PU Climbing Holds

PU (polyurethane) climbing holds are solid, compact holds moulded from high-performance polyurethane resin. They are the most widely used type of climbing hold in commercial gyms and competitions worldwide. Rockcity PU holds are made from Dannomond™ — a proprietary super-PU developed and tested at one of the busiest climbing centres in the UK. Test sample 875 was the formulation that finally made the grade, making it the hardest polyurethane available and more durable than all previous versions from any manufacturer. Every Rockcity PU hold features a stainless steel dual fixing insert that will not rust or corrode, unlike most other climbing holds on the market. All Rockcity PU holds conform to European Standard EN 12572-3 for artificial climbing structures. They are manufactured in Britain and available from UK and EU warehouses.

Rockcity PU holds come in two distinct styles that serve very different route setting purposes. Dual texture holds have smooth, sleek surfaces combined with textured grip zones. The smooth sections are impossible to grip, forcing climbers to use only the textured areas — this means the setter controls exactly how the hold is used, creating predictable, clean movement for competition-style and commercial “comp style” setting. Real rock holds — the Fontainebleau and Gritstone ranges — are the polar opposite. These are highly detailed PU climbing holds that replicate natural stone surfaces, bringing “problem” back into bouldering and making on-sight climbing challenging again. They are Rockcity’s most complex setting tool, designed for creative route setters who want to challenge experienced climbers with unpredictable, outdoor-style movement on indoor walls.

The Rockcity PU Fontainebleau range is inspired by the sandstone boulders of Fontainebleau forest in France — one of the most famous outdoor bouldering destinations in the world. These holds recreate the positive, skin-friendly texture and organic shapes found on real Fontainebleau rock, bringing an authentic outdoor feel to indoor climbing walls. The surface features smooth texture plates on top of a high-friction base, creating holds that reward precise hand placement and subtle technique rather than raw power. Fontainebleau holds are ideal for route setters who want to create technical, on-sight-style problems that challenge experienced climbers to read the rock and find the right way to use each hold — the kind of climbing where the “how” matters as much as the “what”.

The Rockcity PU Gritstone range is influenced by the gritstone features of Northern England — rough, positive, and in-cut shapes that reflect the character of real grit climbing. These holds bring the feel of outdoor gritstone bouldering indoors, with detailed surface textures that reward confident, positive grip and strong footwork. The range includes jugs, edges, slopers, and crimps that recreate the variety found on natural gritstone crags. Like all Rockcity PU holds, the Gritstone range is made from Dannomond™ polyurethane with stainless steel dual fixing inserts and conforms to EN 12572-3. Gritstone holds are particularly popular with setters who want to balance their wall between clean competition-style movement and more traditional, problem-solving style climbing that challenges regular gym climbers.

Rockcity PU holds are made from Dannomond™ — the hardest polyurethane formulation available for climbing holds. Developed and tested at one of the busiest climbing centres in the UK, this material was specifically engineered to survive the heavy workload now standard in busy commercial gyms. Dannomond holds will not break under constant daily use, chalk exposure, brushing, and the repeated impact of being set, stripped, and reset on a commercial rotation. Every hold features a stainless steel dual fixing insert that resists rust and corrosion — a common failure point on other brands where zinc or steel inserts degrade over time. The texture uses a complex, open grain pattern that maintains grip even when clogged with chalk, and is designed to be kinder to skin than aggressive textures. All holds conform to European Standard EN 12572-3.

Yes. Rockcity PU holds are compatible with any climbing wall that uses a standard T-nut grid. Every hold features a stainless steel dual fixing insert with both a bolt hole and screw holes, so they can be bolt-on mounted (using T-nuts from behind the panel) or screw-on mounted directly into plywood — making them suitable for home walls, garage setups, and garden walls as well as commercial gyms. The same holds used at IFSC World Cups and the Olympic Games are available to individual buyers through the Rockcity online shop, with UK and international shipping. For home wall builders, Rockcity also offers climbing wall paint (with grit pre-dosed) and adjustable wall systems. Commercial buyers and gyms can register for a B2B trade account for bulk pricing and direct invoicing.

The high number (e.g. 600, 900) is the longest dimension of the hold measured in millimetres. Numbers like 45, 90 or 61 refer to the angle in degrees of the textured surface — the lower the number, the less grippy the hold. 45° is a full-on sloper, 90° is a right-angle surface to the climbing wall, and 105° or 120° are progressively more incut. Any + numbers indicate an incut profile: +5 is more positive than +1, while +9 is a really big jug. A value of 0 is neutral, and −1 or −2 are holds that are very difficult to grip on a vertical wall.