” in height when not in use—saving valuable storage space—and comes in three standard colors (grape, raspberry, sage). There’s also a bespoke option, where you can use your creativity to brand and design it as you want. Made from robust materials, the Setter Bucket is built to be durable and reliable for all the rigors routesetting demands. $189.99

Footing Vertical

After a rewarding career in climbing, brothers Bassa and Mickaël Mawem felt the need to share their passion beyond the usual boundaries of the sport. Their goal is simple: to provide access to climbing for everyone. Footing Vertical is an ambitious project to allow anyone, regardless of physical ability, to be able to enter a climbing gym and climb with the same freedom as any other climber. ELSA, their proof of concept, is a mechatronic system developed for load balancing that can learn how much weight to remove from a person and follow their movements all the way to the top of the route, eliminating some or all of the physical demands of climbing. This proof of concept is currently being transformed into CAMI, a climbing assistance system capable of automatically adapting to the type of climber, their disability or condition, and their progress over time. Read more about Les frères Mawem’s project here. You can preorder the device on the Footing Vertical website.

Friction Labs

Athletic Hands from Friction Labs is a restorative hand cream that’s purpose-built for athletes. Developed in partnership with dermatologists and tested by Friction Lab’s Pro Team, the product quickly aids in the recovery of active, dry skin—keeping athletes’ hands in top condition to perform their best. The 75 mL/2.5 oz tube of Athletic Hands should be enough for approximately 100-150 applications. $29.99

Gnarly Doods

Gnarly Dood’s newest drops are here. The Chalk Bags ($21.95)—crafted from durable materials—feature a drawstring closure, an adjustable belt and a brush holder. Each bag depicts a scene from some of the top climbing destinations in the world. Other new products include the Gnar Hat ($27.95), Quickdraw Pouches ($24.95) and Chalk Buckets ($29.95).

Granite Insurance

Granite Insurance recently unveiled its new Adventure Insurance Program. Built upon a foundation of rewarding, industry-specific risk management characteristics—such as accredited operations and documented training practices—the program represents a significant development in the insurance sector. The Adventure Program currently serves the following industries, with future expansion ahead: Ziplines and Aerial Park; Climbing Gyms; Mountain Coasters; Haunted Attractions; River Outfitters; Guides & Outfitters; Adventure Parks. For more information about the the Adventure Insurance Program and Granite Insurance, visit www.graniteinsurance.com or contact info@graniteinsurance.com.

Griptonite

Griptonite’s new Route Manager tool allows routesetters to overview their gym’s inventory and layout at a glance, operate in bulk on tasks—setting, stripping, printing and exporting—and more. The software was designed from the ground up to work on larger screens in a browser, making it easier to perform day-to-day tasks in the app and providing the screen real estate for several brand-new flows—such as a calendar, task canvas and data dashboard. The Basic Package allows for 1 seat at £20 per month, Advanced for 3 seats at £65 per month, and Pro for unlimited seats at £85 per month. Route Manager is a “bolt-on” to Griptonite’s existing app products and works in conjunction with them.

Maverick Climbing

Maverick Climbing, a new venture by industry veteran Jerad Wells, officially launched in April of 2024. With over 75 years of combined experience, the team at Maverick Climbing has seen the costs and challenges that typically come with designing and building climbing walls. Maverick Climbing helps transform spaces into dynamic, state-of-the-art environments, connecting gym owners to cutting-edge designs and swift installations—all with a dedication to delivering you world-class climbing walls at highly competitive prices.

Organic Climbing

In a continued effort to reduce and reuse their off-cuts of foam, Organic Climbing has developed a burly bed for your canine companion, or pillow for use around the house, camp or van. Constructed from the same materials as Organic’s crash pads, the beds are designed for everyday use indoors and outdoors. On the outside, you’ll find a 1000d Nylon top with light TPU coating and a 1050d ballistic nylon bottom. A hidden side zipper allows an internal pillow of shredded foam to be removed, so the outside can be washed. No extraneous handles or webbing to chew on. Loosely filled to allow for easy nesting. Organic’s Recycled Dog Bed is currently available in two sizes and two colorways. $54-$68

Petzl

From headlamps to gear for climbing and progressing in the mountains, Petzl products are designed from an endless pursuit to create efficient, ergonomic and lightweight solutions—tools designed to make life easier for those seeking to go further. Petzl’s new NEOX® belay device ($149.95) with cam-assisted blocking was built for lead climbing and has an integrated wheel that allows you to smoothly and quickly pay out slack to the climber. Also new for 2024 is Petzl’s line of ergonomic chalk bags: the Saka ($24.95), Sakapoche ($29.95) and Bandi ($19.95). And Petzl’s line of harnesses for gym and outdoor climbing—the Corax ($79.95), Corax LT ($69.95) and Corax LT Women ($69.95)—have updated colorways.

