Post: #1

Indoor climbing

Anyone here doing this ? I've been thinking about it for the last few days. Almost every city has a climbing wall and its a great way to get muscle tone, great strength and its a good addition to building muscle in the gym.

It also a good way to build a social circle, you meet more high end guys, by that i mean sportive and at least middle class. I don't think low class couch potatoes are doing this. And ofcourse there are always chicks (with nice bodies) doing this.

Plus it makes it a good DHV, its a tough manly thing to do.

Its probably not a thing you have to take a course for so you can go there whenever you want and also in nearby cities

picture of the local climbing wall :[attachment=4707]

Post: #2

I belonged to a climbing gym when I lived near DC. The advantage (socially) of a climbing gym over a regular gym with weights is that people will sit around and socialize in a climbing gym. And it's perfectly acceptable to walk up to a group of 2 or 3 people and start chatting.

There were a a lot of "outdoorsy" types who are naturally more free-spirited and open to talking to anyone.

I enjoyed the gym I belonged to and would definitely join again if I lived there. Great idea, Neil.

Post: #3

(02-12-2012 08:05 AM)Smitty Wrote:  I belonged to a climbing gym when I lived near DC. The advantage (socially) of a climbing gym over a regular gym with weights is that people will sit around and socialize in a climbing gym. And it's perfectly acceptable to walk up to a group of 2 or 3 people and start chatting.

There were a a lot of "outdoorsy" types who are naturally more free-spirited and open to talking to anyone.

I enjoyed the gym I belonged to and would definitely join again if I lived there. Great idea, Neil.

sportrock in va?

i am there about once a month. good times.

Post: #4

(02-12-2012 10:04 AM)reaper23 Wrote:  

(02-12-2012 08:05 AM)Smitty Wrote:  I belonged to a climbing gym when I lived near DC. The advantage (socially) of a climbing gym over a regular gym with weights is that people will sit around and socialize in a climbing gym. And it's perfectly acceptable to walk up to a group of 2 or 3 people and start chatting.

There were a a lot of "outdoorsy" types who are naturally more free-spirited and open to talking to anyone.

I enjoyed the gym I belonged to and would definitely join again if I lived there. Great idea, Neil.

sportrock in va?

i am there about once a month. good times.

That's the one. A lot of good people were there when I was a member. Was always easy finding a partner if you were climbing solo. Friendly people...and cute girls too.

Post: #5

I've tried it a few times and definitely plan to make it a once a week part of my workout. It's fun, great exercise and, as noted above, it gives you a chance to expand your acquaintances beyond the usual types that go to the gym. You can find a good list of walls here but some of the info is out of date. http://www.indoorclimbing.com/worldgyms.html

Post: #6

I'm guessing this is an expensive hobby. can anyone confirm? seems fun though.

Post: #7

I used to pay about $60/month for membership. Initial cost for gear will probably set you back $150 (off the top of my head). Probably cheaper if you shop around. Need shoes, harness, chalk and chalk bag, a few carabiners.

Post: #8

I've been interested in the past but its just to rich for me, plus I go to the gym to workout first, socialize second. If I was financially more well off I'd consider it for a weekend hobby, but like Smitty said $60/month is average, probably more expensive onces out there as well.

Chef In Jeans
A culinary website for men

Post: #9

I had taken the Intro to Rockclimbing course at Earth treks climbing rockville md center, It was super fun and I would definately recommend it to people curious about rockclimbing. I went few times after as well for recreational climbing.

Post: #10

yep. I joined the rock climbing gym a little under a month ago. I'm hooked, I've been going at least 3-4x/week. I've stopped lifting weights and have decided to focus on this. As a beginner, I have the advantage of strength (from years of lifting weights), but it's not the same thing. Rock climbing requires lots of grip and tendon strength. So far I've done mostly bouldering, but today I went top rope climbing for the first time. Awesomely fun. Bouldering is good to build power, top rope climbing is more for endurance. WHen you wear yourself out for the day from bouldering, switch to top rope and you'll be good to go. I pay about $80/month at my gym. It's expensive and a far drive, but it's completely worth it. THe gym I go to is also the best one in the area.

Rock climbing is expensive to start off with, but once you have your own gear I think it's cheap. I paid $80 for my shoes, $20 for a chalk bag, and within the month I'll probably buy my own harness ($50). If you stick with bouldering all you need are shoes and a chalk bag.

Last year I went REAL rock climbing when I was in Vang Viang, Laos. Incredible experience. THere was this German dude who was traveling around SEA for the sole purpose of climbing. He had all of his own gear, so he didn't have to pay a dime to climb. (Rock climbing is a reason to travel). Railay Beach, in Krabi, Thailand, is sort of a mecca for climbers. There are tons of routes to climb, and it's right on the beach. I never made it there, but I will in the future. WHen I'm making money online, one of my first plans is to hop on a 1 way flight to Krabi- I'll climb during the day, and fuck bitches at night.

