I've never rock climbed before and joined a few days ago (using a Groupon - awesome deal)! My body isn't that of a RC as a matter of fact...I'm not in very good shape at all but I will continue to come! It's fun, everyone is very friendly and I'm actually starting to enjoy it! I truly admire everyone who practices this sport! What a work out... Thank you for the experience Planet Granite...see you later! read more

Just walked in and reserved my belay class for myself and my girlfriend. Was greeted and helped by Caden, who was professional, kind, and efficient. Excellent service. Thank you Caden! read more

I've been climbing here for close to 18 months and I have to say it is an excellent gym. Firstly the staff are super helpful and friendly and incredibly experienced climbers. Secondly the gym has a great mixed bag of climbing and bouldering routes. The workout area is superb too. Lots of modern equipment, weights, etc. It's a smaller gym than the Sunnyvale location but that being said it is more intimate and has e a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone is helpful and considerate as a result. One of the things I love about it is that there are lots of very good climbers to help you with technique and lots of routes that are changed very frequently so you don't get bored. Also the holds are cleaned every time so you don't end up with gunky chalky holds (and nasty bacteria!). The routes vary from a small slab wall, to overhangs and longer pitches (~40ft). There are lots of top-rope routes and mixed in there are sport lead routes to so you have lot's of choice. It's pretty hard to get bored with the routes !! For all you parents, this gym is super kid friendly. I believe they have many activities for all ages for teaching kids to climb. And having kids around livens up the place (as long as they are being safe!). read more

Looking for a new hobby? Rock climbing is something you should try. Great place to work your upper body and legs. Very nice staff and they make sure you know how to belay / use their equipment. Definitely coming back, good music too. Probably need more fans or windows, too many people can cause the place to smell a bit funky at times but overall good. They also have other locations and once you are in their system you are good. read more

Despite being smaller, this lacks the hominess of PG Sunnyvale. The parking is downright sucky, the staff are kinda holed up at the front desk which is separate from all the facilities, not like PG sunnyvale where you can shoot the sh*t with folk in between routes. However, the peeps seem to all know each other and be friendly. That's a good thing. read more

slowly edging PG-SF in the music category. sorry Patty. especially mid-day when the place is 99% empty. also, the locker rooms, saunas, showers with tons of towels, shampoo, conditioner, bd wash, are awesome. (I've heard the womens was a bit cramped so the guys definitely lucked out) read more

Harriet's core and fitness classes are the best. She makes up a new playlist for each class and each class is different. Her classes are so wonderful that most of the people who take her class are gym members just to go to her classes. read more

Planite Granite day passes are expensive, but membership is not bad for what you get. The equipment/gear packages they sell are also a great value (harness, shoes, etc.) This location, like all others, smells like stinky feet. It is something I had to get over, as there is no way to avoid it at these places. The staff is really awesome, and the members are pretty awesome too. Everyone is so nice, friendly and helpful. The locker rooms are sufficient, as are the climbing walls and and standard gym equipment. Parking is a little tougher in this location with street parking versus the Sunnyvale location, where they have a large free parking lot. read more

this [lace is awesome. Great place to workout and socialize. the climbing was fantastic. Nice family friendly place and classed for all ages read more

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This is definitely one if my favorite places to spend time. Lots of cool people and good climbing/yoga/sauna. I spend hours here each time I come. Only complaint is that the showers are too often flooded with filthy water and hair. Please clean more often guys! Still love this place regardless. read more

Love it here! I am fairly new to climbing. They have a wide range of levels and will keep you busy for a long time trying to get good at all of them. We just got a membership here that covers climbing, yoga and other classes, full gym, and sauna at both the Belmont and Sunnyvale locations. All their fitness equipment is in great shape. I haven't taken any of their classes yet but will be trying their new Ab routine soon! The Sunnyvale location is larger with more places to hide from large groups of kids. To avoid kiddy parties, try early weekend mornings and Friday night. read more

Belay On! Super nice staff, smaller climbing gym but it wasn't over crowded (was here Sunday afternoon) there was also bouldering, a fitness area and yoga. Not sure what the cost was, my date had a guest pass (great idea guys....prefect setting to get to know someone!). I will definitely come back if I am in the area...maybe after riding Waterdog... Oh and the girls locker room had a sauna...NICE! Parking is a little weird though. read more

