Monobloc La Sagrera — Local services in Barcelona

If you're looking for a new climbing gym to check out, the recently opened Monobloc gym in Barcelona is definitely worth a visit. It has a great selection of new holds, nice-looking slabs, a surprising number of bathrooms, and a decent small training area.

The standout feature of this gym is the Kilter Board. The gym also boasts a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff who are always happy to help out and answer any questions you might have.

However, there is one major downside to this gym that is hard to ignore - the ban on regular chalk. Although the gym allows the use of liquid chalk, many climbers have noted that it can be a less-than-ideal solution. Liquid chalk can cause holds to become slick and difficult to climb on, leading to a less enjoyable experience overall. Additionally, the smell and texture of liquid chalk can be rather unpleasant.

Like many other climbers, I am questioning the decision to ban regular chalk, especially when some of the best gyms in the world, such as the amazing new gym in Austria or the best bouldering gym ever in Munich called Element, continue to use regular chalk without issue. If the gym owner is concerned about cleanliness, it would be a relatively small investment to install a chalk-eater filtration system, which can help capture chalk dust and improve air quality.

In fact, using regular chalk may actually be a better long-term investment for the gym, as liquid chalk can be more damaging to climbing holds over time. By allowing the use of regular chalk, the gym can help ensure that climbers have a great experience while also protecting their valuable equipment.

I was told that the owner of the gym is a real climber, and so I am disappointed to see that they do not step up to the plate on this one by making it a real gym that allows the use of regular chalk, and not just another CrossFit gym dressed up to look like a climbing gym with bunches of colourful climbing holds.

Despite the ban on regular chalk, the new climbing gym is worth checking out for its excellent facilities and welcoming atmosphere. Just be sure to bring your own liquid chalk, or consider suggesting the gym invest in a chalk-eater filtration system to improve the overall climbing experience...

The fact that they have subscriptions in itself is a plus point. The price points are much better for what they offer compared to other gyms.

I understand that using a mobile app might not be a preferable way to utilise the subscription for everyone and some might prefer paper or plastic chip cards. Let’s be realistic, you aren’t doing any good to the environment by using the plastic chip card. It doesn’t take much effort to install an app and use it when you are carrying your phone with you all the time. Until they decide to start using environment friendly alternatives for a chip card (I suggest Monobloc to consider this suggestion) I believe using the app is the way to go. And they can charge couple euros more for those who want a physical card and not use a digital app

Also, I like their liquid chalk. They have...

Very well maintained climbing gym with a ton of great bouldering routes which are updated pretty often. They have lockers and bathrooms both inside and outside the climbing area. They also serve cold drinks and snacks in the little cafeteria. Very much recommended!

EDIT: the RFID card ain't no lie! You need to explicitly ask for it at the counter. You can get it only for subscriptions though, for day passes you still need a QR code or the app.

Only reason why I'm giving a low rating (and I'll update it to 5 stars if this changes) is the fact that you need to have an Android or iOS phone with their app installed to use the subscription plans. If the app was optional, I would give this...