1. The Gravity Vault - Chatham

    1. The Gravity Vault - Chatham

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    Chatham, NJ

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    The Gravity Vault - Chatham

    4.5 (70 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    The Gravity Vault - Chatham Photos

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    Zuobin T.

    Size matters when it comes to climbing gyms. That's what I used to think before I visited Gravity Vault. At 13,000+ square feet as advertised on its website, this is the smallest climbing gym I have visited so far. However, it has certainly left me with a good impression. My friends and I decided to take a short trip from our usual stomping ground of BKB and headed out to New Jersey to check out this gym when we were told that the Buy-One-Get-One-Free deal on day passes would be honored even on this Columbus Day holiday. So instead of the usual $18, each of us only had to pay $9. I was initially impressed by the friendly staff who did the belay check. She pointed out to my friend that he was wearing his harness incorrectly and needed to put it over his T-shirt. She also reminded another friend that she needed to have a double loop for the safety knot on the rope. I thought that the staff's attention to these details is probably a good reflection of the gym's commitment to the safety of the climbers. Did I also mention that it's perfect for people who enjoy top-roping? It has over 45 stations and the lack of crowd makes waiting unnecessary. The routes were challenging (with a good number of them on 35-feet walls) and the grips were neither slippery nor fully covered with chalk dust. The bouldering area was one of the smaller ones I have seen. However, the routes were more difficult than they seemed and the wall allowed for top-out for multiple routes rated V3 and above. The only thing I would recommend to the owner is to put up more of those grading charts around the gym so that visiting climbers can see them more easily and determine the difficulty of the routes. With a team of friendly staff, a climbing space and a resting area that seem almost dust-free, and challenging routes, Gravity Vault is definitely a place I wouldn't mind revisiting.

    Climbing wall
    Barbara C.

    The spot was great for adults and kids. Small group did the staff belay, the staff member who helped us was Kevin. He was great with the kids and adults. The place was clean and parking was a plus since there is a lot right in front. Missed it the first time driving there as it was hidden behind another business, will try again for sure!

    Gentleman, begin hoisting!
    Chris M.

    Prep the arms for a night of uplifting excitement! First timers fear not, the well trained staff at Gravity Vault will teach you how to tie your ropes properly and on your own within a brief 30 minute session, then you're free to climb to your hearts content. Gravity Vault offers about 50 different wall areas to climb, for beginners up to more advance levels. Don't get discourage by the walls either because there was a young child, no more than 7 years of age that was scaling the walls like a pro. Great idea for a unique date place that will cost you less than $20 per person and if you go on Monday they have a buy 1 get 1 free deal! Plus studies show that people are more likely to fall for those around them in life & death situations ;) Went there with a Yelp group, class was hosted by a young gentleman, Aris, who knew his material without getting caught up in the jargon of climbing. They're open til 10pm on weekdays, not as late on weekends though. Beginners will probably only want to spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours there, before your arms or hands begin to get sore from lifting yourself, but it's a great way to challenge yourself or your friends in some exciting competition. After 3 training classes there too, you'll be able to come and go as you please and there are a variety of monthly and year deals that can be used at both their locations.

    bouldering, I believe red is V2 (beginner level)
    Chi D.

    I went here for my first time bouldering last week. Check their website before you go because there are special deals offered here, such as a "lady's night" discount. Prices aren't bad. I did have to rent shoes to climb, and they are a little thick, which I didn't really like. My boyfriend didn't like that they don't offer shoes for more aggressive climbers (i.e. their shoes are fairly flat). They have cubbies where you can leave your things, but there are also very spacious locker room where you can change and leave things (bring your own lock!). It doesn't appear that anyone really uses the locker rooms at all. They are very clean and empty. For general bouldering, they have a decent number of "paths" that you can take, but for me I found the problem to be that there weren't as many the "paths" designed for beginners (which is clearly what I am since I don't even know the lingo). They do have three or four thick mats that can be dragged to where you want to climb if you want additional padding. For a Wednesday night, it wasn't overly crowded, though more people did come as it got later (closer to 7-8pm). The people who come here are friendly; though it's not an overly chatty place, people will sometimes offer to give you pointers, which is nice. Also, if you ask the front desk, they do have bandaids if needed. It's a decent place, I wouldn't mind coming back.

    Me, on an interesting 5.10a at the Gravity Vault
    Josh K.

    Cool place, but they don't let you use your own belaying equipment and some of the ropes are very short, to the point where the belayer needs to climb a couple steps of the course to allow for enough slack for the climber to tie in. We also found that typical of smaller climbing gyms (though honestly this place wasn't that small), the courses were more difficult than the posted difficulty. I usually rock a 5.10B or C and I was having trouble with the As here. My girlfriend who does 5.9s was sticking to 5.8s. Also the courses could be a little more interesting. A lot of the courses were simply straight as an arrow. There was one cool one involving an upside down V (attached to my review), but that's about it. Lastly it is hard to move between difficulties as you keep having to return to the sparsely distributed color guides to determine what color your desired difficulty is. Nothing yet can replace my beloved Mission Cliffs...

    Lee C.

