Shouts of “allez, allez, allez” ring in my ears. I’m up on the wall, just one dyno away from sending my first Flux 1. With most of my body weight balanced on a tiny foothold…I leap.
Bouldering is taking Singapore by storm. I got introduced to it during reservist training when my buddies invited me to join them. They brought me to Ark Bloc—the open-air bouldering/callisthenics/strongman mega gym.
Scaling those rocks was unlike anything I had ever done before. Bouldering is the primal act of climbing, managing the risk of falling, conquering your fear of heights, and solving the puzzle of each route—all wrapped in one activity.
For someone who sits on a cushy chair with an ultra-wide monitor, a mechanical keyboard, and the aircon on full blast for 70% of my waking hours, this was the Yin to my Yang.
And I’m not the exception. Today, there are over 30 bouldering gyms in Singapore. In contrast, there are just 17 bouldering gyms in the whole of The Phillipines—a country 417 times bigger than our little red dot. Needless to say, we’re spoilt for choice.
The Ultimate Guide to Bouldering in Singapore
What’s bouldering all about?
What’s the bouldering grading system like?
How much does it cost to start bouldering in Singapore?
What are bouldering gym pricing structures like?
What are bouldering gym rates in Singapore?
My top 5 favourite bouldering gyms in Singapore
What should I know before bouldering for the first time?
Is bouldering an Olympic sport?
What’s bouldering all about?
If you don’t know, you must be living under a rock (pun intended).
Bouldering is indoor rock climbing. There are 2 disciplines within indoor climbing:
Top Rope
This involves climbing with a rope and harness. Some climbing gyms have an automatic belay system (where a machine manages the role as you climb), while others use manual belay (a person manages the rope for you as you climb). With top rope, there’s generally no consequence to falling, as you’ll be held up safely by the rope.
Bouldering
This is bare-bones climbing. No rope, no harness, nothing. You wear climbing shoes and scale the walls. With bouldering, walls are usually shorter (about 5m high compared to about 8m for top rope).
There are thick mats on the ground, to comfort you when you fall—and you will fall.
It’s a full-body workout and one of the most exhilarating things a person in our hyper-urbanised city can do. The sense of achievement you get from advancing through the grades is second to none.
What’s the bouldering grading system like?
Okay, this is where things get a little complex.
Every climbing gym has its own self-invented grading system. It’s like having 30 different units of measurement.
Boulder Movement, for example, will go from grade 1 to 20, which covers beginners and intermediate climbers, and then it goes from Flux 1 to Flux 5 for advanced climbers.
At another bouldering gym called Fit Bloc, they use little battery icons, and it goes from 1 bar (easiest) to 5 bars (hardest).
But don’t worry about all that. Because there is one standard grading system that can be used for comparison, and it’s called “V Grade”.
Here’s a table of the V Grade system.
Experience level
Grade
Beginner
VB
V0
V1
Intermediate
V2
V3
Advanced
V4
V5
Expert
V6
V7
V8+
Most bouldering gyms will have a chart that compares their grades to the V Grade system. Here’s an example from Boulder Movement:
[insert chart from Boulder Movement]
So, what happens if you get really, really good at bouldering?
Is bouldering an Olympic sport?
Yes, it is! Bouldering made its debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, making it one of the newest Olympic sports.
In the Olympic bouldering competition, each athlete attempts four bouldering problems (routes). They get a 5-minute time limit for each problem.
The goal is to climb each problem as quickly as possible. And climbers are awarded a “top” or “zone” hold, depending on the point in the route that they reach. A “top” hold is a full completion of the problem and is worth the most points.
The winner will be the climber with the most points at the end of the competition.
How much does it cost to start bouldering in Singapore?
Bouldering isn’t a cheap sport
[get designers to illustrate an infographic of the money spent on bouldering equipment]
Spending a bomb is optional
Within two weeks of entering the world of bouldering, I was down $570. And I just ordered a new pair of shoes because mine started splitting (bad footwork).
But don’t get me wrong. Spending a bomb on bouldering gear is (somewhat) optional—after all, you could rent climbing shoes for $5. Or get cheap shoes at Decathlon for just $50.
