Shopping Cart
There are no more items in your cart
About Us
Espace-holds is all about passionate climbers and designers.
Climbers, route-setters, shapers, we explore new shapes and grips every day.
We imagine movements that will give you the pleasure of climbing and discovering new sensations.
Since 1992, we've passionately pursued our creativity, bringing together different worlds to invent new holds and volumes that are immediately tested in our climbing gyms in Grenoble.
Attentive to new uses, we have embarked on an eco-friendly development approach in line with new environmental challenges, to invent the urban climbing of tomorrow.
Values
Exploration is Espace's DNA.
This collective of shapers and route-setters make new suggestions and develop new concepts to vary the styles and generate emotions, with a view to discovering and perfecting shaping.
The artistic sensibility shared by the shapers is one of the key elements, enabling a constant exchange that feeds the creative process.
Shaping and route-and-boulder-setting follow a continuum. The setter brings in a new vision of the hold and enriches the shaping.
Guided by passion, the transmission of knowledge and know-how is present on a daily basis, and is expressed differently by each individual. The importance of a job well done, and of finishing touches, are central to our exchanges.
Mutual enrichment and dialogue are at the heart of this team. Espace is also the embodiment of craftsmanship, operating on a logic of enthusiasts keen to preserve creative freedom.
The shapers
Guillaume
"Shaping is a collective process where we design a functional and aesthetic object by drawing on exchanges with other enthusiasts, climbers, route-setters, shapers."
Niko
"Shaping is about creating something new for climbers, exploring and bringing to life unique climbing experiences."
Julien
"Shaping is a means of expression driven by an artistic approach where creativity and technique come together to shape something new."
1. Creation
Creating a hold involves an idea, a block of foam and a felt-tip pen. The shaper draws the basic shape. The design varies with each range. The choice of foam gives the hold its grain.
2. The shape
The first lines are cleared with a saw. What the shaper had imagined appears under their fingertips. The rasp softens the shape and opens up multiple variations.
3. The grip
Milling cutters of all shapes, abrasives, tools diverted from their original purpose - everything is done to achieve the desired ergonomic and innovative grip.
4. The finish
Sandpaper and finishing sponges will give the perfect shape. All that remains is to determine the position of the screw inserts. The matrix will soon be shipped to make the mould and the manufacturing of the first holds will start.
History
As part of our concern for the environment, we develop ranges incorporating recycled materials and natural fibers (linen) which are manufactured locally.
Even more voluminous, fiberglass holds are the latest addition to the macro-holds range. With their fine grain and high quality, they bring a new feel to our holds. Some are available in dual-texture, enriching the range of possible openings and climbing possibilities.
The Espace Holds brand was born.
Three years before the opening of the first Espace Vertical climbing gym, we started making holds. It was the era of soft shapes, with the new generation of climbers seeking perfection of placement, the aesthetic of the gesture and shape. Since 1995, Espace Vertical team have been sculpting holds, volumes and wall plates for their own climbing gyms and for climbing wall manufacturers.
Wooden volumes made their debut: they can be stacked, affixed, combined or laid individually: cracks, mantles, dihedrals, oppositions - the possibilities and combinations are infinite, especially when playing with dual-texture faces. That same year, the range of PU grips also expanded. Series have been extended, and holds have come in a range of sizes and grips, enabling thematic and aesthetic settings.
Holds got bigger ! Balance and coordination have become essential qualities of indoor climbing.
Climbing has evolved, with the emphasis on efficiency, the classic "set and push", no more "right hand, left hand" holds, shapes are becoming more complex, and grips need to be worked on according to their orientation. We work with foams of different grain sizes, positive-grain zones on grips, modular matrixes, and various foam inlays.
The first climbing holds are born. Intended for leisure use, the holds mimic the rock, with no real attempt to improve grip quality.
2023
As part of our concern for the environment, we develop ranges incorporating recycled materials and natural fibers (linen) which are manufactured locally.
2021
Wooden volumes made their debut: they can be stacked, affixed, combined or laid individually: cracks, mantles, dihedrals, oppositions - the possibilities and combinations are infinite, especially when playing with dual-texture faces. That same year, the range of PU grips also expanded. Series have been extended, and holds have come in a range of sizes and grips, enabling thematic and aesthetic settings.
2020
Even more voluminous, fiberglass holds are the latest addition to the macro-holds range. With their fine grain and high quality, they bring a new feel to our holds. Some are available in dual-texture, enriching the range of possible openings and climbing possibilities.
2018
Holds got bigger ! Balance and coordination have become essential qualities of indoor climbing.
2013
The Espace Holds brand was born.
2012
Climbing has evolved, with the emphasis on efficiency, the classic "set and push", no more "right hand, left hand" holds, shapes are becoming more complex, and grips need to be worked on according to their orientation. We work with foams of different grain sizes, positive-grain zones on grips, modular matrixes, and various foam inlays.
1992
Three years before the opening of the first Espace Vertical climbing gym, we started making holds. It was the era of soft shapes, with the new generation of climbers seeking perfection of placement, the aesthetic of the gesture and shape. Since 1995, Espace Vertical team have been sculpting holds, volumes and wall plates for their own climbing gyms and for climbing wall manufacturers.
1985
The first climbing holds are born. Intended for leisure use, the holds mimic the rock, with no real attempt to improve grip quality.