How to make friends at the climbing gym Start Where You Climb. Most days I Auto-Belay and Boulder, then lift weights to cross train for cycling and climbing. Guaranteed you will make friends and have a great time while you’re there! Memberships start at as little as $74 a month, or $795 Make friends. I've now got climbing gym friends about 15 years either side of my age. I am finding it challenging as a beginner climber to navigate my gym's environment alongside more experienced climbers. Making friends at the gym can be challenging, especially for those who are shy or introverted. So, you can even pick up chicks there. Make sure your gym has regulars that you feel you could become friends with. Plus, it’s usually a good reflection of how the people that climb at that gym are like as well. Bring a rope and gear. Distraction: Is there something you can focus on more than the anxiety to help tune it out? How the holds feel, focusing on the beta, etc. A good belay partner will make or break your climbing experience. Perhaps you already have a great climbing partner, but you are looking to meet more climbers in the community. There's 3 of us that usually go together. Apr 23, 2023 · It's usually pretty easy to commiserate about failures, and the bonus is you'll likely meet people climbing about the same grade. Finding a shared activity can be a great way to make friends. It’s too Sep 5, 2021 · You’ll find that it’s easy to make friends at the climbing gym or crag. You don't want to be that guy walking around in the gym cluelessly jumping from machine to machine. You won’t make many friends by walking up to a group, asking them to climb, and—Oh hey, can I use your rope and borrow 12 quickdraws? Feb 19, 2023 · Furthermore, having gym friends can also help you stay motivated. By keeping these tips in mind, you can ensure that you have a positive and enjoyable experience while working out with others. There are better avenues to make friends. And that is how I found out how adults make friends. FAQ Do people make friends in the gym? Yes, it is possible to make friends at the gym. . Jul 18, 2016 · You’ll find helpful tips for rope climbers, belayers and boulderers to help make you the best, most awesome person at the gym. Apr 30, 2025 · Making friends at the gym is an excellent way to build community, combat loneliness, and reap all the benefits of working out with others. You need to be a familiar face, so keep going to the gym! Now on to the guide Jan 17, 2018 · Make friends. Many climbing gyms offer a range of skills classes, such as movement, rappelling, or lead climbing basics. And the person who took you out on your first day climbing likely had a big influence on your experience, which is something to keep in mind when you’re introducing other friends to climbing for the first time. Apr 22, 2018 · Anytime I didn’t have plans but wanted some, I would drive to the climbing gym and spend a few hours working on new routes. Don’t talk too much Apr 28, 2016 · Make the first move of the problem, and then reverse to the start. This is fine but please make it look cute – the lifestyle holds anywhere, hun. Do I need climbing shoes to go to the climbing gym? You don’t need any gear to go to most climbing gyms. Asking for advice on a problem or giving friendly advice to someone newer is an easy way to initiate conversation. It's normal my chance to get away from the world and just climb and listen to podcasts. The way they make you feel is probably how they will make your friend feel too. Never be afraid to climb on something you'll fall off of, this is where you learn and where other people can point out how to improve your technique. Staff at the gym are usually very friendly and always willing to speak to new and regular members. Working on projects together fosters camaraderie, making friends feel like teammates, even in an individual sport like this one. Shared Goals and Teamwork. If you’ve never belayed, the gym I found I made more friends when I already had climbing friends to hang out with where I used to live. I want to make friends because I enjoy climbing with other people, but I don't have anyone to climb with where I live. I have made great friends in my para-climbing group. You can make friends at the gym, I've made several. Climbing together a few times can lead to hanging out outside of the gym, grabbing food, etc. If the IMA is open, I recommend trying your hand at bouldering at Crags (the climbing gym). Just start by saying “hi”. Some places also have a local climbing group on Meetup. Whether in the bouldering area working on boulder problems or a lead climb outside, a good partner can help push you to reach for that next move or cheer you on as you send a route. I do get where your question is coming from. That’s the lemon! For the lime, do the same thing with downclimbing—you still don’t come off! Start at the top, downclimb one move, then back to the top. Anything related to indoor (and outdoor) goes. Champ Sean Baily, on the program; (photo/Ben Neilson) I