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Last updated: February 27, 2024
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 sharing five of the best outdoor climbing toys for kids that you can easily set up in your backyard, all tried and tested by my kids.
Top 5 Outdoor Climbing Toys:
Top 5 Outdoor Climbing Toys
Let’s take a closer look at my top five outdoor climbing toys for kids.
1. 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.
2. Kinspory 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 colorful 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.
3. Ninja Warrior Climbing Obstacle Course
This ninja course is designed for kids over 4 and offers a fantastic way to get them outdoors and active. The setup includes an Upper Line for more than 11 obstacles and a Ground Line that serves as a training line for strength and balance. What I love most is that it’s fully customizable; no fixed obstacles or distances. This means I can adjust the difficulty level to suit my kids’ abilities, making it either easier or more challenging as needed.
Not only does the kit come with a diverse mix of fun climbing obstacles, but the 6-stairs rope ladder and the Double Line design also ensure safety and balance, especially for the younger ones.
Setup and takedown are straightforward. If you’re tight on space or don’t want to invest in a full playground set, all you need are two sturdy trees or pillars to set this up. It can bear up to 250 pounds and stretches between 39-42ft.
In short, this Ninja Warrior Climbing Obstacle Course is a versatile and engaging addition to any backyard. It’s a great way to keep kids active and entertained.
Read my guide to the best backyard obstacle courses for kids for more of these types of climbing toys.
4. TopNew Ninja Tree Climbing Holds
These climbing holds are both large and durable, crafted from high-quality plastic resin. The best part? They’re weather-resistant, meaning they won’t crack or fade over time. The textured grips are a nice touch, making it easier for my kids to get a solid hold and climb.
The set includes 5 vivid colors and features 3 unique shapes, adding a fun and challenging twist to our tree. It’s a fantastic way to encourage my kids to be more active, improving their strength, balance, and agility. Plus, watching them conquer each hold has genuinely boosted their confidence.
Setting up these holds felt like a breeze. The kit comes with 20 colorful climbing rocks and 6 ratchet straps that are 10ft long each. I found the assembly and disassembly straightforward without needing any additional tools. And importantly, they fit snugly and safely around the tree.
Lastly, the holds are pretty robust. They can support both kids and adults up to 230 pounds. This feature is great because it allows for some quality bonding time, climbing alongside my kids.
All in all, the TopNew Ninja Tree Climbing Holds have turned our backyard tree into a mini adventure park. A must-have for families looking to add a bit of adventurous flair to their outdoor space!
5. 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. 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.
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
1. 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.
2. 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, a pretty 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