If you like to get high, this is the place for you (as long as you can drag your ass up the big walls and not fall down). You should also get rid of that spare tire, which you can do at Planet Granite before or while you are working to concur the various top down walls and two (yes two) separate bouldering rooms. What that mean is when an asshole brings his 4 year old that plays consistently on the bouldering mats, you can go to the other room (before you do, say hi because that asshole is me). Planet Granite has a grigri setup for you at every top down climbing route, so you can leave your ATC at home (or carry is around for no reason, like me [the asshole]). The routes vary nicely, from a almost vertical 5.2 to several extra tall LEAD routes. As I said earlier, I take my son with me and PG supplies good quality shoes and harnesses for all ages. Best part, if you have your belay lesson at PG you get a 1/2 off day pass. read more

This is my usual rock climbing gym. The people who work here are super nice compared to what the San Francisco / Sunnyvale Planet Granite. The climbing area is smaller than the other two but I think it's at least not as crowded as Sunnyvale's on a weekday night. (Don't make it up to SF's so don't know about that one). I took for the 4 week climbing class which I enjoyed cuz of the tips I got in the class to help me climb, which I tell my friends when I drag them to climb with me :) If you get the membership you get to sign up friends to take their 1 hour belay class for free! (2 max at a time :)) You also get to bring in one friend for free(without the class) once every 2 months(odd months) The place does smell.. but I think most of the climbing gyms smell cuz of the shoes and sweat . I like the routes and the climbers are friendly~ read more

Even when it's busy there is space to climb and workout. When I see everyone walking around with their bare feet I think of two things: foot fungus and plantar warts. I always keep my shoes on. read more

I have been going to Planet Granite for the past one and half years and it's been great. I do have to admit that I haven't been rock climbing or bouldering as much as before because my rock climbing friends have moved out of the area. Despite the $70 per month fee, I think the price is worth it because of the yoga classes and I like having the options of going to the SF and Sunnyvale gyms, which is why I didn't downgrade my membership to fitness only for Belmont. The Belmont gym is smaller than Sunnyvale, but it's less crowded. Also the exercise/fitness area upstairs is practically empty and I have no problem getting a treadmill every time I go. When summer hits, I may not go PG as much because I prefer to run outside, but I will continue to go for the yoga/pilates classes. read more

My 12 year old cousin and I were aimlessly driving around Palo Alto as I was trying to come up with something different than our usual to entertain him. Planet Granite popped into my mind, so I called to inquire about whether kids could climb (answer: yes), pricing ($10/day for those under 13) and their exact location before making the trek up El Camino. 40 minutes or so later, we arrive at Planet Granite to discover that my cousin wouldn't be able to climb without a signed waiver by one of his parents and a trained belayer, which I was not. I wish they had told me on the phone - minus one star for that. I didn't want to disappoint the little guy after the never-ending drive, so I called my uncle to complete and email the waiver to the front desk, and I desperately asked whether any of their staff would be able to belay in my stead. Thankfully, one of the workers there, Molly, made a couple phone calls and rearranged her schedule to accommodate him for a private hour-long lesson at $60. Molly did a great job of explaining the ropes and encouraging him, high-fiving him before and after each course. The hour was just enough time for him to experience walls of varying grades; he was pooped by the end. Immediately after, he decided he wanted to return for summer camp there - success! read more

I am here pretty much every week so I guess its about time I wrote a review. I have not actually been to the other PG locations yet so I cannot compare, but I will compare to Rockreation, my old gym in LA. The top rope routes here are fantastic. They set new routes just frequently enough that I have a new challenge once I have tried most of the routes at my level. The gym does get pretty crowded on weeknights after about 7:30 so the earlier you go, the better. It does get to the point where I am waiting for ropes. I don't like the bouldering areas quite as much as my previous gym. It seems that they are all just incredibly challenging so it is difficult to get started if you aren't already an expert climber. I was able to do most V0 and V1 routes at my last gym, but I can barely handle the V0s here. Just a little frustrating. The amenities are great. There are regular yoga and kickboxing classes and lots of cardio equipment. And even a sauna in the locker room! Overall a really great gym. read more

Great staff and facilities. The trainer is clearly passionate about the sport. Gave great instructions to my son and was very patient.

