I loved the Pad. They had free rentals with their daily passes and plenty of routes for bouldering and top roping. They also have a place to do work and a dance studio. Clean bathrooms too. Great climbing gym. read more

Fun activity for adults and kids alike! The Pad is a Co-Op climbing gym, which means climbers are also the owners. They vary the climbing routes regularly, staff provide a thorough introduction (Special thanks to Scout!), and the facility is clean and neat. Shoe rentals, chalk bags, and harnesses are included in your day pass/membership. Kids under 7 are free with a member. One side is bouldering (no rope) and the other side had automatic and manual belays. I'd never tried an auto belay and it was AWESOME. They also have a weight room and small cardio area. Come workout while the kids climb! Or come for a fun day out of the weather. read more

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Great gym! Great routes, clean, big, friendly staff and community! Visited this gym when I was vacationing in SLO, I was super excited to try this gym out and had a great time! read more

Hey this gym is great!, little cold for my taste but maybe I'm a baby. Was helped by Emma and Evan throughout the day and both were down to earth and professional to the fullest. Climbed just about everything besides auto belays and I appreciated the safety checks for the top rope and lead test. There were some kids running around in the bouldering area which I personally don't like for safety purposes but it wasn't happening on a consistent basis. Would recommended to others when in the area and plan to come back in the future when I drive through the area :) read more

Pretty good routes, though generously rated compared to NorCal gyms. Some are basically just creative pull ups, but there are creative routes in the mix. Would be 4-5 stars, but it seems they have fired their janitor. The gym floors has gotten filthier and filthier this year, which is a bit disappointing because they used to keep it pretty clean. Brought it up to the staff, but was rudely dismissed, another newer problem with the gym that didn't used to exist (ruder/less friendly staff in general) read more

The Pad Climbing San Luis Obispo - Filthy floors - Gyms Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Stoked that SLO has a climbing gym and that it's a great gym. Wall room is big and has a nice variety of routes. A couple more auto belays would be nice. Two regular gym areas for resistance training and cardio, and a campus/climbing specific area as well. Kid friendly gym with auto belays on a kid wall. Tons of college students. Lounge area with WiFi to study or chill. Parking can get pretty impacted in peak hours. Try Pizza Republic two blocks away it's perfect for after a climbing session. read more

Super dope! Place to be yourself and climb a very wide variety of routes. Has awesome member benefits.

Had an absolute BLAST climbing here with my fiancé! Easily the most fun I've ever had climbing. There are many routes for people of all skill levels. The building is essentially two massive rooms, one for rope climbing and one for bouldering! Plus there's even some classic gym equipment like benches, dumbbells, barbells, a squat rack, and pull-up bars! Would definitely recommend getting membership here if you like climbing or if you're just looking to put a new spark in your fitness routine. My ONLY complaints: I wish there was no reservation system so that I could climb any time. And I wish there were more automatic belay routes in the rope climbing area. read more

Good routes, nice staff, poor grading. It was a good atmosphere but the routes were graded very softly. Soft grading is bad grading. Even my ego was becoming inflated after I climbed a grade, sometimes two, harder than I would have. read more

Our son attended one of the climbing g camps at the pad, over the summer, and he loved it. So our son has birthday in January and we reserved the birthday package which turned out to be a great experience. We paid $375 which entailed a two hour window of time which included the following: - 10 climbers included in the package (includes parents if they want to climb) - two coaches assigned to the party for the entire session -1-1/2 hours of climbing time - climbing harnesses and shoes are included in the deal - a party space for the food and celebration With the above, the ten kids had a blast. Each kid was given time with the two coaches during fitting and the climbing. The two ladies who were assigned to the party were great. They were patient with the kids and cordial and patient with the parents as well. The facility as well is awesome. There is no shortage of climbing walls at varied difficulties. From what I could tell they did a great job of keeping the space clean as well. I'm personally too gravitationally challenged to climb myself but I won't hesitate to take our son there for either their camps, classes, or just to climb. read more

The Pad Climbing San Luis Obispo - Gyms Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Wanted to check this place out because it was the closest gym to our Airbnb. It was definitely worth the hour drive to get here! The staff were incredibly nice and helpful, especially Evan and Emma. The environment of the gym is super comfortable with a lot of variety for bouldering and lead climbing. Felt very homey and welcomed even though it was my first time here. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a new gym to try out! read more

Outstanding!! This spot makes SLO stronger, healthier and more fun. Great routes, always updating and getting better. Clean, safe, fresh air. Staff is wonderful, helpful and happy. Plenty of great gear to borrow. Nice clientele. If you're thinking to go -- GO!! read more

Dope climbing gym, I only boulder there and the route were awesome. I was travelling from San Francisco, and it was raining so I was stoked to find an high end gym in the area. I had a lot of fun there, the route are very different, with a broad range of difficulty, and some of them are really fun! read more