My long term fitness plans involve mountaineering.. this includes hiking, rock climbing, and ICE CLIMBING (I may go in 3 weeks, we'll see what happens though). WHen you get into rock climbing you will become addicted.

Post: #11

What surprised me most about rock climbing was the cardio demands. I was winded by the top I climbed to the top, and felt my whole body give out - as if I had just run a 100 m sprint.

In S.F., it's $70 a month. http://www.planetgranite.com/locations/s...sf_faq.php

Post: #12

I've started going. It's a laugh and I go with a couple of mates a view time's a week. However, most of the guys in my uni's mountaineering club are the most betafied pansies you'll ever meet.

To use the alpha persona scale we're talking low deltas and gammas.

The good thing is my friends and I get more climbing done because we can't bear to talk to them. The bad thing is on the journey's there if I even passingly mention anything remotely redpill they lose their shit.

Never before been told that not wanting to get married is fundamentally morally wrong. At a liberal university in the gay capital of europe too.

Rock climbing rant over.

Post: #13

Without sounding like a huge geek: When I was in Boy Scouts I learned how to do the rock wall and, being the only now gangly overweight kid, I was actually pretty good at it. I still do rock walls from time to time, there's no difficulty in learning how to do. As fair warning though, I have never went rock climbing (both when I was in Boy Scouts and now that I'm out of it) and never seen any hot girls/met any cool guys. Also I've never met any girls who were really impressed that i could scale an indoor wall.

On the flip side, I have went actual rock climbing in New Mexico, something that's a big DHV.

Post: #14

(02-12-2012 05:35 PM)houston Wrote:  I'm guessing this is an expensive hobby. can anyone confirm? seems fun though.

I've got around 10k$ invested in climbing gear...including alpine, rock, big-wall and ice...never mind the travel expenses.

Its an expensive habit, but well worth the costs in experiences and the travel. Be careful its addictive!

Here's a video of an ascent a buddy and I did on a bigwall in Peru for some climbing stoke:





actually...its more fun to do than watch...

Travolta...Krabi is the cats ass! I lived there for almost a year climbing and partying. Go, you wont regret it. Check out Koh Tao and Koh Ling Noi as well.

Post: #15

(02-12-2012 11:04 PM)Viralata Wrote:  

(02-12-2012 05:35 PM)houston Wrote:  I'm guessing this is an expensive hobby. can anyone confirm? seems fun though.

I've got around 10k$ invested in climbing gear...including alpine, rock, big-wall and ice...never mind the travel expenses.

Its an expensive habit, but well worth the costs in experiences and the travel. Be careful its addictive!

Here's a video of an ascent a buddy and I did on a bigwall in Peru for some climbing stoke:





actually...its more fun to do than watch...

Travolta...Krabi is the cats ass! I lived there for almost a year climbing and partying. Go, you wont regret it. Check out Koh Tao and Koh Ling Noi as well.

awesome video!

I'm looking to go away for about a month or sometime around July- September. I'm thinking that it would be SICK to go somewhere with great rock climbing. Krabi is definitely on my radar, but I'm also HIGHLY considering somewhere in South America (anywhere in the world is fine, really..). I know that the USA has some GREAT climbing if out west (Zion, Yellowstone), but I'm looking for something international. What are some of the better climbing locations you've been to? awesome countries, great climbing, easy to meet people (i'll be going solo so I'll have to find a climbing partner), and plenty of hot girls? (sounds like I just described Krabi). By the time I'm ready to go I should have my own gear.

Post: #16

I think you mean Yosemite... Yellowstone doesn't have much climbing. Theres a video on one of my other posts of the same buddy and me climbing El Cap over three days in 2010.

I started climbing in Krabi in 2000. It was not as built up as it is now, but I still recommend it to anyone wanting to get into climbing. Hell, even if you don't climb Ton Sai beach is a blast. I can't think of any better place to go for someone starting out. You'll get strong fast and the side diversions are as good as the climbing. There's a never ending stream of chicks that travel through from all over the world and the food is amazing and cheap. Check out The bungalows off the beach in the forest. The best are Green Valley and Andaman...at lest they were the last time I was there.

A warning though...every trip I went there was at least one death or serious injury. A lot of inexperienced people there and the climbing gym nature of the climbing there puts people off their guard. Take a basic leading course before you go from a certified organization, bring all your own gear for sport climbing and a TON of chalk.

As far as South America, there are lots of places to climb, but without experience I'd not recommend many of them. Rio has some sick climbing and obviously lots of girls. Ive climbed pretty much contiuously for 10 years on 5 continents and no where in the world beats Krabi for fun climbing and hanging out.

PM me if you want more info.

This is a good place to start: http://mountainproject.com/v/laem-phra-n.../105894664

Post: #17

Thanks for all the reactions.

