B2BAbout Rockcity
Rockcity's beginnings reach back to 1994, when Rockcity Climbing Gym was born — though our interest in holds and wall technology stretches back to 1992, when we made our first sets while the gym was still on the drawing board. From those early polyester days through Olympic supply and in-house ABS-VTF macro production, the focus has remained the same: tools for route setters, not ego pieces for collectors.
Explore productsOur first commercial set came in the late 1990s, in collaboration with Malcolm Smith — probably the world's strongest climber at the time — to create a PE set. Following on from this, Rockcity's founder Mark English started a new climbing training hold company alongside Gavin Ellis and Ben Moon, the legendary S7.
In 2014 we turned our attention to PU holds. PU opened a new world of shape possibilities that polyester resin simply couldn't offer. The Basic series was born: single-directional, symmetrical, deliberately plain shapes that now form the foundation of almost everything Rockcity makes. They were not especially well received at the time — the industry was still absorbed in the ego of the shaper. We believed the route setter mattered more than the sculptor. As with architecture, sometimes the more simple and brutalist, the more attractive it is to use.
In 2018 the IFSC held a meeting showcasing the opportunity to supply holds to the world's first Olympic climbing competition. Within a year, the Basics — in their latest dual-textured fibreglass macro form — were selected. That moment changed the face of modern competition climbing. Basic shapes and dual texture are now the norm at every high-level event. Often directly copied, we stand by our Basic design principles. The Tokyo 2020 Olympic holds remain some of the best things we have ever produced; they were used again at Paris 2024.
In 2026, all plywood volumes and ABS-VTF macros are designed and produced entirely in-house, using complex engineering developed to meet the technical demands of commercial gyms, high-level sport climbing competitions and elite training facilities.
From beginner-friendly jugs to elite competition shapes, our range covers every style and difficulty. Our PU offer fully complements our larger macro and plywood volumes. We also work with local industrial paint manufacturer Coo-Var on a collaborated range of climbing wall paints and texture coatings, and we manufacture adjustable training boards, climbing walls and route setting accessories — as well as sometimes taking on full climbing gym builds. Whether you're a gym owner looking for a trade account or building a home wall, Rockcity has you covered.
Rockcity holds have been used across IFSC World Cups, World Championships and both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games — selected because they give setters the cleanest possible tools to build world-class movement.
The Basic series was built on a deliberate philosophy: clean geometry, dual texture and symmetrical forms that serve the setter's intent. Simple, brutalist and built to be used — not admired.
Rockcity covers the full scope of a commercial facility: holds, macros, plywood volumes, wall paint systems (with Coo-Var), adjustable training walls, route setting accessories and full gym builds.
What the pros say
The new range of Rockcity holds really are state-of-the-art. No wear or polish, no chipping or cracking and the colours wash remarkably well. Feedback from our regular climbers has been very positive.
Climbing Legend & Foundry Co-Owner
The range of holds from Rockcity are the first to go into my setting bag. They make interesting, technical routes. As the highest spec holds on the market they are likely to be a big hit at many walls.
World Class Climber & Route Setter
What I like especially from these holds is a mix between inspiring shape, nice colours, soft friction. I really love to play first with the mental process to evaluate how hard the setting could be.
Master Route Setter, Fontainebleau