think most people go to the rock gym and just try to send problems. so I just kinda started being a creep and following some regulars then naturally we just start saying hi to eachother IRL and then start chit chatting. ADMIN MOD • I can’t make friends at the climbing gym Most of the climbers at my gym are men (I'm a woman). Sep 25, 2019 · Typically, climbing gyms have both rope climbing and bouldering. The climbing community is very warm and friendly, and it's a great way to meet cool people. however, as soon as they realize it's only friendly, they cut ties. Every time I am friendly to one of them they are very friendly and keep in touch with me. Familiarity generally makes it easier to strike up a conversation with strangers, and several people mentioned gravitating towards the folks they recognized. In this two hour class, you’ll be exposed to all the climbing that our gyms have to offer: bouldering, auto-belays, and rope climbing. Perfect for first-timers who just want to check it out. Super easy to make gym friends due to the nature of rest time while bouldering. It's a full-service rock climbing gym with top rope and lead walls up to 60ft tall, 15-meter speed climbing walls, and 15,000 sq ft. Yet I was climbing together with peeps I met at the gym for the entire duration I was there. If you want to climb on a rope at The Spot Louisville, you’ll need a harness. Are you ready to make your gym friends? Follow some of our tips below: Smile, and Say Hello! An effortless and effective method for initiating connections is by wearing a warm smile How to make climbing friends I’ve been going to the local gym for over a year, maybe two idk and I haven’t made any solid climbing friends. People aged 14-70 went to mine and it was just such a lovely community. Once you know they seem chill, talk about the problem and see if they might want help. Or drum up a conversation with them, which is easy with most climbers, as 99% of us are chill as fuck. Summer camps, winter camps, and holiday sessions. Most climbers get to know each other naturally just by sharing spaces and routes. Keep going until you’ve reached the top. I almost exclusively climb alone. Once you’re at the climbing gym, try talking to the people who are there. But then they said: “Do yOu WAnt tO be CliMbing BuDDies?” And I laughed so hard. If you read anything about this or bouldering it's often said it's easy to talk with others / make friends as you need someone to partner with you for climbing most of the time and it's pretty easy to just talk to others about routes your climbing, etc. Sep 27, 2023 · The pros know. Without coming off, make the first two moves, and then go back to the start. The best way to get rejected and get bad vibes from someone at the gym is to speak to them when they are running on the treadmill or deep in the workout zone. Better trying a more collaborative environment like sport. To start climbing, you just need climbing shoes. Oct 11, 2023 · It gives someone who isn’t climbing the option to jump on the wall, and the entire group the opportunity to climb more throughout the day. With that said, how exactly do you make friends at the gym? Being solo in the gym could be overwhelming and lonely, which is making friends is always good so that you’ll get more “fitspiration” from others. Feb 24, 2022 · Climbing three or four times a week is enough weekly exercise. This will be less intimidating to other people trying to make friends with you. Mar 7, 2025 · 887 likes, 7 comments - megannicoleclimbs on March 7, 2025: "Super effective way to make friends at the gym! Try it out and let me know how it works for you!! #climbing #rockclimbing #bouldering #gym". Okay so I love climbing (bouldering in particular) but one thing that I’m truly tired of getting in my way both physically and socially is the overwhelming anxiety I feel at the gym. Let them get familiar with the gym before you try to make friends. Rental harnesses are available for $5 per day. If a relationship arises, then awesome, if not you made new climbing friends which is also awesome. Don't approach people that are brand new to the gym. May 10, 2022 · Sue, another gym-goer who joined PureGym in her retirement, made a group of friends at the gym who now regularly meet for coffee and have their own ‘Gym Buddies’ WhatsApp group, adds: “Meeting people in the gym has enriched my life and expanded my social contacts. Unless yer a real, well not anti-social, but someone that doesn't want to make new friends, meet new people, unless yer that type of person, yer not gonna be climbing alone for long. Friend of friend? Totally cool. Yesterday I went alone. It can be hard to make new friends at the gym, but if you make an effort, it can happen. Mar 18, 2025 · Embarking on a climbing journey at the gym can be exhilarating but breaking the ice with fellow climbers can sometimes be a challenge. Talk to some people. Naturally some will go to the gym. Dec 6, 2018 · Or maybe it was miserable but something about it still captured your attention and you gave it another try. Climbing—specifically, bouldering—was the perfect distraction for I typically climb alone so would really like to make some climbing friends. Checking out new climbs, bouldering areas, and gyms is a great way to make new friends. 