I have two issues with Oaktown Boulders: communication and organization. It was impossible to get a hold of them by email or phone to sign my daughter up, so we drove there and showed up to talk to someone. I signed my daughter up for a class, and after she attended one session (and after getting her excited about climbing), they emailed me to say they messed up, and the class was full. So they cancelled her enrollment and gave me a partial refund. Totally unacceptable! My daughter was so disappointed. After that experience, we joined another climbing gym and asked Oaktown Boulders to take us off their email list. They have literally emailed me half a dozen times, promoting new classes and letting me know about openings. EVERY SINGLE TIME, I ask them to remove me from their email list! No response. Also, unacceptable! Get your sh*t together, Oaktown Boulders! read more

Part of loving Oaktown Boulders is loving that they are aiming to make climbing something that ALL kids have access to. And doing so by providing quality and fun instruction - there's no compromising in what they offer. It is exciting to see the growth that they have achieved over the past couple of years and moving locations, hiring/training new staff is never easy. If I wanted big box climbing lessons for my kid I'd go elsewhere. Yet, in addition to wanting this confidence boosting and camaraderie building experience for my kid it matters to me to give my money to a place also working to do good in our community. Have you read the Mission? read more

Oaktown Boulders is awesome! Alex, the owner, is patient and kind and really cares about helping you achieve your goals. I started working with Alex to learn how to do a rope climb in preparation for an obstacle course race. With only three weeks until my race, Alex crafted a tailored personal training plan for me. He walked me through the rope climb technique and I was able to perfect it through our sessions as well as complete exercises at home that helped build the muscles I needed for the obstacle. On race day I felt super prepared and was able to conquer this obstacle (and many others) with no problem. I really feel that working with Alex was the key to my success. I would highly recommend personal training or bouldering at Oaktown Boulders, especially if you're a climbing newbie. Plus it's super cool to support small business owners in Oakland! read more

Oaktown Boulders - Climbing Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is cool and innovative bouldering spot. What makes this place unique is that there is only 1 wall to climb, but different paths could be formed through an app the owner uses to light up different rocks. I had a lot of fun climbing with Alex. He's nice and patient. This is a good place to come even if you just want to climb for fun with a small group of friends! read more

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I had an awesome experience with Alex, owner of this gym. He has began making customized wooden holds. For my DIY hangboard, he expertly made the holds to my specifications and kept me in the loop as he made them. The holds were made of white oak (I think), but they felt really sturdy and high quality. I also purchased a premade pinch block he made. It was elegant and simple to use. He used his knowledge to help with better modifications for a better hang experience! I had the opportunity to glimpse at the gym. It's not a huge space, but it makes use of all the available space. A few walls are adjustable for a steeper wall experience., so people of varying skill levels can be challenged. He defintely makes use of the space to maximize versatility. As for the gym, there's essentially every basic piece of equipment to help you with those climbing gains! read more

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My son (aged 7) says Tuesdays are his favorite day-- beating out the weekend!-- because that's when he gets to take Alex's climbing class. Highly recommended. read more

Alex is an incredible instructor. My 6 year old son has been wanting to go climbing and Alex's class was perfect for him. Great minimal size class for optimal learning but also considerate of proper distancing for health standards. Alex was very patient to allow kids to learn at their own pace and comfort level. We truly appreciate Alex's philosophy that climbing should be accessible to all kids regardless of financial ability. My son is very hesitant in taking any sport or class, this is the only class he will attend outside of school, Alex has made this class very welcoming and inviting. My son has really grown in his climbing abilities and look forward to continuing in this class. read more

We had the most amazing time at Alex's gym! First off, they were extremely thoughtful about COVID precautions: they only had one group in at a time and were able to open up one wall of the gym to the outside for airflow, so we felt completely safe. Everyone was masked up. Secondly, their gym was so approachable for beginners like us - Alex was able to highlight a skill-appropriate route using their LED light system, and coached us to complete a beginner route in no time at all - he was a patient, and highly knowledgeable coach and we both felt safe in his hands. We left feeling a sense of accomplishment and had tons of fun! read more

We went to Oaktown Boulders recently with a group of friends and had such a great time! The gym is located in an art warehouse among other creative and collaborative tenants. Though the gym space is small, you would never know it with the endless possibilities of climbing problems available on the light-up climbing wall. For not having climbed in a long time, Alex gave the perfect balance of encouragement and training to each of us and was able to taylor each problem to our experience level. He taught us about proper warm ups and techniques and we felt like we learned so much just from one session. We look forward to coming again and can't recommend them enough! read more

Oaktown Boulders - Climbing Near Me - Oakland, California

Alex is the best! Super patient and encouraging. Our kids had a blast at their summer camp. Lots of callouses but really proud. :) read more