It seems a bit cheaper in my home town and i gonna give it a try soon.

Gear would be about 150 dollars here too but a year membership is about 480 dollars.

separate visits cost about 15 dollar including hire of material.

Post: #18

After reading this thread I had to search for any climbing gyms in the town where I maintain my base-of-operations. I found one dedicated gym and several others with climbing facilities... I'm gonna give the dedicated one a try with their introductory program.

Post: #19

This is a little off topic (but sorta related) has anyone tried the new parkour gyms that are popping up? There's one in DC and they seem like they could be good fun and a good workout, but it also seems like it would just be a massive SWPL hole that'll be way over priced. The DC one is to far away for me to look into, though I might end up closer to the city this summer, just curious if anyone has ever looked into 'em.

Chef In Jeans
A culinary website for men

Post: #20

I coincidentally started a introduction course (four times, two hours) last Sunday and it's great.
No hot girls or otherwise spectacular people noticed, but who cares:

* This can be a thrilling hobby, giving some adrenaline for sure.
* It is a good workout, physically. Good motivation (if you need it) to lose the extra fat, and gives you good upper body strength. And seriously, who does forearms at the gym?
* It is a good workout, mentally. It is an alpha activity, requiring focus and alertness, and gives the satisfaction of conquering a (simulated) natural obstacle.
* Date tip: Once you know the ropes, you can take girls to the climbing hall. Showing you are in control of their safety and successfully guiding them through the thrills is always golden. There's a reason (in my country at least) going to climbing halls is the go-to thing for team building days.

Know what you're doing though, don't kill yourself.

Post: #21

(02-15-2012 04:39 AM)sixsix Wrote:  I coincidentally started a introduction course (four times, two hours) last Sunday with my brother, who gave it as a Christmas present.

No hot girls or otherwise spectacular people noticed, but who cares:

* This can be a thrilling hobby, giving some adrenaline for sure.
* It is a good workout, physically. Good motivation (if you need it) to lose the extra fat, and gives you good upper body strength. And seriously, who does forearms at the gym?
* It is a good workout, mentally. It is an alpha activity, requiring focus and alertness, and gives the satisfaction of conquering a (simulated) natural obstacle.
* Date tip: Once you know the ropes, you can take girls to the climbing hall. Showing you are in control of their safety and successfully guiding them through the thrills is always golden. There's a reason (in my country at least) going to climbing halls is the go-to thing for team building days.

Know what you're doing though, don't kill yourself.

Well said !

Post: #22

I just went to indoor climbing and found it quite pointless. But the walls were just 3 - 5 meters high and no ropes. Don't know, I prefer the gym. Girls there were almost all hot though. The only benefit as far as I can tell. Oh and they sell beer.

Post: #23

you went to a bouldering wall then. it's different from a actual rock wall. it's made for those short bounds.

i use to a expert at those little kids rich walls with the buzzer on top.

Atlanta is suppose to have the largest indoor wall in the country...show up there and prepare to have blistered fingers when you leave

Post: #24

(02-12-2012 11:29 PM)travolta Wrote:  

(02-12-2012 11:04 PM)Viralata Wrote:  

(02-12-2012 05:35 PM)houston Wrote:  I'm guessing this is an expensive hobby. can anyone confirm? seems fun though.

I've got around 10k$ invested in climbing gear...including alpine, rock, big-wall and ice...never mind the travel expenses.

Its an expensive habit, but well worth the costs in experiences and the travel. Be careful its addictive!

Here's a video of an ascent a buddy and I did on a bigwall in Peru for some climbing stoke:





actually...its more fun to do than watch...

Travolta...Krabi is the cats ass! I lived there for almost a year climbing and partying. Go, you wont regret it. Check out Koh Tao and Koh Ling Noi as well.

awesome video!

I'm looking to go away for about a month or sometime around July- September. I'm thinking that it would be SICK to go somewhere with great rock climbing. Krabi is definitely on my radar, but I'm also HIGHLY considering somewhere in South America (anywhere in the world is fine, really..). I know that the USA has some GREAT climbing if out west (Zion, Yellowstone), but I'm looking for something international. What are some of the better climbing locations you've been to? awesome countries, great climbing, easy to meet people (i'll be going solo so I'll have to find a climbing partner), and plenty of hot girls? (sounds like I just described Krabi). By the time I'm ready to go I should have my own gear.

I've lived in Krabi for a couple of months, it really is a great spot especially if you like to climb.

It was really cheap when I was there but I heard it got more expensive because a lot of it was wiped out by the tsunami and the resorts were replaced with more expensive ones. Maybe someone who has visited more recently can confirm this?

Post: #25

As a side note, I know some pretty good rock climbers and after enough practice with rock climbing you shouldn't have any issues doing a one-armed chinup. I guess if any of you guys are interested in that sort of thing it would be good to check out.