Vertical Endeavors — Local services in Glendale Heights

Update: Changed rating from 3 to 4.

I'm in my third year of Vertical Endeavors membership. My rating is based on that and my experience with 15+ other gyms. I struggled with 3 or 4 stars, after their recent changes to the grading system, but decided on 4. VE has short walls but MANY routes. Even after work, you can find multiple open routes (at least in top rope and lead, autobelays are busy with mostly newer climbers like any gym). The routesetting if often very creative and require solutions/body positions not often needed in other gyms. Though I do not consider myself an absolute authority on what a given route's grade should be, I can say confidently that VE's routes are harder at a given grade than most other gyms. Perhaps they are compensating for the short walls and this used to annoy me. Now, I just enjoy the fact that I can climb a grade or two higher at other gyms. I don't enjoy the bouldering much at VE. The same grade issue exists and I just have more fun bouldering at other gyms, probably due to differences in routesetting and that other gyms use color coded holds to quickly identify problems at your desired range. VE is very welcoming of children and their are frequent large parties there. While I think its great to encourage children to climb and VE has an understandable financial interest in building a larger climbing community, these groups are often dangerously out of control. When not climbing, kids run through the gym, often in herds, running into hanging ropes, under boulderers, and between belayers and the wall. I think this is a combination of limited adult supervision and/or non-climbing parents who don't realize the danger this behavior causes to everyone. Though I think it should be the parent's responsibility to control their children, the staff has to step up when parent's don't. I think this may be getting a bit better lately, so hopefully the staff are trying new tactics. The staff, btw, are generally friendly but some can seem aloof/uninterested, compared to other gyms. A consistent, friendly greeting when you enter the gym would go a long way. VE changed their grading system, as I mentioned earlier. First, they no longer include setters names. This is a shame because I liked the style of certain setters, and I can no longer seek them out. I had heard that this is because a setters in VE MN was threatened by a climber because he was so upset with a route. If true, that is disgraceful and I can see VE would have an interest in protecting their employees. Still, they use setter code names, not real names, so I feel like this could be managed (and hostile climbers should be banned). The bigger change is that they went from an a, b, c, or d grading approach (at 5.10 or higher) to a minus (a/b) or plus (c/d). In the past I'd given feedback to VE that there grades were inconsistent between setters and I know I wasn't the only one. Perhaps they feel that broadening the grade will lead to more consistency. But, when you get to the top of your abilities, a single grade can make a huge difference. I would much prefer the return to the old schema, but allow climbers to vote (perhaps for a week) on the grade before finalizing it, as some gyms do. I was told by one of the gym managers that they don't want to their rating criteria to be skewed by these votes. While I can partially understand this, I ultimately can't accept this argument. No one says the gym MUST take the average grade from climber input and make it the final grade. It's just an input to make their final decision. I've spoken with a few routesetters who acknowledge the route grade may not be as intended, especially when the route they set is well below the top end of their climbing abilities. VE seems to be doing a version of community input by not putting a grade on the route initially, so I think there is some feedback being considered. I've been asked 2-3 times, which I appreciate. But, this doesn't seem to be very scientific or inclusive. An initial setter grade, followed by written votes, would be better...

This is a great place to go for climbers of all ages and experience levels. I've seen kids, families, college students, parents and grandparents here, all having a great time!

At your first visit, you get a short orientation and can get any questions you have answered, and then you're free to climb! They rent shoes and harnesses, or you can bring your own gear. It is $18 for a day pass (if you bring your own shoes and harness), and if you decide you love it as much as I do, you can get a month pass for $65/month. :)

This location has auto-belay devices for about a quarter to a third of its' routes, meaning you can show up by yourself (or with a group that isn't belay certified) and still get a great climb in. If you want to belay a friend, you do need to take a belay test through this facility. I think it is free.

There are so many routes here. The facility is the biggest I've ever been to (to be fair, I've been to only 3 or 4 rock gyms...). They offer belay climbing, auto belay climbing, and lead climbing (with certification tests for belaying and lead climbing). They also have 2 bouldering walls. In my opinion, much of the bouldering is too difficult for beginners, but there are several belay and auto-belay climbing routes that beginners could complete. Also, the routes are very clearly marked and color-coded.

This gym always seems to have upcoming special events and classes. It seems like a great community to get involved in!

I would totally recommend this place to anyone who likes to climb, or anyone who wants to try climbing for the first time in a beginner-friendly...

Went to surprise my 7y old for his bday. Read the first time climbers info and made a reservation for the kids. Upon arrival i found out I had to pay for myself to be in the building to watch the kids climb, and then we all had to rent their shoes."Because of covid." (Not at all clearly stated on their site) That's a huge chunk of extra $ I hadn't planned to spend. Things were confusing as to where we wait and where the orientation was for first timers. We finally got on the wall and staff had approached us a few times about the kids masks slipping down past their nose. (These are not athletic masks) They are 7. They are climbing and being active kids and trying to have fun. I tried to keep reminding them gently to cover their noses, but they would come off on the wall, and when the got off the staff would come say something. After about and hour the kids asked if we could leave and go to a park. They seemed to be anxious about the masks and didn't seem to be enjoying themselves as much. This was not a crowded day by any means and we were social distanced from people the whole time.

I myself was extremely frustrated but kept a good face for my kids big day and said nothing negative. This place was NOT a good fit for our family and I was so very frustrated and felt i was completely mislead about the services and pricing. I also felt like they were being nit-picky about the kids masks unnecessary and caused anxiety for them on what was supposedto be a fun special day. Just our experience, I won't return with my kids till their covid restrictions are removed...