How to Build a Cheap Rock Climbing Wall

Rock-climbing walls are a popular way for gym-goers to add a little excitement to their workouts. They're also a great way for climbers to stay in summer shape over the long, dark winter months.
Many gyms are adding rock climbing to their repetoire of services, and specialized rock-climbing gyms are opening up in many large- to medium-sized cities across the United States. However, memberships to these gyms can be expensive, and many diehard climbers are looking to get away from the crowds so they can focus on building their strength and form on a personal level.
Climbers have been building their own home rock-climbing walls for years, and this is still the best solution for anyone who has the time, money and space to use on one. Rock walls can be as elaborate or as simple as you want to make them, but the outdoor existing structure wall is the cheapest, fastest and easiest to put up.

Things You'll Need

  • Rock-climbing holds
  • Drill
  • Screw gun
  • Hammer
  • Pulley
  • Lag bolts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate an existing structure that is suitable for climbing, such as a storage building, silo or barn that you own (or that a generous friend will let you manipulate). Determine the most likely side to have a climbing wall on. It should be blank and free of windows, with easy access to the rear and front of the wall itself.

    • 2

      Use a drill to drill 3/8-inch holes in a grid pattern all over the existing wall. If your structure is exceedingly tall, you may just want to drill enough holes for a single route at first.

    • 3

      Locate the hold mounts in the package of climbing holds and pound them in each of the holes with a hammer. Screw the mounts securely in place with a screw gun and the supplied screws.

    • 4

      Devise a route and begin mounting the holds for the route by screwing the holds into each of the mounting holes with the supplied 3/8-inch steel bolts. Build the route all the way to the top of the existing wall.

    • 5

      Mount the pulley at the top of the wall by screwing in the lag bolts and attaching the pulley's hanger to it. This is what you can slide the rope through to make it easier and smoother for your belayer to catch and lower you.