Staff is friendly! I'm maybe a V4 climber, but I really enjoyed the routes I climbed! I would recommend! read more

Climb So iLL - Line climbing walls - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Went to observe my nephew, his gf and my niece. Not sure this is my thing so I watched. This location is in the same building as Bellwether. It is located on the first floor. Extremely nice staff and I observed them giving new people very good instructions on how to use the equipment, etc. Very clean and you can actually buy gear here. I believe they rent the climbing shoes. Not expensive. It is an interesting sport. You need to be nimble and stretchy. The people who were really good looked like spiders climbing a wall. I was very impressed. Lots of teens here. I thought it must give a lot of confidence to them to be able to tackle a boulder wall. If you have nothing to do on a rainy or snowy day, I would recommend checking this place out! read more

Climb So iLL - Rick climbing ‍ wall - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Love this place . I did my first climbing and I'm addicted The prices are great nice and friendly staff A Cool experience HIGHLY RECOMMENDED read more

Climb So iLL - All the way up - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I just hosted my son's birthday party at Climb So Ill. The kids (10 and 11) had a fantastic time. Climb So Ill's Evan helped the kids prep for their climb and gave them a quick lesson. He was super helpful to our group and very patient with the kids. We loved the party space where we could have cake and open gifts. There was plenty of space and even a fridge where we could store drinks. Thank you, Climb So Ill. This was a great experience! The kids loved it. And I love that I didn't have to clean my house. Win win! read more

I used to really enjoy this gym, but it has some horrendous sanitary policies. Members should be required to wear socks, shoes at all times in common areas. The spread of athletes foot, or other illnesses is too much of a risk for me to continue climbing there. read more

This place is definitely a must do for the family and friends groups. Not too mention it's a body building but very fun. The staff is friendly and helpful if you need them. I will definitely bring my 15 year here very very soon!!! read more

Climb So iLL - The sign - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Best damn rock climbing facility in the state if Missouri! I haven't been to them all but I'd put my money on Climb So iLL anyway. I had my first rock climbing experience here and the building is absolutely breathtaking. They have walls for all ages, sizes and climbing levels. They have all the gear you'll need available for purchase or rental if you're just going for the day. It's great for a fun day out, a date or large groups. The upstairs has a private area where you can eat, chat, hangout...whatever. The guys here are super cool, knowledgeable and willing to help in any way. Downstairs is even more exclusive; I enjoyed being away from the other intimidatingly tall walls. Little did I know the short (low) wall in the basement area was a real KILLER. I was even able to plug my iPhone in to the Aux speaker and listen to y own music in solitude while I worked. Rock climbing offers a full body workout if you didn't know. Takes real skill. I have found my home. read more

Price was a bit steep... but tweens/teens loved it. They loved the variety of challenges, the different details on the walls, the different types of walls and the different technical levels. Also liked that it was not super crowded on a holiday weekend so they didn't have to do a lot of waiting. From a climbing experience the kids rated it a 4. From a checking and costId rate it a 2. Customer experiences are about the end to end customer journey. The check-in was so brutally painful and clunky and could easily be fixed with a few technology upgrades. Y read more

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Solid Climbing Gym! They have especially cool, creative routes, and some awesome holds (which makes sense, since they started out as a Hold Manufacturing company). Their Bouldering routes skew a little more on the physically demanding (long and overhung) and exceptionally technical (on their Slab walls). But, seeing as that exactly what I've been craving, I loved it here :) From an aesthetic standpoint, this is an especially nice and well-kept gym, with tons of ceiling room and a lot of natural light. Most of their routes are ringed around one HUGE column in the center of the gym. Bouldering routes cover half of the column on the upper floor, while they have the tallest indoor rope routes I've ever seen running from a lower floor (on the back side of the column) to well above the Bouldering routes. Those rope areas are particularly nice, because they're backed by an entire wall of factory-size windows. I would throw in a caveat here, a lot of the other Climbers are friendly and nice, but there are large groups that do the make-up-your-own routes exercises and can take up huge chunks of the wall for 2-4 Climbers. They weren't awful or rude or anything, but they also were really hard to climb around for quite a while because they were going back to back without pausing. Nice bathrooms and a weight training area in the innards of the gym, but no showers or changing area aside from the bathrooms. read more

