Choosing a climbing hold supplier for an indoor gym.

Does the supplier cover the full range a gym needs?

Range breadth matters because a setting programme uses more than small holds: a commercial wall combines holds in every category with macros and volumes that change the terrain, all on painted, textured panels. One supplier makes it easier to keep colours, texture and fixing standards consistent.

Rockcity supplies PU holds across jugs, edges, crimps, slopers, pinches and pockets; VTF ABS macros; plywood volumes in full-textured, Iconic dual-texture and Safari Print finishes; the Prowall climbing wall paint range developed with Coo-Var; and adjustable training walls and wall systems. The macros and plywood volumes are made in-house in Hull, UK.

Will colours stay consistent across reorders?

Colour consistency is an easily overlooked supplier check. Members identify their route by colour, so a restock in a noticeably different shade can blur two circuits together. Ask how stable the palette is between batches, and keep a sample of each circuit colour to compare new deliveries against.

Rockcity PU holds are available in a competition colour palette of approximately 20 colours, and full-textured volumes are painted to order in twelve colours. Before dispatch, orders are checked so that product, colour and quantity match the production paperwork.

Does the supplier offer dual texture?

Dual texture is now expected by setting teams working at intermediate grades and above. A dual-texture hold or macro carries a coarser grit on the intended contact zones and a smoother finish elsewhere, which lets the setter show where a climber should pull and where the body has to move past. It is a setting tool, not decoration. Full-texture products still suit introductory circuits, where comfort matters more than precision.

Rockcity offers both full-texture and dual-texture macros and volumes. For the detail behind how texture affects setting, see VTF ABS macros explained.

How durable are the holds and macros?

Durability decides the real cost of a hold inventory, because holds are washed, dropped, crated and refixed many times. Ask suppliers what each product is made from and how the texture is applied. In a busy gym with regular cleaning, commercial PU holds typically last 5–10 years; the usual wear points are texture loss, cracking around the bolt hole from overtightening, and T-nut failure.

For macros, material choice matters most. Rockcity VTF ABS macros are as rigid as fibreglass (GRP) under climbing load but approximately half the weight and far less brittle, which makes large features more practical for setting teams to lift and store. Rockcity ceased all GRP macro production in 2025.

Do competition credentials matter for a commercial gym?

Competition use is a useful proxy for quality, even if your gym never hosts an event: shapes and texture chosen for elite competition have to read clearly, and the same qualities help commercial setters produce clearer problems.

Rockcity VTF ABS macros were used at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and the range has been used at IFSC Climbing World Cups and World Championships. Rockcity holds are also World Climbing platinum recognised.

What lead times should a gym plan for?

Plan around the supplier's stated lead times and share fixed dates in your first enquiry. For Rockcity, in-stock trade orders typically dispatch within 2–4 weeks of order confirmation. New facility builds should get in touch 8–12 weeks before the target opening date, so production capacity, colours and delivery can be scheduled. Out-of-stock ranges, custom colours and project quantities need extra manufacturing time, and international orders need allowance for freight and customs after goods leave Hull.

There is no fixed minimum order quantity for standard B2B portal orders, so top-up orders and smaller gyms are not held back by a threshold. Batch minimums can apply to non-standard colours or factory-direct work, and these are discussed before the order is confirmed.

Climbing hold supplier checklist

Use this checklist when comparing suppliers. Where Rockcity has not published a specific answer, the right-hand column says so.

How to open a Rockcity trade account

Trade accounts are opened through the Rockcity B2B portal. The portal is intended for commercial climbing and bouldering gyms, route setters, schools and local authority leisure facilities, sports bodies, distributors and climbing wall project managers.

1. Go to the login page and choose Create an account.
2. Register your organisation's details to set up the trade account.
3. Browse the catalog, which lists colour and variant availability by product family, and build a provisional order.
4. Rockcity confirms the order before fulfilment.

For large orders, custom colours or project supply, contact sales before placing the order so availability and lead times can be confirmed.

Buying from outside the UK

International gyms should check whether a supplier has a local distributor before ordering direct. Regional stock can shorten delivery and simplify customs. Rockcity lists its international distribution network by territory in the distributors directory, and several territories have local distributors who hold regional stock.

Care and installation support

A supplier's technical guidance protects your investment and your climbers. At minimum, expect clear advice on bolt specification, torque and cleaning. Rockcity recommends M10 stainless steel socket cap bolts, 20–25 Nm for standard holds and 20–22 Nm in a cross pattern for large macros, on 18 mm birch ply minimum (21 mm or more for competition and high-reset panels). For cleaning, it recommends a citric acid solution and a nylon-bristle brush, with no wire brushes, pressure washers or solvent cleaners. The full detail is in the fixing and installation guide and the hold care and maintenance guide.