Best Pikler triangle sets
If you’re looking to level up your own indoor activity options, Pikler triangle sets are endlessly adaptable, open-ended play furniture that offer major benefits for kids of all ages and ability levels.
Pikler triangles, or climbing triangles, are pyramid-shaped wooden structures with rungs on each side made for young children to climb. Pikler triangle sets have accessories that attach to or are meant to be used with a Pikler triangle: ladders, ramps, rock walls, and other items that encourage whole-body play.
Pikler triangles are generally thought of as suitable from 6 months to 5 years, though some will be better suited for different ages. With their wide, stable bases Pikler triangles are excellent for practicing climbing, and as your baby grows and gains strength, confidence, and balance, you can add accessories that'll make sure your child stays entertained and challenged.
How we chose the best Pikler triangle sets
- We used posts from the four million members of BabyCenter's Community to find a consensus on whichPikler triangle sets are sturdy, fun to play with, and offer great play value from as many different types of caregivers as possible.
- We spoke with a parent on BabyCenter's editorial team who has one child and uses a Pikler triangle on this list at home.
- Each Pikler triangle set on this list received positive feedback for its:
- Sturdiness
- Appeal to children
- Availability of interesting accessories to improve the set
- Good looks
- Good value for the price
One thing to note before sharing our favorite Pikler triangles. Pikler/Lóczy USA (PLUSA) owns the Pikler trademark, and only triangles that meet their exceedingly strict standards are allowed to use the name Pikler. Because of this, most Pikler triangles are imported and all but one of the triangles you can buy in America are called "climbing triangles."
Best Pikler triangle set overall
RAD Children’s Furniture Pikler Triangle and Ramps
Handmade in the United States, this is the only climbing triangle in the United States that's certified by the Pikler organization.
Parents and educators love RAD Children’s triangle because it is built to last. Fans say it's extraordinarily stable and sturdy, and good for small spaces since it's on the more petite size. (RAD also makes a Jumbo size that's 41 inches tall compared to this triangle's 29-inch height). It folds flat into a package that's less than five inches wide, so it's easy to store between uses, too. The rungs are perfectly spaced for new climbers, reviewers say, and a reliable lock holds the triangle open when it's unfolded. The RAD Pikler triangle is made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified birch wood, and its finish contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
RAD's accessories are simple but special, also made of high-quality, hefty birch. You can buy short (12 x 46-inch) or long (12 x 58-inch) reversible ramps that hook securely onto the triangle for more play opportunities. On one side, the ramps are smooth wood; on the other, they have strips of wood to bolster footing when climbing. Adults can attach the ramps onto any rung of the triangle to change the climbing angle, or can lay it flat to use as a balance beam. RAD also sells a fasten-on easel so kids can use the triangle for artistic play, and a ladder for advanced climbers. It all adds up to a set that's well-built and robust enough for preschool or daycare settings, and certainly can handle any abuse your child can dole out.
Heads up
For an additional $100, you can have your triangle assembled by a professional.
Specs
- Dimensions: Triangle: 28 x 35 x 29 inches (unfolded); 28 x 4.75 x 33.5 inches (folded); ramps: 12 x 46 inches and 12 x 58 inches
- Age range: Up to age 5
- Weight limit: 100 pounds
Best Pikler triangle set for toddlers
Sprout Wooden Climbing Triangle with Ramp
Parents are often surprised by how soon their children start trying to climb, and alarmed at how fearless they are. So larger Pikler triangles that are 35 to 40 inches in height or even taller are intimidating for parents who worry about falls. At 30 inches high (about the height of an average 1-year-old), this Pikler triangle is a more sensible challenge for smaller children. Parents say it's rock solid, too, no matter how boisterously kids play. It's heavy and stout, says Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director for BabyCenter's parent company Everyday Health Group, who adds that she has to use two hands to move this triangle.
Alexandra loves that this triangle folds for storage so that it doesn't take up too much space in her house: "When we see that she’s in the mood to climb and move her body we bring it out and she really enjoys getting the wiggles out especially during the winter when we spent a lot of time indoors," she says, adding that when they got the triangle her daughter was 8 months and used it to practice standing, and now at age 2 her child still uses the triangle and is a "total pro" at climbing.
Parents can buy the Sprout triangle with one or two ramps; each holds 150 pounds. Ramps, like the triangle, are made from Baltic birch plywood (the rungs of the triangle are made from maple). They can hook onto any rung of the triangle to give kids more or less of a climbing challenge, and they're double sided: a smooth side and one with evenly-spaced wooden slats to give kids more play options.
Heads up
For an extra $85, you can order professional assembly for your triangle (otherwise, you'll be assembling it yourself).