Climb So iLL - That climbing wall is SO TALL. - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Stuck in a rut? Want to feel better than like, ever in your life? Go climb! The gym, staff and community are amazing. It's a challenge and a workout you'll actually enjoy! read more

This ... this is a happy place. I could say it's a great gym, but it's more like an awesome adult playground where cool kids go to hang out. (What is it about rock climbing that generally attracts the most laid-back people?). The staff are upbeat, friendly, helpful, and most importantly, genuinely welcoming to newcomers. Michelle at the front desk is super nice and great at answering questions. The other climbers are sociable, and there's a neat sense of camaraderie here that isn't present everywhere you go to work out ... People who are taking a water break WILL watch you while you're on the bouldering wall, but you'll know they're rooting for you. I'd say it's a great place to meet people, if you're a gregarious sort of character yourself. As for the facility itself, there's not much to NOT love. A lot of bouldering space ranging from V0 to V12 with corners, overhangs and this weird, giant bulging bubble shape that I've watched a few gravity-defying individuals crawl across sideways. The lead climbing wall is multiple stories tall and looks terrifying. There are even six autobelays, which are a godsend for newbies and those wanting to scale greater heights solo. Those routes range from 5.7 to 11+. Even if you've never climbed using a harness before, a staff member can show you the ropes (har har), and you'll be ready to start climbing with the autobelay. Day passes are $15 without rental (shoes, chalk, harness etc.), but you can get a 10-visit punch pass for $120 ($180 for 10 visits + rental equipment). Basic memberships begin at $59 a month, and I believe they have student discounts for those. They also have regularly scheduled classes for you to learn rope skills, as well as other fitness classes like yoga. Oh, and the busiest times are after 5 p.m. on gloomy weather days. Have fun! read more

Climb So iLL - Autobelays 5.7-5.9 - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

First climbing gym I have ever had a membership, and so far the experience has been great! The building itself has a lot of character, I wouldn't expect a climbing gym to be housed in a historic power plant building (that's why their shirts have a plug). The indoor atmosphere itself is very vibrant and colorful. The décor is modern, and the all the facilities are well kept up. The staff is friendly and very helpful in answering any questions. The place can look a little intimidating if climbing is new to you, but the more experienced members are always glad to lend a helping hand. I especially like how even complete strangers will cheer you on when you are working a certain problem. And don't worry if you're not very good yet (like me), there are members at all kinds of levels. No one is there to judge, so just enjoy yourself! Would highly recommend this place for any sort of event or if you want to get into climbing. Oh and it gets pretty crowded on weekdays starting at 6pm, but not too crowded to climb to your heart's content. If you want to avoid crowds just come before then. read more

very clean and fun! my dad and i have been going here since i was little! super nice and friendly people!

First time here. From out of town Easy to find. Plenty of parking. Staff HELPFUL Great place for kids to learn and burn energy and make choices( our kids ages were 6-11) Busy not crowded Highly recommend ! read more

A renovated power plant holds the rock walls of Climb So iLL. A relaxed seating area welcomes you in the building, followed by the front desk room where you can buy granola bars, beverages, and rent/purchase gear. The staff were friendly and helpful to get me signed up with a waiver and gear checked out to me. The floors were clean and benches houses cubbies to store shoes, wallet, etc. The bouldering portion was impressive, offering numerous options for all skill levels. It is large enough to hold multiple climbers at the same time. The mix of climbing options makes this location perfect for all climbing styles. There is also a gym type training area to work on basic techniques and strength conditioning. The crowd was heavy on a Saturday afternoon, but it seemed to come in waves. Fellow climbers were respectful and accepting of any skill level. I will return to attempt the unsuccessful climbs and see how many new routes have been added. All of which are rated and color coordinated. read more

Climb So iLL - Climbing Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

As its namesake states, this place is ill. I was visiting St. Louis for a weekend trip with my 11-year old daughter. We were looking for something low cost but fun on Groupon to do, so I thought we should check out Climb So iLL. My daughter and I are both first timers, and the staff here were great about walking us through the ins and outs. The facility is awesome--there's plenty of wall space for climbing and bouldering as well as a training area for working on technical skills and strength training. We had a blast, and I think I found myself a new hobby. However, I'm sad that Climb So iLL is four hours away from my home in the Chicago area. I will definitely climb here again whenever I visit STL. read more

