Backyard Climbing Wall - to buy, build, or neither?

[mwmorama]

Hey there, fellow Mustachians!

My wife and I have an opportunity here that I’d like some feedback on: we want to buy a bouldering wall.

We are avid rock climbers, and since we bought a house in Phoenix, AZ two years ago weI’ve wanted to build a bouldering wall in the back yard. However, after drawing up the plans for both extravagant and simple walls, the expense of building materials, climbing holds, and padding was too much – usually over $3,000. We have a membership at a climbing gym in nearby Tempe, about 9 miles from our home. We go at least twice per week, and a one-year membership is $520 for the both of us.

Now that you have the background, here’s the thing: we saw an ad for a 12’ x 12’ (that’s huge) constructed bouldering wall with all of the holds and padding for sale – no price quoted. we figured we had to at least check it out. 147 climbing holds, two solid 8” foam pads, and the wall – all together probably cost between $4K-$5K. This guy wants $1,200 – this includes disassembly, delivery to, and reassembly at my place. I’m also fairly certain I can get him to sell for $1000, as he just wants rid of it.

Other things to note in the equation, should they cross your mind:

•   This will be in our back yard, so weather may affect both the structure itself and our usage of it. However, being in Phoenix, we can use it pretty much all-year round if we can stand some extreme heat and occasional cold. It also means there might be an added cost of weather-proofing the structure and/or rigging up some type of shelter/shade structure above it.

•   Lastly, if I get this wall, I’m undecided if this will cause us to not renew our gym membership. As it stands, it’s a sunk cost – I can’t get any money back by canceling early, and it doesn’t expire until August of this year. The gym also affords us a lot of climbing opportunities and training that we would certainly not be able to have just at home with the bouldering wall or even climbing outdoors on actual rock. However, I certainly understand that if we cancel the membership that the cost for the bouldering wall will be offset within two years because of gym fees, gas, etc. At the end of the day though, this is a big hobby of ours, and of the few things my wife and I don’t mind splurging a bit on because it’s keeping us fit, active, and happy.

Should I pull the trigger? Thanks for the help!

[jba302]

The gym also affords us a lot of climbing opportunities and training that we would certainly not be able to have just at home with the bouldering wall or even climbing outdoors on actual rock.

What kind of outside access do you have? Are you doing more bouldering, t/r or lead in the gym? Can you change pitch on it?  Honestly the price alone, combined with your location, is something I would jump at simply to get more training in but I think it would be a supplement to a gym and not a replacement. You would also want to be good at setting routes, otherwise there would be zero use out of it. I know there's a bunch of books out there, or pay whoever sets at your gym to load it up with as many routes as possible within + or -3 of your current skill.

[mwmorama]

Hey, jba302.

Outside access is great in Phoenix with good spots to go within 45 minutes to an hour. Being perfectly honest though, we're gym rats, and hardly climb outside despite owning the equipment to do so easily. The pitch of the wall in question can be changed, but not too easily given the size of the structure. As far as route setting, it's not something I've done, but as you said, there is a lot of help to be had in this regard, and I can only get better with time and error. I've been climbing for 7 years now and when at the gym we try to mix up our lead and bouldering time. I'm a 12 lead/top rope climber and V3ish bouldering. Also as you said, I'm leaning towards this as supplemental as well, and not leaving the gym. Thanks.

[nereo]

Disclaimer: I don't boulder - but my wife and her friends do, so I'm constantly surrounded by them.  I even helped my buddy build the structure for his own bouldering wall in CA

My first thought to your post was "WTF - $3,000+ for a DIY bouldering wall?!"  With some basic (and I mean basic) carpentry skills you can build the structure for a bouldering wall for less than 1/3 or that, including overhangs and slopes.  You can make your own climbing holds with a jig saw and router if you want, and I constantly saw used holds for sale dirt cheap when I lived in California.  If the guy wants $1200 and it includes 147 holds and the mats, that's seems like an ok deal. The mats in particular are expensive and not something most people can build themselves. 

My other observation is that having a backyard setup will be fundamentally different from what the climbing gym offers. If your gym is like most, it has walls that are 30'+.  Having a setup in your backyard makes it easier to do workouts, but you won't bump into other people (could be a good or bad thing) and what you can build in your backyard presumably won't ever equal the complexity of what the gym offers - plus you'll have to spend lots of time setting up and changing your own routes (which could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what you want).
If you like using a climbing wall to condition for actual bouldering (on real boulders) then it might work great.  But if you enjoy going to the climbing gym as its own form of exercise... that's harder to replicate.

[Villanelle]

Would this need to be reported to your insurance company? 

[MustachianAccountant]

The gym also affords us a lot of climbing opportunities and training that we would certainly not be able to have just at home with the bouldering wall or even climbing outdoors on actual rock.

What kind of outside access do you have? Are you doing more bouldering, t/r or lead in the gym? Can you change pitch on it?  Honestly the price alone, combined with your location, is something I would jump at simply to get more training in but I think it would be a supplement to a gym and not a replacement. You would also want to be good at setting routes, otherwise there would be zero use out of it. I know there's a bunch of books out there, or pay whoever sets at your gym to load it up with as many routes as possible within + or -3 of your current skill.