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I am very impressed with The Pad. I am a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters and The Pad was generous enough to let us both climb. It was a first time for both of us and seeing the thrill on my little sister's face when she made it to the top and then propelled down was really special. I pretty much had to drag her out. I greatly appreciate the opportunity The Pad provided me and my Little as well as other local Bigs and Littles. read more

The staff here rocks! Thane is an awesome instructor and great with kids. Jacob is super helpful and bent over backwards helping me find the right size merch for their 50% off sale. They seriously brightened our day! The facilities is COVID friendly-spaced out very well, masks on at all times. Clean bathrooms, equipment, and organized! We are lucky to have them in the SLO community!! read more

Crazy fantastic climbing gym! Super clean, countless climbing walls, and beyond friendly staff. We showed up with a party of 11 (family reunion). Some of us are professional climbers, most are new to climbing, and three are little kids. Literally everyone had a great time! Thank you! We will come back soon! read more

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There new location is such an improvement over SLO-Op. The bouldering area is larger and there is an equal size top rope and lead climbing area on the other side. The routes are changed regularly and some routes have interesting moves. The membership typically includes 24/7 access to the bouldering, but this is not fully open yet due to some construction delays as of 5/18. There are two yoga studios with both Barre and Yoga. There is a smaller free weights area above the bouldering which gives a nice view from above. The only downsides right now are the limited parking, and limited bathrooms. As mentioned above this is due to construction delays and will be improved soon. Parking will likely always struggle due to the location and popularity. read more

This place is epic! Really above expectations. It's a must see, great service and atmosphere. Would really recommend. To top it all of the place is flooded with Cal Poly talent! read more

Super disappointed in our experience. Staff showed a complete lack of regard for the safety of our child.

The Pad is a fun place for all ages. They have a friendly, upbeat staff. They are great with kids. The staff is very conscientious of safe climbing and teaches kids the rules while also giving them climbing tips. The Pad is fun atmosphere to burn off energy and get a great workout in at the same time! Great pricing as well. read more

The Pad Climbing San Luis Obispo - Gyms Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I Took my kids to check it out Wednesday and got a complimentary 10 day pass for both of them and they started climbing within minutes! They also went today after school & came home ready to wind down! So fun for both of them and my sons learning patience since he doesn't wanna fall after reaching so far up!! read more

The Pad Climbing San Luis Obispo - Gyms Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

This gym is amazing. Tons of bounding problems and rope routes, plus 2 areas with free weights. Having 24/7 access is a huge plus. Zero smugness here, always good people and good vibes at The Pad. read more

I dropped by this gym for the first time today, and have to say this is the best I have ever been to. The staff members were super friendly, yet still were professional when it came to getting us set up. The environment was great, and so big that there were plenty of places to explore and enjoy. There was even a whole area just for smaller kids (not present late at night when we were there). I loved the thick bouldering mats. Despite the fact that I was obviously a total novice climber and 30 years older than almost everyone else there, there was no attitude from the expert climbers with negative percent body fat. The other climbers were nice. read more

Very excited for The Pad - SLO during their soft opening and am looking forward to the 24/7 hours for members!

Great setting, friendly staff, welcoming community . Just visited from out of town and I love this gym! Excited to return when I'm in the SLO area. read more

This is one of the best climbing gyms I have been to! There are really good vibes with super friendly members and staff. I instantly felt welcomed when I stopped in to get a day pass while passing through SLO on a trip up the coast. A day pass includes access to the climbing/bouldering areas, slackline, and even the yoga classes for the day! It was a well-worth stop on the road and I will definitely be back next time I am in the area! read more

This is a great way to work out and tone your upper body. If you are a visitor, you can bring the entire family for a climb with auto catch systems for kids and even some adult courses. For $15 for a day pass it's great. Better yet, it has a gym for those who don't climb. I find this to be the most fun way to work out. read more

