Created in collaboration with grOH! Playrooms, wall storage solutions brand Shelfology’s Randle Wall Climbing Handle is the sort of playroom design feature that could make anyone wish they were 5 years old all over again. The indoor climbing accessory is fashioned after the traditional monkey bar, inviting children to run wild – both physically, along with their imaginations – turning walls and ceilings into a playground of purposeful play.
While it may seem a straightforward design solution, Jeff Ward, Director of Product Development Overlord at Shelfology, notes designing the Randle posed a great challenge related to safety. Engineering a bar capable of enduring the rowdy nature of kids’ play patterns, especially when unsupervised, required exemplary resistance and stability under stress.
Ward’s team’s original Randle handle design exhibited too much movement while grabbed, a problem solved by adding two additional anchor points on a vertical axis for a total of four lag screws, doubling the bar’s resistance when grabbed or hung from.
The final 16″ and 24″ wide bar designs made from 1” round hollow steel tubing is capable of supporting up to 250 lbs. when correctly installed using the included lag screws into structural wall studs and ceiling joists (installation steps viewable here with powder coated sample swatches available for $5/each). With proper planning, the bars can be arranged vertically and across the ceiling, allowing kids to strengthen muscles, develop coordination, and of course, expand their imagination in activities with nary a screen in sight.
It had to be robust, but still look fun and simple. We figured, ‘If it will hold a Marketing Associate, it will hold a child.
– Jeff Ward, Director of Product Development Overlord at Shelfology
For parents looking to allow their kids to monkey around, Shelfology offers over 30 powder coated hardware colors to further the playground look and feel. Randle is offered in a 16″ length for $38/bar or a longer 24″ wide option for $42, but parents can save by purchasing them in bulk, saving 15% off if bought in quantities beyond 10.
