Climbing Playground Equipment Names

As kids scale the sets and swing from bar to bar, they gain several boons: physical development, problem-solving skills, and social fun with other children.

If you want to unlock these climbing benefits for children in your home, public park, local church, or school playground, you’ll need to understand all of the different types of climbing equipment available.

When you first begin shopping, climbing playground equipment names may become overwhelming. What is the difference between jungle gyms vs monkey bars? Are those grooved handholds considered rock walls, or is it more of a climber?

While every professional-grade piece of climbing equipment provides fun and developmental play for children, it is still essential to know precisely which equipment to invest in to get the most out of your swingsets.

Our staff at Swing Set Mall has compiled this in-depth guide to help you understand which pieces to add to your playsets based on age groups, physical ability, space limitations, and more. 

Whether you want a small swingset for your grandkids in your backyard or you’re in charge of a parks department, you’ll find everything you need in our climbing playset collection. Feel free to contact our friendly staff with questions regarding swing set design, installation, or terminology.

Comprehensive List of Climbing Playground Equipment Names

Let’s jump right into our list of climbing playground equipment names so you can make a well-informed decision for your home or community playground.

Monkey Bars

Of all the types of climbing equipment on our list, playground monkey bars are some of the most famous entries.

Monkey bars refer to a set of spaced-out horizontal bars set across two longer, perpendicular bars. The most common configuration resembles a ladder parallel to the ground, but other variations include triangular-shaped monkey bars, overhead climbers, and trapeze rings.

Some of these climbing playground equipment names show up later on our list for a simple reason. “Monkey bars” are often used colloquially to refer to any overhead ladder-like set of swinging obstacles parallel to the ground.

We advise not to get too granular with what is and isn’t a set of monkey bars. Instead, evaluate monkey bars as a potential addition to your playset based on the benefits of each configuration.

That is where monkey bars genuinely shine. They are beloved by parents, caretakers, and community managers because they hit the perfect sweet spot for developmental play. Swinging from bar to bar helps children develop hand-eye coordination, grip strength, and core muscles.

Additionally, monkey bars are an excellent way to encourage social play, as kids share strategies to cross the bars or create immersive stories by pretending to be pirates (or wizards, knights, etc.) crossing the bars to reach a treasure chest.

Metal Climbing Domes

Geodesic metal climbing domes are incredibly versatile play structures. Few types of climbing equipment allow for a three-dimensional experience and multiple children to play simultaneously.

The best climbing domes for kids are the rare exception, making them an instant favorite on any playground. Climbing domes are any open structure with handholds and an internal area for children to enter. They are usually free-standing and can be installed anywhere on your property.

Note that the “dome” refers explicitly to the object's shape. Climbing towers are another name for a similar structure with a slightly different layout. 

To understand the differences, you can compare the slightly rectangular shape of the Lifetime Backyard Climbing Tower to the ovoid layout of the Lifetime 60 Geo Dome Climber with Tent.

Circular shapes are slightly more manageable for younger children than “Tower” designs, but you can’t go wrong either way–just make sure you choose a structure that fits the age range you’re looking for.

Playground Rope Ladders

So far, we’ve covered two different dimensional types of climbing equipment: horizontal and parallel-to-the-ground “monkey bars” and a free-standing, 180-degree climbing dome.

Ladders are the third subtype you should consider adding to your property. They resemble traditional ladders: the child starts on the ground and climbs up, or vice versa.

There are several different ladders to choose from. Playground rope ladders for kids are among our favorite choices, as they provide an extra element of swaying and movement to the challenge.

Rope ladders can be attached to an existing playset, a tree, or a similar stable structure. They can look like traditional rope ladders coupled with footholds, like the Slackers NinjaLine 7 ft Climber, or alternative designs like the Triangle Steeple Rope Ladder.

Rope ladders' swaying motion helps children develop core stability by allowing them to adjust to micro movements. When properly installed, they are an engaging way to grow their sense of balance while remaining safe.

Traditional Climbing Ladders

Rope ladders are not alone in helping children develop a keen sense of balance. Traditional climbing ladders have the designs you would expect: rungs at each step with a rectangular layout.

Rope ladders and climbing ladders can overlap–a great example is the 36 Wide Rope Ladder for Playset, which has ropes on the sides. The main difference is in the rungs–traditional ladders usually have wooden or metal rungs.

The physical benefits of each type of ladder are similar. Just make sure you choose a model with appropriate spacing between rungs for your age groups. Younger users may prefer ladders with a slight incline, which you’ll also find in “climbing nets,” which we’ll discuss below.

Rock Walls

If you don’t have enough space for traditional or rope ladders, playground climbing rocks can be an excellent option. Rock walls can be placed on any stable structure, whether that be the side of a playset or the walls of your home.

Climbing rocks have varied textures and shapes, providing an engaging challenge for children. Take the Atomik Climbing Holds (Bolt-Ons), for example. They have grooves, oblong designs, and plenty of color options.