1. Sportrock Rio has a total of 35,000 sq ft of indoor rock climbing. Jul 17, 2019 · Take advantage of established climbing resources and events. If somebody looks bored, ask if they’ll belay you, or vice versa. 189 votes, 123 comments. gg/eQUpUCt4Mp-[GET MY PROGRAMS] https://kizentraining. Do any of you have any advice on how you've made friends at your local climbing gym? Thanks. Nov 25, 2024 · Here are 10 ways climbing brings people together. Reverse applies too. In this video we cover important topics such as: Paying attention to who to climbing around you! Hey there! I've been climbing for about 6 months now and didn't know anyone when I first started either. I am not an introvert by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel as though for a sport that depends on belay partners, I am struggling to make consistent climbing partners and friends. No one wants to barge into a group of 8 climbers, even if they like you and want to make friends. I got a membership and I'm becoming one of the regulars and seeing who the other regulars are. of bouldering gym walls. Aug 24, 2023 · We’ve compiled a list of effective approaches to fostering connections, so the process of making friends at the gym feels more organic. I have a small gym with an active instagram account that follows members, tags them in class pics and stuff, reposts, etc. Bouldering basically just means climbing on much shorter walls with denser crash pads below and requires only shoes, no harness; you Apr 10, 2023 · Highest quality gym/street gear - https://3sb. ) And if you don't like climbing alone, it's easy to make friends at the gym. Met a romanian fellow yesterday who helped me send my hardest problem yet! One of my funnest days at the gym, and I made a new friend. Sep 15, 2016 · Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the best ways to make climbing friends is to actually show up and climb! This is especially helpful if you set aside some regular days and times for climbing. Everyone boulders here and I’m more of a sport climber, so I don’t have a crash pad to offer for going outside. Honestly, I've never made better friends than at a crossfit gym. If you don’t have your own, rental shoes are available for $5 per day. We've only spoken to each other a handful of times, and never more than a few words, but she seems nice, is always the person initiating the talking, and cheers me on if I send a climb in front of her. As someone who has had a couple relationships come from the climbing gym, I would say making friends is gonna be more successful than trying to find a gf/bf. Climbing is a great way to make friends. Hope they are helpful for you too! 🤗 Like others on here have suggested, I think the bouldering area is the easiest place to meet people. Then super easy to invite them out for a beer or pizza or whatever after the gym. Being alone in an environment is typically scary at first. Mar 10, 2025 · Find a gym that you love and start regularly attending to help you start making new friends. This makes you an asset, not a burden. Have a plan for your gym session. Make friends at the gym if you can. An introduction to all gym climbing. This is a full-service gym, complete with typical gym equipment, classes, and rock walls, making it a one-stop gym with a variety of activities. People just naturally chit chat and you'll eventually chat with a couple people multiple times. On the one hand, the gym seems like a good place to meet people and socialize. I'm thinking about joining this one gym. No experience necessary. Keep Climbing Fun with Games and Competitions. 77 votes, 34 comments. Start by speaking to them as a way to build your confidence and get to know your surroundings. I'm a regular at the local climbing gym (2-3/wk). I would say I'm a rather awkward person but I have met some really cool people and ended up climbing with them the whole day. I've started going frequently enough where I recognize a couple people when I'm there and I really want to make conversation and be friends. Focused on skill development, teamwork 2. But taking the steps to actually forge those connections can be intimidating and overwhelming—even for the most extroverted among us. com/Check out my Jan 5, 2022 · For many people, gym rhymes with sweatpants and messy hair. None of my friends like bouldering so I always go alone. Climbing gyms aren’t just training facilities; they’re the heart of local climbing communities. ! May 1, 2019 · Climbing Gyms Can Be Intimidating: How to Have Fun 1. In and out. The ones all saying they're not there to make friends and blah blah probably all look like shit funny enough. Approaching new people and starting conversations can be nerve-wracking, and breaking the ice can be hard. Social: If this works for you--climb with friends, make friends with the people watching. I like to go rock climbing, and I realized today it would be also a great way to make new friends that share the same interests as me. Literally everyone seems to be at the gym with a friend or group, or just know people there. In his own words, Oliver Tippett reflects on his team’s in-a-day ascent of the ‘Reticent’ (A4+; 2700 feet) on May 24, 2025. I checked it out today and it seems really awesome and the tour guide even said it was a great way to meet new people. Then we'd run into mutual friends and it would go from there. Speak to people in common areas. Befriend the gym staff. 