Specs
- Dimensions: Triangle: 36 x 36 x 30 inches (unfolded); 36 x 8.5 x 36 inches (folded); ramp: 11.5 x 47 x .7 inches
- Age range: None listed
- Weight limit: 150 pounds
Most versatile Pikler triangle set
Dripex Wooden Climbing Triangle Ladder with Ramp
This is no ordinary “triangle.” Extra pieces and joints allow you to rework the fixture to one of 10 different mode options: a cube, lower climbing structure for younger children, or taller climbing triangle for bigger kids, to name a few.
Featuring smooth edges, screw-free installation, and a strong, sturdy base, parents who own this climbing triangle say it's both secure and safe. They also deeply appreciate the triangle's versatility, though quite a few complain that changing modes can be difficult and that the provided Allen wrench is of poor quality, so you might want to have your own on hand. Despite that pain point, parents say their kids played with it longer and more intensely thanks to that versatility.
Parents say that this triangle is sturdy with a smooth finish, and that their kids found many ways to play with the triangle and ramp set: They throw a blanket over to turn it into a fort, use the triangle as part of an obstacle course, slide down the smooth side of the ramp, and carefully climb up the rock wall side on hands and knees. They also say that despite the relatively large size of this climber, it’s still a good fit in most homes because you can stack together its four panels for storage.
Heads up
The triangle comes in a natural finish and with rainbow-colored rungs for the same price.
Specs
- Dimensions: Triangle: dimensions vary with mode; ramp: 47 x 19.68 x 3.93 inches
- Age range: 1-6 years
- Weight limit: 260 pounds
Best looking Pikler triangle set
Wiwiurka Baby & Toddler Climbing Set
If you’re a parent who chooses toys based on how they’ll look in your home (no shame), allow us to introduce Wiwiurka, one of the top brands for beautiful, high-quality children’s climbing furniture. Most of the impressive variety of Wiwiurka's triangles and add-ons are available in a range of aesthetically pleasing color palettes, from the natural finish and rainbow-hued rungs offered by most climbing triangle makers, to pastels and colorways inspired by the forest and the ocean.
This set offers so many ways to play: Start out with the climbing triangle alone for the youngest children, who can use it to pull up to standing and learn the basics of climbing. Connect the reversible ramp to create a climbing challenge for your child, or flip it onto the smooth side for sliding fun. Set the rocker (also known as a balance board) with its arch up for climbing, or use the curved side on the floor for delightful core-strengthening rocking from a sitting or standing position. All three pieces connect together or can be used separately, giving this set a versatility that parents say stimulated their children's imagination and interest for years.
Heads up
If you'd prefer, you can buy Wiwiurka's climbing triangle in medium (34 inches tall) or large (37 inches tall) sizes, and configure your own set with the company's many add-ons. The triangle that comes with the set is Wiwiurka's small triangle (30 inches tall).
Specs
- Dimensions: Triangle: 29 x 24 x 30 inches; rocker: 33 x 17 x 15 inches; ramp: 35.4 x 11 x 2 inches
- Age range: 9 months-4 years
- Weight limit: Triangle: 90 pounds; rocker: 100 pounds; ramp: 100 pounds
Best Pikler triangle set with climbing arch
Wood and Hearts Montessori Set of 5 Items
Climbing arches are similar to climbing triangles, but they are rounded at the top, which some parents say is easier for kids to climb up and over than a triangle. And although many Montessori play sets include climbing arches, kids struggle to climb them because the slats are so close together. Wood and Hearts set, however, comes with two rounded accessories: one for rocking/balancing and one for climbing.
In fact, this set presents all sorts of climbing challenges with its many pieces. It includes a folding climbing triangle and two ramps (one with rock-wall footholds and one with straight ladderlike slats) along with the balance board and climbing arch. Parents say you can set them up in so many ways, and each time you rearrange the pieces, kids will be excited anew to play. Parents also say that every piece of this set is well-built and tough: It's made of birch plywood, and finished with water-based lacquer and paints.
Heads up
This same set comes in different colors: white, gray, or natural for the base wood, with rungs/slats/rock wall footstops in pastels, white, or rainbow hues.
Specs
- Dimensions: Triangle: 34.3 x 30.2 x 31.9 inches; balance board: 37.4 x 23.2 x 16.8 inches; arch: 38.1 x 20.2 x 18.5 inches; ramp with ladder: 36.6 x 12.2 x 2 inches; ramp with rock wall: 38.8 x 14.8 x 2 inches
- Age range: 2-8 years
- Weight limit: 132 pounds
Best Pikler triangle set with climbing cube
The PlayWilder 5 Piece Montessori Gym
Climbing cubes, as the name suggests, are flat on top instead of pointed, so kids can climb over and around, crawl inside, or sit on top. Parents say their kids love the play options offered by this set, since you can connect all the pieces for a rousing obstacle course, or split them up according to how kids want to play.
