Climbing is a fun activity for kids and beneficial for development by promoting body awareness and encouraging problem-solving.1 Climbing toys can be used both indoors and outdoors for all year, all season fun.
Best Outdoor Climbing Toys
While both are climbing domes, the Monkey Bars Climbing Tower is made from high quality plastic with UV protection and holds a maximum weight of 150 lbs, and the Space Dome Climber, made from UV resistant, durable steel, holds up to 1,000 lbs of weight.
Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower
The Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower is made of high-quality plastic with UV protection for a long-lasting climbing toy.
Created to be used outdoors or indoors, this tower is versatile and can be used year-round. Children can climb and hang from this tower easily.
The climbing tower involves connectors with double self-locking springs for durability and safety. Some customers have complained that assembly is difficult.
Although the assembled size measures 70.07″ x 65.53″ x 65″, this lightweight climbing toy only boasts a weight of 27 lbs. This makes it easy to move around and bring from the outside to the inside (or vice-versa).
Benefits
- Year-round use (indoor or outdoor)
- Long-lasting
- Easy to move (lightweight)
Drawbacks
- Only for ages 3-8 depending on weight (max weight 150 lbs.)
- Difficult assembly
Main Point
Difficult assembly is the biggest complaint of buyers, but they say it is worth it in the end. As long as the weight limit is not exceeded, this is a great climbing toy for kids.
We’ve got more gifts for little boys and gifts for little girls here on EM.
Climbing Rope Tree Swing
The Climbing Rope Tree Swing allows children to stand, sit, swing, or climb! This rope includes a 12″ disc and encourages balance which builds core and muscle strength.
The rope is gentle on fingers which makes climbing fun! It can be attached to a swing set, slackline, or tree branch. Customers rave that not only do their children love this climbing rope, but adults also love the visual look of it in the backyard.
This rope swing is sold in green or multicolored. The rope is adjustable, with the shortest length being 4.3 ft and the longest being 6.6 ft. A 4.2 ft tree strap is included if the rope is too short.
Benefits
- Easy to install (ready in minutes)
- Ages 3+ years
- Looks nice
- Great price
- Each purchase feeds one child for a day through ShareTheMeal program
Drawbacks
- Max weight (120 lbs.)
- May not be used year-round (outdoor toy)
Main Point
The LAEGENDARY climbing rope is a great way to get your kids outdoors and working on their balance skills. With an adjustable rope, children will be able to play on this climbing rope for years.
TP Toys Explorer 2 Platform & Tent Climbing Set
The TP Toys Explorer 2 Platform & Tent Climbing Set is the perfect climbing toy for imaginative play. Featuring roll-up doors and round viewing windows at the top, climbing, and creativity are encouraged.
This set is created with premium galvanized steel and includes a mesh vinyl platform and polyester canopy, keeping children safe.
As your child grows so will this climbing set. Adjust the size from 54″ (height), 22″ (platform), 67″ base diameter to 83″ (height), 47″ (platform), 82″ base diameter. The full set weighs in at 50 lbs and is ideal for ages 3-12 years.
Benefits
- Encourages imaginative play
- Safe
- Grows with child (adjustable height)
- Can hold multiple children (Max weight of 220 lbs.)
Drawbacks
- High price
Main Point
The TP Toys climbing set is a good climbing set for creative kids or ones who may like their own “hideout.” If the price isn’t an issue, this climbing set will be a hit for years with the adjustable height option.
EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber
The EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber is created for backyard use and is a great way for children to build up their strength, balance, and agility.
With the use of rust and UV-resistant steel, this all-weather climber is durable and long-lasting. Multiple children are able to safely play at once because the max weight is 1000 lbs.
Assembly can take a few hours for a durable climber like this one.
This climber sizes up at 91″ x 46″ x 91″ and weighs 74 lbs. Ideal for ages 3-9 years.
Benefits
- All-weather
- Safe for multiple climbers (Max weight of 1000 lbs.)
Drawbacks
- Made for outdoor use (although some customers have set up inside)
- Long assembly
- Not easy to disassemble if needed
Main Point
The EASY OUTDOOR climber is a good choice for multiple kids to play on at once. Some customers recommend installing this inside, rather than outside, which is a nice option but it would not be easy to move the unit in and out throughout the year without disassembling first.
Best Indoor Climbing Toys
The SoftZone Activity Play Set comes with 5 different foam pieces that can be constantly reconfigured for climbing, crawling, jumping, and sliding fun, however, the Step2 Panda Climber, while also designed for climbing, crawling, and sliding, is on the small side making it useful for a very small window of your toddler’s life.
SoftZone Activity Play Set
The SoftZone Activity Play Set is a great starter climbing toy for your infant or toddler.
With five different shapes, you and/or your child can get creative with stacking and placing the shapes in different formations. Each shape is made of soft foam so that there are no risks if tumbling occurs.
Some customers complain that the pieces slide or slip too easily, which may be a concern if the pieces are on a slick surface (rather than carpet). There are rave reviews about how much fun kids have with these pieces by creating forts, pushing them up against the couch, etc.