You can bolt or screw on climbing rocks to create paths for different experience levels. This makes them an excellent choice for community playgrounds. As kids traverse the rock wall, they’ll boost their problem-solving abilities and sense of logic by creating new “paths” up the wall.

Climbing Nets

Climbing nets exist in the space between rope ladders and climbing domes. Their net-like design isn’t completely parallel, creating new climbing paths for children to learn.

Climbing nets, like the Cargo Net Playground Climber, are usually placed at an angle. This makes them accessible to younger children while helping them develop core strength and a sense of balance.

Jungle Gyms

In everyday slang, entire playsets are often called “jungle gyms,” making it difficult to distinguish them from other types of climbing equipment.

For example, take the Hercules line of climbers. The Hercules Climber VI contains several climbing features, including a vertical climbing net, plastic handholds, and an arced traditional ladder.

It’s best to consider the phrase an alternative definition to “climbers” and examine the individual parts more closely to ensure you get the play features you want.

Spinning Overhead Climbers

Remember our definition of monkey bars? Overhead climbers are sometimes mistakenly referred to as monkey bars, but that isn’t entirely accurate.

They share the element of a horizontal bar parallel to the ground, encouraging kids to move from piece to piece.

But spinning overhead climbers add an extra element to a child’s play experience. For example, the 3 Wheel Swinger Overhead Climber requires children to turn as they move between bars, requiring advanced dexterity and coordination.

Zig-Zag Climbers

Like spinning overhead climbers, zig-zag climbers offer a more engaging experience than traditional monkey bars.

This design features a skewed central bar, requiring children to go off-center to traverse it. This minor shift may seem inconsequential to you as an adult, but it poses a fascinating challenge to children, helping them develop problem-solving abilities.

The Zig Zag Tri-Rung Horizontal Ladder is a prime example. Its overhead design and triangle-shaped rungs enable exciting play experiences.

Trapeze Rings

Trapeze rings are where the challenge starts to ramp up. They develop shoulder balance, grip strength, and problem-solving abilities.

Trapeze rings can be part of an overhead ladder, similar to monkey bars, or as part of a Trapeze Bar Combo. Both styles are more advanced than your average climbing equipment, so ensure you install them for appropriate age groups.

Rope Walkways

Rope walkways are usually part of playsets. They offer children a dynamic, ever-swaying challenge and, like climbing nets, are an excellent way to connect two playground parts.

In this guide, we’ve explored several types of climbing equipment. Remember that there is some natural overlap; for example, you could install a jungle gym with monkey bars and zig-zagging trapeze rings.

Understanding variations in climbing playground equipment names is crucial to providing children with a safe, beneficial, and engaging play experience. Research the age range for each piece of equipment and follow all safe installation practices.

Now that you know all the differences, the best thing to do is to start shopping to get an idea of what is out there for your play areas!

Discover All the Different Types of Playground Climbing Equipment at Swing Set Mall!

When it comes down to it, the main goal of installing playground climbing equipment is to create a wonderful and safe play experience for children.

You need high-quality playsets that meet all your criteria to foster lifelong positive memories and help kids develop their physical and cognitive skills. You can find that equipment right here at Swing Set Mall!

For over thirty years, we have been a family-owned business. We have helped thousands of small families, park managers, and community leaders create captivating play areas. Creating lasting smiles and laughs for children and parents alike is easy when you shop with us.

We take the “mall” part of our name seriously. We have hundreds of products in our inventory with competitive factory-direct rates to help your family and community save money. 

Our playsets and accessories are hand-selected by our experienced staff, with cultivated brands known for their durability and safety. You’ll find plenty of customization options, including color selection and unique designs that are the launching pads for imaginative playtime.

If you’ve ever struggled to put together a playset, you won’t have that concern here when you shop with us. You’ll find easy-to-install DIY backyard climbing structures, DIY tire swing ideas, and DIY monkey bars. 

Plus, our experienced staff has seen and heard it all. We can walk you through everything step-by-step, from choosing the right products to helping you ensure compliance with CPSC safety standards for landing areas and materials.

You can also shop safely with our 30-day money-back and lowest-price guarantees. If you find our products cheaper elsewhere, just let us know, and we’ll happily match the price or refund the difference.

Closing Thoughts on the Climbing Playground Equipment Names

A day of fun on a swing set is integral to any childhood. Whether your set has monkey bars, climbing nets, rock walls, domes, or towers, it will be a fun and developmental experience.

Understanding the difference between each type of equipment will help you make the right choice for your children. Although there may be some overlap, your children will have a wonderful experience if you choose safe, age-appropriate equipment.

At Swing Set Mall, you’ll find all the climbing equipment to bring your play area to life. We carry hundreds of products backed by 30+ years of experience and cultivation to ensure a safe experience.

With us in your corner, you’ll soon be able to transform your outdoor spaces into fun, engaging areas that can serve as the launching pad for a ninja war, pirate adventure, or fairy princess party for your children. Visit our store or bring us any questions today!