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Monkey bars for backyard – Which do you like best?

Summer is coming and it’s time to find some exciting monkey bars for your backyard. There are many different types of monkey bars you can place in your backyard but I want to show you the two backyard monkey bar products that I love the most. First I’m going to show you the Lifetime Geometric Dome a freestanding climbing dome for young children. Then I’ll show you The epic Backyard Discovery Sky Fort that is every kids dream monkey bar set.

monkey bars for backyard
Product Image
Backyard monkey bar set
Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center, Earthtone
Amazing Monkey bar swingset
Backyard Discovery, Skyfort II Playground Cedar Wood Swing Set with Playhouse Fort, Sandbox, Picnic Table, Slide, Monkey Bars, Swings, Rock Climber, Outdoor Playset for kids Age 3-10 years
Product Name
Lifetime Geometric Dome
Backyard Discovery Sky Fort
Click to view product on Amazon
Backyard monkey bar set
Product Image
Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center, Earthtone
Product Name
Lifetime Geometric Dome
Click to view product on Amazon
Amazing Monkey bar swingset
Product Image
Backyard Discovery, Skyfort II Playground Cedar Wood Swing Set with Playhouse Fort, Sandbox, Picnic Table, Slide, Monkey Bars, Swings, Rock Climber, Outdoor Playset for kids Age 3-10 years
Product Name
Backyard Discovery Sky Fort
Click to view product on Amazon

If your children are too young for the geometric climbing dome then check out the wonderful pikler triangle climbing toys. If you are looking for outdoor monkey bars for older children or for a cheaper alternative to the giant Sky fort, these ninja obstacle courses are fantastic. We have also written about indoor jungle gym monkey bars which are a lot of fun to play on.

Lifetime Geometric dome

Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center, Earthtone

Click the image above to view the product on Amazon

This is a freestanding metal monkey bar set for young children that is sturdy and gives children the chance to climb up and around the dome shape in any number of different directions. It might not offer the horizontal journey you might expect from monkey bars but children can swing from the top bars like a monkey with the added bonus of also being able to climb, up down and around the geometric dome shaped climbing frame.

At 4ft 5 tall and 9ft long the lifetime geometric dome is big enough for children to play and explore. You have to construct the domes heavy duty steel frame using some instructions that are pretty simple to follow. What I like about this dome is that it is easy to assemble and it offers a lot of different ways of climbing and swinging like a monkey both inside and outside the dome frame. Although I say easy to assemble, I have had years constructing Lego and knex. Construction of the geometric dome is a little bit like constructing a Knex set.

You have to put the shapes together and then fix the whole thing into place. It does take time and you do really need 2 people working together. It’s well worth the time and effort though, kids absolutely love this simple outdoor monkey bar frame. The shape is perfect for imaginative play, chasing each other around the outside, climbing up and down, creating a fortress in the centre and so many more exciting activities your children will be fast to think up while running around and swinging like monkeys in the yard.

Backyard discovery sky fort outdoor Monkey bar set

Backyard Discovery, Skyfort II Playground Cedar Wood Swing Set with Playhouse Fort, Sandbox, Picnic Table, Slide, Monkey Bars, Swings, Rock Climber, Outdoor Playset for kids Age 3-10 years

Click the image to view product on Amazon

Now, this backyard discovery outdoor monkey bar set is way more than just some monkey bars, this is a whole big play set. Your kids will feel like their dreams have come true if you bring this beast of a play set home. For starters it looks big enough to be a real fortress with the 12 ft high centre tower, massive solid timber frames, a 3 swing swing set section, monkey bar frame, climbing wall, step ladder and green wavy slide.

What more could any adventurous child possibly want?

Let’s focus in on the monkey bars. The wood is treated and weather resistant so the bars themselves won’t rust or wear in rainy weather conditions. Not only are the bars a nice thickness and comfortable to grip onto, swinging across them can take you from the top of a ladder right into the fortress tower itself. At the top you can choose whether to lookout for any pirates coming towards the fortress, slide down the wavy green slide or climb down the rope wall.

There are so many play options on the sky fort and sometimes outdoor monkey bars can seem like swinging back and forth with no direction. with the sky fort you can include them in the bigger play adventure where you can use them to create obstacle course ideas or imagine up new games and activities.

What are standalone monkey bars?

Standalone monkey bars are monkey bars on a frame, usually metal, that can stand up without being supported by foundations or anything else. Our two favourite outdoor monkey bar products above are both freestanding. The sky fort does require a lot more construction than the geometric dome but the main frame is free standing and the monkey climbing bars are extremely sturdy on both products.

What do you put under backyard monkey bars?

Usually you should place backyard monkey bars on your grass. Grass offers some protection underneath a low set of monkey bars that are close to the ground. If you are buying the backyard discovery sky fort you can think about installing soft rubber or foam playground surfaces. For smaller outdoor monkey bar sets you could even use a gymnastics mat.

Best Metal monkey bars for your backyard

The best metal Monkey bars for your backyard are the Lifetime Geometric dome. This dome is made of metal and designed to be sturdy even when your children are finding ever more exciting and adventurous ways to navigate their way up and across the metal monkey bar frame. This is one play structure your children aren’t going to forget about anytime soon.

It might look simple but believe me there are so many bars to climb up, swing from and sit on top of that there is always a new game or role play scenario to imagine. There are other metal monkey bars you can buy from brands like active play, but we found their monkey bars rust easily and for the price they don’t offer a good backyard play experience.

You can also buy individual metal monkey bars and create your own play equipment if you are handy at DIY. I don’t have the best DIY and woodwork skills so can’t advise you about how you might construct there yourself but i’m sure there will be guides you can find online.

What Makes monkey bars fun for your backyard.

Monkey bars in your backyard are fun for children. Whenever I visit the local park children are always waiting in line for their turn to swing across the monkey bars or play on other climbing equipment. Swinging across monkey bars outdoors feels like going on an adventure.

Monkeys swing from branch to branch in the jungle and it’s fun to replicate this sense of freedom and travelling without touching the ground is always exciting. There is also a sense of danger because at any point you could fall off back down to the ground. This fear makes it even more exciting because of the slight adrenaline.

Children can race to see who can get across the bars fastest, battle to see who can hold on for the longest and even create a long obstacle course including these monkey bars as part of it. If you are looking for some good backyard play and exercise activities this summer then your children are going to be able to play, build strength and endurance and burn off lots of energy playing on the Geometric dome and Skyfort.

Product Image
Backyard monkey bar set
Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center, Earthtone
Amazing Monkey bar swingset
Backyard Discovery, Skyfort II Playground Cedar Wood Swing Set with Playhouse Fort, Sandbox, Picnic Table, Slide, Monkey Bars, Swings, Rock Climber, Outdoor Playset for kids Age 3-10 years
Product Name
Lifetime Geometric Dome
Backyard Discovery Sky Fort
Click to view product on Amazon
Backyard monkey bar set
Product Image
Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber Play Center, Earthtone
Product Name
Lifetime Geometric Dome
Click to view product on Amazon
Amazing Monkey bar swingset
Product Image
Backyard Discovery, Skyfort II Playground Cedar Wood Swing Set with Playhouse Fort, Sandbox, Picnic Table, Slide, Monkey Bars, Swings, Rock Climber, Outdoor Playset for kids Age 3-10 years
Product Name
Backyard Discovery Sky Fort
Click to view product on Amazon

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