A great place to learning rock climbing! Previously, my rock climbing experience was limited to City Beach in Fremont. Planet Granite is definitely more comprehensive with people well-trained to teach you the ropes (no pun intended). My friend and I took the intro to belaying class in which they taught us how to belay and climb with a partner. This portion lasted about 20-30 mins, after which will were allowed to climb freely for the remainder of the day. Daily admission to rock climb is $17/day. Shoe rental is also available. In addition to rock climbing, there is also a gym with cardio machines and yoga classes onsite for those who have a Planet Granite membership. This would've been a 4-star review had it not been for the lack of parking in the area! How can such a large establishment not having a parking lot designated for its patrons?? read more

Oh my gawd! It is freezing in here!!! I bought a Groupon for 2 and used it as a date night for the boyfriend and myself. We came in late Thursday evening and the person at the front said the classes were completely filled. Huh? There's classes? I didn't even know that we should have called in advance to reserve. Wish they would have noted that on the Groupon. Luckily we didn't drive that far to Belmont and we were free the following evening. I want to take a star off, but coming back the next night for the class, we met an extremely cool instructor that added that star back on. Andres was chill and completely put someone like me that is afraid of heights, at ease. I would highly recommend him. The steps to tie knots and make sure you know the safety calls/precautions, I felt like a pro after the hour class. I was belaying my boyfriend on a 5 10 wall on my own by the end of the night. I would totally come again and take the belay test!!! Highly recommended for date night. It's a great team exercise and made us both communicate and work well together! I placed a lot of trust in my partner and he did the same for me. Thanks Andres for the encouragement!!! We hope to see you again real soon! read more

On belay? Belay on!! New to climbing? Expert climber? Looking for a great workout?..... Then this is the perfect place to be. PG offers many classes for all climbing levels. I took a class here when I first started climbing and the staff made it a really fun and safe experience. Although this climbing gym is pretty small (especially compared to the SF and Sunnyvale location) it's my favorite, for sure. I like this location because the staff is way more energetic and it's always clean. I also love getting in a cardio workout on the 2nd floor because it allows me to watch the climbers instead of staring at my treadmill screen during my entire workout. If you've thought about climbing, this would be a great place to start... You'll feel right at home! read more

I started climbing in February (SuperBowl Sunday to be exact) and since PGB is 4 miles away from my pad, it's hella convenient. Since I started, I've been averaging 2 visits a week, often times more. It's definitely WAY smaller than Sunnyvale (haven't been to SF...yet!) but I love the peeps here - the staff has always been super nice and they are extremely safety oriented. (I notice that the bad reviews I skimmed are largely due to being told they couldn't teach their friends how to belay and tie in...it's a liability issue of course, there are signs everywhere stating that only staff is allowed to coach and instruct, which makes perfect sense to me!) Again I'm a new climber so I don't know how frequently routes are changed at other facilities but there are new ones set pretty often. I've brought an experienced climber here for a climbing date a couple times and he was impressed with both the routes and the features of the walls - lots of interesting cracks and crannies on the back wall and the slab to work with. I also love the community feel here. People are very friendly and open. There are regular parties & events - I especially enjoy Swingles night (2nd Thursday of each month) where you get an opportunity to meet new belay partners and dine on Round Table Pizza (Win!). I belong to two other fitness clubs so have only used the cardio equipment a couple times and have yet to go to the classes, but trying the yoga classes is definitely on my to do list. I used to go to the movies here as a kid way back when the building was the Belmont Cinema. Love that they kept the sign (wish it lit up though - I asked about that and they said it doesn't work anymore, rats!) and some of the old movie seats. I also think the bathroom toilet area has the original stalls and fixtures (hey as long as they work and there's ample TP...). The locker rooms aren't Equinox quality, but then again I'm not paying Equinox prices, and they are clean and tidy. PG is also the best deal I've seen for a fitness club membership - $75 a month and that gets you into all three facilities, includes the yoga/fitness classes and free guest passes every other month as well as the first Friday of each month. That my friends is a SMOKING hot deal! Doesn't have its own parking lot, but there's ample free parking the next block over in the Bel-Mateo section. I've never had a problem finding a spot. The SV PG might be way bigger but PGB is my home climbing club! read more

Woohoo! Another Planet Granite. This place is great considering that it's closer to San Francisco than the Planet Granite in Sunnyvale. It's true that it is smaller compared to the one in Sunnyvale, but it has two floors! The bottom floor contains two bouldering caves, a top-roping area and a yoga room. The second floor contains a weight area, treadmills and a fitness room. The restrooms have a sauna and locker area as well. The routes here are fun, but not as fun as the ones found in the Sunnyvale gym. The great thing about this gym is that it isn't as crowded as the Sunnyvale location. The prices for rentals and one day passes are on the website and there are student discounts as well. If it's your first time climbing, I suggest scheduling a belay class with a friend. Definitely a friendly and chill environment. Come here and have a good time! read more