Once you’re hooked, though, you’ll probably want some decent gear.
What are bouldering gym pricing structures like?
And now we come to the non-negotiable costs of bouldering—entry passes.
Bouldering gyms operate like your usual fitness gyms. You’ve got a single-entry fee, multi-passes, and season passes (unlimited entries).
Generally, people go for single entries. It’s just more fun rotating between different gyms around Singapore. And it’s easier to schedule climbs with friends when you’re not tied down to one branch or location.
What are bouldering gym rates in Singapore?
Climbing Gym
Single Entry
Multipass x 5
Multipass x 10
Monthly rate (unlimited access)
Location(s)
Boulder Movement (All 5 outlets)
$30
$135
$200
$118
Bugis, Downtown, Rochor, Suntec, Tai Seng
BFF Climb (Bukit Timah only)
$23.76
$102.60
$183.60
$97.20 (+$100 initiation fee)
Bukit Timah
BFF Climb (Both outlets)
$27
$118.80
$205.20
$140.40 (+$100 initiation fee)
Bukit Timah, Bendemeer
Adventure HQ
$32.30-$52.49
Nil
Nil
Nil
Khatib
Upwall Climbing (Both outlets)
$22
$100
$180
$80
Pasir Ris, Changi
Ark Bloc
$28
Nil
$168
$90 (+$50 initiation fee)
Punggol
b8A
$22
$93
$158
$88 (+$88 joining fee)
Tampines
boruda
$30
$125
$200
$110 (+$98 registration fee)
Alexandra
Boulder+ (Both outlets)
$28
Nil
$200
$110 (+$100 activation fee)
Kallang, Boon Lay
Boulder Planet (Both outlets)
$30
$125
$200
$110 (+$98 registration fee)
Sembawang, Tai Seng
Boulder World
$25
$120
$200
$90 (+$50 initiation fee)
Orchard
Climb Central (All 4 outlets)
$27 ($37.80 for first-timers)
$113.40
$205.20
$194.40
Kallang, Novena, Funan, Katong
Fit Bloc (Both outlets)
$28
Nil
$180
$80 (+$100 initiation fee)
Science Park Drive, Depot Road
Ground Up Climbing
$22
$100
$180
Nil
CSC @ Tessensohn
Kinetics Climbing
$19 (+$5 registration fee)
$85
$150
$125
Serangoon
Lighthouse Climbing
$24
$110
$200
$100 (+$68 initiation fee)
Pasir Panjang
Origin Boulder
$26
$120
$200
$148 (+$88 initiation fee)
Cross Street Exchange
OYEYO Boulder Home
$18 (+$10 registration fee)
$80
$140
Nil
Little India
SAFRA Adventure Sports Centre
$17.85
Nil
$129.60
Nil
Yishun
T-Hall.sg
$28
$130
$220
$100
Lavender
The Rock School (Both outlets)
$17
$80
$150
$59 (+$80 activation fee)
Tampines, Changi Airport
Z-Vertigo Boulder Gym
$17
Nil
$140
$100
Bukit Timah
My top 5 favourite bouldering gyms in Singapore
1. Best for beginners: Boulder Movement OUE
This cosy little place is perfect for newbies because the walls are considerably shorter than other gyms like Fit Bloc and Ark Bloc (almost half the height). The lower the walls are, the more comfortable you’ll be climbing them—because you won’t fear falling as much. If you struggle with heights, this is the place for you. There are lots of lower-grade routes to pick from too.
Caveat: the gym is located smack in the middle of the CBD, so expect a bigger crowd from 5.30 pm onwards.
Address: 6A Shenton Way, #B1-03 Downtown Gallery, 068815
Phone number: 6816 6001
Website: https://www.boulderm.com/locations/our-gyms/downtown
Rates: $30 for single entry
2. Best for Instagrammable climbing clips: BFF Climb Bendemeer
Imagine walking into a candy crush game—and then you get to climb the candy. That’s what BFF is like. The whole place is popping with colour: bright pink, orange, green, and purple. If you like filming climbing clips, you’ll love BFF.