Power Company

The Power Company recently released a new online course and evaluation tool crafted to help climbers better understand and self-assess their movement skills. The goal is to provide a means of accurately identifying where to focus their efforts for more efficient improvement. Owner and coach Kris Hampton had spent years working with clients and other coaches who struggled to successfully identify weaknesses when it comes to climbing movement, often failing to make the distinction between rehearsing a single move and fully understanding a concept; between successfully using a technique and actually building a skill. The solution? By breaking down climbing movement into five basic concepts—what Kris refers to as the “five atomic elements”—and explaining how each one is working in some combination for every move we make, the course provides a new way to think about and understand climbing movement, as well as practical methods for incorporating element-targeting drills into gym sessions. After taking into account feedback from an initial subscribers-only cohort, Kris and the team at The Power Company have made some improvements to the course, called The Atomic Elements of Movement, which is now available for enrollment ($49 for lifetime access to course content and updates).

Ropeless

In 2021, the team at Ropeless met with Disruptive Materials to discuss the idea of developing liquid chalk that would utilize Upsalite®. According to Ropeless, Upsalite®—a material developed by nanotechnology specialists in Uppsala, Sweden—is a mesoporous magnesium carbonate that’s “capable of absorbing moisture at a rate ten times greater than conventional magnesium carbonate.” The end result of the collaboration between the two companies is now on the market: Super Flash, liquid chalk made with Upsalite®.

SoiLL

So iLL has two new climbing shoes: The Roam Soft ($169.00)—designed and built on a hand-shaped, downturned last by Fred Nicole—is a soft slipper (no midsole) developed with Jason Momoa as part of the So iLL x On The Roam collection. ROAM Soft features a three-way, stretch-knit entry with an elastic band stitched to a durable, comfortable, unlined vegan microsuede upper. The shoe is tensioned from under the toe to the back of the heel, and the laser-etched rand generates tension as well. The Torque ($179.00) features a durable and comfortable, unlined vegan microsuede upper with an elastic integrated tongue and pull tab. The shape of the toe is intended for precise footwork, with rubber made to be thick enough to feel stable but thin enough to maintain sensitivity. Torque is suitable for any outdoor bouldering as well as indoor bouldering, especially climbing on large volumes.

Spider Chalk

New from Spider Chalk: Ghost Grip Clear Chalk Crystals ($19.99). No mess, invisible crystalline chalk repels water, decreases sweat and enhances grip for sports, from rock climbing to weightlifting. Spider Chalk’s new, ultra-concentrated chalk crystals result in better grip for a longer time, with only a tiny amount of powder. The Ghost Grip leaves practically no residue and can be used in most environments that ban powder chalk.

The North Face

The North Face is excited to introduce LIGHTRANGE, a new-to-market product technology providing strong UPF protection and enhanced wicking benefits. Engineered with micro-grid weave technology, the slim fit, FlashDryTM materials offer enhanced moisture management to help keep you comfortable, allowing for flexibility and free movements. The LIGHTRANGE collection includes two hero products: the LIGHTRANGE SUN HOODIE and the LIGHTRANGE SHADOW TEE. Pricing ranges between $45-$80.

Trango

Every ounce on your rack can make a difference. That reason is why Trango developed the At⌀mic Sling. According to Trango, the new, proprietary weave is 20 percent lighter and stronger than Dyneema, 40 percent stronger than Kevlar, 15 percent more abrasion resistant than carbon steel, and 8 times stronger than high-strength steel. The At⌀mic slings are naturally waterproof and highly resistant to abrasion, UV light, and chemicals. At a featherweight 14.5 g for the 60 CM length, the slings are designed to not hold you back. Available in 60cm ($12.95), 120cm ($21.95), 180cm ($29.95) and 240cm ($39.95).

Want to include your products and services?

Each season we publish a Buyer’s Guide featuring recently released products and services for climbing facilities and insiders. Contact us to be included in the future.

The post 34 New Climbing Products and Services for Summer/Fall 2024 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

The Expo Hall was the center of attention at the 2024 CWA Summit in Portland, Oregon. At the contemporary Oregon Convention Center, over 80 climbing industry brands unveiled their latest innovations and services. From eco-friendly holds and recycled materials to advanced training board systems, multiple CRM options, new fiberglass macros and elegant wood volumes, this special edition Buyer’s Guide captures a glimpse of the cutting-edge gear and timeless classics that might be arriving at a gym near you this year.

