Edgeworks Climbing Seattle — Attraction in Seattle

Decent gym that shows its age and has a less than ideal membership freeze / cancellation policy.

Joined the gym after moving to Seattle and after being used to a new, modern gym with lower rates, edgeworks took some getting used to. Routes are set often and the mystery rating encourages you to try a route you might not otherwise give a shot. Staff are friendly and the outdoor wall is great on a sunny day!

The main bouldering area is cramped, leaving no room for people to safely sit / stand if there are people climbing on both sides of the room. It also gets very hot during the warm summer months.

The freshly updated side of the bouldering area is great, I appreciate that the gym is making strides in becoming more modern. This side is also much better ventilated.

The top rope walls are solid but every route my partner and I climbed had a rope that felt stiff and we had to really yank it through our grigri. Unsure if that's a specific choice of rope or if they're just older and haven't been replaced yet.

Lastly, the freeze membership policy. I injured myself and needed to freeze my membership but unfortunately Edgework's policy is to charge you for the full month and freeze the membership in the following month. I didn't get conveniently injured on the 29th so I'm stuck paying for the entirety of a month that...

I went in yesterday for the first time to climb with a friend. I've been climbing many times before, but it's been a few years. After checking in and paying (which was way overpriced IMO at $27 for a day pass and rental gear) I was ready to do my belay test. I walked over to a rope with a staff person and she handed me the rope and told me to tie in. I didn't remember what to do because it's been a few years. I thought she was being sarcastic and was just waiting for the joke and then would show me what to do, but nope. They refuse to teach the most basic skills. That constituted a "failure" of the test, and so I wasn't allowed to climb that day.

I was then told that I could always take a class (for $50!), but then I wouldn't be able to climb that day either. They require you wait a day after taking a class before you're allowed up on the wall.

They were rude, uncompromising, and unwelcoming. When I asked why they wouldn't help a newbie learn the sport, they said it was for insurance reasons.

I got a refund and left. I will never be spending money there, and I hope others will reconsider paying this...

Love the 50/50 hybrid combination of top roping and bouldering. This is great for groups where some people are split on what type to do. My review is primarily for bouldering.

Having climbed at SBP for 2 years, I think the route setting here at edgeworks is actually more technically challenging in the best ways. Routes feel a little scarier but I feel like I'm progressing way more here than at SBP. It did take me a few visits to come to this conclusion.

Sounds like top roping here is good for beginners, but if you're only getting into bouldering and want a variety of easier routes to build basic confidence, maybe start with SBP!

Other things to note: The upstairs bouldering is a really unique space. Short and highly technical walls so falling is not as scary. This gym seems to have cleaner air quality than SBP Fremont! Hope it stays that way. Staff and community seem equally friendly, and this location is nowhere near as packed as SBP or Vertical World...