5 New State-of-the-Art Climbing Gyms to Elevate Your Fitness Level

Blame it on 15-year-old Ashima Shiraishi, the pixieish phenom who’s been called the most talented rock climber in the world. Or maybe it’s the highly Insta-genic nature of climbing walls, with their vibrant holds scattered about the surface like rainbow sprinkles.

Just as scores of industrial spaces were recycled into CrossFit “boxes” a few years back, factories and lots are transforming into climbing gyms. Not just clubhouses for mountain-minded obsessives, they’re attracting more and more people looking for a fresh way to keep fit. Climbing, after all, is a spectacular workout. As detailed in an article in the November issue of Vogue, the pursuit can burn 500 calories an hour, and it targets the legs, back, and core.

Most gyms have undulating bouldering walls, where climbers navigate shorter ascents without the aid of partners or equipment. Some have taller, straighter walls that are designated for sport climbing, which involves ropes and a partner (and will become an Olympic event in 2020). Getting started is easy: All you need is a day pass and climbing shoes, which look like soccer cleats’ pointy-toed cousins and are usually available for rent. Here, a handful of the best new walls coast to coast.

Hollywood Boulders, Los Angeles
Jared Leto is regularly spotted at this West Coast mecca, which opened over the summer in an former prop lot with 11,000-square-feet of climbing terrain. Members of all skill levels can find their routes—there are some 200—or take HIIT, Acroyoga, and stretching classes. The hour-long Intro to Climbing course covers harness skills, belay technique, and safety checks.

1107 North Bronson Avenue
touchstoneclimbing.com

 

Austin Bouldering Project, Austin, Texas
Located in the up-and-coming Govalle neighborhood in east Austin, the 50,000-square-foot facility is the largest in the nation, and offers candlelit restorative yoga or detox flow classes in the yoga studio. Bonus: An on-site workspace is kitted out with tree-stump tables and potted cacti to rival any WeWork chapter.

979 Springdale Road, #150
austinboulderingproject.com

 

DUMBO Boulders, Brooklyn
Since it opened this spring, this picturesque (and highly affordable) outdoor bouldering gym has been attracting fashion editors and skateboarders as well as tourists strolling through Brooklyn Bridge Park, where it’s located. In addition to Manhattan skyline views and supersoft mulch landing, the facility offers private lessons and all-women clinics. Just check the forecast before heading over—hours are contingent on weather.

99 Plymouth Street
dumbo.thecliffsclimbing.com

 

Dogpatch Boulders, San Francisco
This bouldering gym is located in a former manufacturing building, down the street from cult artisanal ice cream shop Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous. Currently undergoing expansion, it’s around 30,000 square feet and counting (coming up: climbing walls and a work lounge). Popular with the tech set, the gym hosts Girl Beta events, where women hobnob and crush boulder problems together.

2573 Third Street
touchstoneclimbing.com

 

First Ascent Avondale, Chicago
New and adjacent to the up-and-coming Logan Square neighborhood, this 60-foot wall is Chicago’s highest. The owners are local climbers, and the fitness-minded crowd includes pro climber Michaela Kiersch. First Ascent’s yoga studio hosts multiple mat classes each day, and climbing classes are offered at a range of levels.

3516 North Spaulding Avenue
firstascentclimbing.com

 

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