BRANDS INCLUDED BELOW:
Approach – Asana – Beta Climbing – Bold Climbing – Capitan – Cascade Specialty – Climbing Business Journal – Dollamur – Dreamwall – Elevate Climbing Walls – EP Climbing – Essential Climbing – Flashed – Griptonite – Grizzly Holds – Head Rush Technologies – HMH Outdoors –  IMPACT Climbing – Kilter Grips – Maverick – Midnight Lightning – Monument Sports Group – Rockcity – Rock Gym Pro – Rockwerx – So iLL – Strati Climbing – The Hold Room – Trango – Treadwall Fitness – UCS Climbing – Vertical Solutions & Proxy – Walltopia

SEE OTHER BUYER’S GUIDES HERE

Approach

Approach helps climbing gym operators manage the core elements of a gym’s operations. From the point-of-sale system to membership and waiver management and comprehensive calendaring, Approach’s platform was designed to streamline gym operations and help gym businesses grow. The unified platform—used by more than 130 gyms around the world—also comes with customizable business intelligence tools, as well as reputation management tools focused on amplifying a gym’s presence online.

Asana

Asana Climbing is a versatile padding source for climbers and climbing gyms that offers custom padding solutions for projects big and small. Asana also supplies a range of climbing gear, such as chalk, chalk buckets, and packs. In 2024, the company featured its new collaboration collection with The Grateful Dead. Asana is based in Garden City, Idaho.

BETA Climbing

BETA Climbing is a climbing gym management and customer interaction software, with creators based in Malta. In powering gyms with a point-of-sale solution, waiver repository, route management tool, event booker and more, the BETA software acts as an engagement platform between climbers and gym management. Beta’s migration team sets up gyms on BETA—including passes, participants, etc.—for free, helping make it a smooth transition to BETA’s software. Their system runs on the web with customer-managed accounts, so there’s no need to worry about complicated installs or buying special hardware.

Bold Climbing

Bold Climbing is a North American distributor of climbing holds, macros, volumes and a suite of other gym products, from setting hardware to air filtration systems. The company distributes grips from a robust lineup that includes 360 Holds, Artline, Blocz, Bluepill, CCE, Chapter, Formik, Menagerie, Rockcity, Rustam, Simpl. and Unit. During the Summit week, Bold featured new creations from several brands at the latest CBJ Grip Showcase.

Capitan

Capitan is an automated CRM system focused on making it easier to manage and grow a climbing gym business. The company’s web-based platform—designed to be flexible and mobile-friendly—includes a climber-specific CRM, memberships and passes, check-in/check-out and PIN tracking, document and event management, reporting and more. Capitan’s platform also has an Associations feature, for automating discounts across subgroups of customers, and this year Capitan unveiled its new automated membership referral system.

Cascade Specialty

Cascade Specialty specializes in climbing gym flooring. With beginnings in Everett, Washington, dating back to 1999, Cascade Specialty now provides roped and bouldering wall flooring to indoor climbing gyms throughout North America. The flooring company—winner of the Climbing Gym Floor Installer of the Year award last year—offers open-cell foam, carpet-bonded foam, vinyl-coated fabric, as well as carpet options.

Climbing Business Journal

Climbing Business Journal is an independent news outlet dedicated to informing, connecting and empowering the professionals of the climbing industry. CBJ’s coverage— articles, podcasts, webinars, etc.—spans breaking news, gym developments, industry best practices, business planning, risk management, routesetting, coaching and more. CBJ also equips the industry with a popular jobs board, comprehensive gym map, data-driven reports and other tools. At the Summit, the CBJ team highlighted their latest data products—including a new interactive dashboard in the works—as well as a growing list of member benefits. CBJ also organized the CBJ Grip Showcase in Portland, hosted by Portland Rock Gym, and was the CWA Summit’s official media partner for a second straight year.

Dollamur Sport Surfaces

Dollamur Sport Surfaces creates bonded mats for indoor climbing environments. As an international manufacturer of climbing flooring, the company showcased at the Summit its 1 3/8-inch to 2-inch foam cushioning, available in eight colors. Dollamur can provide multiple surfaces throughout a gym, from carpet-bonded foam to vinyl floors.

Dreamwall

Dreamwall is a team of experienced professionals specializing in the design, manufacturing and installation of climbing walls. The company’s design process begins with an analysis of the unique space, then moves into engineering structures that meet international and local safety and quality standards, followed by an installation that brings all the pieces of the puzzle together. Dreamwall has completed projects in over a dozen countries worldwide.

Elevate Climbing Walls

Elevate Climbing Walls is a custom climbing wall manufacturer. Elevate not only has its Legacy Panel system—hand-sculpted with a focus on quality and durability—but now the Evolution Panel, a smooth panel designed with routesetting in mind and a modern finish. Elevate can assist with the design, build and operations of a climbing wall and facility.

