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The best rock climbing gyms in Singapore

These are where you can learn the ropes, and more

By Saw Yone Yone - 

rock climbing climb central mall
Credit: Climb Central
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Rock climbing has risen in popularity the past few years, with gyms sprouting up all over the island. It’s been gaining traction internationally: the popularity of Free Solo (2018), the Instagrammability of the sport, and becoming an Olympic sport in 2020 — and that global growth has taken root in Singapore as well. 

What types of rock climbing are there?

There’s a lot for beginners to sift through when you’re starting out. First, indoor and outdoor climbing. There are currently no outdoor climbing spots using natural walls in Singapore that are still open to the public, but there are plenty of indoor options for you to choose from.

There are different types of indoor rock climbing you should be aware of: bouldering, top-roping and lead climbing. 

Bouldering means climbing without any rope or harness; there’ll be a landing mat for safety. It’s by far the most accessible: all you need are climbing shoes and chalk. 

Top-roping means you’ll be scaling much taller walls, with the rope pre-placed on top of the wall. You’ll be doing this with a partner, a belayer who has your back in case you fall, and will be lowering you after you’ve scaled the wall. This is probably the safest form of rock climbing.

Lead climbing is more advanced, where there’s no rope anchored to the top; climbers instead fasten their rope to anchor points as they ascend. 

What should I think about when picking a gym?

When you’re picking a climbing gym (or gyms) to go to, there’s a lot of considerations to keep in mind. From whether you want to make this a family event with kids, to whether you’re a night owl, to whether you’re a student on a budget, to whether you’re just starting out and want coaching, there’s a gym that’ll suit your needs. And who knows, this might be the first step you take to gain a new hobby and a new community. 

Outpost Climbing - Friendly for kids and advanced climbers

Credit: Outpost Climbing
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Outpost Climbing is known for being pretty big: they have two levels, with Level 1 being their fun zone catering to kids while Level 3 is their adult section.

With kid-friendly obstacle courses, themed climbing walls, as well as augmented reality climbing for kids, where they can play mini-games, their fun zone is perfect for a rock climbing family outing. They also have guided climbs, where your kids will be led by their instructors.

Their adult section is no slouch too, offering the full range of rock climbing activities for adults.

You can find their pricing list here.

464, Crawford Lane, #01-464, Singapore 190464

Climb Central - Wave to mall-goers as you climb

Credit: Climb Central
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Do you want to rock climb while looking down on passersby on the 3rd floor of a shopping mall? You can—with Climb Central. At least, with their Sports Hub and Funan outlets. Their outlets have the full range of climbing activity options—they even have an auto-belay system, which means that you can tackle top rope climbing on your own. They take safety seriously as well, with 15-minute safety briefings when you first start, so there’s no need to be intimidated as a beginner.

You can find their pricing list here.

They have five branches across Singapore, which can be found here

BFF Climb - Another child-friendly option

Credit: BFF Climb
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Their Bendemeer branch is one highly recommended within the community, and for good reason: they have a whole range of walls for all skill levels and types of climbing, as well as auto-belays. This branch also has a play zone for kids, with AR walls for minigames and more kid-friendly versions of high walls and speed walls, and even a climb-and-slide.

You can find their pricing list here.

They have three branches in Singapore, which can be found here

Kinetics - Climb in a shophouse

Credit: Kinetics
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The cool thing about this climbing gym is that it’s within a historic shophouse on Serangoon Road. That’s not the only thing they offer though: led by a SEA Games medallist, the gym also has climbing courses for kids of different ages, individual climbing coaching services and a gear shop. There’s a reason why this gym is one of the long-standing gyms on the block, and has survived for so long.

You can find their pricing list here.

511 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218153

Project Send - Enjoy a coffee after your climb

Credit: Esplanade
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The gym has a very cute name: ‘sending’ is a term in rock climbing that refers to completing a climbing route without falling. This gym is the complete package: they offer a strength training corner with pull-up bars and dumbbells for a more holistic training experience, and they even have a cafe on-site, following an overseas trend that takes advantage of climbing gyms being fantastic social spaces. They’re perfect for night owls as well, being open until 1:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

You can find their pricing list here.

8 Raffles Ave., #02-29 Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802

Boulder Planet - For those who care for the planet

Credit: Boulder Planet
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As the name suggests, Boulder Planet specialises in bouldering. And they’re really hardcore about it, even offering a route-setting workshop. With “planet” in their name, Boulder Planet takes their environmental commitment seriously, with a zero single-use plastic policy and community activities like beach clean-ups being organised.

You can find their pricing list here.

They are available at two locations, which you can find here

Boruda - For the Japanese vibes

Credit: Boruda
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Inspired by the Japanese climbing scene, Boruda switches up their routes twice a week. They also offer boruda ruki, a 2-hour introductory course to rock climbing. That’s part of their first-time starter pack, a handy way for you to dip your toes into the sport.

You can find their pricing list here.

991A Alexandra Road #02-06/07 Singapore 119969

Ground Up - For the advanced climbers to try something new

Credit: Ground Up
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Ground Up doesn’t just offer indoor sports climbing and bouldering—they also have an outdoor lead climbing wall for those who are more skilled and want a challenge. With a whole range of courses and certifications available, this is the place for you if you are serious about building your skills from the ground up.

You can find their pricing list here.

60 Tessensohn, CSC @ Tessensohn (Level 2), Singapore 217664

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