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the Cost of a Day Pass for a Rock Climbing Gym

Price 
Location 
Submitted by  
Description
$ 30
Apr 2008
Downingtown, PA
Introduction package at climbing gym  more... close row
$ 40
Mar 2008
Peninsula, OH
Visit and rentals for two at a climbing gym  more... close row
$ 25
Nov 2006
Tucson, AZ
A day of climbing in an indoor climbing gym  more... close row

Description of service

The price was for a day's climbing (per person) without a gym membership ($10) and equipment rental ($15). The equipment rented included shoes, climbing harness, helmet, chalk ball and bag, and a rope for each pair of people in the group (total 4 people in our group).

Monthly memberships were available ($50/month), as was personal or group instruction ($unknown) and equipment sales and rental ($varies depending on the quality of the gear).


Review of Service

It's a nice gym. They floors of the climbing room are well-padded, but not so cushy they can't be walked on. And there is a variety of routs from 5.2 (easy) to 5.12c (quite challenging) marked with different colored hand holds. The ceilings seemed to be 40 foot up, but that's probably imagination. They also have bouldering areas with short walls (<8' tall) surrounded by thick, plush padding to allow them to be climbed without harnesses. Pretty sweet.

Everything was clean, the equipment was well-maintained, and the instructors even gave us a well thought out lesson on how to tie knots, how to hook into the safety gear on the wall, how to belay correctly, and climb correctly (hands support you, feet move you, and keep your torso out a few inches from the wall). All unnecessary with our group, but we enjoyed the refresher since half of us hadn't climbed in over a year.

All told a fun few hours spent on a weekend.


Tips

Given the opportunity, do go climbing. It's a lot of fun and can be made easy or challenging simply by changing the route you choose to climb. Even better is if you over-reach your talent, there are plenty of holds you can use to get past a sticking point. And if you get tired, you can always have your partner let you down easy.

As for picking a gym, a competent staff that offers professional instruction is an absolute must for beginning climbers. And the gym doesn't have to have the newest or fanciest gear, but all their rental stuff should be in good nick. You should also see well-thought-out routes, perhaps some that mimic famous routs like El Cap (or maybe parts of one, since a gym's limited to ceiling height and a rock wall isn't).

Two last things: just like a rock wall can crumble, hand holds can give way, but both are extremely unlikely events. Also, don't look down. If you do, feelings of vertigo await.


$ 30
Feb 2008
Chicago, Illinois
Unlimited one day pass provided fun all day  more... close row
$ 80
May 2008
Springfield, MO
Four friends learn rock climbing  more... close row
$ 25
May 2008
Columbus, Ohio
Really fun way to spend time with wife  more... close row
$ 25
Oct 2007
Boulder, CO
Climbing gym perfect for winter  more... close row
$ 50
May 2008
Memphis, TN
Indoor climbing like a jungle gym for adults  more... close row
$ 19
Jan 2007
Memphis, Tennessee
Price per person for one day at climbing gym  more... close row
$ 10
Oct 2006
Santa Rosa, CA
Must find a partner in order to climb  more... close row
$ 40
Mar 2008
Austin, Texas
Includes day pass and intro safety class  more... close row
$ 11
Mar 2009
Gainesville, FL USA
Climbing was fun although learning was boring  more... close row
$ 40
Jan 2008
Ann Arbor, MI
Day-long pass with unlimited access  more... close row
$ 15
Jun 2007
Philadelphia, PA
Charged by the amount of climbs undertaken  more... close row
$ 25
Mar 2008
orlando, florida
One day pass plus equipment rental  more... close row