For those who know me personally, they know that I hate exercising. Getting me to move my old carcass around takes lots of cajoling, begging and finally, admonishing me that I need to exercise for my health. I've finally gotten around to moving my carcass around more often. The reason? It's not my health. It's so I can eat more noms. Planet Granite is crowded on weekday nights where you literally have to wait around for a route but if you go on a Monday night or even weekend it's almost empty. Facilities are pretty clean and doesn't have the "interesting" smell that the Sunnyvale PG has. I always start out on the kiddie routes and end up somewhere on a 5.8 which for me, is a miracle. I don't have any technique per se, but it's more of a physical challenge for me that I'm using muscles that I didn't know exist. I've worked out at the gym upstairs and it's almost always empty. It's way better than Golds or 24 hour where you have to wait for machines at peak times. Trust me....if I can get my carcass to move up the wall, so can you. If you are thinking of trying it, just do it! read more

$20.00 for the daily pass: $17.00 to climb and boulder. $3.00 for the harness. I saved a few bucks because I brought my own climbing shoes and caulk. My friends and I visited Planet Granite last Saturday. My goal was to utilize all the strength I worked on for the month of March and put it to the test at bouldering. The simple and intricate patterns (steps) are mind blogging but worth every minute during my climb and canvassing. It wasn't very crowded on a early Saturday morning so I was able to take my time and scale the walls with ease. No one bothered me and I didn't feel rushed. I was able to sort out the difficult ones and improvise well. By late morning, a group of kids (5-8 year olds) began to flood one of the bouldering rooms. That's when I decided to call it quits. Besides my hands began to blister up after two hours of workout. There is workout gym upstairs and a yoga room downstairs next to the lobby. I didn't venture upstairs but I did see eliptical machines. The lobby has a gift shop and appearal station (in case you want to get into indoor rock climbing or bouldering). I will be visiting again for another strength test. read more

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Visited this gym on my one week SF trip and loved it here. Came on a Saturday morning right as they opened and it was not crowded at all. The bouldering area is smaller than the one at Planet Granite Presidio but for my 1.5 hour bouldering session I had more than enough problems to keep me busy. Some very creative and fun bouldering problems and the other climbers here are very friendly. My friends joined me for some top rope 1.5 hours later and I really enjoyed the the long routes too. My gym (BKB Chicago) only has smooth walls so the texture of the PG walls is very different to me but it's nice to try out different styles. Around 11:15AM when we left, the gym started getting busier than most routes you have to wait. Can't wait to come back again... hopefully soon. read more

"He's climbing the rope, and he's gaining." -- The Princess Bride (1987) What a great rock-climbing gym. Nice and spacious, plenty of staffers around to help out, and the facility is clean and well-organized. I've been here a few times to bring my niece for her classes/camp. Her camp had 5 or 6 girls in it and they each got to climb at their own level with the counselor/instructor. Here is my only complaint: this guy was not really engaged. When the girls were climbing, he was texting on his cell phone (with who, I have no idea) and had a hard time managing 6 Tweens. My guess is he was early 20's and maybe didn't sign up for this. He never dropped anyone (he was belaying for them all), but he was also easily irritated. Surprising he wasn't more attentive considering I was standing right there as a parent. My niece also said she disliked when this kid was her teacher. Update: she quit going to camp. Now, let's talk positives. My niece also had her birthday party at this location. Now, this they handled beautifully. We had a couple of even younger (seemingly) young ladies help out with belaying, plus we brought our own certified helper (thanks Helen F.) so more kids could climb at a time. PG was cool with it, so the kids went to town. We didn't have the place to ourselves by any means, but seriously it certainly felt like we had the run of the joint. We had no real limitations. The kids had a blast and the adults got to climb some too. I think this is a great place to have a kids a party - the kids are active and they handle it well. I will say that we went around the corner to a pizza joint for dinner and dessert, just as an FYI. read more

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Belmont PG is a midway point between SF and Sunnyvale. 1) Location-wise it's very conveniently smack dab in the middle of the Peninsula. 2) It's not as luxurious as PG SF, but it's definitely not as stinky and crowded as PG Sunnyvale. 3) The classes here are by far my favorites! Harriett's Abs & Core will destroy you. Don't be fooled. The equipment upstairs seems ok and the set-up is interesting - as Scott L. has mentioned, it's great for people watching. They are getting a new bouldering room in August! read more

Although this location is small, it's perfect for beginners. The instructor, forgot his name, sorry!, was down to earth, honest, and made me feel at ease. The one tip that I found very useful that other facilities didn't give was to just fall. One of my fears was falling and and having my partner catch me at the last minute but this tip helped me conquer that fear. Tips: -Lockers are available but BYOL(lock) or use the open cubbies to store your things -Shoes are provided; you are required to wear a size smaller than your regular size -There's a water fountain to quench your thirst -Bring your workout gloves to get your workout on after climbing -Plenty of street parking I recommend signing up for the package that's offered before/after your class. It's 5 class for $55. read more

