Outdoor gym planning
How To Build an Obstacle Course for Adults
Creating a successful outdoor obstacle course for adults
When creating an outdoor obstacle course, it is important to remember that it is not just a random collection of physical activities. Designing an outdoor fitness site with an obstacle course requires careful consideration. The variety of physical exercises must be considered to ensure they offer the most benefits for achieving the desired results. A public outdoor obstacle course for adults should be designed to offer the best workout experience and help individuals achieve their fitness goals.
There are several key questions you need to focus on when coming up with obstacle course ideas:
What location should I choose for my obstacle course?
How should I design and layout my obstacle course?
What obstacle course materials are available?
Our team of fitness site experts are hear to help you answer all of these questions. Careful planning is required to achieve an fitness site that is enjoyed and regularly used by users. The parties involved in the planning process consider various factors, such as the location of the site, the layout and design of the course, as well as the materials and equipment needed to construct it. Cost considerations are also an essential part of the planning process.
What is an obstacle course?
Obstacle courses come in many shapes, sizes and materials. An obstacle course is a series of physical and challenging exercises that can be small or large in size. The course's level of difficulty and target audience determines the types of exercises included, such as running, jumping, balancing, and even swimming. The idea is to have a variety of equipment for participants to go over, under, balance on, and climb. Obstacle courses are an exciting way to challenge yourself in terms of speed, agility, and endurance.
Finding a location for your obstacle course
When planning the location for your adult obstacle course, it's important to determine the scale of your project. Depending on whether you intend to create a competitive obstacle course, one of wipeout size, or an obstacle course for the general public to enjoy, you should plan for clear routes of accessibility to and from the area to maximize the chances of success for your site.
Where will it be installed?: When considering setting up an obstacle course, one important factor to keep in mind is whether you will be placing the equipment indoors or outdoors. While all equipment should be built to ensure safety and support for the user, indoor equipment is not exposed to weather conditions and does not require weather-proofing. However, due to its size, most adult obstacle course equipment is designed for outdoor use, which means that it is essential for it to be able to withstand harsh weather conditions. Fortunately, KOMPAN fitness equipment is made of durable, sturdy materials that are designed to last for a long time, regardless of whether you're installing it in the North Pole or the Sahara Desert.
Planning the layout and design
Before designing your adult obstacle course, you should consider the layout, exercise types, and design opportunities. Here are some outdoor obstacle course ideas suitable for commercial use:
Ensure a variety of activities such as:
Ensure the obstacle course has a start and a finish line
An outdoor gym timer is good for those with competitive minds
Be inspired by the environment
Ensure scalable difficulty levels for people of many ages and abilities.
How to choose the right obstacle course parts for your setting
Before designing an obstacle course, it's important to first consider who the equipment is for. A fitness site catering to professional athletes will require different obstacle course parts compared to an active ageing site for older adults. Therefore, it's important to plan your obstacle course design around your target users and their specific goals. You should consider how your obstacle course equipment can help them achieve these goals. For instance, if you're building an obstacle course for adults in their 20s who wish to improve overall strength, you should design the equipment accordingly. Select equipment that requires compound movements, such as vertical walls and hurdles. Installing outdoor exercise equipment for a retirement village that wants to support mobility? Try balance-based obstacles, for example, a surface challenge. KOMPAN’s extensive range of outdoor fitness equipment enables you to easily craft a bespoke obstacle course that fits your users’ or community requirements.
Materials: Steel vs. Wood
When it comes to choosing your adult obstacle course equipment, we offer a variety of design and material options including an urban steel look and a wooden aesthetic. Our wooden obstacle course equipment is made from Robinia, which is highly durable and requires minimal maintenance. Robinia is a naturally preserved and oiled material that is highly resistant to outdoor elements and heavy impact. The same goes for our steel obstacle course equipment. Built from durable materials, our outdoor obstacle courses for adults are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions over time.
The Physical Benefits of an Obstacle Course
Strength
The diverse range of equipment in an obstacle course offers a complete and balanced workout for users. By overcoming challenging obstacles like rope walls and jump pods, users engage in compound movements, which enhance overall strength and fitness.
Endurance
Outdoor obstacle course equipment provides an excellent opportunity for users to enhance their endurance levels. The different challenges encountered along an obstacle course demand both physical and mental stamina, making them extremely arduous for users. Varying weather conditions can add an extra layer of difficulty - from cold, blustery winds to hot, sweaty sunshine. Designed to push users to their limits, adult obstacle courses can help people realise just how much they are capable of enduring.
Agility
Obstacle courses are thrilling because the elements of the course are unpredictable. The course can contain a wide range of obstacles such as hurdles, overhead ladders, and other challenges, which require quick thinking and adaptability from the participants. This not only improves their physical ability but also their mental agility. As agility increases, users become more efficient at overcoming obstacles both on and off the course.
The Cognitive Benefits of an Obstacle Course
Confidence
Extensive research has been conducted on the link between exercise and confidence, which has shown that physical activity is associated with higher self-esteem. Obstacle course equipment is a fun and engaging way to exercise that challenges users both physically and mentally, promoting a sense of accomplishment. As users progress in their fitness journey, they should be able to complete obstacle courses more quickly and efficiently, which can be a great confidence booster.
Problem-Solving
Obstacle courses are fascinating because they offer multiple solutions for every challenge. The unclear nature of some parts of the course motivates users to come up with innovative solutions to move forward, thus enhancing their problem-solving abilities.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Team Building
Adult outdoor obstacle course equipment provides a fun and exciting opportunity for group exercise. One of the key features of obstacle courses is that they offer a wide range of challenges. While one user is jumping over hurdles, another may be shimmying over a balance beam. Depending on ability, users may require assistance from those around them to overcome certain obstacle course parts. Participating in an obstacle course challenge as a group can be an excellent way to promote team building and community spirit among friends, coworkers, or even strangers. Additionally, obstacle courses can encourage healthy competition among peers, particularly when an outdoor gym timer is added to the mix.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an obstacle course?
If you want to learn more about building an obstacle course, please get in touch for guidance and best practices.
How long should an obstacle course be?
When designing an obstacle course, it's crucial to consider the type of equipment installed and the amount of space required for all the activities.
Is obstacle course equipment safe?
Our obstacle course equipment is compliant and safe to use as it adheres to stringent UK safety standards and regulations.
How much does an obstacle course cost?
Planning and building an obstacle involves a lot of factors, which makes it challenging to estimate the exact costs. However, if you are interested in knowing the general costs of building a fitness site, you can check out our blog post titled 'How much does it cost to build a fitness site?'
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Want to see more obstacle courses?
Stuytown Fitness Playground, United States
Sydbyens Bevægelses Park, Denmark
Destination Area
This outdoor fitness solution will inspire people of all ages to play and train. It will trigger a natural desire to engage in activities where speed, agility and stamina combine under the simple concept of playing.