Climbing at Oso is just Better.
There’s always something new to climb. Anyone can have fun.
Climbing designed for you.
There’s always something new to climb at Oso, with fun and approachable climbing for all skill levels. New to the sport? We’re here to help with small group instruction, informal Meet-up groups, and one-on-one training.
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 week.
What to Expect
First, get a Visitor Pass and grab your gear
All that’s required to get started climbing is a pair of climbing shoes and some comfortable attire. While we recommend your own climbing shoes – they’ll fit better and improve your performance – we have rental shoes available for you that are included with your Visitor Pass or Oso Membership at no extra charge.
Next, a quick orientation
Our helpful staff is here to support you every step of the way. We’ll make sure you learn everything there is to know about climbing safety, etiquette, and basic techniques. Don’t worry, we won’t just leave you hanging!
Now you’re ready for the wall
We can get you in starting position, offer helpful tips while you find your way up the route for the first time and guide you across the finish line (back down to soft, supportive padding). Remember, falling is fun here so enjoy the challenge of trying something new!
Want something more formal? There’s a class for that.
We’ve designed classes and meet-ups to help you improve no matter what level you’re at. From Climbing Essentials to Climbing Foundations – there’s a different focus each week, and we’ll give you the tools to become a well-rounded and versatile climber. You can also meet new friends at one of our weekly or monthly climbing meet-ups like the Women’s, Veg, BIPOC, Queer, or color-graded climbing meet-ups!
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The Benefits: There’s a lot to fall in love with about climbing
Sign the Visitor Agreement
First time? All members and guests are required to complete a Visitor Agreement.Learn More
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.