EP Climbing 

In addition to building walls equipped with Mozaik XP Surface Technology, EP Climbing provides remodels, consultations, routesetting, staff training, maintenance and inspections that help gym operators keep their climbing facilities operating safely and successfully. EP also produces holds, macros and volumes, with an improved hold material that’s now more wear resistant. EP’s dual-tex macros were in action on boulder #6 at the CBJ Grip Showcase, and so was the Titan Boulder that will be seen at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Essential Climbing

Essential Climbing is a distributor of Axis, Captain Crux, Chapter, eXpression, Kumiki Climbing, Lapis, Squadra and Vezi climbing holds, macros and volumes. At the Summit, the company showcased fresh grips from each brand, including shapes in Vezi’s Otium range and dual-tex eXpression creations. Essential also brought Squadra fiberglass macros and a selection from Axis’s Easy Rider and Disc Fiberglass lines, among other shapes.

Flashed

Flashed is a homegrown, Calgary-based brand selling products for climbers—crashpads, chalk, chalk bags and other climbing accessories—as well as padding systems for climbing gyms. This year, in Portland, the Flashed team highlighted their Mg2+ seawater chalk—a by-product of the salt industry designed to be eco-friendly—samples of their commercial flooring solutions, and stylish crashpads from the Artist Crash Pad Collaboration Project.

Griptonite

Griptonite is growing a climbing gym ecosystem that uses wireless route tags, smart hangboards, digital and print signage, and an accompanying app—all engineered to help inspire new climbers, retain regular customers, and take care of a gym’s bottom line. Griptonite’s technology includes an events platform—with live leaderboards, digital scorecards, and functionality for comps and leagues spanning one or more gyms—as well as training and community engagement tools and a complete gym analytics dashboard.

Grizzly Holds

Grizzly Holds, a Canadian climbing hold company that hit the ground running in 2018, featured in Portland some of their latest new sets of grips poured by Aragon: the Ripple Effect Macros, the Carbons and Flakes series, among others. The Ripple Effects, in particular, were featured at the CBJ Grip Showcase and are now available to order online.

Head Rush Technologies

Head Rush Technologies produces and distributes magnetic braking auto belays from their factories in Colorado, France and the UK. At the Summit this year, Head Rush displayed the TRUBLUE iQ+ Auto Belay with catch-and-hold technology, their TRUBLUE SPEED Auto Belay, as well as the No Delay Belay Service Plan. The TruBlue iQ+ Auto Belay is currently $4,399-4,599; the TRUBLUE SPEED Auto Belay is currently $2,799-2,899.

HMH Outdoors

HMH Outdoors is a brand-building network that handles distribution, sales and marketing for industry businesses serving climbers and climbing gyms. The HMH family of brands includes 8B+, Butora, Climb Lab, Harness Consulting & Marketing and Maxim Climbing Ropes, equipping climbing facilities with rental shoe fleets, ropes, air filtration and hold cleaning technology, HVLS fans, and other essential products for gyms and climbers.

IMPACT Climbing

IMPACT Climbing is an Ontario-based climbing wall builder that designs and constructs all types of walls, from full climbing gym builds to single walls. IMPACT supports gym owners at every step of a project, helping them craft a business plan (with a business planning calculator), providing guidance on the best design for their unique space, and offering advice all the way through construction, so the gym can be opened with confidence.

Kilter Grips

Kilter Grips—a climbing hold and training board company that’s been a longtime staple in the CBJ Grip List, with over 20 awards in ten years—exhibited at the Summit their vacuum-thermoformed comp set macros, dual-tex Kaijus, and a variety of other new shapes from Kilter and Urban Plastix. Their fresh grips were also on display in Portland at the official Summit afterparty. Kilter is based in Colorado, with holds distributed internationally.

Maverick

Maverick Climbing was recently launched by Jerad Wells and helps gym owners access high-quality climbing wall design and construction services. The Maverick team has over 75 years of combined industry experience in climbing gym and wall design, engineering, manufacturing and installation. Maverick works with gym owners at each step of the process, with a focus on matching the wall design and build to their unique space and business plan, and also offers operational and marketing consulting post-build.

Midnight Lightning Climbing

Midnight Lightning, a Squamish-based chalk, accessories and soft-goods brand, manufactures its line of products to be eco-conscious. At the Summit, the Midnight Lightning team displayed their Seawater Sourced chunky and powder chalk. They also brought their new Approach Hat, Low Waste Liquid Chalk, Chalk Socks and the Chalktopus—a cute, octopus-looking product that fits inside a chalk bag, similar to a chalk sock.