I go to St Louis once a year, so I figured I'd finally check out this gym I hear about. Climbing, several routes, top rope, auto belay, lead, and up to 55 feet. Bouldering, lots of overhung and some slab. Fitness area, the basics but no barbells or squat racks. Employees are friendly and knowledgeable​. Classes for yoga and lessons are available. Several snacks are available to keep you going. Yes they have a pro shop. Costs are average. This gym is sandbagged. read more

I always joke with friends that bouldering at So iLL is an exercise in feeling worthless. Why? Because the climbs here are of a grueling variety rarely seen this side of the indoors. Everything is overhung. Even the not-so-overhung routes are secretly pretty overhung. You just can't tell they are overhung because EVERYTHING is overhung. The grades are all sandbagged. And the only truly vertical routes? They cross a weird electrical closet door that moves when you climb over it. Every time I leave this gym, I feel like I weight a thousand pounds. So why do I always come here when I'm in town? One: the route setting is awesome. Two: all that high gravity has molded a very talented community. People here climb hard. Three: The gear shop is great. Four: Giant freaking eyeball!!! read more

If you need to burn off some energy and are looking for a challenge this is your place. They offer a happy hour special, $10 climbing after 6 pm gear is extra. They give you a quick crash course and away you climb. Many different faces (walls) are offered for the beginner to feel successful to the pro who just jumps on the wall an climbs. Tons of parking and good clean fun.. Get your climb on. read more

Staff is so friendly, facility is amazing, but unfortunately they don't limit the number of climbers on the floor and one day we were there it was ridiculously crowded, we barely got to climb for the $$. They would do well to institute no wait! And they need about 3 more auto belays, especially downstairs where the walls are high enough for a decent climb. Wish i could get my $16 back and have come back another day!! read more

LOVE this place. I decided 2013 would be my year for taking risks and trying things that I've always been afraid of. Rock climbing fell into that category. Perhaps more crippling than my fear of heights is my fear of being judged. This has held me back from a lot of cool things, and I was especially afraid that a rock climbing gym would be full of people who would point and laugh at the girl dangling by one foot from the auto-belay. Not so at this awesome gym (or probably at any gym, but whatever.) The positive vibes for Climb so iLL started before I set foot inside. Never having climbed anything besides my kitchen counter to change a lightbulb, I gave them a call to see what a first timer should do. The girl who answered the phone was so friendly and helpful. I learned that first time climbers don't have to take a full on class to get started. You just rent your gear, pay for your day pass, they'll show you around and you're free to get climbing. The customer service at this place is top tier. I've never been to other climbing gyms, but I have to imagine if other places are a Hampton Inn, this place is the Bellagio. Both people at the front desk were super helpful. The girl, whose name escapes me, was just the best. She helped me with shoes and got me into the right harness. She walked us around and taught us how to use the auto-belay system, showed us the different areas, and before I knew it I was scaling the walls. Just for reference -- with shoes, a harness and the day pass it was about $25 to climb. Kinda steep to do on a weekly basis, but totally worth it for this experience. They also offer memberships and punch cards. I'm getting wordy so I'll wrap up. They have a handful of auto-belays you can hook into if you don't have a partner. I took advantage of four of these and had an absolute blast challenging myself to reach the top. After about an hour or so, my arms were toast and my soft, baby hands were killing me. But I really wanted to keep going. That's how much fun it is. If you've always wanted to give climbing a shot, but have been too nervous or think you'll die out there, just get to this place. It's so laid back and cool and fun. Stick around and watch the pro's climb without harnesses. That's some inspiration for you. Really great place. Fantastic staff and customer service. Clean facility. Not intimidating in the slightest. I'm definitely coming back for a class. read more

