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lady using the horizontal ladder monkey bars

Strength Range: Horizontal Ladder

Otherwise known as the monkey bars, the Horizontal Ladder is an excellent way to exercise the core, arms and shoulders working against your own bodyweight. 

Children queueing to use the fresh air fitness monkey bars

14th December 2023

Gripping, reaching and swinging from each rung, working your way along the ladder, this piece of equipment is simple but effective. Users move at their own pace, building up the number of swings as strength and confidence grows. Children and adults alike enjoy this piece of equipment as it comes with a natural challenge – who will make it all the way to the end! And once you’ve mastered it – who can make it back again?

We have stand alone horizontal ladders which you can purchase individually, or you find it integrated into a number of our ‘Rigs’. Here is the full information:

 

The Standalone Horizontal Ladder

Available in both our adult and children’s range, the standalone Horizontal ladder is by far one of our most popular pieces. One of the most appealing features of this piece of equipment is that everyone can join in and have a go. It is something individuals and friends can enjoy together, challenging and motivating each other to improve. In schools, we see pupils queueing up for the horizontal ladder and particularly in primary schools, this is often one of the first pieces young children use to build their strength and dexterity. In parks, adults use this as a solid body weight exercise to develop exceptional upper body strength along with core training with exercises such as leg and knee raises. 

 

The Horizontal Ladder in The Big Rig

The Big Rig is our flagship piece for parks and green spaces. This award-winning rig is frequently chosen by councils to offer local communities a way to exercise somewhere convenient, near to where they live, and crucially, for free. 

Once installed, the Big Rig can accommodate 17 users at once and has over 120 exercise options. With both static and dynamic exercise stations, it is popular with those who enjoy outdoor fitness, and is increasingly used by boot camps, PTs and, of course, sports teams. It’s also a fantastic solution for secondary schools. 

The Big Rig features the horizontal ladder along the top section of its frame. 

 

The Horizontal Ladder in the Training Rig

With a compact footprint, the Training Rig is ideal for creating an instant exercise-zone in smaller spaces. It comes with 6 static workout stations including Sit Up Bench, Leg lift, Pull up, Step up, Push Up and Dip and of course the Horizontal Ladder – named here as ‘Ninja Ladder’!

This piece is really good for a full body workout from arms, back and legs to core. It offers over 80 exercise options to keep training varied and allow continuous development.

 

The Horizontal Ladder in The Children’s Fitness Rig

Designed specifically to include some of the most popular pieces within our children's range, the Children’s Fitness Rig comes with 5 unique fitness stations including the Air Skier, the Monkey Bars, the Seated Leg Press, T’ai Chi Spinners and Inclusive Arm Bike. 

With 8 rungs, the Monkey Bars on the Children’s Fitness Rig offer a child-sized challenge for younger ones building strength, stamina and confidence at an early age. 

This piece of equipment is also great for teaching children interpersonal skills, such as waiting your turn in line, encouraging and supporting friends and having the courage to take on a new challenge. 

 

Horizontal Ladder Exercise Options

The monkey bars are so much more versatile than just travelling from one end to the other. Here are several creative, new exercise options to try. Always check with your health professional before you try any new form of exercise.

1. The Active Hang 

Grip two bars, body sideways on to the monkey bars, palms facing each other, shoulders back and down. Start with a gentle pendulum-type swing, then slowing release and grip each hand. This exercise builds confidence and grip strength.

2. Hanging Leg Raise 

This is a great exercise to build up core strength. Challenge yourself to develop towards lifting your legs, together, higher and higher towards your face. 

3. Upside Down Crawl

More challenging to get into position, but once you are there, this is a fun and great exercise not only for the upper body, but also for the legs and core. Hanging from one rung, hook your feet over the top of another and ‘crawl’ along the rungs, one hand and foot at a time. 

4. Skip a bar

More challenging than the basic monkey bars as it requires a single arm hang while reaching to skip over a bar. This will improve your grip and lateral strength. If this is too difficult, an intermediate step would be to begin with a basic movement, add in a skip, and alternate between these 2 until you can perform continuous skips.

5. Pull Ups

Using an overhand grip with your hands wider than your shoulder, engage your back and core as well as the shoulder and arms and slowly pull your body up and then lower back to your start position again. 

Pull ups target a wide number of muscles, including the back, lats and biceps as well as lower back, shoulders, forearms, chest, triceps and trapezius.

 

Latest Special Offers – which include the Horizontal Ladder

https://www.freshairfitness.co.uk/big-rig-offer

https://www.freshairfitness.co.uk/big-rig-secondary-schools-offer

https://www.freshairfitness.co.uk/strength-cardio-outdoor-gym-package

https://www.freshairfitness.co.uk/our-products/childrens-fitness-rig

 

About Us

Since 2007, we have installed over 4,500 gyms nationwide and provide an end-to-end service from initial site visit to design, delivery, and installation. We project-manage your outdoor gym plans, from inception to completion and provide full after sales care through our dedicated team of outdoor gym specialists.

At Fresh Air Fitness, we provide schools, colleges, universities, parks, and community spaces with sustainable and innovative outdoor gym solutions. Our engaging and easy-to-use equipment is focused on the premise that exercise should be accessible, fun and free! 

Read some of our success stories here, reach out to our team via the contact us form or call and speak to someone today on 01483 608 860.

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