Monument Sports Group

Monument Sports Group provides professional insurance services for sporting and recreational facilities and events. As the provider of general liability and other CWA insurance programs, Monument helps operators understand the unique risks that come with running a climbing gym, while negotiating the best pricing for climbing facilities.

Rockcity

Rockcity is a climbing hold brand manufacturing PU and PE grips, fiberglass macros, and plywood volumes. The company is well-known for supplying grips that have been set at many an IFSC event of late as well as the Olympics in Tokyo and (soon) in Paris. Based out of the United Kingdom, Rockcity is distributed by Bold Climbing in North America.

Rock Gym Pro

Rock Gym Pro—which has won the Climbing Gym Management Software of the Year award for three years straight—is a longstanding, all-in-one CRM/POS software that enables gyms to integrate digital waivers, manage memberships, check in customers, book events online and create advanced reports. In Portland, the Rock Gym Pro team led the “Unlocking the Value of Customer Data” presentation, which delved into some of the latest industry insights in payments and check-ins and presented methods for analyzing customer data.

Rockwerx

Rockwerx, based in Barre, Massachusetts, has long been installing durable, custom climbing walls across North America, providing indoor and outdoor walls for projects big and small. Rockwerx offers a full-suite of climbing products and services that includes custom climbing walls, modular panels, Kidwerx, volumes, consulting and flooring.

So iLL

So iLL is a North American climbing shoe, hold, apparel and training gear company. At the Summit, the company showcased its new climbing shoe line, following years of design and testing. They also shared a glimpse of their LED system board—with translucent holds shaped by Jason Kehl—as well as a selection of macro grips from their various hold lines.

Strati Climbing

Strati Climbing produces safety flooring for commercial gyms, home climbing walls, recreational facilities, and colleges and universities. Strati also offers re-covering services focused on breathing new life into gym flooring, with cordura/ballistic, vinyl and carpet-over-vinyl options. In addition, the Albuquerque-based company produces rubber fitness flooring roles and tiles; training area mats; and padding for posts, railings and walls.

The Hold Room

The Hold Room is a one-stop shop for routesetting gear and climbing grips, with a lineup that includes over nine makers of climbing holds, macros, volumes and setting tools. Their booth in Portland showcased lines from Elevation, SupR, Thrive Climbing and Unleashed Climbing. SupR, in particular, won the CBJ Grip Showcase for a second time in a row.

Trango

Founded in 1991, Trango is a company of climbers who design products for several climbing disciplines. Trango distributes gear like training equipment, climbing shoes and their new crashpads, in addition to a wide variety of grips under the Trango Holds name, following the Trango-eGrips merger two years ago. Trango Holds exhibited their dual-tex Loaves line at the CBJ Grip Showcase in Portland. Trango distributes Tenaya products, as well.

Treadwall Fitness

Treadwall Fitness, based just outside of Boston, produces rotating climbing walls and other training equipment. They recently announced the Treadwall Flow, which combines their longstanding Treadwall and grips from Kilter. Other products by Treadwall Fitness include the Boulderboard Training Stations, Laddermill Ascenders and Ledgewall Climbing Panels.

UCS Climbing

UCS Climbing is a sports flooring provider based in Lincolnton, North Carolina. Their division of roped and bouldering flooring offers padded surfaces for indoor and outdoor walls, in addition to drag pads and training wall flooring. With digital printing capabilities, UCS can customize most equipment to fit a gym’s brand and color-scheme needs.

Vertical Solutions & Proxy

Vertical Solutions was started in 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah, where its flagship The Front Climbing Club gyms are located. The company offers a variety of services for new climbing gym projects, providing its signature walls, flooring, holds through Proxy Climbing, training boards and gym furniture. Additionally, Vertical Solutions equips new builds with hardware and staff training through its partnership with Petzl USA, as well as workout equipment selection assistance and pricing through its partnership with Freemotion Fitness.

Walltopia

Walltopia—winner of the Climbing Gym Wall Builder of the Year award for three consecutive years—is a Bulgarian climbing wall company that also creates and distributes training boards, flooring, grips, hardware, safety devices, gym software and active entertainment products. The company had another large booth at the Summit, showcasing a bit of everything on a massive screen. Holdtopia’s The Moon and The Nose macros also made an appearance in Portland, at the CBJ Grip Showcase. These macros are made of 100% recyclable thermoplastic and designed to be fully recyclable at the end of their lifespan.

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The post 33 Brands From the CWA Summit 2024 Expo Hall appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

[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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

The post Prefabricated Climbing Walls for Training Boards 2024 appeared first on Climbing Business Journal.

[Editor’s Note: This article was first published on November 18, 2021, and was updated on April 12, 2024, to reflect changes in the training boards market.]

