Vertical Hold vs Mesa Rim

Just moved to SD and am trying to choose between vertical hold and mesa rim. What's you guys' opinions on both?

Vertical Hold is great. Weird rounded stone landing area. Friendly staff and members. Love Mesa Rim, but very crowded and you need to be heads up with all the TRs, leads, and ropes so close. Staff is friendly and supportive. The closest gym to you is the one you’re most likely to use.

Globo gym vs average Joe's. That's all you need to know.

Pluses and minuses to both because of that.

They both suck, for different reasons. Hope that helps!

who needs a gym membership when you have world class cragging on perfect rock at the beautiful and solitary Mission gorge right in your backyard ?

I prefer climbing @ Mesa Rim as the routes are much longer and the quality of the settings are better than vertical hold. The downsides of climbing @ Mesa Rim is the cost and it tends to be more crowded than Vertical Hold. Right now until July 31, Mesa Rim has a 2 month Summer Special for $180 in which they will also waive the initiation fee.  Plus, you'll get two free guest passes, a belay lesson, and 10% off of Pro Shop purchases. 

Dj Driftking wrote: If you want to find a community of people that you’d like to spend time with outside of the gym, any gym is better than Mesa. Mesa does have the largest and best facilities in SD so if you just wanna go for the occasional visit that’s the best. 

I consistently see this theme, the "community" is lame at Mesa, but I have never experienced it, seems like nice people there, just a little more "millennial" in nature than the "hippys" at Vert or Grotto. 

I lived in San Diego 5 years ago, so this may not be relevant anymore.  Vertical hold had a quality staff who knew what they were doing and were friendly and reasonable.  Mesa Rim was a much better facility but the employees were totally unqualified and not pleasant.  I wouldn't go back there after being lectured by an employee (who had lived substantially less years than I had been climbing) about safety in a way that was just plain wrong.  

Thomas Claiborne wrote: Globo gym vs average Joe's. That's all you need to know.

Pluses and minuses to both because of that.

What do you think are some of the pluses and minuses to both gyms and whats a globo gym? 

Tradiban wrote: They both suck, for different reasons. Hope that helps!

Why do you think they both suck? I'm gonna be climbing most days of the week after work and am ideally want to go somewhere where they have decent routes and where the people are cool and actually are into climbing (inside and outside).

Chris H. wrote:

Why do you think they both suck? I'm gonna be climbing most days of the week after work and am ideally want to go somewhere where they have decent routes and where the people are cool and actually are into climbing (inside and outside).

Need ropes? Or just bouldering? Try Grotto if bouldering.

It depends what kind of person YOU are, both places have what you are looking for but in different ways. You will have to stop in and scope the scene.

From a purely climbing perspective Mesa but is WAY better but more $. Location convenience will probably make the choice for you.

Personally I have never been to either place. But I will make an observation, based on experience.
When climbing at sport spots up and down the East Side. Mesa Rim gym tags are attached to the harnesses of the hottest, fittest and most well dressed women I have ever encountered.

You make your choice and report back, OK?

Chris H. wrote:

Why do you think they both suck? I'm gonna be climbing most days of the week after work and am ideally want to go somewhere where they have decent routes and where the people are cool and actually are into climbing (inside and outside).

I climb at VH in old town. Send me a PM if you want to try it out with my guest pass.

If you're only interested in the quality of climbing and route setting, then Mesa Rim, no question - it's a much much better gym from that perspective. If you're looking for community - well, you're better off surfing instead.

And yes - it's crowded as f***, but totally doable - weekends can be pretty chill.

My thoughts,
I’m a member at Mesa rim. Before vertical hold took over, solid rock was where I climbed. When I was at solid rock (now vertical hold) i really felt that “community”. Granted this was when I Didn’t have a kid so i went consistently at the same time. Idk what the vibe is at vertical hold, but the longer routes and location of Mesa rim is why i switched.
Now that I regularly go to Mesa “with a 3 yo” I really enjoy the vibe. Sometimes the music selection is fucking garbage and the after work rush there does suck really bad. I also really like the current crew they have there, everyone is chill and friendly (except one chick) a year ago I wouldn’t have been able to say that about the crew. My gripe with the mission valley gym is that there’s an entire wall devoted to speed climbing which rarely gets touched and we’re not allowed to use it. WTF. And now there’s a mini version of the speed climbing route for peewees that’s blocking half of the short wall. 

Mesa Rim is one of the best gyms anywhere. The staff is great, friendly and supportive. The route setters are pros. One of the top UIAA route setters, Enrico B. is the lead setter. Routes are long and set thoughtfully. It's the place to improve your climbing. The weight room is very well equipped. There is a sauna and an excellent Yoga program. They are very community oriented and support good causes. And on and on and .... 

Benjamin Chapman wrote: The closest gym to you is the one you’re most likely to use.

+1

I moved to the area a couple of years back and had to make the same choice.  Went with VH.  Biggest selling points for me were the proximity and the price point, but I preferred the setting style of the boulder stuff at VH as well.  In my opinion it's less comp-y than Mesa, but I wouldn't be surprised if others disagree.  If you're training for hard sport Mesa is probably the move, the lead cave at VH is great but there just aren't many routes.  

As far as community goes, I really do like the people and vibe at VH.  I have a lot of friends at Mesa too, but haven't spent enough time in the actual gyms to give a fair report on the average member.

Solid Rock 4 lyfe

$180 two month special LOL. 

Had a membership at Mesa Rim, but climbed at VH a few times as well.

I mostly agree with what everyone has said here, I would still choose MR over VH.

Mesa definitely has a more Robo-gym quality, but if you can look past the corporate aspect of it, I think its a better gym all around.

It does get busy from 5:30 to 7 Monday - Thursday, but if you work around those hours, its practically empty. The staff can be kooks, but 99.9% of the time you never interact with them.

One thing that I think is worth mentioning, is if you have the Mesa Rim membership, you get access to both gyms (Mira Mesa and Mission Valley) which give you access to twice as many routes.

Just my 0.02$.