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Last updated: January 10, 2023
Reviews of five of the best outdoor climbing toys for kids, based on size, weight, features, materials, safety, and more.
I always encourage my kids to go climbing outdoors in playgrounds. This allows them to go out of their comfort zone, be physically active, and be social with their neighborhood buddies.
Climbing also helps with problem-solving and forces them to be proactive in dealing with challenges.
In this article, I am reviewing five of the best outdoor climbing toys for kids that you can easily set up in your backyard.
Top 5 Outdoor Climbing Toys:
Top 5 Outdoor Climbing Toys
Let’s have a closer look at my top 5 outdoor climbing toys for kids.
1. Easy Outdoor Space Dome Climber
This dome-shaped climber is the perfect choice for those looking for a basic yet versatile, high-quality climbing toy. It’s made with rust and UV-resistant steel, so you can rest assured it will last for many years in all weather conditions.
The sturdy steel frame also ensures that it can handle a lot of weight. In this case, the dome climber has a capacity of 1,000 pounds, which is pretty impressive. It allows up to five children to play at the same time, allowing your kids to build strength and stamina, as well as learn social skills and teamwork.
It’s designed for kids between the ages of 3 and 9, making it an excellent option for siblings and friends of different ages. Or otherwise, it’s a toy that your child can grow up with. And with a compact design (91 x 91 x 46 inches), this dome climber doesn’t occupy much space in the backyard.
2. Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
Monkey bars are fun and effective climbing toys, especially when incorporated into a dome-shaped tower structure. It’s not difficult to work out why this outdoor climbing toy can quickly become a backyard favorite!
Suitable for kids aged three to eight, this climbing tower is made of durable plastic bars and connectors that are light and easy to assemble. It’s incredibly sturdy and safe because of the self-lock spring system, so the tubes stay firmly locked in.
The monkey bars also have UV protection, so you can be sure this product will last for a long time, no matter how much exposure to the sun they get over the years. When assembled, the structure is surprisingly lightweight and compact, so it’s easy to move around and set up outdoors and indoors.
3. Colorful Children Rock Climbing Holds
Rock climbing is one of the best ways to motivate your kids to be physically active and strengthen their bodies. This particular set of rock climbing holds allows your children to enjoy this activity in a fun and safe manner.
The kit includes ten colourful pig nose holds with holes and a secure attachment set. You will need an outdoor space to attach the holds, such as a wall or wooden ramp. You can make the wall as easy or challenging as you like by attaching the pig nose holds closer or further away from one another.
It’s the perfect choice for parents looking for a low-priced yet safe and durable outdoor climbing toy. The items are made of durable and weather-resistant plastic. The manufacturer even offers a lifetime warranty, so you can be sure that this climbing toy will serve your kids for years.
4. Rainbow Craft Ninja Climbing Set
This ninja-style obstacle climbing course set quite literally has it all. You can instantly create that big playground feeling in your backyard by setting up this magic climbing course.
Watch your kids having fun while playing on the climbing cargo net, swinging on the ninja rings and the monkey bars, and climbing the rope ladder. As a parent, you can join in on the fun, as it’s such a solid and heavy-duty outdoor set.
All the accessories are certified and made with safe and robust materials. Also note that the manufacturer promises to replace any elements that are faulty or broken and fully stands behind the quality of their products.
5. Outdoor Gymnastics Kit for Kids
There’s no need to explain how beneficial the sport of gymnastics can be for kids, and with this outdoor gymnastics climbing kit, you can get your children interested in this sport from a young age. This set is suitable for kids aged 3 to 9 and includes a climbing ladder, a rope with a wooden swing, a gymnastic ring, and a hanging kit.
As all the elements hang above the ground, it’s a good choice for backyards with some space. It can be attached to trees or otherwise to a ceiling. With some imagination, you can also use it as part of an existing backyard tree house.
The materials used are all safe and high quality, so if you’re looking for a versatile outdoor climbing toy for your kids, this neat gymnastics kit is one to consider.
Buying Guide
When looking for a new outdoor climbing toy for your kids, there are some things to pay close attention to:
- Size and weight
- Features
- Materials and safety
- Recommended age
Let’s go through these considerations in a bit more detail.
Size and Weight
Most climbing toys designed for toddlers are relatively small and easy to assemble as they are made with soft materials. Climbing toys for older kids are typically a bit heavier, bigger and more challenging.
Bigger isn’t always better, so it’s best to pick one that offers variety and flexibility and, at the same time, doesn’t require much space to set up in your backyard. Also note that some outdoor climbing toys need trees, doors or ceilings to attach to.
I personally like simplicity and would go for a compact and lightweight climbing set that is easy to set up. But nothing stops you from going for a set that is perhaps a bit more complicated with great features, which leads me to the next consideration.
Features
Some climbing toys are super basic, which is often what some kids want. Kids are more creative than we think, and they can entertain themselves for hours on end with the most basic toys.
For example, the dome climber at number one is, in essence, quite a basic toy, but it’s also super robust and gives kids a lot of room for their creativity to flourish.
Other climbing sets, like the ninja-style obstacle climbing set, offer way more features. But they are slightly more challenging to set up as they typically need trees to be attached to.
Materials and Safety
Most climbing toys nowadays are made with the highest safety standards in mind, which typically also applies to the materials being used. However, it doesn’t hurt to have a closer look at any safety and quality certifications earned.
Also consider the actual materials used, like plastic or hardwood. Some climbing toys work great with high-quality plastic, but other outdoor climbing toys perhaps require steel or wood to ensure safety.
Another thing to consider is how easy or difficult it is to assemble a climbing toy set. Easy assembly may sound great, but that should never mean that safety or robustness is being sacrificed.
Often manufacturers provide videos explaining how to assemble their climbing toys, so do look out for these.
Also look into stability, as you want that outdoor climbing toy to be stable when standing on the ground or safely attached to walls or trees.
Recommended Age
Climbing toys will always have a recommended age. This typically varies and can be anywhere between 3 and 12 years old.
As you already know, kids grow up very fast, so you want an outdoor climbing toy that will entertain them for many years, which means they need to be versatile, flexible and adjustable.
Some climbing toys can be adjusted to make them more challenging or otherwise easier to play with.
Especially when you’re choosing a more expensive outdoor climbing toy for your kids, you want it to be a good investment that your kids will enjoy playing with for several years.
