There are days where your regular workout regimen feels a tad too hard to get into. The thought of going to the gym, track or pool doesn’t incite the same enthusiasm it would on any other day, but you don’t feel like calling it quits and settling for the couch and Netflix. To break out of that rut, give bouldering a go.
Bouldering, a ropeless sibling to sport climbing, offers an intensive workout that challenges both body and mind. Every bouldering gym features walls spotted with colour-coded problems of varying difficulty grades that climbers have to overcome. These rarely involve static scaling alone since the sport has evolved to include far more dynamic movements that really test your strength, balance, control, power output, and capacity to solve said problems with solutions that may not be clear-cut.
Anyone who has come near a bouldering wall can testify that the sport does push your body, particularly your upper body strength, in a way you rarely get to within the confines of a regular gym. The best part is that bouldering is for everyone — even amateurs who have never attempted climbing in any form can get into the sport.
To get started, here is a guide to bouldering gyms in Singapore.
OYEYO
Oyeyo is situated in a cosy shophouse along Mackenzie Road. Its three-metre-high bouldering wall is friendly enough for beginners to traverse, with close to 40 problems peppered across its walls to ensure you don’t get bored.
Oyeyo is located at 148 Mackenzie Road, Singapore 228724, +65 6996 2095.
BOULDER MOVEMENT
If you work or live in the CBD, then Boulder Movement is your haven. This swanky bouldering joint in OUE Downtown Gallery features walls totalling 30 metres in length, with 100 square metres of climbing surface to keep you constantly engaged with new problems. Boulder Movement also comes equipped with a fitness corner for you to limber up before you climb, or to improve your skills with specialised equipment.
Boulder Movement is located at #B1-03 OUE Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, Singapore 068815, +65 6817 8340.
KiNETICS CLIMBING
For a bouldering gym that exudes heartland charm, give Kinetics Climbing a shot. This bouldering gym has multiple walls in various configurations, including a cave wall that gets you contorting your body and engaging lesser-used muscles to overcome complex problems. Kinetics Climbing is also home to a store where you can outfit yourself with the necessary gear for climbing if you really get into the sport, including shoes from renowned brands like La Sportiva and Red Chili.
Kinetics Climbing is located at 511 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 218153, +65 6291 5945.
BOULDER+
Boulder+ is one of Singapore’s most comprehensive bouldering gyms. The custom-built bouldering walls include features like a 60-degree overhang to really test those muscles, along with regular slabs that you can try your hand at. There are more than 100 problems that are regularly refreshed, which means you’ll never get bored.
Boulder+ is located at #03-17 The Aperia Mall, 12 Kallang Ave, Singapore 339511, +6282 7530
BOULDER WORLD
Boulder World is Singapore’s largest bouldering gym, so if variety is what you are after when you’re starting out, then head to this sprawling gym. Aside from a plethora of problems for you to explore, with walls coded according to the climber’s level to help you best figure out where to begin your climb. There’s also a Moon Board in the gym, an interactive wall that allows you to toggle your difficulty level of choice, and have the holds light up to show you a suitable route to scale during training stints.
Boulder World is located at 10 Eunos Rd 8, #01-205, Singapore 408600, +65 6917 7783