Singapore Bouldering Gym Review: Boulder Movement Tai Seng
The BM outlet to become a regular at (IMO)
This post is part of a blog series reviewing all the bouldering gyms in Singapore targeted at new climbers and foreign visitors. Check out the origin article here:
Boulder Movement (BM) Tai Seng Review
At a glance
Environment: 5/5 - As clean as climbing gyms get (as with all BM outlets). Majority of the outlet is also a fish tank which means lots of sunlight from outside which is nice especially during daylight-hour climbs. Onsite toilets, changing rooms, and showers available and there are also tables with power outlets to get some work done. There’s also free parking as well at 18 Tai Seng after 5PM on weekdays.
Social experience: 5/5 - Like other BMs, the community is strong and vocal. Expect allezes. People coming here tend to have some climbing experience as well given it’s in a relatively heartland place compared to the other BM outlets. Seems like there’s also regulars here which helps in getting to know people if you become a regular yourself.
Training experience: 5/5 - For my level at least, the equipment here is more than enough. No board-climbing available but there’s a nice endurance wall with 3 levels of difficulty, the whole range of commercial walls, campus boards, hangboards, and climbing-specific gym equipment. Also just my opinion but routes here tend to be more technical — not necessarily “harder” tho — than the other BM outlets.
Around the area: 4/5 - Super wide variety of food to choose from from vegetarian (Leaf Corner), to the typical heartland mall restos (eg Gyudon/LJS/Malatanguo), to famous coffee places (Alchemist) to the whole BreadTalk-owned set of restos including DTF. Nothing much asides from food tho, this place is at the heart of an industrial estate.
In point form
Modern-feeling gym located at the edges of an industrial estate with natural sunlight during daylight-hours that feels good to climb at in the day
Conveniently located. It’s just above Tai Seng MRT (Orange line), and also the building has a Guardian to get tape from and a 7-11 that will bait you in pre-sesh with a protein snack selection (walk past it to get to Betagro chicken breasts :D)
Can get quite cold because they usually turn on both air-conditioning and fans
Routesetting style trends towards being more technical than other BMs but not necessarily harder physically
Features roughly equal servings of overhang, incline, straight, and slab walls
~20(?) degree inclined endurance wall
Climbing-focused gym equipment available, up to around 40-50kg weight plates are available (IIRC)
Campus boards and decent selection of hangboards available
Tables and chairs and sofas with power points to chill at/get some work done at
Demographics are quite diverse, generally most climbers here aren’t experiencing their first climb and there are usually a group or two of good climbers
Noticed this gym also has more regulars than the other BM outlets, might be a good place to get to know climbers if you’re the kind that needs to see someone a few times before saying hi
Usually at it’s most crowded in the evenings after work, and the space is very bearable at it’s most crowded as compared to other gyms
Lots of good food nearby for pre/post workout snacks/meals
Free parking at the building after 5PM on weekdays if you’re driving
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
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, two slots are avaialble each day, 11 AM - 4:30PM, and 5:30PM - 10PM.
If you’re using someone’s multipass, get them to link you in their app via email, they will have to book the slot for you
Free parking at 18 Tai Seng (the building this gym is in) after 5 PM on weekdays
Nearest MRTs: Tai Seng (Orange Line)
Checkout BM’s website/Instagram for routesetting schedule
Checkout BM’s Google Maps place for opening hours
Ask them questions via Instagram DM
Links
Personal Story
If you’d read the previous pieces, you’d know I was exclusive to BM during my first year climbing as an adult. BM Tai Seng was the second climbing gym I went to, mainly because it’s close to where I stay.
Tbh started coming here to get over my fear of higher bouldering walls after experiencing BFF once and not daring to do much there.
This gym is also where I sent my first V4 (or Flux 1 as it was previously known at BM) and IMO it’s mainly because there’s a noticeably higher focus on technical ability than raw strength/power here (compared to BM Downtown at least). Methinks it’s because the walls here are higher which gives the routes more space to breathe, allowing for more technical elements to be introduced.
This gym is one of my favourites to climb at during daylight hours because of the amount of sunlight coming in. Also helps that it’s on the first floor which gives me a sense of groundedness. Your mileage may vary.
This gym was also arguably where I built up quite a bit of climbing-specific strength. Since it’s near my house, I used to come here for quick lunchtime workouts to do rounds on the endurance wall and some antagonistic gym exercises so I don’t get injured. It’s usually empty during lunchtime, unlike BM Downtown.
Another thing I like about this gym is that protein is easily accessible in this area. There’s a 7-11 in the same building and lots of restos nearby like Malatangguo which is where I get my post-sesh protein from. Just pile on the meat and it’s a delicious high-protein post-workout snack.
Vegetarian food is also available across the main road at Leaf Corner and if you wanna chill with good coffee and friends, there’s also the fancy Alchemist Coffee in the heritage Khong Guan building on that same side of the road. Alternatively, if this gym didn’t tire you enough, there’s also Boulder Planet across the road.
Lastly, I drive, so this place is excellent for afterwork climbs because the building management has a “free parking after 5PM” scheme that was supposed to end in 2024 but it’s now been extended to 2025. By extrapolation, it’s likely this will continue since the mall’s still not very crowded after 5PM on weekdays.
Cheers
Till the next review 😀
Got comments/feedback? You can DM me regarding gym bouldering in Singapore at @boulder.joernal on Instagram. Also, always keen to meet new people, ping me for a climb if you want!