Gravity Vault Marin — Local services in San Rafael

Like someone else said, the route setting isn't good. The brands of holds they use are the most standard you'll see in any gym. They don't seem to mix it up with anything new.

They have short walls for rope climbing, quite a few top rope and lead routes, 8 auto belays, and not much bouldering. They do have a Kilterboard but the angle is broken/stuck at the moment.

They have three showers, one in men's, women's, and a family room in the center that I have noticed they cone off towards the end of the night, probably because it appears they have their gym staff cleaning instead of having a crew come in at night. The showers don't have a splash guard at the feet so it's hard not to get water all over, which makes you feel a bit guilty for taking a shower.

Another note about their staff cleaning; two hours before they closed, they were vacuuming the mats while people were working on some boulder problems. Even if there was a chalk a spill, which there wasn't, leave it for after hours! I've never seen this at a gym before. The same night a guy was cleaning the stairs and was told to be careful going down because they were wet. Really?

Crazy because they are really strict about legal related things. They thoroughly test you out for rope climbing, which is understandable, but they also have to check you in and sign a waiver every single time you visit. Incredibly annoying and I've never experienced this in a gym before anywhere on the west coast and I've been to gyms in every larger city.

Overall it's convenient to not go to the east bay or city to climb at the far superior gyms, but I really don't like how they do...

kind of a funky approach from the main road; feels like you either have to turn into a bike/pedestrian path or the train tracks (it’s the bike path)

pros: so far it feels local despite being affiliated with yet another big chain. a little more old school where a lot of the traffic is kids bday parties instead of throngs of tech bros. A/C is killer on a hot summer day. some good/interesting angles on the walls, bright & cozy lighting, good facilities and staff.

cons: the initial bouldering set was very reachy (im not a short climber @ 5’9”) but that and the grading should shake out once their staff setters settle in. kinda wish they had a sauna. space is a bit small so they could probably set denser to compensate (also seems like there’s a ton of empty space on the lot for an expansion??) wish they had a sauna.

all in all, glad Marin has a climbing gym again! this place has great bones and i plan on...

Don't waste your time and make the drive to Planet Granite in the City. Ever since Class Five closed, we've been waiting for a climbing gym in Marin, but sadly Gravity Vault falls short in some critical ways. First and foremost - the HOURS. Seriously, please open a little earlier for those of us who work full-time and would like to climb before work. PG opens at 6am weekdays and 8am weekends, yet Gravity Vault opens at 9AM (WHAT?) and is charging MORE than PG. Climbing before work in an uncrowded gym is not an option here. They also make you sign a waiver EVERY TIME you enter the gym, regardless of membership, and you can't scan yourself in they have to stop you and get on the system and it's a major slow down. Also, there is no elevator to the upper level which prohibits access in many ways. Time to up your game,...