Central Rock Gym

Address:	127 Smith Pl, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Phone:	+1 857-285-6997
Site:	centralrockgym.com
Rating:	4.7
Working:	11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–10PM 10AM–7PM 10AM–7PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 10

Digibarh M

I recently moved to Cambridge area and was excited to find a climbing gym close to my place, so I registered to Central Rock Cambridge. All went fine for a while until I interacted with the staff. After the first month using rental shoes, I decided to buy new shoes from the gym, after a few sessions using them, I soon realized that those shoes didnt sit well with me, they were too tight and painful I could hardly keep them on for 15mins, let alone climb with them. I tried repeatedly to bring that to the attention of the staff but they didnt heed any attention to what I said, they didnt even so much as inspect the shoes. All I understood from their reaction is that they didnt care, which was absolutely shocking to me. So I got in touch with the manager. After a few weeks of ignoring my emails, he finally replied to say that it was my problem and if I didnt like the shoes I could sell them back myself. Quote from his email: "I encourage you to try and sell them as virtually new, and if you make a print out would be happy to place it in the gym. Short of that, theres not much I can do for you, which I appologize for. " That is right people, we are in 2017, you buy shoes from a professional, you try to get a minimum after sale service and all you get is, there is nothing we can do for you, we dont care if you come or go. I stopped my membership and I am moving to another gym that actually values its customers.

Jennifer Legaspi

The quality of the gym was very nice like the rest of the other gyms. There were a lot of problems, but I felt like there could have been more variety (I did make an effort to try as many problems as I could). I went with a group of friends who were all different shapes and sizes, but they also felt like the majority of the problems included a big move in order to get to the top. For a shorter climber, a lot of the moves were very reach and dynamic. As a 53" tall climber, I felt like there were a lot of problems that were only hard for me because I would have to choose between hands or feet and Im pretty certain that wasnt the intended beta. My taller friends could use both. Despite this, I thought many of the problems were worth working on, but as a training gym, having some more really balancey problems would be great too since most comps will have overhung problems in addition to balancey/technical slab problems. The training area was great. Im a big fan of the atomik bombs and I liked the variety of hangboards available. The campus area was great and the 45 degree wall will definitely be great for training. Also the gym is super close to Iggys which has delicious bread, so thats a plus.

Mark Johnson

I used to live in Worcester and was a member when central rock gym first opened. Now I live in Boston now so I became a member at the Watertown location. When they opened up Cambridge it was like Christmas morning. I climb alone, so I am usually working on Bouldering walls. Cambridge is perfect for me because I can come here whenever I want and have plenty of routes and space. Its not like Watertown was too busy, it just wasnt solely for Bouldering like the Cambridge location is. You can see part of the training area with a tread wall in the picture. There is also a really nice workout area, yoga studio, and there are nice locker rooms and saunas. I like this gym for my personal time climbing. Whenever I have a friend join me I take them to the Watertown location so we can take on the big walls together. A membership at one gym gives you access to all locations. I highly recommend central rock gym for climbers in the Boston area. You cant beat the price and what they offer, with a location in Cambridge and Watertown.

Lori Dinh

This gym really puts me in my place right when I think Im doing kinda alright. The setting can get pretty gnarly and youre left wondering how weak youve gotten in the last week because you cant send a V3... But the climbs have always been fun to work - definitely makes you feel accomplished when you send a climb youve been working on for a few days. Overall: interesting, challenging bouldering problems, great weight room for those gainz, great option to take some yoga or conditioning classes, and theres a sauna in the locker rooms for those days you wanna sweat without the work. The only con I can think of is that they only have one early morning, 6AM opening (Friday). CRG, youre in a prime commuter area - open up the gym on more mornings!

Bethany Maxfield

This place was great. Was visiting from NYC (usually climb at BKB OG) and just really loved the setting. The training equipment was great, awesome looking systems wall and great hang board and bar set ups. Free weights, cardio all looked great (didnt use though, just climbed). Route setting was totally fun, interesting and challenging. far superior to BKB Somerville. Loved the intimate nature of the facility and the staff was friendly, as well as my fellow climbers. Would absolutely climb here again when Im in town. Textured walls, lots of features. High quality holds. Some problems are a little hard to read because they just use same colored holds, but once you get used to their setting style its fairly simple to figure out.

David Crawford

If youre serious about climbing (and Im not saying I am), this the best gym in the area. The routes are creative, consistent, and really fun; the staff are enthusiastic and helpful; and the workout facilities are comprehensive - theres always space on equipment. They also reset all the routes regularly, so it rarely feels stale. I do wish the gyms were a little less dusty, but I understand that its an uphill battle when your clients are literally scattering chalk powder around the place.

Troy Fauteux

Best gym for bouldering in New England! I recently went there and was blown away. All bouldering there and the entire floor is a giant crash pad. (No more moving pads around) Over 100 different boulder problems and all the routes are color coded by the holds colors no tape here. Super clean gym. They have routes there for all skill levels including multiple v10s and v11s and even one v12 when I went. If youve never been you really need too!

Emily Riehl

The route setters at this gym are awesome and very creative. I climb frequently and there are new routes basically every time I visit. I like that the routes are unrated for the first couple days. Its a good way to challenge yourself to attempt harder problems without being scared away by the grading. More than any other gym Ive visited, Central Rock is making me a better climber.

Bill Shubert

This is all bouldering, and it has a lot more than the Watertown site - about twice as much. No movable pads, the whole floor is padded instead. A bigger weight room, a bunch of training equipment. Overall its a great addition, and if you already have a CR membership, then it comes along for free!

Mark Anderson

I really like this gym because it is so close to the Watertown gym as well. When I want to rope I go to Watertown and when I want to get into specific training exercises I go to the Cambridge location. Plenty of wall, a nice fitness center, yoga studio, and big locker rooms. Nice staff too!