How to Buy a Portable Rock Climbing Wall

So you’ve decided to pick up a portable rock climbing wall? Many people have for a number of reasons—recreation, training, teaching. It’s a great sport, and a wonderful activity for the whole family. But where do you actually begin on such a purchase?

Instructions

1. Before investing any amount of money in a portable rock climbing wall, it’s always recommended that you try out the sport first. Since indoor rock climbing is a different activity than the outdoor pursuit, contact your local rock climbing school or any gym with a wall to test it out. Not only will you have a chance to get your hands dirty, you’ll learn some of the basics in a safe and supportive environment.

2. Once you’ve determined that rock climbing is for you, take some time to do a little research on the various portable climbing walls available for purchase. Check out reviews, testimonials, packages, warranties and other characteristics on any wall that may have caught your eye. And if there’s a retailer in the area that has one available, head on over to try it out. Just like a car, you don’t want to buy it without giving it a test drive.

3. Rent before you buy. Since the pastime of rock climbing is growing in popularity, there are a number of places out there that rent portable climbing walls to the public. This is another great opportunity to see if you actually want this sort of structure in your own backyard.

4. Make sure you have room. Sounds a little obvious, right? Not to everyone. We’ve all bought something that just won’t fit—and we’re not talking clothes. Think back to that sofa you bought that simply wouldn’t fit through your front door. Not that you plan on putting a climbing wall in your living room, but if you live in an area with intermittent weather, you’re probably going to need a place to store it, especially if you want it to last.

5. Now that you’ve settle on a climbing wall, and you’re certain you have the room, check the classifieds to see if there happens to be a gently used model—gently used being the operative words. Find out how old the wall is, where it’s been stored, how often it was used, those sorts of questions. If you feel comfortable with the purchase, go ahead and buy it. Otherwise, pick up a new one and call it good.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check out what sort of return policy and/or warranty a store has when purchasing a rock climbing wall.

• Even though you’ve purchased a climbing wall for recreational purposes, makes sure you have the proper equipment to enjoy the sport safely.