When selecting climbing holds, consider the following:
Shape: Choose holds that match the intended climbing style, such as slopers for a more challenging grip, jugs for a more positive grip, directional holds to force movements, small foot holds to improve your footwork, less than 1 finger-pad edges or large pinches to prepare for a specific climbing destination, etc.
Size: Consider the size of the holds in relation to the climber's hands, as well as the size of the wall. For a home climbing wall, TNUT recommends anything from tiny jibs, small, medium, large to extra large holds (i.e: E00001, E00002, E00003…) as they don't take too much real estate on the wall. Overgrown holds (i.e: E01001, C01003, C01005, D01001, D01002…) are always worth the investment too and certainly a must for indoor climbing and bouldering centres.
Texture: Select holds with a texture that provides enough friction to allow the climber to stick to the hold, while not being so rough as to cause injury. On the scale of roughness, TNUT Climbing texture stands closer to the skin friendly side than the abrasive side. It was a deliberate design choice as we don’t believe bleeding fingertips should be the standard while training or competing.
Colour: Brightly coloured holds can be useful for creating visual cues for climbers, for clearly distinguishing adjacent routes, or for highlighting specific holds for training purposes. TNUT climbing offers a dozen standard distinct and codified colours (RAL, PANTONE), eye-catching fluoro colours, basic colours and will go out of its way to match your existing hold colour.
Quantity: Consider the number of holds required for the intended purpose, making sure to have a sufficient quantity of holds for the desired length and level of difficulty. Here are some useful guidelines:
- A minimum of 12 holds including 3 foot holds (give or take) for a standard boulder problem,
- 2.7 holds per metre for an adult route (3+ hold per metre for kids routes). About 16 holds for a 6m tall climbing wall or 25 holds for a 9m wall.
- A minimum of 7 holds per sqm to get started on a home wall.
Durability: Durability is an important factor to consider when selecting climbing holds. Here are the 2 main materials known for their durability:
- Polyurethane (PU) holds: PU holds are able to withstand high levels of stress and wear without breaking or cracking. They are fairly light and easy to work with.
- Resin holds: Resin holds are also known for their slow wear despite high level of traffic, they are cheaper, but they are heavier than PU, more brittle than PU.
TNUT Climbing uses the most resistant Polyurethane material available in Australia, a PU suspected to be used by other well-respected brands.
It's important to keep in mind that no hold is indestructible, and regular inspections for cracks or other signs of wear are necessary to ensure the safety of climbers. Additionally, proper installation and usage can also impact the longevity of climbing holds.
Availability: Climbing holds are widely available and can be purchased from a variety of specialty climbing retailers and climbing hold importers in Australia, mostly online, rarely in physical stores. Don’t get lured by cheap packs on Amazon, eBay or the like, you’ll end with a bunch of useless plastic
items you won’t want to pull on more than once! Always check that the people behind the stores are passionate climbers and route setters, even better if they are shapers or climbing hold manufacturers themselves. These professionals will often carry a wide selection of climbing holds and can provide expert advice and guidance on selecting the right holds for a specific problem or route (ranging from basic to advanced levels at any wall angles).
The turnaround time for climbing hold production varies and can be influenced by several factors such as the size and complexity of the order (i.e: number of colours), the production method used (i.e: fiberglass, wooden holds may take longer), the availability of materials and resources, and delays in international freight. On average, the turnaround time for a standard order of climbing holds from overseas can range from a few weeks to several months. It is best to check with the importer/manufacturer for an estimated timeline for your specific order.
The good news is TNUT Climbing production is all in Australia (Perth - WA) and offer fast production time for small to fairly large orders. TNUT Climbing more often than not can ship holds within a few days to 2 weeks of receiving the payment of an order. For larger orders, production times may take 3 to 4 weeks, as the holds need to be individually poured, cured, sanded and packed before
they can be shipped.
For those based in Perth, it is possible to organise a time to pick and choose the holds we have in stock. Contact remi@tnut.au to arrange a time. You may also visit one of 34+ climbing centres featuring TNUT holds around Australia.