The Hive Bouldering Gym — Attraction in Vancouver

I went to the Hive Vancouver as a complete beginner to climbing. I thought their introduction to bouldering class would be good since it teaches you the basics and also includes a 2 week membership, with rentals, to discover if you actually enjoy bouldering.

The class itself was fine, we learned the basics of safety and simple technique in a secluded spot away from the main area, then went off into the gym to practice what we had learned.

This is where I feel the Hive really lacks and is the reason I will not be extending my two week membership. As many people have mentioned, the gym is very busy, basically at all convenient times. Sure, it may not be busy during typical work hours, but as a person who works 9-5, it basically means it's always busy for me. I am not opposed to busy places, in fact most regular gyms you go to are always busy as well, but in this setting it is quite intimidating as a beginner.

The issue I had is that the Hive has no real way to encourage a beginner to learn and improve. The gym has no beginner area, rather the entire gym can have extremely difficult routes right next to extremely easy routes. As a complete novice in a very busy gym full of what appeared to be expert climbers, I was left totally intimidated. In order for me to climb one of the easiest routes, I would often have to make experienced climbers wait (since the routes often overlap, you can't both climb at the same time). I would be totally embarrassed when I couldn't even complete the super simple routes, to the point I felt really awkward.

You are told to just jump in when someone is finished climbing, which you basically have to do as it's so busy and usually a couple of people are waiting for the same route. There are also many, many people loitering around at any given time, most of them sat or stood watching you climb. Again as a beginner, I couldn't have felt more intimidated. Due to this, when I was climbing I felt pressured and rushed, with no time to focus on technique. It got to the point that I was so uncomfortable climbing in front of experienced people, that I would circle the gym looking for a quiet spot, but there never was any. The gym is just too busy!

I went three times in total and half way through my third visit I just decided it wasn't for me. I never grew comfortable with the setup they had there and spent more than half my time wandering around looking for a quiet spot. While the facilities are certainly great, it seems set up for experienced climbers. I didn't notice too many beginners there in all honesty, and I can see why. The place is very intimidating to a newcomer to climbing. Also, it is quite expensive if you are simply pursuing it out of curiosity. At around $100 a month it's not something you might keep paying for the odd time you go, it's really only passionate climbers that will pay that fee, which is probably why I didn't see many beginners.

If I had one piece of advice, it would be to set up a separate area with easy climbs for beginners to practice on without feeling intimidated...

The Hive has amazing staff and an excellent setting, but I have growing concerns about safety within the facility. Having witnessed several incidents where climbers have landed on others, resulting in injuries, I believe there are some areas where improvements could significantly enhance the safety and overall experience at the gym.

A key aspect that could be improved is the management of space, particularly in high-traffic areas. For instance, the ramp area behind the men’s change room, currently used for storage, could be expanded to create additional wall space. This would help alleviate overcrowding and provide a safer environment for climbers.

In the garage area, there is an opportunity to optimize space by relocating the MoonBoard, campus board, and potentially adding a new spray wall or Kilter Board. Moving these training tools to the garage would not only create more room but also allow for the expansion of the back wall where the MoonBoard and campus board are currently located. This could help reduce overcrowding and enhance the climbing experience by providing additional wall space.

Regarding the existing climbing walls, I suggest starting with the removal of the jut out on the right side of the slab wall. Aligning this wall with the current slab wall would eliminate a known bottleneck where people often walk directly underneath climbers, which poses a serious safety risk.

Additionally, rethinking the use of the mezzanine areas could further improve the gym’s environment. The mezzanine above the women’s washroom, which currently serves as a workout area, could be designated for use by Hornet teams and the general community. Meanwhile, the mezzanine above the men’s washroom, currently used for general storage and staff breaks, could be repurposed as a dedicated space for 16+ members and swarm competitive members. Given the investment members make, having an exclusive area where they can train safely, without the concerns that arise when overcrowding happens, would be a valuable enhancement.

Finally, I would also recommend creating a dedicated break room for the staff. Currently, staff members take their breaks in various areas, including the mezzanine above the men’s washroom. Providing a proper break room would not only improve their working conditions but also free up space that could be better utilized for gym members.

These suggestions are made with the utmost respect for the hard work the management and staff put into maintaining a high-quality gym environment. I believe these adjustments would help ensure that The Hive continues to be a safe and enjoyable space...

Very bad experience, would not recommend for a one-time visit while traveling. Over-crowded with dangerous gym lay-out/setting if you want to try hard/are coming to really climb. The climbers here don’t respect space and the setters set routes with crux moves as if there isn’t 5-10 oblivious people below you. Many people have mentioned tight spaces, which is what it is, but you don’t have to set a comp style finish on a V6 with a 5ft landing area that you know will have 5-10 people gathering?! I would recommend some serious upgrades to gym function.

Background: I’m a V7-8 gym climber and travel for work hitting gyms along the way.

This was my worst experience at a new gym. Booking system, 2hr block not a day pass, liquid chalk, 3 people standing on a soaking wet urinal floor in climbing shoes in the span of changing, the grading system (come on, it’s so lazy to set 1, 3, 5, 7; use the full grading system). Oof.

Constructive criticism: The general population really needs a refresher on where to sit, how not to move/be under climbers, and how and where to queue. The instructors were letting small children fly everywhere (that was a huge surprise). I’d have a mandatory 2min refresher for every climber that checks in for a month to fix these problems. Please reinforce the bathroom climbing shoe problem with severe consequences. Disgusting. I’d suggest tape or lines outlining where a good place to sit is. For example, the small low-top out middle section becomes tight, with folks giving the big wall slab space. You have to tell multiple people to move just to climb this section (no one moved if you started climbing). Provide guidance. I think the spray wall is in a very bad place. No one climbed it while I was there. Use that real estate for problems since there is a lot of space between walls. Move the spray wall to the back, where it’s more empty. The cave V5+ routes all had dynamic comp style finishes. Setters, they looked so rad, but I just couldn’t throw for anything safely because there was a crowd that didn’t understand bad swings. Just overall a shame today. I think everything I brought up really can be fixed with good management....