Tips, Training, and More at Oso.
There’s always something new to learn on the Oso Blog
10 Amazing Sauna Benefits You Probably Didn’t Know
There’s more than one reason we thought it was a good idea to have a Dry Sauna at Oso. Research is uncovering some amazing benefits that come from just relaxing in a sauna on a routine basis. You may even feel mentally revived and physically refreshed the first time you try bathing in one. To show…
8 of the Best Places to Climb Outside in Texas
At Oso Climbing Gyms, we believe that the perfect climbing gym is more than just a place to climb. It’s a place where you can interact with other climbers, learn new techniques, and explore different routes. And while we love hanging out with you in the gym, sometimes it’s nice to mix things up and…
King of the Mountain: How Climbing Changes your Mental Health for the Better
Climbing helps improve your mental health for the better in profound ways. Curious how this works? Read more.
4 Reflections on Living through a Pandemic: Self-care, Community, Fitness, and Mental Toughness
I found relief when I found the strength to offer myself a bit of love. I was in — we all were in — an unprecedented situation. I needed to give myself a little breathing room. When I relaxed a little about this, I found it so much easier to get my work done and I naturally became more productive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure – feel free to just drop in and we can get you set up to have a great experience. We do encourage you to wear athletic apparel if you wish to participate (we’re a gym, after all) and it’s always faster when you fill out your Visitor Agreement prior to arriving.
Bouldering is the simplest form of rock climbing – it’s just you and the wall (and a bunch of soft padding beneath you).
It consists of climbing short but challenging “problems” that focus less on your endurance and more on your technique and power. Bouldering walls are generally around 13-16ft feet tall, so you won’t need a rope or harness. Proper falling technique and a padded landing zone provide safety (though we encourage you to downclimb). You can go at it alone but we recommend climbing with friends.
When you arrive at Oso, please feel free to walk up to reception area desk and one of our staff members will be able to assist you. During your first visit we’ll help you sign the Visitor Agreement, give you a tour of the gym, explain climbing safety, etiquette and basic techniques, and set you up with gear you may borrow during your visit.
Oso staff members are always ready to provide advice and assistance. If you have any questions or would like some help before your visit, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions at [email protected] or (844) OSO-GYMS.
Not much. During your first visit, an Oso team member will teach you everything you need to know to get to know the gym, our rules, and get you climbing. No matter what your skill level is, we have a unique and fun route for you. We thrive on variety and update our routes every day.
As far as apparel is concerned, make sure to wear something that’s comfortable to sweat in (there’s a lot of great athletic apparel out there).
As far as gear is concerned, all you need is a pair of climbing shoes, though we recommend a chalk bag (with chalk ball) or liquid chalk to help remove moisture from your hands and improve your grip. If you don’t have these items, no problem – all of these items are available for rent or purchase at the gym.
Yes, we offer a range of climbing classes for all skill levels as well as private classes. Feel free to sign up for these classes through our mobile application, or by asking a friendly staff member. Outside of classes, we have a highly skilled staff that can give you pointers on your climbing technique.
We also offer fitness and yoga classes and private training sessions.
No – Oso is a bouldering gym so no partner is needed. Though we recommend a spotter, so feel free to bring a friend (or tons of friends).
Absolutely – we encourage it. Members have unlimited Member-Guest Passes that can be used with their visitors who accompany them to the gym. Please note that Member Guest passes cannot be used without the associated member present, and non-members are limited from accessing Oso more than 5 times each calendar year as a non-member guest.
Definitely! We require that all children under the age of 16 be actively supervised by a parent or legal guardian during their visit. Though children of all ages can climb at Oso, we typically see that children 10+ years of age and older have the best experiences.
In climbing, the difficulty of a climb (known as a “problem”) is called its “grade”. Grades are a numerical representation of how easy or hard a climb is. In bouldering, grades operate on the V-Scale with lower numbers, such as V0 or V1, being easier and higher numbers, such as V8 or V10, being harder.
To make things easier, inside the gym we indicate sets of grades by the color of the climbing holds. These ranges overlap somewhat, so don’t shy away from trying colors that are both easier and harder than your usual level – that’s how you get better and learn new skills.
The beginning of a climb is indicated by a set of two Start tags that coordinate to the color of the holds on each climb. Sometimes these tags are separated, meaning the climb starts with your hands on separate climbing holds. On other climbs, the Start Tags are mounted on top of each other, indicating that your hands start on the same hold. The Start Tags will always be closest to the holds that are intended to be the beginning of a route.
Typically, climbs end with both hands grabbing onto the top edge of the wall. Occasionally, the end of a route is marked with a black “Finish Tag” near the last hold- you’ll see these often on easier climbs since they end at a lower height. To complete your boulder, you should aim to control the finishing hold with two hands prior to descending from the wall.