The modern, standardized training board is an invaluable investment for climbing gyms large and small. By committing only a small fraction of a facility’s footprint for training boards, gym operators open up bottomless climbing options for a huge variety of customers. No routesetting is necessary since all systems come with an app packed with thousands of problems, and the only real maintenance required is cleaning the holds. No longer do private trainers or youth team coaches need to wander the gym to find climbs for their clients’ workouts.

“They create a friendly, or cutthroat, way for people to train together, whether in the same gym at the same time or with partners across the continents,” said Fabrizio Zangrilli, who at one point made use of five different board systems as a gym owner.

The concept of a training board is not new. Practically since the advent of indoor climbing, training aficionados have built “system boards”—often DIY mirrored walls that enable climbers to work on specific goals in a confined space, which are effective complements to a campus board and hangboard. But modern training boards take it to a whole new level, driven largely by technology. Combining LED lights and databases of routes on an app in your pocket―and built on a standardized layout that can be replicated anywhere in the world―the training boards of today can pack a lifetime of climbing into a 10×10-foot space.

With more hold systems being added to the market each year, in this update we further separated the training boards into their various versions in the table below—for example, Tension 1 and Tension 2—and added new players to the roundup.

There are several training board hold systems on the market today in North America. A few others are currently in use in other parts of the world, and it seems many new options are in development publicly and in secret.

In addition to training board hold systems, we cover training board frames in a separate article here, which will soon be receiving an update, as well.

All details above are accurate as of the publishing date. New options may have been added and prices may have changed since then, and new routes are added every day to the apps.

MoonBoard

Legendary climber Ben Moon pioneered the training board concept with the release of his original MoonBoard in 2006, which was based on designs he had used since the late 80s. Since then, his namesake board has been installed in thousands of climbing gyms and homewalls all over the planet, and the MoonBoard boasts a huge following and countless beta videos online.

Over the years, MoonBoard has released multiple unique hold layouts―2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 (Mini)―with each designed for a 25° or 40° wall and with LED lighting above the holds. The 2016 layout, in particular, is regarded as the first commercial LED board on the market. Most recently, the company released a new 2024 layout as well as four additional hold sets. The holds tend to be small, with the grades starting around V4, which can limit beginners and warm-ups. Moon said the initial idea was to cater to “the needs of a small but dedicated group of climbers who understood that a small, fixed hold training board was an exceptional strength training tool,” and that goal is seen in the designs.

MoonBoard was voted Favorite Homewall Board System in CBJ’s 2021 Grip List survey and runner-up in 2022 and 2023. They also proudly give 1% of all sales to environmental charities.

“The holds are perhaps the most realistic to outdoor climbing. I think the OG yellow holds do the best job simulating some of the nasty holds you have to grab outside.”
―Eddie Morillas, The Front Climbing Club (all four board systems installed)

“The small, deep in-cut holds favor a more powerful and tension-based climbing style.”
―Matt Waits, High Point Climbing & Fitness (three board systems installed)

“This board forces the climber to not hesitate and to be very deliberate with their movement. I also like the fact that this board is pretty simple and can fit in pretty small spaces.”
―Ken Klein, formerly at Whetstone Climbing (three board systems installed)

Learn more about the MoonBoard at www.moonboard.com

Tension Board

The folks at Tension introduced the second commercial LED training board on the market in 2017 with their Tension Board 1. It has a mirrored layout like system boards of the past, but with the modern conveniences of LED lights and a route database app, and the Tension Board 1 was also designed for use on adjustable-angle walls. The symmetry has attracted users who wish to target left and right-side movements equally. And by using 100% wooden holds, it’s an eco-friendly choice and regarded as a relatively skin-friendly board for long sessions.

In 2022, Tension released the Tension Board 2, a board system that supports adjustable wall angles from 0-65 degrees overhanging and includes wall sizes from 10’Hx8’W to 12’Hx12’W. The TB2 can be installed in a symmetrical (Mirror) and an asymmetrical (Spray) layout, giving users the ability to choose whichever layout they prefer, or switch up the layout later for a fresh feel and database of new climbs. For holds, the TB2 includes a combination of newly designed wooden holds and dual-tex, polyurethane holds that are illuminated from the center of each hold.

“The hold diversity of the TB2 allows you to target whatever you want out of your session. Crimps, pinches, powerful and static climbing—it’s all there.”
―Zach Galla, USA Climbing Athlete

“The wood holds are friendly on the skin and the symmetry helps identify weaknesses in your climbing. The climbing style leans more toward slower static movement.”
―Matt Waits, High Point Climbing and Fitness

“It’s probably the most appropriately named board. You need to keep it tight and have good technique for this one.”
―Eddie Morillas, The Front Climbing Club

Learn more about the Tension Board at www.tensionclimbing.com

Kilter Board

Legendary sculptor Ian Powell brought his deep experience in hold shaping to the training board space with his and Jackie Hueftle’s introduction of the Kilter Board in 2018. Comfortable and varied shapes on an adjustable angle frame have made the Kilter Board a popular choice for entry-level and elite climbers alike. And the unique, full-perimeter LED lights which encircle the holds are designed to help make route sequences easier to follow, on and off the wall. Kilter also introduced the first paired manufactured frame: the freestanding, adjustable Lemur x Kilter frame, designed and engineered in partnership with Lemur Design out of Canada.