The best climbing gym in St. Louis in my opinion. I love this place and truly feel fortunate to have a climbing gym of this caliber and uniqueness in STL. The amount of heart and passion from owners and staff make this gym such a fun place to climb. The bouldering wall is eye opening. It's about 2000 sqft of 20ft high ball bouldering. The wall itself is from the 2009 Mammut bouldering championship tournament. The problems ranges from V0-V12. There's plenty of problems in each range, so no matter what skill level you're at there's going to be a lot for you to climb and project. The setters are some of the best climbers in STL, and they set often. These are the guys I see outdoors in southern ILL, and aspire to climb like. I don't do too much rope climbing so I can't really comment too much on the route walls. But what I can say is it's effing tall! I believe around 50 feet with some steep overhangs. There's also a intermediate climbing area that's around 30 feet, and also kids climbing area. Plenty of auto belays if you're climbing solo. There's also a training area that has a 60 degree bouldering wall, a number of hang boards, campus boards, and gym equipment. They teach climbing clinics, yoga, and fitness training in this area. The gym has only been open for a few months now, but already 3 pro climbers, Paul Robinson, Jamie Emerson, and Jon Cardwell have stopped by to visit the gym. I can't say enough good things about the gym. To take my climbing to the next level I felt like this was the gym I needed to be at. And I still feel that way today. The community of climbers who climb here all push each other to climb their hardest. You can usually find me in the bouldering area Monday and Wed night's. Hope to see you in the gym soon. read more

I was lucky enough to meet one of the owners of Climb So iLL, Dave, a few years back. And I really can't say enough positive things about him, and the facility that he and his partners have built. Climb So iLL is seriously rad. The space itself is dope. Even if you don't climb, nor have the intentions of climbing - upon walking in you will be impressed. It just oozes awesome. Its bright, modern and has lots of eye catching colors. The walls are works of art. Oh and pay close attention to the holds...was that a phone I just grabbed on to? Yep! haha. nice. Also, upon walking in you will be greeted with friendly faces. I don't think anyone in this place is unhappy. As a newb, you will feel instantly comfortable. If you have never tried indoor climbing....this would be a great gym to start at. I know it can be intimidating but the staff will make you feel welcome. As far as the actual climbing goes, what the hell do i know about indoor climbing? Well, nothing really. I've done it once, and it was here at Climb So iLL..and turns out i'm kinda afraid of heights. I still had fun though! No matter your skill level, i know you will enjoy yourself here. Shoot, i could come back and just stare at all the man candy (and yes, there is A LOT of it). For seasoned climbers, i know Climb So iLL does a lot clinics, guest speakers, ect that you will want to check out. Climb So iLL also does kids parties, corporate events, oh and when the weather is nice rooftop yoga! If anyone ever wants to go, let me know..i'm game. Plus i am a great climbing partner since i am so terrible I will make you look like a rock star! :) read more

Aeeeiiiiii! Is that the mating call of rare Missourian female bird? Or perhaps an iguana mid-battle cry? No, it was just me, as I finally "let go" and dropped from the top of my first climb with the auto belay at Climb So iLL. This place is rad. I showed up WAY before my friends and the staff let me walk around the check out the place/get totally frickin' intimidated. When I was about to run away screaming, Patty took me by the metaphorical hand and walked us through the joint section by section. I swear some climbers in there are part monkey...do you know that you can climb a rock wall WITHOUT ROPES! I know...rookie alert. There's a 24-hour wall downstairs for the uber-intense, super clean faculties. Most impressive was the staff...kind and encouraging to all. Very cool, guys. I wish you success! I'll be back, but probably with pillows strapped to my tush in case I fall. read more

Climb So iLL has a great atmosphere for beginning climbers. It wasn't too crowded and the auto-belays are especially available since most people do bouldering in the gym. I loved the other climbers - despite having years of experience, they were friendly and quick to give tips to a newbie like me. However, I will say that one of the employees was incredibly condescending towards me and it really put a damper on my overall experience. While she was not the one in charge of my quick orientation (that employee was friendly and great), she answered my reasonable questions as if I were the world's dumbest person - which I'm not, I'm just a complete beginner who's never even seen an auto-belay or climbing harness in her life! I would appreciate if she and any other employees with the same attitude would keep in mind that not everyone is a rock climbing expert and it's easy to scare off new gym-goers that way. read more