Oaktown Boulders - Climbing Near Me - Oakland, California

Oaktown boulders is awesome!!! Alex is super friendly and can build a customized climbing routine and schedule for you. The wall is a little intimidating because of the height but there is such a great variety of problems and options that it can accommodate people at all levels. I also came here for a work offsite with my team and it was super fun! Alex put together a great activity that mixed puzzles with climbing so everyone could be involved. Highly recommended! read more

My family has loved going to Oaktown Boulders to learn how to climb and train. Alex is such an encouraging and patient teacher, and he has set up amazing equipment to not just climb but also perform a variety of exercises to stay in shape. He's great at creating a fitness program that fits your needs and also works you into a climbing addiction! We feel so lucky that Alex is also fantastic with our kids and encouraging them to climb (even though they're really little!). The space is amazing, but really Alex is worth a visit to OTB. read more

Alex is fantastic! Our 4 year old son was very apprehensive to start, but Alex is such a calm and supportive teacher that by the end of the session our son couldn't wait to come to class. read more

We love Oaktown Boulders and Alex!! We're a couple of educators who aren't very skilled at climbing, but Alex is so encouraging and helpful. We have a great time and have gotten so much better. Great for people who want to start climbing, but find climbing gyms really intimidating! read more

I was visitng from Southern California and I was lucky enough to have Alex squeeze me in for an appointment last minute. He asked me about my goals and In a short amount of time he was able set up a great costom warm up and help me with my rockclimbing techniques. Diffently coming back whenever Im in town. read more

Oaktown Boulders - Fun Times! - Climbing Near Me - Oakland, California

My almost 3-year-old daughter took a 12 week climbing class with many other kids 5 or younger. Coach Alex was extremely patient and encouraging. He has a wonderful rapport with the kids and I always knew my daughter was in good hands. It was so much fun to see the little ones learn to climb, fall safely, and navigate obstacle courses. It was a very unique, fun experience. The physical space is very well designed and there were comfortable areas for parents to sit and wait in the building as well. Highly recommend classes with Alex for kids even as young as 2! read more

Alex was so helpful and welcoming! I've only climbed once before and he gave us tons of tips in a judgement free zone :) really good way to get into climbing ‍ read more

Oaktown boulders is a great place to get some personal attention to improve your climbing. You have the wall to yourself and your friends with Alex giving you tips and advice. There is also exercise equipment to train and warm up! Alex is a great resource and is a plethora of knowledge. Go check it out! read more

Really good experience working with a coach. Rarely do you get a chance to have someone review your climbing technique and provide good feedback as well. Alex presents his feedback in a way that is easy to digest and makes you think a little more about each move when solving a bouldering problem. I highly recommend you book a session with him if you ever get the chance! read more

If you want to reach your fitness goals, become a badass ninja warrior, or sharpen your rock-climbing skills - then this gym is for you! Oaktown Boulders is an intimate gym located right off the 880 freeway in East Oakland that specializes in personal fitness training and coaching for rock climbing or bouldering. The space has a small but has a HIGH adjustable climbing wall, free weights, TRX bands, incline bench, campus board, and of course safety pads for a soft pillowy landing. Although the gym has minimal equipment, this place has a ton of heart. The business is owned and operated by Oakland local native, Alex Chuong, who is passionate about bringing climbing to his community. Although I have been climbing for years, I found it helpful to get one-on-one training keep me on track and provide external insightful feedback to reach my fitness and outdoor climbing goals. I bought a ten-session punch pass to improve my rock-climbing skills and start, albeit late, getting into shape for 2019. In my initial sessions, Alex recorded and analyzed my climbing, discovered my weaknesses (and things that I often ignore, like leg day), and developed a customized training plan for me to do at the gym, home, and for following sessions at the gym. After 5 intense sessions, my legs are a lot stronger (and sorer), my core is tighter, and my climbing technique has improved dramatically. I highly recommend Oaktown boulders! read more

OTB is a phenomenal place to climb for newbies like me, or any experienced climber who wants a more personalized approach to training (not me yet!). Alex is wildly skilled at climbing himself, and excellent at offering feedback and tips during your session. It's nice to climb in a non-crowded space and have more individual attention. Even though the gym is small, a seemingly infinite number of climbs are available through cool light up technology on the wall. Weights and other workout options are available too. The location of the gym was great, with easy parking. read more

Amazing place and experience!!! Alex is extremely skilled as an athlete in the sport of climbing and as a coach. He ensures that his client's are learning throughout the process. Whether during the warm-ups or the actual climbing itself. He wants to ensure we leaving having gained not just an experience but knowledge that we can apply as it relates to our general fitness, health, climbing and life. He customizes the routine and provides real time feedback tailored to your level. He won't over load you with information. Instead, he focuses on the change that will have the largest impact. I highly recommend this place. Alex is also a great person that is infectious in terms of the impact he wants to make. read more