The 10 Best Rock Climbing Holds
This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in December of 2018. Whether you're a route setter at a gym or are looking to build a a home wall for yourself or your kids, our list of rock climbing holds has you covered. These picks are suitable for use inside or out, and cover a range of shapes and sizes for beginners or experts. We've included basic supplementary sets as well as comprehensive packs that include everything you need to set your own routes. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Metolius Mega Pack
2. Escape Climbing Starter Pack
3. Kandi 25 Assorted
Editor's Notes
December 16, 2020:
We've updated our list to reflect current availability, and we removed a few listings for durability concerns. Selecting climbing holds depends mostly on wall size and climber ability. Advanced climbers will naturally seek smaller holds like the Nicros Crimps or the Atomik Classic Pack. For large walls and home gyms, comprehensive packs like the Escape Climbing Starter Pack or Metolius Mega Pack will provide enough variety to set routes for beginners or experts.
Aside from size and shape, climbing holds may differ in how they're mounted. Many sets use T-nuts and bolts, which make it easy to rearrange holds into new configurations. Other sets (like the Metolius Greatest Chips) mount via screws, which are equally secure but more difficult to remove.
Most of our choices are durable enough to remain outside year-round, but playsets and jungle gyms will work best with a basic set like the Climbing Monkey 25. For dedicated climbers who want to mimic the feel of real rock, the Grip a Rock 20 Kit is the closest you'll get to the real thing.
Climbing is inherently risky, so make sure that you have adequate safety equipment or padding for your wall.
December 20, 2018:
Recognizing there are a whole range of experience levels out there when it comes to climbing, we've made sure to include sets in this list that run the gamut from the most basic to the advanced. The Climbing Monkey 25 Holds, for example, falls into the former category, making it the perfect addition to an outdoor jungle gym or playground for kids. The Escape Climbing Starter Pack, on the other hand, is a commercial-grade set that is really only appropriate for dedicated climbers looking to continue their practice at home. Other options, like the Atomik Climbing Classic Pack or Rocky Mountain Climbing Gear 25 Mixed, meet somewhere in the middle.
Special Honors
Moon Climbing MoonBoard If you want a home wall but don't always want to set your own routes, consider this standardized DIY wall kit. Intended for experienced climbers, it comes with a free app that tracks your progress and connects you to a database of routes set by the climbing community. moonclimbing.com
Rock Candy Colossals Few manufactured holds can simulate the large craters and features of real cliffs, but these oversized pieces come close. They're bulkier and more expensive than most home enthusiasts need, but professional routesetters will appreciate their size and versatility. rockcandyholds.com
4. Grip a Rock 20 Kit
5. Metolius Super 7-Pack
6. Nicros Crimps
7. Climbing Monkey 25
8. Rocky Mountain Climbing Gear 25 Mixed
9. Atomik Classic Pack
10. Metolius Greatest Chips
Born in Boulder, Colorado, Willis began his writing career in third grade with a short story about a cat detective. After graduating from Williams College, he earned his editorial stripes at a magazine in Maine before making the leap into the world of freelance writing. He wrote for a variety of industries in Philadelphia and Rhode Island, until the New England winters sent him scurrying for sunnier skies. Now a resident of Los Angeles, he can frequently be found flailing away on a tennis court, dangling from a cliff face, or playing with his cats. Areas of expertise include fitness, nutrition, sports and outdoors, and automotive.