The place is huge too. It’s divided into a small section for beginners (low walls), the main bouldering area (which is massive), and a top rope segment.
Address: 2 Kallang Ave, #01-20 CT Hub @ Kallang, Singapore 339407
Phone: 9649 4145
Website: https://bffclimb.com/boulderzone
Rates: $27 for single entry
3. Best for adrenaline junkies: Fit Bloc Kent Ridge
Want to train yourself out of your fear of heights? Head to Fitbloc.
The walls here can be about double the height of smaller gyms like Boulder Movement OUE or Origin Boulder. And dynos (moves that require you to leap to the next hold) are incorporated heavily into the routes.
With a single entry pass, you’ll get to use their gym too (it’s a full-facility gym with power racks).
Address: 87 Science Park Dr, #03-02 The Oasis, Singapore 118260
Phone: 6612 2046
Website: https://fitbloc.com
Rates: $28 for single entry
4. Best for those who just want to have fun: Origin Boulder
This unique climbing gym has no grading numbers listed on the walls. It completely changes the bouldering experience, because climbers usually stick within their grade level and try to advance to the next one.
By not listing grades next to each route, you’re encouraged to try routes you would ordinarily avoid.
Don’t worry, though, if you really want to check out the grade of a route, you can do so with a tablet positioned in the middle of the gym.
Address: 18 Cross Street Cross Street Exchange B1-117 & B1-118, 048423
Phone: 8818 6879
Website: https://originboulder.sg
Rates: $26 for single entry
5. Best for those looking to do more than boulder: Ark Bloc
Most people’s jaws would drop upon entering Ark Bloc. This isn’t any ordinary climbing gym. There are callisthenics, strongman, CrossFit, and bouldering facilities all in one place. And you get to access all of these with a single entry pass—it’s a paradise for fitness fanatics.
There’s no aircon though, so if you come during the daytime, prepare to sweat.
Address: 6 Tebing Ln, #01-05, Singapore 828835
Phone: 8022 1480
Website: https://arkbloc.com
Rates: $28 for single entry
What should I know before bouldering for the first time?
There are 2 points to take note of before your first bouldering session.
1. Bouldering Etiquette
If you boulder during peak hours, which is usually after 5.30 pm, the bouldering gym is going to be a bustling place. People will sit behind the problems they want to attempt and wait for their turn.
There’s no queue system or first-come-first-serve etiquette going on here. Once the problem is free, just go for it.
People are super friendly and cordial. So if two climbers move for the problem at the same time, both will usually give way to each other. And whoever is closer can go.
Now here’s an important point to note: before you start climbing, make sure that your chosen problem doesn’t intersect with what another climber is currently working through.
Look through all the holds from start to finish and ensure that you won’t end up clashing with someone else on the wall. You don’t want someone’s foot in your face (I’ve seen this happen).
2. Bouldering Lingo
You’re going to hear a lot of weird words like “allez”, “crimp”, “jug”, and “dyno”. It’ll be helpful to familiarise yourself with some climbing terminology before your first session.
Allez
Allez is the French expression for “come on”. Just like “jiayou” in Chinese.
Crimp
A small hold that requires you to pull with your fingertips
Dyno
Short for “dynamic movement”, usually involving a leap to reach the next hold
Flash
When you complete a problem on the first attempt
Heel hook
A climbing technique, where you use your heel on a hold
Hold
Any rock on the climbing wall
Jug
A secure hold large enough for the hand to fit inside
Match
Shifting both hands or feet onto the same hold
Pinch
A small hold that requires a pinching action to climb
Pocket
A small hold in the rock that only has space for a few fingers
Problem
Any climbing route
Project
A climbing route that you are trying (with effort) to send
Send
To successfully ascend (complete) the problem
Sit start
A problem that requires you to start in a seated position
Sloper
A hold that is smooth and sloping
Thinking of which bouldering gym to try out next? Or looking to introduce newbies to bouldering? Share this article with your friends!
P.S. If you’re wondering if I completed the Flux 1, I didn’t. The final hold was a sloper, and I slipped off.
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