2. Climbing is about setting personal goals, but it’s often easier and more enjoyable with a buddy or group who supports you. It took me a while to make climbing friends, but here are a few things that have worked for me. Meeting strangers is weird. And the hairs on my neck immediately started prickling up, this is bad. A lil' context: the specific somebody I want to ask is a girl who usually boulders around the same time as me at the gym I work at. Plus they often do community nights which I'm curious about so I'm going to give it a try. 16. Whether you are a seasoned climber or a newbie looking to make connections, these top 10 icebreakers are sure to spark conversations and forge new friendships. It feels silly to explain to other adults how to make friends, but here are some suggestions anyway: Start by learning about your climbing partner’s life outside of outdoor sports; it’s crazy how long you can climb with someone without learning about their personal life. Logic: You're probably watching others climb yet not making personal judgments about them. When this happens, spice up a gym session with some climbing games. While I didn't join to make friends, I do have a desire to get involved and work on problems with others. 1 Pro Tip: Talk to the employees. Mar 4, 2022 · Scout the local gym for climbers with similar skills, sign up for an instructed course, participate in a local rock climbing event, ask the front desk staff, or join a local Facebook group. Obviously helps if you're muscular and friendly. Explore the thrill of climbing through our camps, designed for climbers of all levels: Led by certified instructors in a safe and supportive environment Our camps are a great way to learn new techniques, make friends, and enjoy the adventure of climbing. A subreddit for the indoor bouldering community. Nov 22, 2021 · Making friends with similar interests allows you to challenge each other while also having fun. Personally I'm not looking to make friends at a gym. co/JOIN OUR DISCORD! - https://discord. Some girls go there specifically to look for guys, especially older ones. However, I've never talked to anyone at a climbing gym because I'm afraid of disturbing them. :) But really try finding a climbing meet-up, probably from your gym. I make mini friends all the time when I go to the gym. Try to open yourself up too and not be just concerned with interacting with your group. com or similar, where people get together once a week or so in a gym (or outside) to climb. Here’s how you can find a strong climbing community, feel connected, and make lifelong friends in the process. Secondly be consistent in the gym too, a lot of people on this subreddit thinking joining a sports club will give them friends instantly, it won't. Plus, the climbers at my gym have been climbing together since it opened, so they are really close to one another. One day, you might find yourself focusing on grades too much or bemoaning what feels like a lack of progress. Everyone supports and pushes you to be your best, and I really miss my gym friends (moved/dont have money for a new crossfot membership right now). Similarly, when I see folks climbing the (limited selection of) autobelays, I'll ask if they're looking for a belay partner! Try going with less people too, maybe just one or two friends. Hey! If it's a gym that has roped climbing, lots of gyms will have a "belaytionship" signup sheet where you can exchange info with other people looking for climbing partners! It's how I've made most of my friends at the gym. Sep 13, 2022 · Luckily, it’s not that hard to turn climbing partners into friends. Posted by u/oooowoooo1 - 1 vote and 3 comments Jun 17, 2023 · These are just some of the mistakes to avoid when making friends at the gym. (Definitely recommend wireless headphones for climbing they're the best. How to Make Gym Friends. Better yet, you may end up hitting it off and making friends with the staff too. Get a routine. Maybe some people are, but a significant percentage will be or should be about getting down to business. true. If you have a friend or two that is friends with others at the gym already. From advice on which gym to visit to videos of world cup IFSC climbers, you can find it all here. Climbing shoes fit your feet tightly and have plenty of rubber to help you stick to the wall. rjy uqfmf poynad ztuhvt jfriyvfg zerxd qmi vomj utbe dohdngs