Products - Climbing Walls
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Origins and History
A typical climbing wall installation will project from the existing wall 18 - 30" due to the necessary supporting framework. Until now, a truly "low profile" climbing wall meant attaching plywood to furring strips. While functional and low cost, aesthetics on a flat plywood wall are lacking. The challenge is to create a rocklike climbing surface that doesn't eat up the space, or the budget. Nicros used its ten years of experience with the “decorative rock” look (seen in the A.R.T.Wall™ product). This technology was utilized to create the surface features of the Nicros-EasyWall™ panels. With Nicros-EasyWall™ , aesthetics weren’t sacrificed for the sake of simplicity. |
What is Nicros-EasyWall™?
Nicros-EasyWall™ is a uniquely designed rock climbing wall panel system that is named “EasyWall” because installation is as easy as bolting it to an existing wall. Nicros-EasyWall™ is a light-weight 4’x4’ rock climbing panel system that comes with handholds, mounting hardware, and an installation manual. |
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There are four different models, each of which can be oriented four different ways, which allows for a great variety of placements. Each panel is about two to three inches thick and also has natural crack features that will line up with the adjoining panels, regardless of how they are oriented. This attention to detail yields a simple, low-cost yet realistic and beautiful climbing wall. |
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What makes Nicros-EasyWall™ so great?
Most health and fitness clubs have limited budget and space to put up a climbing wall. The biggest advantage to Nicros-EasyWall™ is that it’s a low-cost, easy-to-install system that takes up very little space. Now, rock climbing can be offered at virtually any facility using this wall system.
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Many schools use this product to create a bouldering wall, but it’s also used in recreation centers, rehabilitation centers, health clubs, and full scale climbing gyms. Another major advantage of the Nicros-EasyWall™ panels is that they can easily be cut or drilled to customize installations. Standard woodworking tools can be used to trim a panel to fit, or to cut around any existing electrical outlets, switches, etc.
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Surface and Features
There are four different panel designs and each is usable in four different orientations. The features on each panel were designed to be of a particular grade (5.9 for example) if oriented in a particular direction. If the panel is oriented 90 degrees, it becomes a 5.10 featured or 5.11 featured panel. If placing a series of panels for use on a full-height climbing wall, “naturals” routes of various difficulties can be created – before handholds are even added to the wall! |
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The edges, incuts, and micro terrain of these panels are meant to be used by climbers for hand and footholds. The technology we used to create the surface features of the panels came from our years of research and experience with Nicros’ premium A.R.T.Wall™ product.
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Handholds
Each panel comes with five handholds to get you started. The holds generally come in a combination of “kid-friendly” colors such as red, blue, green, yellow, or orange. If you have a specific color combination you are looking for or want your holds to blend in with the background wall panel color, holds can be ordered in any custom color. |
If the color is a very specific tone that you are after, it is preferred to have a paint chip to view the color to make the best possible match.
The five handholds that come with each panel are meant only to get you started. The number of holds you are going to need will depend on the climber’s age and ability.
We want to give you the flexibility to purchase additional holds that you want and need based on the climber’s needs. Once the wall is up, you may decide you want to spell your climber’s, school’s, or mascot’s name. You may decide to add whimsical animal-shaped holds. You may realize you need some additional “advanced” holds or more “beginner” holds. Rather than giving you all of the holds up front, we find it best to give you enough to get started, and because every customer’s needs are different, follow up with each of our customers regarding the additional holds once the wall is in place.
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Construction
Installation involves mounting Nicros-EasyWall™ panels to an existing wall such as cinder/concrete block. Nicros suggests that you consider consulting a licensed structural engineer to ensure correct and safe attachment of the panels to your building. Generally we estimate installation at a rate of two panels per person per hour. That means, in less than five hours, a ten panel bouldering wall could be installed by one person! While installation is easy, it’s very important that it’s done correctly.
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Feel
The surface of Nicros-EasyWal™panels is specifically designed to be a climbable surface. The texture is grippy enough that a climber can hang onto the micro-features or smear against the panel itself. However, it is not an abrasive, skin-shredding texture to the climber who slips off while climbing. The cracks are designed to feel realistic, but most are for aesthetics rather than usable as actual climbing features.
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Cost
Nicros-EasyWall™ panels are $419 each and include five handholds per panel, mounting hardware, and an installation manual. The price does not include a framework, installation, or engineering. If the handholds aren't needed, the cost is $399 per panel. The cost for Nicros to install the average Nicros-EasyWall™ climbing wall is $49 per panel, plus engineering, travel and expenses. If you’re unsure or you lack the expertise, please seek professional assistance. If you would like Nicros to install your Nicros-EasyWall™ , contact one of our sales representatives at 651-778-1975 for a quote. |
Testimonial
“I was amazed at how quickly the Nicros-EasyWall™ went in. The students left school for the day, and after four hours of work that evening, they returned the next day to a great climbing wall.” – Scott Richards, Physical Education Teacher, St. Paul, MN
"The perfect place for putting a home training wall turned out to be the room
we promised to my 13-year-old daughter.
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As we planned the remodel of the
room, we showed our contractor Climbing Magazine's article on building your
own gym, which included info about pre-fabricated rock walls. We were looking for a
wall with features -- one which suited our family's bent towards outdoor
climbing. Some phone calls and web-surfing quickly led us to Nicros-EasyWall™ as the most affordable and versatile choice. I designed the wall with a 22.5 inch, 45 degree overhang, and we have been having a blast ever since. As our climbing skills improve, we are only limited by our abilities to set routes. We're even thinking of extending it to the other walls and ceiling of her bedroom!"
- Jenni Neahring, Residential Installation, Salem, OR
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