Though relatively new to the market at the time, the Kilter Board was voted Favorite Board System by routesetters in CBJ’s 2021 Grip List survey and was the runner-up Favorite Homewall System Board. The accolades have been pouring in since then, with the Kilter Board winning both votes in 2022 and 2023. There are over 1,000 Kilter Boards (and counting) installed around the globe, forming a worldwide network of climbers of all abilities and the largest problem database of any training board on the market.

“Functional for a wide range of climbing abilities.”
―Abbygael Cancian, Rock Mill Climbing

“The large, friendly hold shapes and fully lit hold design are less intimidating for new climbers and is the best way to introduce them to the world of climbing training.”
―Matt Waits, High Point Climbing and Fitness

“Accessible to beginners at lower angles.”
―Eddie Morillas, The Front Climbing Club

“I feel this is the easiest board to climb on.”
―Ken Klein, formerly at Whetstone Climbing

Learn more about the Kilter Board at www.setttercloset.com

Grasshopper Board

Boone Speed launched his Grasshopper Board in 2020 during the pandemic, with a layout developed by Josh Larson. The company’s modern, adjustable frames pair with the hold systems for a sophisticated aesthetic. On the marketing front, Grasshopper is the Official Adjustable Training Wall of USA Climbing, and it’s not uncommon to see climbing Olympians training on this system on social media.

The mirrored Grasshopper Board was the first board to have some larger slopers and pinches included in the hold layout, and some say the bolt-hole LED lighting option improves on systems that have lights below the holds. In 2022, Grasshopper expanded its board to include optional 2ft panels on each side, yielding a 12×12 layout, adding several large slopers and pinches to the board. With some of the largest training board holds on the market, these large holds on the exterior of the wall allow climbers to avoid constantly hitting and dodging high-profile grips while working on smaller holds in the middle. 

“Ergonomic grips…I like having larger and slopier holds.”
―Eddie Morillas, The Front Climbing Club

“The shapes are fun and interesting, with quite a lot of variety of sidepulls, slopers, pinches and underclings.”
―Kevin Corrigan, Climbing

Learn more about the Grasshopper Board at www.grasshopperclimbing.com

Decoy Board

In 2022, Decoy founder Dan Yagmin launched the Decoy Board, a symmetrical training board with a variety of holds from signature Decoy hold series, such as the Minimalist, Schist and Rollies. These series provide smooth, rock-like and dual-tex hold options across ten different sets, allowing climbers to expand their board over time. The Decoy Board App offers thousands of climbs at a variety of angles without a kickboard, to simulate outdoor climbing.

“It can be suitable for entry-level climbers as well as tame the strongest folks from your local crag.”
―Paul Jung, Director of Routesetting

“Being symmetrical has shown me some real weaknesses climbing on different sides. They have the most comfortable holds that are still bad and require tension and technique to climb in.”
―Samuel Gardner, VITAL Manhattan

“The decoy board is easy to interact with in a creative capacity, whether you are a professional setter or a community member trying out LED board climbing for the first time.”
―Ewan Bennett, Rock Spot Climbing

“It offers a distinct climbing experience that truly translates to outdoor climbing.”
―Lilian Kral, Boardworks Climbing

“Its versatility and appeal with our staff and customers has made it a staple for our training areas when looking to build new gyms.”
―Danny Howard, Rock Spot Gyms

Learn more about the Decoy Board at decoy-holds.com/pages/decoy-board

Woods Board

The Daniel Woods Light Up Training Board became available in the Winter of 2022, co-designed with Andy Raether, owner of Menagerie/Formik Climbing. With Woods and Raether’s combined climbing and industry experience, the design for the board came together quickly, resulting in a concept that caters to training enthusiasts looking for a hard sesh. The board consists of a densely-packed blend of wooden and dual-tex, plastic holds designed to be “ergonomic, useful and interesting.” The Woods Board app allows users to vie for top ranks on several leaderboards, propose grades, set boulders, and search through problems.