This would probably be the thing that would make me shy away from the purchase. Having different routes set by different people is one of the things I value in my gym membership. I'd talk to setters at the gym to see if they'd be willing to come set for you, as suggested above.

[mwmorama]

Hey there, nereo! Thanks for the reply. Although to clarify, are you saying I should go for it, or try to make my own?

Villanelle, that is a fantastic question. The bottom line is - no. You don't need to report a swing set, or jungle gym, and a bouldering wall is no different. However, some people do take out extra liability insurance in case someone hurts themselves on it. At the end of the day though, you can be sued if someone injures themselves on your property no matter how they did it. Some people get around part of this by having anyone who climbs on their DIY walls sign a waiver. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on it though, if you have any. Thanks!

And jba302, I relish a challenge. I would certainly ask my friends at the gym for help, as we are chummy, so to speak. However, I would definitely look forward to being able to put together my own problems. Thanks!

[nereo]

Hey there, nereo! Thanks for the reply. Although to clarify, are you saying I should go for it, or try to make my own?

I'm saying neither.  Having your own backyard climbing wall could be a great idea for you, or it could be an unnecessary expense.
backyard climbing walls ≠ gym memberships.  If you value long routes, having others set up the routes, or the comraderie that comes from meeting people at the gym, you won't replicate that at home, and my guess is that you'll still keep your gym membership (so you won't save any money in the long run, and will spend more in the short term).
But having your own climbing wall could make training easier and if you DIY it doesn't need to cost $3,000+++.

What I'm saying is think about whether this is something that will replace your gym, and if not whether it's really worth the added expense.  Depending on you it could be either.

[QajakBoy]

I say go for it and keep your climbing gym membership! 
Keeping fit, active and happy doing something you enjoy is important.  Since your wife also enjoys it, it's a no-brainer.  Buy the bouldering wall for the ease and convenience of a workout at home.  Keep the gym membership for the variety there along with the social interaction at the gym.  If you find yourselves not using the bouldering wall in the future you can simply sell it to someone else. 

[mwmorama]

Well, I'm going for it. I talked the guy down to $900 because I'll have to rent a truck to get everything actually, so the total cost will still be very close to $1000. I'm excited. Thanks for the support!

[waltworks]

You already did it, so hopefully it works out - but my experience (I was a full-on climbing bum for about 5 years, have worked as a routesetter, was climbing before gyms existed, etc) is that home walls almost never get used. The problem is that setting your own routes is not fun and a lot of work, and climbing the routes you set yourself is never as stimulating mentally or physically demanding as climbing routes that someone else set.

If you're into doing campus board/system wall/hangboard type of pure training, just go for that instead. If you have a LARGE community of climbing friends who will come regularly and help remove holds, clean holds, set new problems, replace holds that break, etc, it can be fun. But even then it's usually something that lasts a year or two and everyone ends up back at the gym. There's a critical mass of people necessary for a fun climbing gym/wall experience that just aren't going to be available to climb on a backyard woody in most cases.

-W

[SmallCheese]

Good luck! I built one myself several years ago for ~$700 (including adjustable pitch at the top). It wasn't much but it was enough for me. Thanks for the reminder to get back into climbing!

[FLBiker]

Cool!  For $1000, it seems like you can't go too wrong, especially because it seems that you could pretty easily sell it for what you're buying it for.

I went climbing for the first time with my sister over the holidays and I loved it.  There's a gym about 20 miles away from where I live, so it will only be an occasional thing for me (for now) but it's a great way to exercise.

[Mr Dorothy Dollar]

Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Some kid could climb on it get hurt and the parents could come after you. Insurance costs most likely go up too. I would stick to the gym.

[James]

I think you found a great option to get into the idea of having a home bouldering wall, the experience will be worth it in my mind, whether it works out as expected or not. It is a great activity, and something worth spending money on.

You don't talk about your overall finances, but I assume those are in shape and allow such an expenditure.

Don't worry about the liability, just make sure the pads are in place and don't let kids "play" on the wall. But you can't prevent every injury or every risk, life is too short to try, just do what you can to keep it safe for others. Do some research and don't treat it like a toy for kids or other adults, but I assume you know that.

Best of luck, and make sure to share pictures and give feedback as you go along!

[Scandium]

Your gym is $500/year for two?? The one around here is $120/month, and that's the special family deal! I'm debating getting back into climbing, especially since it's cheaper than the $100/month/person for crossfit.. Not very frugal with things that keep me healthy.

[driftwood]

Phoenix Rock Gym?!  They definitely take care of customers there.  After buying a membership but then being out of town for about 3 months, I went back to visit, and expected to pay for a day pass. They noticed I hadn't been there, so they pretty much extended my membership as if it went on pause when I went last.  If I still lived near there I'd probably still be a member.

Also more of a climbing gym rat, and have been eyeballing home wall options for years.  I get bored easily, and don't have time to reconfigure routes, so the gym has always helped in those areas.  I'm excited about your purchase!  I'm interested to see how much you use it in the summer, maybe early early AM climbing after the city has lost some of its heat and the sun isn't up yet to start cooking again.