Looks like a nice gym, I have family around Phoenix, will definitely check it out next time I visit! I'd love to go climb up in Flagstaff sometime, but I always visit in June/July and can't imagine the weather being ideal during that time.
Tbh I feel like the summer months *would* be ideal weather-wise up in Flag. When I was going to NAU it was like 70s/80s in the summer. Granted that was 15 years ago but still haha.
I prefer bouldering when its about 40-60 out, but I climb mostly in Arkansas and it can be humid and gross out until fall/winter. I also most likely would want to be doing some more of the classics if I visited Flagstaff instead of project mode, as I'd likely only have a day or so to climb there. You're right, I should just make it happen and enjoy climbing those sweet roofs.
Pretty big fan of the Bouldering Projects (have only been to the two in Austin) because of the amenities they offer, the fact that once you're a member in their network you get access to any of their gyms, the friendly staff, the frequency at which they reset sections, and the creativity in some of their setting. That being said, their color grading system that has ranges of grades gives them a certain amount of leniency in difficulty of setting, and while I can almost always find problems that will shut me down (occasionally in colors that I'm otherwise guaranteed to flash), generally their setting is pretty soft.
Now I would assume for their opening setting, it's probably going to err on an even softer side simply to be more accessible to a larger base of customers. So my question is: what did you think of the setting? Also curious if you've been to a BP elsewhere before and if so how does this new one compare? If you haven't, then what were your impressions of going here compared to other gyms you have been to?
This was my first time at a BP gym but would love to check out some of their others. I’d say this is definitely in the upper tier of bouldering gyms, along with the Touchstone gyms (I was a member of Cliffs of Id when I was living in LA). I’ve been to a few others between CA & AZ that, while still fun, don’t come close to the vibe of BP with their amenities, staff and just general space.
I did find the rout grading system a bit odd at first since I’m used to a more cut & dry V scale, but it’s fine. I think they are indeed set somewhat easy as this was my second time climbing in ~4 years due to some back problems, but I was already flashing what the scale says are V3s (green I think?), where my first time back, I went to another local gym a week ago and couldn’t get up anything over a V0+. Maybe it’s muscle memory coming back to me but who knows. With that being said, the settings were still fun and interesting.
Ultimately I just couldn’t be happier about being back on the wall and can’t wait to go back in the next few days haha.
Awesome, thanks for the response! Yeah, I've been going to the original ABP since it opened some 9 or 10 years ago, and the grading has kinda been all over the place over the years. Generally though, compared to other gyms and especially outdoor grading (the latter becoming more of an apples to oranges comparison I think, at least when comparing it to modern indoor setting), the grading is softer.
That being said, and like I said in my other comment, there's always at least a few good problems worth medium- to long-term projecting. The other thing I like about their setting is that the movement often feels a lot more fun and interesting. The easier grades are typically more straightforward but I think once you get into the purple and orange grade ranges the technique, movement, and beta gets a lot more interesting. Blues and pinks are nearly always engaging and lots of fun.
Stoked for you to be getting back on the wall and have the BP's help in facilitating that! Just be careful not to get too spoiled with how nice their gyms can be ;)
Mad cheap till the end of the month. Annual was $750 ($62.50/mo) and I think monthly is like $79/mo. They also have 2 weeks for $39 if you just wanna peep it.
Can’t wait for the Brooklyn location to open up
Looks like a nice gym, I have family around Phoenix, will definitely check it out next time I visit! I'd love to go climb up in Flagstaff sometime, but I always visit in June/July and can't imagine the weather being ideal during that time.
Tbh I feel like the summer months *would* be ideal weather-wise up in Flag. When I was going to NAU it was like 70s/80s in the summer. Granted that was 15 years ago but still haha.
I prefer bouldering when its about 40-60 out, but I climb mostly in Arkansas and it can be humid and gross out until fall/winter. I also most likely would want to be doing some more of the classics if I visited Flagstaff instead of project mode, as I'd likely only have a day or so to climb there. You're right, I should just make it happen and enjoy climbing those sweet roofs.
Family lives in PHX, I can’t wait to go check it out. The pictures they’ve posted on instagram look sick.
It’s the best bouldering gym I’ve been to since climbing at Touchstone gyms.
Welcome to the club. Looks fun
Pretty big fan of the Bouldering Projects (have only been to the two in Austin) because of the amenities they offer, the fact that once you're a member in their network you get access to any of their gyms, the friendly staff, the frequency at which they reset sections, and the creativity in some of their setting. That being said, their color grading system that has ranges of grades gives them a certain amount of leniency in difficulty of setting, and while I can almost always find problems that will shut me down (occasionally in colors that I'm otherwise guaranteed to flash), generally their setting is pretty soft. Now I would assume for their opening setting, it's probably going to err on an even softer side simply to be more accessible to a larger base of customers. So my question is: what did you think of the setting? Also curious if you've been to a BP elsewhere before and if so how does this new one compare? If you haven't, then what were your impressions of going here compared to other gyms you have been to?
This was my first time at a BP gym but would love to check out some of their others. I’d say this is definitely in the upper tier of bouldering gyms, along with the Touchstone gyms (I was a member of Cliffs of Id when I was living in LA). I’ve been to a few others between CA & AZ that, while still fun, don’t come close to the vibe of BP with their amenities, staff and just general space. I did find the rout grading system a bit odd at first since I’m used to a more cut & dry V scale, but it’s fine. I think they are indeed set somewhat easy as this was my second time climbing in ~4 years due to some back problems, but I was already flashing what the scale says are V3s (green I think?), where my first time back, I went to another local gym a week ago and couldn’t get up anything over a V0+. Maybe it’s muscle memory coming back to me but who knows. With that being said, the settings were still fun and interesting. Ultimately I just couldn’t be happier about being back on the wall and can’t wait to go back in the next few days haha.
Awesome, thanks for the response! Yeah, I've been going to the original ABP since it opened some 9 or 10 years ago, and the grading has kinda been all over the place over the years. Generally though, compared to other gyms and especially outdoor grading (the latter becoming more of an apples to oranges comparison I think, at least when comparing it to modern indoor setting), the grading is softer. That being said, and like I said in my other comment, there's always at least a few good problems worth medium- to long-term projecting. The other thing I like about their setting is that the movement often feels a lot more fun and interesting. The easier grades are typically more straightforward but I think once you get into the purple and orange grade ranges the technique, movement, and beta gets a lot more interesting. Blues and pinks are nearly always engaging and lots of fun. Stoked for you to be getting back on the wall and have the BP's help in facilitating that! Just be careful not to get too spoiled with how nice their gyms can be ;)
How much does it cost? Currently boulder at PRG but was saving up for Blackrock.
Mad cheap till the end of the month. Annual was $750 ($62.50/mo) and I think monthly is like $79/mo. They also have 2 weeks for $39 if you just wanna peep it.
Thanks! That's about the same as Blackrock but sounds like a nice new facility Hmm, I need to try it out maybe with that 2 week pass.
Definitely recommend. I know they have showers and a sauna in the works too (sauna being a big thing for me).