Boulders Climbing Gym

3964 Commercial Ave, Madison, WI 53714, USA

Address:	3964 Commercial Ave, Madison, WI 53714, USA
Phone:	+1 608-244-8100
Site:	bouldersgym.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–10PM 9AM–6PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 9

Meg Kies

I live in CO, and have only climbed around here, so I wasnt sure what to expect when I came back and brought my family here for a few hours. I wouldnt say this is an incredibly nice gym. It was dirty, and the ropes were VERY frayed. That is not only dangerous, but smacks of apathy and ignorance. Of the routes I did, they seemed set poorly and kind of boring, as the walls are only 24ft tall. To be fair, I did not boulder at all because of a knee injury, so maybe that area is better. It is definitely set up for kids birthday parties and people who have no idea how to climb, with set grigris coming out of the floor for belaying. I wanted to give my sister a refresher in belaying with an ATC, figure 8, etc., as she was belay certified in college, so that she could belay me on routes other than the ones already preset with grigris. However, a staff member came over and told us that if she didnt know it right then she couldnt take the top-rope/belay test because only one of their staff members can teach someone. Sounds like a way for them to make money off of their classes. We used the groupon, but I would never pay the full price this gym charges for the services they provide - its as expensive as gyms out here in CO but is a much lower quality place. Go outside if youre that desperate to climb; youll have a better experience than going here.

Lee Berg

I have been going to Boulders on and off over the last year or so. Right now Im going about 2-3 times a week. Nothing beats blowing out my forearms after a long day in my cubicle! There are always new routes going up and I have always found it to be a fun and friendly atmosphere. If you are a beginner (as I consider myself) this is a great place to start climbing, there are TONS of routes that are certainly climbable by first time & new climbers. When I started I could barely do 1 pullup... and even then I was able to finish many of the easy boulder problems in the gym. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Whenever I’m climbing at nearby devils lake I often see a couple of them running around so they are certainly knowledgeable in the ways of climbing! One Sunday afternoon my buddies and I were lost in the wilderness at devils lake as we attempted to find a cluster of bouldering problems. I called up boulders using my mobile phone and talked to a staff member who was able to guide us to our bouldering destination in the middle of the woods by memory alone! Bottom Line: watch some climbing videos on youtube, get pumped, get off the couch, put some pants on, and then goto boulders!

Wyatt Peck

Can I give 0 stars? After climbing in Boulder, Colorado for years, climbing in this gym was pretty horrendous. The best way to describe the gym is that someone read an article about climbing gyms in mens journal, and called up their friend to build a gym and told him what to build, only they had a poor connection. The I normally can pull about a V5 outdoors after a couple tries, but here the route setting was so inconsistent that I flashed a V8 and couldnt pull a V3. I would recommend that the staff use some of the money they save renting out dated equipment, to take a trip outdoors and learn a few things. Dont even get me started on their top rope belay system. Some day, some time, someone is going to inadvertently die because of the bad habits learned at this establishment. If you are a serious climber and need to train, I would recommend that you pay someone $20 to hang off their door frame, rather than go here.

Anonymous User

Ive been climbing at Boulders for awhile now and enjoy my time there. The routes are pretty cool and varied, especially if youre in to bouldering. Ive seen birthday parties there and kids look like they are having a blast. The gym has made some changes recently that are really nice. Definitely head on over if you are a climber or even looking to do something different. It is a fun and challenging place. So, why only three stars? The staff. They have yet to be polite, friendly, nice, etc. In fact, they are usually downright rude. Consistently. Its so bad that its something of a joke with other gym members as to how rude they can be. As such, Im a little skeptical by the huge influx of positive reviews on this site in such a short time that speak in glowing terms of the staff. Makes me question the reliablity of the reviews. Or maybe they mean Boulders, CO?

Christian van der Linden

THE GOOD: Route setting is high quality. They always have new routes going up for roped climbs and new boulder problems. They have equipment that is in good shape with new ropes getting installed pretty regularly and a nice mix of holds. Their staff is friendly and helpful. The weight room has everything I need. THE BAD: The gym gets really crowded in the early evenings with large after school groups of youngsters and the after work crowd. They dont open early enough for me to go before work. They could vacuum and sweep more. (+1 star for fixing any one of these) OVERALL: Boulders is good and improving. They recently added extra storage cubbies for shoes and bags, got all new rental shoes, new paper towel and soap dispensers in the bathrooms etc. Edit: I think its an awesome thing that I can climb year-round at Boulders. If not for them I would go crazy.

Josh Haq

This is my second "recommendation post" to a great place! I have been climbing at Boulders for years now. The staff, back then, in between, and now are what makes me want to always come back. Every class that Ive taken there (belay, lead, movement, route setting.. etc.) have always been awesome and I feel like Ive learned more with real people than trying to figure things out from reading a book or looking online. The changes and progress are always fun to check out "as they are happening" and seeing the process from posted photos are always super cool too. Id write more, but I just want to keep it short. THANKS BOULDERS!

Wisconsin Canoe Company

Some days you just dont want to look at another canoe, and on those days well occasionally spend a few hours in Boulders. The routes are well marked and its easy to find something in your skill level. This place has really come a long way in the past few years with better lighting, skylights, air conditioning, streamlined check-ins, revamped programs, and just a general increase in classiness. It was a good spot before, and its a great spot now. If youre a fan of outdoor activities but going stir crazy, especially in the winter, get yourself a 10 punch pass and stretch your legs.

Erik Tiedt

Been a member here for half a year now. I really love this place. Most of the staff is friendly and personable. Excellent bouldering compared to the other gyms Ive been to. For routes the walls are a little shorter than desired though. Setters are frequently putting up new routes and problems to keep things fresh. Great place to climb when the weather wont let you get outdoors. Looking forward to further improvements.

Peter John Augustinos

Staff are friendly. This isnt the biggest gym Ive been to, but theres a good variety of stuff to climb. Accessible for beginners, but also challenging for veterans. The recent additions to the gym have made the facility much more well-rounded. Yoga classes included in the membership are great - instructors are kind and inspirational.