Great place to climb with an incredibly welcoming climbing community. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and the climbs are set well. As a climber of 12 years and someone traveling through for work to STL for a few months only, I have been really excited to see that bubbles of climbing groups like this still exist out there. If you're looking for a positive place to get a great workout, this is your place in Missouri! read more

I can say without reservation that this is the coolest, most unique climbing gym I've ever seen, in or out of St. Louis. Not only that, it is staffed by a truly great group of pros who will welcome you with kindness and enthusiasm. The staff seems to love their jobs and they are (rightfully) proud of the space they have created. I've always felt that safety is not taken lightly there either. The entire facility is very stylish and well-kept. The routes are rotated often so there's always something new to try. I'm more of a top-rope climber myself, but people love the large bouldering section as well (part of which looks like a giant eye). I'm a relative beginner as far as climbing goes (less than six months in), and most of my learning has taken place at So iLL. Everyone there has been happy to give me tips (and I never felt judged for my relative lack of skills). The facility has a range of difficulty levels, perfect for both absolute beginners (on the elephant shaped wall), all the way up to some 5.13 lead climbing routes that I can't even fantasize of completing. (They go up 55-60 feet!) They offer a number of classes and workshops, which I haven't gotten to take advantage of yet, but I am planning on taking their 2-day lead climbing course next week. Their main trainer Yusef is knowledgeable and super friendly. As far as potential downsides, I will say that I could see the top-roping section of the main wall getting crowded (which hasn't been an issue for me at all so far, but I could see it getting busier). About 1/3rd of the main climbing wall section (not including the tulip or elephant walls) is lead-climbing only, which is great for more advanced climbers but keeps top-ropers off of some fun looking routes (out of necessity mostly). There are some auto-belay devices (contraptions that catch you if you fall, instead of having a partner belay you), but there aren't a tremendous number of them. Either way, I highly suggest using a human belayer if at all possible; I think it's less scary for beginners, and there are many more options of what to climb that way. In summary, St. Louis is truly lucky to have a place like Climb So iLL. I even recommend non-climbers to visit and just experience the architecture. I liken it to climbing on modern, abstract art rather than the boring fake-rock walls seen at most places. It has made a regular climber out of me (much to my own surprise). And apparently I feel strongly about it enough to write a mini essay, so I guess that says something too. read more

So I took my boyfriend on a climbing date to this place and we had so much fun. We took the rope skills level 1 class and learned how to tie the correct knots as well as check our gear for safety. Our instructor was funny and a nice guy and soon with his instructions we were climbing. This place is great because you can either go solo and find someone to belay you or you can use the auto belay or you can go with a friend. There are many walls to climb from easy to difficult and building has a great atmosphere. I would recommend this place if you are looking to get out and climb or you need some exercise on a rainy or snowy day. Great place!! read more

I first got introduced to rock climbing in Seattle and wanted to pick it back up here in St. Louis. A few weeks ago I saw a Groupon for this place ($30 for 2, including rental gear) and thought I would check it out. I'm glad I did because Climb So Ill gave us each a bogo after our first visit (provided we come back within two weeks). It is worth mentioning that this Groupon (as of today) is still available. If you decide to come without a Groupon, this is place is a tiny bit pricey. A day pass is $15 (without rental gear) and a 10 visit punch pass is $120. Also, if you do have your own gear, make sure to bring your own ATC (otherwise you'll have to rent one for $3). First, I think the space is pretty cool. As others have stated, it is a renovated former power plant. The colors are vibrant and the layout is pretty decent. With that said, I think the space is a little smaller than what I'm used to. It does look like they're planning on expanding, which may later bump my rating up. There are two other downsides in my mind. First, I am not sure I necessarily agree with the route ratings. What they call a 5.8 out here seemed more like a 5.9. Second, there are only a few routes available for each place that you "tie-in." I noticed that there seems to be a lot of room to add additional routes so I hope that is something they do in the future. I know others have indicated that they change the routes regularly so maybe that's why. If this is indeed true, then I would say this could also be viewed as a positive, especially if you climb here frequently. Even with those downsides, the place is still pretty great. There are about 6 auto-belays, which is nice. There is also a great bouldering area. Finally, this seems to be a really great place to come if you're an experienced rock climber (and if you don't know by now, I am DEFINITELY not). The routes are pretty challenging. There are also tons of options for lead climbing, which is again nice for more experienced rock climbers. In terms of their staff, they are extremely friendly. One of the women today was able to do a refresher with us really quickly (as we haven't climbed in about a year) to make sure we were still competent enough to belay each other. She had lots of helpful recommendations and was extremely friendly. In short, this is a pretty neat place to spend a few hours (or more), although a little intimidating if you're not an experienced rock climber. If you're a novice, I would recommend starting with the auto belays. read more