“Ultimately, the Woods Board aims to combine the core creative spirit of a spray wall with the symmetrical layout and global network of existing training boards.”
―Austin Beck-Doss, Gear Junkie

“The Woods board seems mega. More holds than any other board. It’s made for getting strong. It just seems mega.”
―Josh Aiken, Alpine Climbing Gym

“The reason you will want to climb on this board is because it will make you strong…The grips are hard, the moves are heavy, and progression will come.”
―Noah Walker, Gripped

Learn more about the Woods Board at menagerieclimb.com/pages/woods-board

Additional Training Board Hold Systems

The popularity of training board hold systems means inevitably there will be new entrants into the market as time goes on. Below are several other training board hold options; five are complete training board hold systems, and others are hold sets for DIY boards:

12Climb: 12Climb, based in Ukraine, has a 3×4-meter board system with light-up holds and a Bluetooth-connected app that’s intentionally built for climbers of lower grades and comes in two versions: the 12C Board, with grades ranging from 5b to 7c; and the 12C Board School, designed for beginning climbers and young children (4a to 6b route grades).

Nectar: Colorado-based Nectar Climbing’s Nectar Board system is a 10×12-foot wall (coming Spring 2024) that rotates and can be adjusted from 5° to 60° angles. The standardized hold set for the board consists of Urban Plastix holds paired with LED lights (coming Fall/Winter 2024).

Satellite: The Satellite Board system is distributed worldwide and comes in two sizes: 40° with 304 holds mainly for gyms, and a Mini (30° with 105 holds) for homewalls.

Shiny Wall: Their Standard system features fully-lit holds. Shiny Wall is available in Europe, and they also offer entire custom walls using the same lighting system.

So iLL: So iLL is in the beta phase of its So iLL Connect Board system, with the beta version soon being delivered to locations around the world. They also make Systems Holds.

Wataaah: Wataaah’s Dojo board system is available in Europe as well as the U.S. and features 210 dual-tex, screw-on holds (105 unique shapes) with a mirrored layout for 20°-45° boards.

Atomik: While they don’t make a full board system, Atomik does produce a variety of plastic system holds for DIY board layouts.

Beastmaker: Beastmaker has four different wooden training board sets that can be used symmetrically or asymmetrically. The sets are designed to cater to various homewall setups and customer preferences, from wall angle to desired grade range.

Metolius: Metolius offers wooden system holds for DIY board layouts, featuring marks on the perimeter every 10° to assist with positioning.

Train to Climb: Train to Climb provides a coordination-style wall kit, which uses a symmetrical hold design for practicing a wide range of specific, dynamic movements.

More Resources About Training Board Systems

Here are more articles that provide additional details and perspectives on these invaluable training tools:

• Grip List Awards 2023: Kilter – Favorite Board System and Favorite Homewall Board System (Jonathan Littauer, CBJ, 10/29/2023)
• Grip List Awards 2022: Kilter – Favorite Board System and Favorite Homewall Board System (Jonathan Littauer, CBJ, 10/23/2022)
• Grip List Awards 2021: Kilter – Favorite Board System (Jonathan Littauer, CBJ, 9/12/2021)
• Grip List Awards 2021: Moon – Favorite Homewall Board System (Jonathan Littauer, CBJ, 9/12/2021)
• What’s Best For You: the Tension Board 2, the 2024 MoonBoard, or the Woods Board? (Matt Samet, Climbing, 3/26/2024)
• Get Lit: An Introduction to Interactive Climbing Boards (Lucie Hanes, Training 4 Climbing, 2/24/2023)
• First Looks – Daniel Woods and Menagerie Have New Standard Board (Noah Walker, Gripped, 2/26/2022)
• The Daniel Woods Training Board: Spray Wall-Inspired ‘Maximum Fun’ (Austin Beck-Doss, Gear Junkie, 2/18/2022)
• First Look: The Kilter Home Wall (Matt Samet, Climbing, 6/11/2021)
• The Decoy Board: World’s Newest Standard Board (Noah Walker, Gripped, 6/4/2021)
• Kilter, Moon, Grasshopper, and More: Interactive Climbing Training Boards Explained (Austin Beck-Doss, Gear Junkie, 5/14/2021)
• This Might Just Be the Ultimate Home Training Wall [Grasshopper] (Kevin Corrigan, Climbing, 4/27/2021)
• Which MoonBoard Set is the Best? (Noah Walker, Gripped, 3/12/2021)
• The Kilter Board is the Future of Board Climbing (Noah Walker, Gripped, 2/6/2021)
• Tension Board versus the MoonBoard (Noah Walker, Gripped, 11/16/2020)
• Is a MoonBoard for You? (Noah Walker, Gripped, 10/19/2020)
• MoonBoard Review (Rob Greenwood, UK Climbing, 4/4/2016)

Editor’s Note: Grasshopper, Kilter, Tension and So iLL are financial supporters of CBJ.

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