Your Favorite Gyms Near Downtown San Francisco

Hey all,

I'll be in SF for 3 days beginning of December and am looking for recommendations for your favorite gyms to blow off some steam in or around Union Square. I haven't had great experiences with Movement gyms here in CO, so I'd like to stay away from them. Anyone have feedback on;

• Benchmark Climbing
• Mission Cliffs
• Dogpatch Boulders

My non-climbing boss and/or a couple co-workers may be tagging along, so a gym that's beginner friendly is preferable, but not a deal-breaker. I do like the idea of completely sandbagging my boss.

I’m a member of mission cliffs and like the lead routes. I’ve never bouldered so can’t comment on that. If you can make it over the bridge to Oakland, the Pacific Pipe gym is the largest gym in North America. 

How is the setting at Pacific Pipe?

Wrote a long response that got deleted by accident buuut:

Pac Pipe (v big, just across the bridge), Dogpatch (more bouldering than you could do in a week), and MC (v tall) are all large, fun gyms that'll likely be busy, and being new-agey walltopia walls, will be similar in feel to Englewood and Golden.

If you're looking for something different than that, I recommend Movement (previously PG) SF. It's right next to Crissy Field and Golden Gate which is cool, and has formed walls. 

Haven't been to Benchmark, so post if you end up there! Curious what it's like!

For coworker purposes, getting them set up with belays and harnesses and such is more of a hassle than bouldering, but can be much more novel to them being 30-50ft up for the first time. 

Scott Hall wrote:

I haven't had great experiences with Movement gyms here in CO, so I'd like to stay away from them. ...

Sorry to hear, but I thought Movement SF gym has always been very friendly. For someone from out of town, its setting is top notch. It's close to Golden Gate, which you can walk to. While being lowered (or even climbing), you can simply turn your head and take in the view of the vast Crissy Field and Alcatraz Island. A walk on the beach is three minutes away. Highly recommend.

Echoing Mei's comment. I've been a Movement member for a couple years now, and have to say that I've only had good experiences. The setting is varied across gyms, and the SF location is killer.

Joining in to agree that as a visiting climber in SF, a trip to Movement SF is a must. The location is amazing - Chrissy Field (where the gym is located) is awesome to check out just as a tourist stop. The gym itself is nice also.

Benchmark, without a doubt. Closer to Union Square, and the most modern/urban gym in SF by a long shot.

Smaller than other gyms but great setting, not-too-tall walls, tables, stools, and couches for lounging, and they usually have a couple kegs in a kegerator for beer if you buy one of their branded aluminum cups. Started by a group of bay area climbers, so not corporate-run either.

Ned wrote:

not-too-tall walls, tables, stools, and couches for lounging, ... a couple kegs 

lol, none of these are things I'm looking for in a climbing gym.  To each his own.

JaredG wrote:

lol, none of these are things I'm looking for in a climbing gym.  To each his own.

The not too tall point is actually pretty legit for a bouldering gym. Especially compared to the other major SF bouldering gym, Dogpatch, where the walls are kinda horrifyingly tall. Highballs are cool to climb on occasion outside, but for regular gym training I've got no need to crater from that high up.

If you want to rope climb, then Mission Cliffs/Movement are your only options.

I don't recommend Mission Cliffs for bouldering if it's your first time and you potentially are with beginners. The bouldering area is quite small and requires more awareness to stay out of the way of others.

Benchmark is located the most conveniently relative to Union Square -- you can take either the 38/2 Muni buses or walk. It's typically the least crowded too, which is a big plus for me. At least for the Touchstone gyms (Dogpatch/Mission Cliffs/Pac Pipe), the crowds in the evenings after work can be stifling. I find the route-setting at Benchmark more enjoyable than at the Touchstone gyms too, but that's obviously subjective.

I've only been to Movement SF once because it's a pain for me to get to (I don't have a car), but I had a pretty fun time. I liked it more than Dogpatch, FWIW.