Insight Climbing & Movement — Attraction in Bainbridge Island

I love this gym. Here's why: The routes are really fun. I've been climbing for about 22 years now trad and sport. I know what I like to climb as far as movement and technique. Jason the rest of the setters have made this a really fun place to work on problems and movement. The only thing I would wish for is for them to expand :) But hey, they've only been open for 7 months. The staff is awesome! The folks at IRG make you feel welcome and are always nice and attentive. The camaraderie makes the place a fun place to climb and invites the same of it's members. Safety first! They make sure that you and other climbers are climbing safe. This is absolutely important. Not only for the climber, but everyone around that climber and their group. Anyone who complains about safety checks does not understand our litigious society and the requirements of insurance companies. Honestly, I failed my first belay test because it had been a few years since climbing and I wasn't paying attention to my knot. As bummed as I was, I did not take it personally and had a great time bouldering. Then, I came back and retested the next day and passed. Not a problem! Free coffee! Okay, now this is just an awesome perk. Enough said!

If you are nearby, in Kitsap County or even from Seattle, I think it is well worth dropping in. If you are in North Kitsap County and you climb, join. It is...

I went to Island Rock while visiting family in Bainbridge. I'm not an enthusiast but more of a 1-2x p/yr (or less) climber. The staff was friendly and the climbs were good, with a nice bouldering area at one end. My disappointment came when they wouldn't let me or other in my party belay members in our group. My father is a mountaineer-enthusiast, my brother-in-law a climber, and I go less frequently but have belayed at 3-4 other gyms with no issues. At this gym you have to pass a test to belay (which is good practice) but they offer absolutely no refresher and if you do not pass there is no way to take the test again that day. That last part is what doesn't make sense and it appears they wanted to up-sell us on using one (or more) of their trained belayers. This was extremely inconvenient for our group of 10 and frankly the skillset of those who came was far greater than many of the other customers we saw belaying. I expressed my concern to the owner, and he seemed open to other options in the future but kept saying that we could come back tomorrow and re-test (why on earth is waiting 24 hours required? I don't know)... which wasn't an option given we were there for just a short period of time. Probably a great place for locals, but I would not recommend it...

As most others have stated already, we are very lucky to have Insight and their two gyms on this side of the sound and I will continue to regularly visit. That said, the setting leaves much to be desired. This is particularly true at the bainbridge location. Tweaky awkward movement abounds. In general the hold are old and polished. It’s like a 1990s gym experience. I am also curious as to why they have four of their six true blues resourced to the slab and the only two on vertical terrain are set in locations 2/3rds the height of the main wall. Can we please have one repositioned? I understand the accessibility issue but three on the slab seems sufficient to me. Thanks...