The climbing hall market and the sale of climbing equipment is experiencing a significant dynamic, driven by a steady increase in the number of practitioners.
In 2024, there are more than 2 million climbers in France, of which 84% say they
Once a week or more in clubs or via private room offers.
The majority of climbers are aged between 12 and 25 years old,
a growing age group.
Growth is particularly marked among women, who are
now represent 42% of practitioners and 58% of new practitioners, making climbing an almost equal activity.
According to Union Sport & Cycle:
In addition, the climbing market in France is experiencing significant growth.
With a turnover of 150 million euros only for climbing halls
and 500 million including all the equipment dedicated to verticality.”
With about 200 climbing halls throughout the Hexagon,
of the 8,000 sports venues in the territory.”
by Virgile Caillet, Union Sport & Cycle Delegate General.
The momentum of the Olympic Games continued to build youth interest in the sport.
In September, attendance increased by 17%.
This increase is particularly visible among young people aged 12 to 17,
and is explained in particular by the success of Inoxtag’s documentary "Kaizen".
The concentration of climbing halls varies by region:
• 91 rooms in Île-de-France.•
63 rooms between Lyon, Grenoble and Valence.
The offer is limited. In Lille, for example, there are only 2 climbing halls.
Many climbing sites are located in the Île-de-France,
in the mountains, and between Valence, Lyon and Grenoble.
But the competition remains very low in the North with only 2 rooms in Lille,
This makes for greater attractiveness.
Climb Up is the market leader in climbing.
He has outperformed his competitors by offering a family experience
We pay particular attention to the quality of openings,
by providing in-house support and training.”
It also draws its strength from the fame of its founder François Petit,
Multiple world champion, former coach of the national climbing team.
Climb Up benefits from the experience of old
High level climbers, world champions, international openers
Finally, it offers living and wellness spaces:
Beyond climbing, our rooms offer living or coworking cozy spaces,
a bar-restaurant service, a training and stretching area...
But also wellness areas (sauna, hammam, yoga...).»
Climb Up is one of two companies based in Lille. The second and biggest competitor is Arkose.
Arkose is much more environmentally responsible by using eco-friendly materials.
He focuses his activity on the block, but Climb Up diversifies by offering ropes.
Arkose will also favour the urban area, as with Lille,
Climb Up also offers rooms on the outskirts.
Conclusion
The climbing market in France is growing,
Sustained by a steady increase in the number of practitioners and favourable dynamics,
The impact of the Olympic Games and the media.
With more than 2 million climbers, a turnover of 150 million euros
for venues and 500 million including equipment,
This sector offers significant opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Despite a high concentration of cinemas in some regions such as the Île-de-France
the Rhône-Alpes region, areas such as the Nord, and more particularly Lille,
remain underdeveloped.
This low local competition can be a real opportunity
to establish themselves in this dynamic market,
as Climb Up did,
who has stood out from the competition by offering an experience
more focused on well-being and the family side,
and Arkose by offering a more ecological and specialized approach in block.
These two market leaders seized an opportunity
and implement different strategies to stand out from the competition.