This place is, hands-down, the best climbing gym at which I've ever climbed. Here are the things I like about it most: 1. LOTS OF CHOICES. For those who don't know, bouldering is a type of rock climbing that doesn't involve ropes, because the height of the "problems" (i.e., bouldering routes) are so short, and the setup so safe (i.e., the floor is thickly padded), that ropes are unnecessary. Personally, the only kind of climbing I do is indoor bouldering, because I like the convenience of not having to climb with a partner, the safety of not having to worry about acts of nature or equipment problems (however rare they might be), and the comfort of not having to scare myself by climbing high. The Pad has a huge room, dedicated exclusively to bouldering problems. They also have a huge room, dedicated exclusively to roped routes. So whatever you prefer -- bouldering alone, roped climbing alone, or a mix of the two -- you will have lots of choices. By contrast, some gyms have tons of bouldering problems, and only a handful of roped routes -- or vice versa -- which can limit those who prefer one style of climbing over the other. 2. FUN FOR ALL LEVELS. Bouldering problems are graded from V0 to V17. The lead route-setter at The Pad -- i.e., the main guy who screws in the holds -- a guy named Joe -- told me that he considers the jump from V2 to V3 to be the dividing line between beginner and intermediate. I'm right on that dividing line. The V2's and V3's I've climbed (or attempted to climb) provide the perfect level of challenge, for me. At the same time, my nephew, his mother, my brother, and my friend are completely new to climbing. They seem to find the V0's at The Pad to be the perfect level of challenge for them. Everyone I've seen at this gym seems to be having a good time. 3. ACCURATE GRADING. At first, I was bothered that the bouldering problems didn't have pluses and minuses (e.g., V1+, V2-), as some climbing gyms have. Over time, though, I came to appreciate this omission (which Joe told me was intentional), because pluses and minuses can (in my experience) be frustratingly subjective. Last time I climbed, I was able to ascend all of the V2's at The Pad, but none of the V3's. The fact that there were zero V2's that I *couldn't* ascend, and zero V3's that I *could* ascend, indicated to me that the grading is very accurate. 4. 24/7 ACCESS FOR MEMBERS. Members get a keycard, which opens the door, 24/7. No need to wait until staff gets in, to start climbing! 5. SINGLE-COLOR PROBLEMS/ROUTES. Every hold in each problem/route has the same color. I've climbed at gyms before that used holds of multiple colors, in each problem/route -- which meant they had to use colored tape flags, to mark each hold in each problem/route. Doing away with tape flags makes it much easier to know which holds I can use, and makes for a much cleaner wall. I imagine that doing it this way means they have to buy more holds, which means more expense, on their part. The owners' willingness to make this investment is something I *really* appreciate. 6. EXEMPLARY CUSTOMER SERVICE. The staff, here, couldn't be friendlier. Every staff member from whom I requested advice, regarding how to complete a problem ("beta," in climbing lingo) offered it readily -- even when I was halfway up the wall. Also, the lead route-setter (Joe) generously offered me training tips, on numerous occasions. 7. FAIR POLICIES. The Pad has an explicit policy (listed on their website), saying that they will immediately freeze a member's membership, if and when that member gets injured -- meaning members don't have to pay, while they heal. I love climbing at The Pad so much, that I got overly excited, when they started their 24/7 member access. I immediately went from climbing once a week, to climbing once a day. Eleven days later, I developed tendonitis -- which is not terribly surprising, because my body clearly wasn't ready for that level of activity. A week later, I asked the staff to suspend my annual membership. I was told that this was the first time a member had asked to suspend an annual membership (as opposed to a monthly membership). With approval from the owner, and help from the website/database developers, the staff figured out how to suspend my membership -- and did so retroactively, to the date I got injured. 8. GENEROUS OWNERS. I won't go into detail, here, because I don't want to give people ideas about how they might take advantage of the honest, hard-working owners of this gym, but I will say this: I found myself in a bit of a pickle, with regard to a matter concerning my membership, at one point. I asked the co-owner (Kristin) whether she'd be willing to help me out, out of the goodness of her heart, which required some sacrifice on her part. She would have been well within her rights to have told me, "too bad," or to simply ignore my request -- but instead, she bestowed on me a significant act of charity, with zero hesitation. read more

Unprofessional, Not ran by real climbers, money driven, No 24/7 like advertised.

I signed up for a month to try it and wasnt for me, way too crowded and no 24/7 like advertised. its an ok gym but 1 star for being a very unprofessional business as for I purchased a 1 month to try out the gym only to find out I been set up on a recurring payment so its been charging 3 months with out me even going to the gym. Now most other companies handle this part well but The pad bassically said screw me nothing I can do I should of looked at the fine print while I was rushed to sign up.. Oh well RIP $180 of mine, hope you enjoy it read more

My teen went to The Pad in SLO for a birthday party and went back with a friend recently for day use. We completed the waiver online and arrived late morning so parking wasn't an issue. The front desk staff was efficient and helpful and the vibe toward beginning climbers was awesome. The layout of the gym is good, with many levels of difficulty courses throughout. I took a few videos, but mostly stayed in their lounge which is comfortable and has free WiFi and coffee. All of the staff were encouraging to them as beginners to the sport! I'm positive we will return. read more

The Pad climbing gym offers a unique and engaging gym unlike any other in our area. The route setting there is top quality thanks to a talented crew of setters and the head route setter is a world-class climber athlete right here in SLO town. Climbing keeps you mentally engaged, having fun, and coming back for more since it has an addictive quality: you find yourself wanting to solve that puzzle and finish the climbing route! Meanwhile you are getting in great shape without really noticing the effort and without the dread of feeling like you are toiling away pumping weights or running on a treadmill. You end up wanting to go the gym instead of it feeling like a chore. Unlike other gym fitness activities, it is not monotonous. It is fun and offers endless variety, limitless potential to get better, and opens the door to adventures outdoors. The community of climbers there is welcoming and the yoga classes rock too! Change your life for the better and try it out. read more