Opening routes means choosing the right climbing holds

For a route setter, the success of a climbing route relies not only on creativity and movement. Choosing the right climbing holds plays an essential role in creating a consistent, enjoyable route suited to the intended grade.

But when a climbing gym, club or school needs to regularly equip or renew its routes, selecting the right holds can quickly become time-consuming.

Which sizes should you choose? How many holds are needed depending on the wall height? Which grip types should you use? How can you create a varied selection that meets the needs of climbers at the intended grade?

At Origin 96, we wanted to make this process easier with our ready-to-use climbing hold packs.

A selection designed to save you time

Origin 96 packs bring together a selection of climbing holds designed to help you quickly create a consistent set for your route-setting projects.

Different sizes, shapes and grip types can be combined within the same pack, giving you more possibilities when setting routes and creating varied movements for climbers.

The goal is simple: make ordering easier, without having to select every climbing hold individually.

Our packs are therefore particularly suitable for facilities that regularly renew their routes or want to expand their existing stock of climbing holds.

However, a climbing hold pack should never restrict a route setter's creativity. On the contrary, it should give them the tools they need to create.

By offering a varied selection of climbing holds, Origin 96 packs provide a solid starting point that can then be complemented with other products from our range.

You save time when placing your order, while retaining the freedom to create your routes according to your own ideas and inspiration.

Climbing holds for all levels

Climbing is accessible to a very wide range of people. In a climbing gym or club, climbers may be beginners, children, regular participants or experienced climbers.

Their needs therefore vary from one route to another.

That is why our packs allow route setters to work across different grades and climbing styles by combining holds with a variety of grip types.

Jugs, pinches, slopers, crimps and incut holds: the diversity of shapes allows route setters to create routes suited to their goals and to the abilities of their climbers.

Origin 96 packs are designed to support accessible and progressive route setting, while leaving route setters free to create their own movement sequences. For guidance, some packs are even named according to their intended climbing grade, such as the O'rage Pack 4B.

A practical solution for climbing clubs and gyms

For facilities that regularly renew their routes, the time spent preparing climbing hold orders is a genuine consideration.

Packs simplify this process and make purchasing climbing holds easier by bringing several products together in a single selection.

They are particularly suitable for:

• climbing clubs looking to renew their stock;
• private climbing gyms regularly setting new routes;
• schools looking to equip or expand their climbing wall;
• facilities looking to purchase within a controlled budget, as the total cost of holds is more economical when purchased as a pack rather than individually;
• purchasing managers who need guidance when selecting the appropriate climbing grades.

So, how do you choose the right climbing hold pack? 

Every route-setting project is different. To choose a suitable climbing hold pack, several factors should be considered: the number of routes to equip, the climbers' grade, the wall profile and the available budget.

A club looking to regularly renew a few routes will not have the same needs as a private climbing gym that has to reset a large number of routes every week. Similarly, a pack intended for beginners will not necessarily contain the same types of holds as a selection designed for more experienced climbers.

1. Adapt the pack to the number of routes

The first factor to consider is naturally the number of routes or boulder problems you want to set.

The more routes you need to create, the more useful it is to have a varied selection of holds in order to renew your setting options. Packs make it possible to quickly build up a sufficiently diverse stock, increasing the number of combinations available and helping avoid repeating the same movement patterns.

For occasional route renewal, a pack can also complement an existing stock and bring new shapes, sizes or grip types to your route-setting team.

As a general indication, around 25 holds are needed to create a 10-metre-high route, while around 10 holds are needed for a 3.5-metre boulder problem. The easier the intended grade, the more holds are generally needed; conversely, harder routes usually require fewer holds.

2. Consider the climbers' grade

The choice of climbing holds should also match the audience using your facility.

For beginners and children, comfortable and accessible grips are generally preferred, allowing climbers to develop fundamental skills and progress with confidence.

For more experienced climbers, route setters can look for greater variety in grip types and incorporate holds requiring more precision, finger strength or technique.

The advantage of a pack is precisely that it provides a versatile selection of climbing holds capable of supporting different levels of climbing.

Our range of packs covers grades from 4A to 7A.

Choose according to the wall profile

The profile of the climbing wall also influences the choice of holds.

A slab, vertical wall or overhang challenges climbers in different ways. Some grip types are particularly useful for working on balance and precision on less steep walls, while others can be used to create more physical movements on overhanging terrain.

The variety of sizes and shapes included in a pack gives route setters more options for adapting their routes to the wall profile and the movement style they want to create.

Keep your budget under control

For a climbing club, gym or school, the budget allocated to climbing holds is an important consideration.

Packs make purchasing easier while keeping the overall investment clear. They are a practical solution for facilities looking to renew their stock of climbing holds without having to place multiple orders or select numerous individual products.

At Origin 96, this approach reflects our commitment to offering durable climbing holds at a fair price. By choosing PE and prioritising a direct relationship with our customers, we aim to help facilities make investments that are consistent with both their budgets and their needs.

Clearly, our ready-to-use climbing hold packs offer excellent value for money, ranging from €240 to €468 for 50 holds.

Support beyond the purchase

Choosing a pack saves time, but every route-setting project remains unique.

The number of routes to be created, the wall profile, the climbers' grade and the habits of your route-setting team can all influence your requirements.

That is why our team is available to help you choose the right climbing holds and packs.

Our goal is to help you find a selection that is consistent with your project, your usage and your budget.

Simplifying Your Purchase So You Can Focus on What Matters

At Origin 96, we believe that buying climbing holds should be simple and accessible.

With our ready-to-use packs, we aim to address a very practical reality: route setters need climbing holds, but they also need time to set routes.

Selections designed for different uses, durable PE climbing holds, French manufacturing and close customer support: everything comes together to help you equip your walls in a simple, efficient and sustainable way.

Have a route-setting project? Discover our climbing hold packs and find the selection that best suits your needs.