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Shipping Containers – The Ideal Obstacle Course Building Block
Obstacle courses are used in a wide variety of situations around the world, from corporate team building, to military training. Made up of challenging obstacles that you must run around, climb over, crawl under or navigate through, they are ideal for testing your physical and mental strength, and will power. As the popularity of ‘assault’ style courses increases with events such as the Tough Guy and Girl Challenge, Tough Mudder and other extreme races, we are bound to see loads more unique and interesting obstacles being designed.
From the more traditional ‘Trim Trails’, to portable inflatable courses, there are plenty of choices available when it comes to construction and shipping containers are starting to feature more and more in these sorts of events and courses. Shipping containers make the perfect ‘building blocks’ for these obstacle courses due to their nature; they are durable, cost effective, easy to transport, stackable and able to be modified. You can climb up their sides, over them, or through them.
Made out of strong corten steel, shipping containers will outlast more traditional obstacle course building materials that wear out quickly. Combined with other discarded or repurposed materials such as truck tyres, wood and rope, you can quickly create an urban style assault course for training, team building or tactical style situations.
Check out these great examples of shipping container obstacles from around the world:
Nike Defeat Winter, Toronto – Canada
Nike Defeat Winter is held in Toronto, Canada in the middle of winter. The event utilised eight 20 foot cargo containers stacked on site to provide shelter from the wind and snow, as well as providing a physical obstacle in this mid-winter, night time obstacle race.
Prisme Events – France
Image Source: Prisme Events
This event company hosts a range of events in France and around Europe, one of which is an obstacle course where they have created custom made obstacles such as steps from shipping containers.
Reebok Spartan Obstacle Race – Australia
The Reebok Spartan race is held in various locations around Australia. Utilising almost every type of obstacle you can think of, the race is anywhere from 7 to 21 km in length. In the past organisers have used four shipping containers stacked two high as one of the key obstacles. A cargo net in between them must be scrambled across instead of using the more traditional “A Frame” style obstacle.
Run A Muck Adventure Race – Swan Valley, Western Australia
Image Source: Chasing the Blackwood Marathon
We spotted yet another example of a shipping container being used as an obstacle for participants to scramble over at full speed before landing on huge hay bales and carrying on with the race. Run A Muck is designed to be much more of an entry level course, for those who haven’t done a whole lot of training.
Rocket Ropes, Auckland – New Zealand
Source: Rocket Ropes Facebook
Rocket Ropes is a high ropes obstacle course located next to New Zealand’s busiest airport in Auckland. While their main obstacle course is constructed from massive wooden poles, ropes and wire cables, they still need a functional office as part of the course infrastructure. Providing cover for staff, a registration area and secure storage of helmets and other safety accessories, their office is constructed from a customised 20 foot shipping container complete with sliding doors, windows and a full electrical fit out.
Skirmish USA, Jim Thorpe – Pennsylvania
Source: Skirmish USA
Last year Skirmish USA introduced it’s newest paintball field – made out of recycled and modified shipping containers. This multi level paintball field come obstacle course is constructed from 18 shipping containers, stacked two high with stairs and bridges connecting the different levels. Participants can play inside, around the outside and under the different bits of cover provided by the container. While built for the sport of paintball, this layout would be the ideal inspiration for constructing a multi level obstacle course consisted solely of shipping containers.
Do you need second hand shipping containers?
It doesn’t matter what your outdoor activity is, whether it’s a full on outdoor assault course, a paintball field, or an urban crossfit gym. Shipping containers are the ideal building block. Cost effective, stackable and easy to transport – you’ll have your project together in no time. Contact the team of shipping container experts at Gateway Container Sales & Hire now!
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