This is the best rock climbing facility in St. Louis. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. It is a bit pricier that other gyms, but it's worth it. For first timers, an employee will guide you on how to use the ropes. There is an upscale restaurant called Elements inside. So you can bring the kids for rock climbing, then have cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres while you overlook into the gym. Pros Clean Facility, Cool building (its a renovated power plant), Excellent Staff, Facility does not smell like a gym locker Cons: Parking is a bit confusing (no clear signage to parking and entrance) Tip: Look for building sign for Element Restaurant and Lounge to make it easy to find. They are in the same building. read more

I was recommended here from a friend from work after I said I tried Upper Limits. This place has an off vibe. Usually places ask if you've ever rock climbed before and say what they offer rather than saying " I'm not going to give you a test today because you just YouTubed it." Super rude and random comment when you're on call and checking your phone for work. Other than that, I wouldn't recommend and I'm never going back. read more

Loved this place!! Two of us came here on a busy Friday night as first-timers and the staff was excellent! Emily took the time to talk us through everything, answered all of our questions, and showed us the whole place. We climbed for a couple hours and could have stayed for many more! Highly recommend checking this place out for teens, couples or anyone just looking to have a great time climbing and burning off some steam! read more

I loved climbing and rappelling ever since I was a kid, now I'm passing that love to my kids and THIS is the perfect starting spot! I grew up in Southern Illinois and know the trails in Shawnee and Giant City like the back of my hand. Due to an injury, I can no longer climb, so it's been tough getting my kids involved. The staff is outstanding, amazingly friendly, and spread the love of this sport at a top knot has level. Safety is paramount at Climb So Ill, and the equipment is the best you can get. Kids had a ball, adults did too, stop waiting and get out to climb! This is a great spot, you will not be disappointed! read more

Great place! Very friendly and helpful staff ! Facility is large and efficient !! Best yet !!! read more

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Great first time experience climbing here. The workers were super helpful and friendly. They were not pushy about getting/buying membership. Before I left the worker asked if I enjoyed my time and if I was planning to come back. Yes! Definitely would try this experience again. read more

In a word: AWESOME! Never been climbing before and it couldn't have been explained better and in a safer environment. The auto-belays are superb and although there aren't many of them, they give you access to enough to tire you out. Staff was super friendly, you can tell they really love what they do. read more

Great time, great place! First time rock climbing and had a blast with our friends. Ready to go back as soon as we can... Friendly, helpful AND knowledgeable staff for first timers. See you guys soon! read more

My first time rock climbing and I would say this place was a good place to start. I found a Groupon for this place so that made it a lot cheaper for someone who wants to try out the rigorous hobby. They had beginner climbing walls that were for children. Tried those out first to get the hang of the falling back down, hopefully gracefully. After that I moved up into harder walls no problem. The freestyle wall is really fun there is a mat that will catch you if you fall. Good place for a date and a great test of endurance. read more

I have been climbing a couple times a week for the last year at a gym in Chicago. I am originally from STL, so I have tried to find a gym on recent trips. The bouldering at this place is among the best I have come across at a gym. There are some really talented boulderers at this gym. The auto belay routes leave a bit to be desired and could be more spread out, but the bouldering more than makes up for it. read more

One of the best spots in St. Louis. It's a social scene, it's a rock climbing mecca, and it just has a good vibe about it. I have brought a handful of people to this gym with me out of excitement, and they love it too. It's one of those places that you find, and then you are proud of. Great staff, a superb facility. They have a ton of extra activities as well. If you've never been climbing before, this is a perfect place to start. If you're a seasoned vet, you'll probably meet 15 of your new best friends on the first night. If you're thinking about going, go. It rules. read more