Bouldering is no longer a niche sport. According to the German Alpine Club (DAV), there are more than 500,000 boulderers and around 570 publicly accessible bouldering and climbing facilities in Germany. Opening a climbing gym Anyone planning a climbing project will need to consider many components: location, walls, fall protection, holds, route setting, and operation. This guide provides an overview of the most important steps – with a focus on equipment and route setting.
- Market: According to the DAV (German Alpine Club), there are around 570 publicly accessible facilities and more than 500,000 boulderers.
- Standard: For bouldering walls, DIN EN 12572-2 applies.
- Initial equipment: Holds, footholds and volumes for all levels – plus a supply for swapping them out.
- Route building: The DAV recommends gentle entry points, lower crux sections and downclimbing holds.
- Operation: A regular rotation schedule keeps the hall exciting for regular customers.
The market in numbers
| Key figure | Value according to DAV (as of July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Publicly accessible bouldering and climbing facilities | approximately 570 |
| of which DAV halls | 222 |
| Small-scale systems in schools and day-care facilities | approximately 2,500 |
| climbers | more than 1 million. |
| Boulderers | more than 500,000 |
The German Alpine Club (DAV) points out that the figures are partly based on estimates. However, they clearly show that climbing and bouldering are popular sports with high demand.
The most important planning steps
- Concept: Pure bouldering gym or combination with rope climbing? Target group: beginners, families, competitive athletes?
- Location and building: Ceiling height, structural integrity, accessibility and parking.
- Wall construction and fall protection: Planning according to DIN EN 12572-2 with an experienced wall builder.
- Equipment: Holds, footholds and volumes for all difficulties.
- Route building: Your own team, external route setters, or a combination of both.
- Operation: Hall rules, briefings, courses and a fixed changing schedule.
Initial equipment: Handles and volume
The holds are what guests use every day. For the initial setup, variety and quantity are paramount: plenty of footholds, holds in all sizes and types, and volume to structure large wall surfaces.
From small footholds to large handles – in PE or PU.
Lightweight, large and versatile – View macros.
Dual-surface holds for modern bouldering – Dual Texture.
Enough material so that not every new sector is screwed together with the same handles.
When furnishing your climbing gym, don't just think about the opening, but also the first year. If the same holds keep appearing after a few rotations, regular customers will notice immediately. An additional supply in new shapes and colors keeps the gym fresh.
Route planning and safety
The first boulder problems establish the reputation of a new climbing gym. At the same time, the German Alpine Club's (DAV) 2025 accident statistics show that falls onto the mat are the most frequent cause of accidents in bouldering. The DAV recommends the following for route setting: relatively gentle entry points, lower key positions and Downclimb holds. More on this in Avoiding injuries while bouldering and Route changes.
Equipment for a new hall?
RX Climbing Holds supplies holds and GRP volumes directly from the manufacturer in Miesbach – with flexible colours, remanufacturing and route screws on request for the opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many climbing and bouldering gyms are there in Germany?
According to the German Alpine Club (DAV), there are around 570 publicly accessible bouldering and climbing facilities, of which 222 are DAV halls (as of July 2026).
What standard applies to bouldering walls?
The DIN EN 12572 series of standards applies to artificial climbing facilities. Part 2 regulates the safety requirements and testing procedures for bouldering walls.
How many holds does a new bouldering gym need?
This depends on the wall area, the number of boulders, and the frequency of route changes. In addition to the basic equipment, you should plan for a supply of gear for regular route changes. Tips on this can be found in the article. New climbing holds for the bouldering gym.
Is it worthwhile to use a manufacturer directly as a supplier?
Colors, quantities, and reorders can be flexibly coordinated directly with the manufacturer. RX Climbing Holds retains all shapes, so holds can be reproduced even years later.
About the author: Raul Ortiz has been climbing since 2006, develops and casts climbing holds and fibreglass volumes with RX Climbing Holds in Miesbach, and regularly sets boulder and rope routes in climbing gyms in Upper Bavaria. More about us
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