4 ms·

Isn't that expensive? Do you go by yourself or others? The one near me is inside a big sports store and no one is ever using the wall. I feel like all the sh

Isn't that expensive? Do you go by yourself or others? The one near me is inside a big sports store and no one is ever using the wall. I feel like all the shoppers would stare at me if I climbed there.

yan 18y ago
The ones inside big sport stores aren't really climbing walls. They're more like attractions. I pay $60/month for climbing (in Maryland), or it's $16 to go once. Rental harness and shoes is about $9. The prices fluctuate depending on the gym you go to though. Mine offers classes sometimes too, so if you want to take those it will be more money, but by all means they're not required. Try to find a local rock gym; googling works fine and searching climbing forums. I go with a few coworkers who also caught the climbing bug, there are also always regulars at the gym who you get to know after a while and I sometimes meet new people at the gym to belay me. (You can't really climb by yourself as you need a person to support you on the ground ['belay'] unless you're bouldering. Bouldering is close to the ground and is generally more inventive and harder as the problems (a problem is a set of hand/foot holds that you have to traverse to complete a route in bouldering) tend to be very technical. For more actual explanation on how everything works, wikipedia is a great resource, or alternatively, you can just contact me. It's a great hobby, in my opinion. Good for physical development, good for meeting new people and very rewarding as you see yourself progress to harder climbs.
chris11 18y ago
Shoes and harnesses aren't too bad. You can get a good pair of entry level shoes for 60-80, an entry level harness/chalkbag/ATC will run 80 to 100 dollars. That will at least let you climb at gyms with your own gear, or go out with friends who have rope.

4 ms·

Isn't that expensive? Do you go by yourself or others? The one near me is inside a big sports store and no one is ever using the wall. I feel like all the sh

by tocomment 18y ago

yan 18y ago
The ones inside big sport stores aren't really climbing walls. They're more like attractions. I pay $60/month for climbing (in Maryland), or it's $16 to go once. Rental harness and shoes is about $9. The prices fluctuate depending on the gym you go to though. Mine offers classes sometimes too, so if you want to take those it will be more money, but by all means they're not required. Try to find a local rock gym; googling works fine and searching climbing forums. I go with a few coworkers who also caught the climbing bug, there are also always regulars at the gym who you get to know after a while and I sometimes meet new people at the gym to belay me. (You can't really climb by yourself as you need a person to support you on the ground ['belay'] unless you're bouldering. Bouldering is close to the ground and is generally more inventive and harder as the problems (a problem is a set of hand/foot holds that you have to traverse to complete a route in bouldering) tend to be very technical. For more actual explanation on how everything works, wikipedia is a great resource, or alternatively, you can just contact me. It's a great hobby, in my opinion. Good for physical development, good for meeting new people and very rewarding as you see yourself progress to harder climbs.
chris11 18y ago
Shoes and harnesses aren't too bad. You can get a good pair of entry level shoes for 60-80, an entry level harness/chalkbag/ATC will run 80 to 100 dollars. That will at least let you climb at gyms with your own gear, or go out with friends who have rope.