I still like the place but they raised their rates again a few months ago so I bought a couple 10 packs for the classes and canceled my membership. There was really only one class I was attending with any regularity especially since Nandi Yoga opened in San Mateo. As soon as my second 10 pack is finished I will not return to PG. Even their 10 pack and single classes is a lot more expensive than the competition. I like PG but I think they are a lot more expensive than the competition. I pay 29 USD a month for Golds and have acess to RWC and SM where each has three rooms of classes at any given moment. PG is 53 a month for fitness only. As far as yoga PG chages 17 USD for a drop in and 160 USD for a 10 pack. Nandi yoga charges 16 USD for a drop in and 14 USD (for seniors and students) and 130 USD for a 10 pass. read more

I had a wonderful experience learning to climb here, marred only slightly by the very cranky staff member who did my belay exam on my second visit. I did not use the technical terms for the knots (which I made correctly) and she told me to re-test next time... uhh, really? Note to self: do not request a belay exam before lunch! My lesson was taught by a staff member who was patient and thorough. The gym accommodates a variety of levels, though there are very few climbs available for the very beginnerest of beginners (but luckily I didn't stay that way for long!). It's a bit expensive ($19 for a drop in, plus $6 equipment), but frequent groupons and multi-passes make it a bit easier on the wallet. Note: there is no heat or AC! Note 2: this gym also offers yoga and the standard cardio equipment (but I have no experience with those!) read more

Damn this place! I didn't know rock climbing could be so much fun! I attended Intro to climbing: Belay lesson, and it was good. Huge space with lotta options. And friendly staff. read more

Planet Granite's Belmont location is the oldest in the chain and it shows at times - the other locations, San Francisco and Sunnyvale, are nicer, even in spite of a much-needed recent upgrade to Belmont's fitness equipment and climbing area floors (thank you). Membership gets you entry to all three locations though. Other observations: The men's restroom smells really bad. I cannot be the only one who notices this because my nose generally doesn't work very well. I don't know what the problem is there - it has been that way from day one (I joined when the gym opened). I know the staff cleans it regularly, so it must either be an issue with the plumbing or users not flushing, but both are things that can and should be addressed. The men's shower is communal, no stalls. It doesn't get used much. I hear the women's locker room is better on both counts. The roof leaks every winter. The staff tries to catch the water in myriad buckets on heavy days. I think the water soaking into the foam floor causes it to have a musty or moldy smell. A new floor has been installed this year though, so that will help, but the roof still leaks. It's taking forever for them to fix two of the four spin bikes that are broken upstairs, but that may not be their fault. Climbing and classes are fun - that's really why most people (including me) come here. The space is still smaller than SF or SV, but still a reasonable variety. I agree with other reviewers that the staff is terrific from the people at the desk to the fitness instructors. My little niece has appeared with me every now and again and the staff seems particularly nice to kids. Staff gets 4 stars. Overall if some of the above infrastructure issues get upgraded it'd be an easy call to go up to four stars. read more

Ok. I've been here ONCE. I'm not an expert climber by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy it, and go about once or twice a year. WTF is up with their rental harnesses??! NOT a fan. While they're safe enough, the straps don't double back, and loosened when I stood up. That made me DEEPly uncomfortable. But they must know what they're doing. Once I got up there, my weight made sure those straps were nice and tight, and didn't budge. But I have to say... it doesn't help calm you down when your harness isn't to standard specs. Come on. Other than that, I loved this place. There are plenty of climbs for all levels. Everything is well labeled, and the staff was great. I'll definitely be back. But I will bring my own harness this time. Yikes. read more

***Good*** Decent selection of top-roping routes. Average workout facilities. Solid cardio setup. ***Bad*** Bouldering here isn't very fun. Not a great set-up or selection of routes. ***Recommendation*** Go to the PG in SF read more

I fell in love wtih rock climbing and joined Planet Granite about a year and a half ago. I have to say, it just doesn't get any better than this. The staff are friendly, playful and knowledgeable. The other customers are helpful and work like a community. They'll give you advice if you want it, or encouragement if you don't want advice. They'll chat with you while you're belaying. The rates are about the same as any other climbing gym, but there's no contract to sign here - which is nice. You can go month to month, and if you're going on vacation or if you get injured, you can put your account on hold for a month. The Belmont location is relatively small, but with some great bouldering opportunities. read more