    First time here and I have to say this was a great experience. TJ our climbing assistant was excellent. Very knowledgeable and very supportive. He made this a great experience for first timers. There's parking right outside in the private lot. Sessions last an hour but there are other offers if you wanted to take a class, etc. It cost us $50 for two people for the hour. They also include rock climbing shoes which I highly recommend. It's air-conditioned inside so it's perfect for the summer.

    Men's locker room.
    Yag P.

    Wonderful climbing Gymb. Kids birthday parties make this a wonderful way to get the little ones interested in climbing. My 10 year old joined the cloning team and it is serious business. Check it out.

    The chimney.
    Share W.

    Couches in the front part is kind of kitschy, but i like lying down like dead man on the mat anyway. It has more open space to stand around versus some others. They're meticulous with making sure you know your belay techniques (3 tests) before you can just wander on in on your own. They have some challenging, but fun walls. On super hot weather days, midway up the wall you will notice the temperature change as you go up it gets hotter and heavier. I feel accomplished when completing a climb. (went back on 7/28, temperature up there feels more comfy)

    Suze D.

    I haven't been to many climbing gyms before, but I am happy to say that this place was so welcoming and the people were all so nice to help. For new comers even if you have no idea what you are doing, there are classes you can sign up for prior to coming. Never be shy to ask for help, everyone there is there to have fun, and or experience something new. It was such a work out when you go bouldering. I will definitely recommend it to anyone. Attention girls, Friday nights are ladies nights. they have specials and discounts for entry! Yay!

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    10 years ago

    Very fun an a good time. Will definitely go again. The instructors were kind & helpful.

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    8 years ago

    First time here but won't be my last . Loved this place and the staff . Ryan was our instructor and he is fantastic. The gym is very clean.

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    12 years ago

    Absolutely loved this place, staff was very friendly and helpful, also patient with us as first timers. Will be back :).

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    15 years ago

    Great place to climb at. Not very crowded and staff very friendly and knowledgable.

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Gravity Vault - Chatham

    What's included in the cardiovascular training area?

    Hello Chaitali, thanks for reaching out. We currently have a five rung campus board, treadmill, pull up areas and boards, plyo boxes, dumbbells, medicine balls, a small selection of kettle bells, resistance bands, and some other miscellaneous items.… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Gravity Vault - Chatham

    First time climber and I felt so empowered after my 1 hour belay session with Andrew.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    The kids had school off so I looked around for things to do so they weren't stuck at home. I saw…read morethis place and went for it! I did do some research first, luckily, but also... they aren't that much of a stickler for certain rules. Do remember to sign the waiver online ahead of time. It'll save you time - especially if there's a line. Also: don't forget socks or you'll have to pay for a pair of theirs. Seeing as school was out, I made sure to get there as soon as it opened. As it was, I got there 10 minutes before they opened... and I was not the only parent who decided to do that. There were already 4 other cars parked and waiting. Doors were open a little before opening time but no matter the amount of people in the waiting area, the lady would not begin checking people in until opening time. It lead to a lot of awkward eye contact where she started puttering uselessly about until it was 10 am. My family was clearly new because others knew what to do. You get a bucket/basket and put your shoes/jacket in first. There are no shoes allowed inside the play area. You can bring your own bag/backpack in but - supposedly - you cannot eat outside food inside unless it's food you purchased from them (they offer snacks along the junk food vein, beverages, and I spotted cotton candy). You can eat it in the waiting area or leave for meals. You can return anytime as long as you show the receipt, which I thought wasn't too bad (it's about $22.50 per kid and 2 adults free per kid). They also sell a "stamp card" of 10 plays that was a pretty good deal compared to the $22 each time per kid, but since I wasn't sure how it would go, I didn't want to commit quite yet. I did opt for a play card... they have games, claw machines (play until you win), and cars there that use it. First off: there are loads of tables. A huge amount. I unfortunately didn't take pictures that didn't include my kids, so maybe next time. The place quickly filled up to the point where I thought it was getting to too many kids and the tables still weren't half full. There's a huge play area in the back as well as a toddler/baby section towards the front. My kids, ages 8 and 4, had an absolute blast there. They both stayed in the back. My youngest did think some parts of it were scary and depending on the other kids... just hope they aren't too rowdy or the younger ones may not like it as much. We ended up staying for almost 3 hours, which impressed me. Some notes: - Service is SLOW. There was only one person working there for at least an hour until I finally saw another employee, who mainly focused on making sure the kids were following the rules. - I saw another parent pull out a bag of chips and munch on them within 5 minutes of claiming her table. - The place actually appeared clean. I wouldn't bet on someone coming in a swabbing everything to put under a microscope, but at least it looked clean. Definitely wash your hands before eating regardless. - Based on this visit, I can see it easily getting overly crowded ... especially if there was a party going on. There was no birthday party on the day we went. I do not know if they will control the amount of people entering but I doubt it. Not if they don't already have timed entrances in place. I actually think I would return again but only if we can do it as soon as they open. We don't like crowds. My eldest loved it. My youngest enjoyed it a lot but some might be better for him in a year or so (there are some areas he refused to explore in the back play area) before he's completely okay with everything. They enjoyed the games on the side as well! Perfect to get all their energy out for an entire day, if you end up making it back the same day before they close.

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    The Gravity Vault - Chatham - rock_climbing - Updated September 2026

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