Adult supervision is required for this set which measures 24″ x 16″ x 8″ and weighs about 9 lbs. It is also sold in a couple of different color variations.
Benefits
- Safe
- Easy to clean (wipeable)
- Encourages gross motor skills
- Phthalate-free (chemical-free)
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified (meet’s high standards for low emissions into indoor air)
Drawbacks
- High price
- Shoes must be removed before climbing
Main Point
The ECR4Kids climbing set meets high standards for safety and is a great beginner climbing tool for ages 9 months – 3 years. If sitting on a slick surface, you may have to add velcro strips to the bottom or set it on a non-slip mat.
Step2 Panda Climber
The Step2 Panda Climber provides the opportunity for kids to slide, crawl and climb! Intended for smaller children, there is a railing on the top platform for safety.
Some customers complain that although the set is for smaller children, the set is a bit too small and the slide is too short which doesn’t give much of a “thrill” to the child. On the other hand, some customers love how frequently their younger children enjoy this playset.
This lightweight (31.6 lbs.) set is easy to assemble and move from outdoor use to indoor use. The dimensions are 52.5″ x 33.2″ x 43.5″ and there’s a 60 lbs. weight max.
Benefits
- Indoor and Outdoor use
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to move
Drawbacks
- Small size/slide length
- Only for smaller children
Main Point
This Step2 climber is good for young children but it won’t be used for long beyond that. There is the convenience of easily moving this from outdoor to indoor spaces or from room to room.
Comparing the Best Climbing Toys for Kids
The table below compares only the recommended products on this page. A low or high Price means it is low or high compared to the other products listed. The Popularity Score reflects how often readers click on and buy the product. The Quality Score is our assessment of the overall performance and satisfaction with the product compared to others in the table.
| Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower | 9.8 | 9.2 | 279.99 |
| Step2 Panda Climber | 3.9 | 9.2 | 210.89 |
| EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber | 9.1 | 9.4 | 192.86 |
| SoftZone Activity Play Set | 9.8 | 9.6 | 126.78 |
| Climbing Rope Tree Swing | 9.9 | 9.6 | 33.99 |
| TP Toys Explorer 2 Platform & Tent Climbing Set | - | 8.8 | - |
Buying Criteria for Climbing Toys
Here are a few things to consider when purchasing your next climbing toy:
- Age – What age or ages are you shopping for? If younger, consider purchasing something that will grow with them. If mixed ages, consider what could be fun for younger and older children.
- Space – Consider the size of your space and the size of the climbing toy you’re considering purchasing. You’ll want a few feet around and above the toy to give the safest play area.
- Length of Use – Can your child enjoy this climbing toy year-round? Are the materials durable for long-lasting use? Is it something that could be passed down to a sibling?
- Assembly – If you’re wanting to avoid a difficult assembly, take a good look at reviews or assembly instructions if they are listed.
FAQs – Climbing Toys
Are climbers for outdoor use only?
Surprisingly, not all climbers are made for the outdoors only. It mostly depends on the size of the climber and what kind of material it’s made out of.
Some, such as the LAEGENDARY Climbing Rope and EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber, require a lot of space or a swing set to connect to, so they are best suited for outdoor use only.
Others, such as the ECR4Kids SoftZone Play Set and the Step2 Panda Climber, would work great indoors!
What’s the weight limit for climbing toys?
Smaller climbers will have lower weight limits, as they are designed for toddler use. But most climbing toys and dome climbers are built from sturdy, metal materials and can handle a lot more weight.
Here are the weight limits on our selected climbers:
ECR4Kids SoftZone Play Set: No limit
Step2 Panda Climber: 60 lbs.
LAEGENDARY Climbing Rope Tree Swing: 120 lbs.
Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower: 150 lbs.
TP Toys Explorer 2: 220 lbs.
EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber: 1000 lbs.
How much assembly is needed?
You can’t exactly ship a fully-built climbing toy, unless you wanted to pay more for shipping than for the toys itself! Therefore, you’ll have to use a little bit of elbow grease. This will mostly involve popping panels into place or connecting metal bars to connector pieces.
Here are some assembly times for our selections, based on customer reviews:
ECR4Kids SoftZone Play Set: No assembly
Step2 Panda Climber: Short assembly
LAEGENDARY Climbing Rope Tree Swing: Short assembly
Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower: Long assembly
TP Toys Explorer 2: Long assembly
EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber: Long assembly
What is the age range for climbing toys?
Babies as young as 9 months old can get in on climbing action! And you are never too old to climb (although you might be too heavy!).
Here’s the recommended age ranges for our selected climbers:
ECR4Kids SoftZone Play Set: 9 months-3 years
Step2 Panda Climber: 1-2 years
LAEGENDARY Climbing Rope Tree Swing: 3+ years
Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower: 3-8 years
TP Toys Explorer 2: 3-12 years
EASY OUTDOOR Space Dome Climber: 3-9 years
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