This review is only for the gym part of the establishment not the rock climbing - I will make this fairly short and sweet. Great staff super friendly and laid back Below average equipment especially the cardio machines - treadmills out of order allot one day I went in and I believe 4 out of the 6 treadmills were out of order - same with elliptical I believe it has to do with the dust that the powder produces when people are rock climbing. Not very tidy I believe this also has to do with the powder from the RC but the yoga studio is not the cleanest either All I can say is this place is good for a quick in and out work out. I believe that it is great for the RC but they are also trying to pass themselves off as a gym which does not quite work for this location. I do not know of the others but this one is a bit mediocre. read more

Got a membership to planet granite and really like the belmont location, mostly for convenience! It doesn't offer as much climbing walls as the sunnyvale location, but it is adequate! They offer yoga classes and other work out classes as well so it just isn't focued on "rock climbing". The front desk is polite and helpful as well. Parking is a bit of a confusing thing- but you can park on the road and you can use the parking spaces the next street past planet granite for free parking! It is definitely worth the cost monthly if you are an avid climber. I wish they changed the rocks more often because that would be more challenging and if you see a rock path with a smiley face theyre a little bit harder than the other ones :) Great place. it has a sauna too which is nice. read more

Best place to unwind after work. Love the fitness classes that planet granite offers . No matter how hard your day was planet granite experience never fails to make you feel good about yourself . read more

This place has a lot of variety: Indoor climbing (walls & bouldering) Yoga A fully gym (cardio, free weights and more) Assorted fitness classes A sauna Changing rooms (with showers) I've been going here for years. The indoor climbing experience is second to none (other than, perhaps, their SF and SJ locations, which are also great). And the variety of workout is fantastic for the price. They get my highest marks. read more

I really enjoy PG Belmont. I thought its size would be an issues, but they have some REALLY interesting walls they've routed well and they have a great selection of books that I love looking through. I will definitely be back to work out on the walls here. I very much recommend it. The center walls are almost 50' high, so there are some fantastic challenges. Even the shorter outer wall has some really well done routes to exercise your body and your mind. Sometimes the solutions are more mental than physical. There are a lot of other amenities available, but I have not made any use of them and cannot comment, but the gym looks good and the bathroom was spacious with changing areas, showers, and a sauna, I believe. Again, did not personally check out a lot of those amenities, just know that when I want to work on my climbing, PG Belmont has what it takes to make me sweat. read more

The Belmont Planet Granite is really nice. I really like Planet Granite as a concept, but really didn't like their Sunnyvale gym. The smell and unhelpful staff were really terrible. Here's the pros: 1. The staff at the Belmont gym are nicer 2. The gym isn't as crowded 3. It doesn't smell like a 5-week-old corpse 4. The routes are more technically challenging I think. 5. The work-out (non climbing) area is nice (much better than Sunnyvale) 6. Fewer... how do I say this delicately... freaky nut jobs. There are people who climb and then there are the ear-stretchy, all-over-tatooy, stinky, shirtless, hairy, weirdos. Belmont has the former kind of climber, Sunnyvale has the latter. 7. Fewer kids than Sunnyvale. I LOVE kids, don't get me wrong, but the damn parents do not watch their kids and they run EVERYWHERE just waiting to be crushed by a falling climber or tripped over. Cons: 1. No parking lot - a big big con 2. Towels sometimes smell funky (not unwashed, just funky) 3. Mens bathroom could be cleaner. If you like climbing, you should join Planet Granite. If you want to really enjoy your climb, drive the extra distance to Belmont. read more

Staff is extremely friendly, and so are the other climbers! Even when I leave my phone / wallet in the unprotected cubbies, it's never stolen. I never run out of routes to climb and I go 3-5 times a week. $70 / month is definitely worth it! read more

Love this place in the morning for lifting because no one plays with the weights other than 3 people. The classes they have to offer in the AM are tough and led by this lady with a drill sergeant attitude . The climbs here feel more challenging compared to Sunnyvale and SF even though it might be the same grading. I took my lead test here and they are accommodating vs the busy San Francisco gym and Sunnyvale gym at peak hours. Friendly environment for all are and skill levels. read more

Been going to this gym for two years now. Great staff. Fun climbs. Decent machine and weight area upstairs.