Singapore Bouldering Gym Review: Boulder Movement Downtown
Also a place I call my home gym in recent times
This post is part of a blog series that looks to review all the bouldering gyms in Singapore for new climbers and foreign visitors alike. Check out the origin article here:
Boulder Movement (BM) Downtown Review
At a glance
Environment: 5/5 - super clean, maxed-out QoL amenities with power plugs, phone tripods, free WiFi, a bar-table, a sofa, on-site showers/toilets/changing rooms, slightly dusty occasionally when the staff forgets to turn on the air purifier
Social experience: 5/5 - white-collar professionals in late twenties/early thirties, mostly beginners, much easier to talk to people here than other gyms
Training experience: 3/5 - lack of climbing-specific training equipment but makes up for it in terms of general gym equipment
Around the area: 4/5 - many 7-11s to get protein and snacks from, Lau Pat Sa for a hearty post-sesh meal, and many (overpriced) watering holes if that’s your kinda thing
In point form
Cosy gym located in the basement of OUE Downtown Gallery
Lower-than-normal walls that are friendly to beginners who might not know how to fall safely in every circumstance yet
Routes are generally compressed with more lateral movement, results in slightly more tanky routes at higher grades
Small overhang section, two slab sections, two ~15 degree incline walls
Demographic tends to be mostly white-collar professionals in their late twenties to early thirties
People coming here tend to be beginners, most are also friendly, and many are the kind who may strike up conversations
General fitness gym equipment is available here
Lacks climbing-specific gym setups like endurance wall/campus boards/kilterboards/spray wall
Food is available around the area at any time of the day this gym is open, albeit a little pricier since it’s the CBD
Avoid weekdays lunchtime + weekdays after 7PM if you dislike crowds, it’s a very chill place to hangout on weekends
Highly recommended gym for beginner levels and cautious tourists
Logistics
Grades: 1-8 petals, with 1s being V0/V1, 2s being V1/2 till 8 which is V7+
Shoe rentals and socks sales available, no chalk rental but you can buy a chalk ball
Download the Boulder Movement app and sign the waiver, pass purchase is also through the app only
One of the few gyms which is crowd-controlled, you’ll need to book a slot, likely in advance to be able to get in
If you’re using someone’s multipass, get them to link you in their app via email and they will have to book the slot for you
Nearest MRTs: Shenton Way (Brown)/Tanjong Pagar (Green)/Downtown (Blue)
Checkout BM’s website/Instagram for routesetting schedule
Checkout BM’s Google Maps place for opening hours
Ask them questions via Instagram DM
Links
Link to Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xuZX4kDM6ck8cLBN6
Link to place on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/102039888294388/boulder-movement
Company website link: https://www.boulderm.com/
Boulder Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bouldermovementsg/
Personal story
This was where my climbing journey as an adult started.
Spent at least 3 months here without shifting gym while I regained all my physical strength lost during the Dark COVID Ages of 2020-2022.
On overall, this is one the gyms that I’d highly recommend for newbies and visitors from abroad. Injuries don’t happen as much because of the low walls, so it’s safer especially if you don’t have travel insurance or don’t know how to boulder safely yet. Just gotta be careful of the additional mats they place on the original mat which can be tripped over easily.
Anyway, as I progressed up the grades, this gym began to lose its appeal over more well-equipped gyms and gyms with higher walls. Routesetting here admittedly gets monotonous after a few months because it lacks moves that force you to go up instead of sideways.
My climbs here have mostly been on weekdays and usually start at 5:30 PM when they open because it’s super-empty (they close from 4:30-5:30 PM for dinner break), and ends at 7:30-8PM when crowd levels peak and it’s almost impossible to get on any route. Since the walls are low and routes use some level of traverse, most routes intersect with another.
The few times that I’ve been here on weekends were super chill. There’s a bartable where I usually do some personal work at while resting in between problems. They have power points and free WiFi.
Climbs here also mostly begin with protein bars from a nearby 7-11 and end up at Lau Pat Sa which is a popular food desitnation for both locals and visitors. Food there is actually decent despite it being an internationally known food place and you can pay via the NTUC app for 10% discount off your meal.
Lastly, gotta say climbers here are diverse and friendly.
I’ve had conversations with a Japanese based in Singapore, a German who was in Singapore for a weekend, an Australian who just shifted to Singapore, and many other locals along the way. Allez culture is strong in this gym, but a drawback to me is the number of people new to climbing who haven’t gained an awareness of climbing etiquette/spidey senses. Results in long waiting times for a route, needing to say “excuse me” to climbers in my fall zone, or pausing on a route to wait for a new climber to finish theirs.
I still come here from time to time for the nostalgia and also to test how strong I’ve become, but if you’re climbing at any level above me (V5 or more) and climb for the challenge, this gym might not satisfy you. Highly recommended otherwise!
Cheers
Till the next review 😀
Got comments/feedback? You can DM me regarding gym bouldering in Singapore at @boulder.joernal on Instagram.