There are endless ways to play with this gym in fact, since it comes with the cube, a triangle, an arch, and two ramps, one with ladder slats and one with rock wall projections. This set is easier than most to assemble: Pre-drilled holes line up nicely, and PlayWilder has specially marked some holes to indicate exactly what pieces should go together. If you're having trouble, PlayWilder offers free help over the phone Monday to Friday during working hours, and there are videos on the company's site that demonstrate how to put together each piece.
Heads up
The arch is fine for rocking, but since it has rungs instead of flat slats, you'll want to pad it with a pillow or blanket for comfort before your child sits in it. Unlike many rockers, this one is not suitable for practicing balance while standing.
Specs
- Dimensions: Triangle: 47 1/2 x 29 3/8 x 34 inches; arch: 42 1/2 x 21 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches; cube: 20 x 20 x 20 inches; ladder/rock ramps with ladder: 40 1/2 x 13 x 2 1/2 inches
- Age range: 6 months-5 years
- Weight limit: 225 pounds
What to look for when shopping for Pikler triangle sets
- Safety: Be sure to purchase your Pikler triangle set from a reputable company that stands behind their products and prioritizes safety. Look for high-quality wood that’s properly finished (smooth = no splinters!) and made with non-toxic and child-safe paint or sealant. The surface under your Pikler triangle set should be as soft as possible: grass, carpet, or padded mats are all good options. Finally, supervise your child while using a Pikler triangle for the safest play.
- Size: Pikler triangles are usually 20 to 40 inches high, but their overall size depends on the number of accessories. If you have limited space, you may want to opt for a Pikler triangle that folds for easy storage, as well as accessories that are flat or otherwise easy to store. For stability, make sure that the bottom of the triangle is wider than the triangle's height.
- Materials: Pikler triangle sets are usually made from wood, but may have parts made of plastic, silicone, or other materials. Since quality is important and Pikler triangles are expensive, look for triangles and accessories that are made of hardwood, not plywood or any other engineered wood. If possible, wood should be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as coming from responsibly managed forests. Stains or paint should be non-toxic, ideally Greenguard Gold-certified.
- Price: Pikler triangle sets are definitely expensive, but they're also a toy that will last for years and will entertain children for many, many hours of play.
What’s a Pikler triangle?
The original Pikler triangle is a simple piece of wooden play furniture made in the shape of an upside-down "V" that features ladder rungs on both sides. It can be used by babies and children of all ages (up to certain weight limits).
Infants can be placed on a padded surface underneath the triangle to enjoy soft toys suspended from the rungs above (similar to a baby gym), and can eventually use the rungs to pull themselves into a seated or standing position.
And then, of course, comes the really fun part: Older babies and toddlers can climb up, over and down. The triangles can be enhanced with slides, ramps and rock wall boards to make a Pikler triangle set, but perhaps most importantly, they are the perfect starter piece for imaginative play (watch as your child turns the triangle into a fort, or a boat, or a lemonade stand, or a castle, or something else entirely).
The Pikler triangle was named for Dr. Emmi Pikler, a Hungarian pediatrician who specialized in early education and advocated for comforting play environments that allow children to develop naturally, at their own pace, with a major emphasis on free movement. The triangle was then popularized in the U.S. by Magda Gerber, another iconic early childhood educator known for a respectful parenting philosophy.
What are the benefits of a Pikler triangle?
To put it simply, Pikler triangles teach babies and kids how to move — how to stand and step, at first, but then how to balance, climb, reach, pull and fall. They also learn about balance, coordination and consequences. All of these physical and mental skills lead to increased confidence.
Dr. Pikler's work was rooted in the understanding that children who are allowed to move freely and without restriction are more careful and better able to maneuver themselves (and even fall) safely. On the other hand, children whose movements are restricted are put in more real-world danger because they have not mastered (or even experienced) their own capacities and limits.
For example, think about your child’s everyday activities like climbing up the stairs, walking along a curb, or stepping over some rocks by a stream: These seemingly safe events would be dangerous for a child without a strong sense of balance, limits, confidence and understanding of their own movement — and that's what the Pikler triangle aims to increase.
Plus, as with all types of open-ended play, Pikler triangles also boost creativity and imagination — the possibilities are truly endless.
Kelsey Haywood Lucas contributed to this story.
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