Planet Granite (PG) is a rock climbing gym, fitness club and yoga studio all wrapped into one nice (and economical) package. Twice a year, in winter and summer, PG offeres a no initiation fee membership sign-up period. As I recall, the period typically lasts a few weeks. I've been a PG member for about three years now. I've made extensive use of their exercise equipment and have taken several rock climbing classes there. I don't really have anything negative to say other than that I have occasionally found the front desk staff to be less-than-attentive and sometimes unfriendly but for the most part, they're pretty good. The upkeep at PG is outstanding. The locker rooms are clean and well-stocked and the exercise and climbing equipment are well-maintained and CLEAN. Membership prices are reasonable (around $64/mo for singles). The climbing routes range anywhere from beginner to expert, with lots in between for intermediate climbers like me. Things you should know: - You don't have to be a rock climber to join PG -- they have a "fitness-only" membership option which costs less than the fitness+climbing one. - Do not park in the tire store parking lot just south of PG -- you will be towed. Instead, park one block north on the same side of the street. - Weekend afternoons are very popular for kids' birthday parties, so if you don't like kids or birthdays or parties, stay away. - PG gets crowded around 7PM during the week. Even when it's crowded, there should always be a route available for climbing. - PG does not have a swimming pool. read more

Movement - Gyms Near Me - Belmont, California

It's not a bad gym. However, considering the pricing for similar climbing gyms on day passes and membership, it is somewhat lacking. This location offers a boulder wall, moonboard without LEDs, and substantial settings for top rope / lead. Every top rope route has an assigned GriGri to belay with. Planet Granite does not offer rope for lead. I was told that the chain was working on rolling it out soon, but as of December 10th this is not yet available. This is apparent in the settings as well - it is very much top rope oriented, and there are no lead exclusive routes. Lead climbers will have to bring their own rope and belay device. Overall, very beginner-oriented gym. Newcomers have to watch a five minute video to orient them to gym etiquette. Equipment is set up in a way to be redundant (which is good). read more

Of all the Planet Granite's, this location is the smallest but the emptiest. It was totally empty at 5pm on a weekday (mostly kids), and got pretty crowded at around 7:30pm. There are more tall walls and interesting wall configurations for top rope. I also think the course setters make everything easier than other gym's, I climbed my first 5.11d. So awesome. They have cool classes and plenty of machines. The locker room is a bit cramped, but they have all the essentials - shower, lockers, a couple bathrooms, and a sauna. Also, people are really nice here. Would definitely return and make this a regular gym if I was closer. read more

Great great way to work out your body and challenge yourself. I went here since two of my fiends were members and they wanted me to try it. The place is clean and you can tell who the regulars are. The staff is very driest and ensure you know all re safety precautions. If ya your first time rock climbing, you'll take a mandatory hour training with thee folks and learn about climbing, tying knots, and releasing rope for the climber. Staff do not take this lightly. The walls have different levels and it takes a certain technique to do rock climbing. It's best to be with someone who's is experience so that you gain all you can in your one day session. They have bells at the top of the walls and people stuck their name badges up there for bragging rights. Loved it! read more

5 stars for Tyler! I went in about a half hour before closing to take a belay test. Tyler was helpful with the exam, which I passed just fine (but Tyler even gave me a few easy tips to remember everything for the future). When I asked if I could then purchase a day pass to join my friends for the last 20 minutes or so, Tyler was kind enough to let me in, with gear, for nothing at all. It was so sweet. I have been back multiple times because of it (and purchase a day pass each time). Thanks, Tyler! read more

With the opening of Planet Granite Santa Clara, the weaknesses of this gym have become even more apparent. First, it's really dirty on the inside. There's dust and grime all over the weight room. Everything just feels kind of gross, dark, and old. Second, parking sucks. It's street parking if you're lucky, parking down the block if you're not. It's always a gamble and honestly just a pain. Third, the bouldering is all overhung (no slab to be found) and the grading feels too tough. Even v0s are tricky. Last, and most importantly, the climbing team and youth event etiquette here is worse than I've seen at any PG gym in the Bay. Just today, I saw the following: -kids doing homework on the mats under lead routes (laptop out and all) -kids laying down in bouldering fall zones, watching tv shows on their iPads -coaches using laser pointers to point out holds as adult climbers are in the middle of a problem (super distracting and annoying) -kids singing Disney songs loudly in the upper bouldering area with a coach right next to them who did not address this behavior -small children running under top rope climbers, jumping on the belay melons, while a parent climber chased them (no employee intervention of any kind) -elementary school aged boys throwing themselves on the first hold of a top rope route, then seeing who could jump the furthest off of it - in the fall zone of actual bouldering problems The coaches seem younger than at some of the other PG gyms - maybe this is the issue? At any rate, it's a shame; what a missed opportunity to help younger climbers learn good etiquette and community building from an early age. I appreciate that climbing teams and youth climbing parties exist, but the entitlement the kids seem to feel in this space is extremely frustrating and puts me in a bad mood every time I see it. This could definitely be fixed by a culture reset from the event staff and climbing team coaches. I also think more consistent employee monitoring of youth behavior in climbing spaces would go a long way towards curbing misbehavior and unsafe horsing around. PG staff, if you're reading this, PLEASE address this behavior! It's annoying and also really dangerous. Thank you. read more

My daughter has been at their day camp for 3 days now and is LOVING IT!!! She's climbing everything there and the coaches are great! Big shout out to climbing coach Liz! Isabella is loving working with her. I've spent time there just hanging out and watching her have fun and seeing the team in action. Great job Planet Granite!! 5 stars! read more

Several months ago, I got into rock climbing, which convinced me to get a membership here at Planet Granite, and it did not disappoint. I can climb here but there are also so many more things that the place offers. First of all, there are climbing walls (duh, haha) for bouldering, top roping, lead climbing, tons of stuff. I like bouldering on my own and then top roping with a partner or a group. The only thing is, at least one person must be certified to belay if you want to top rope. If you have no one with the belay license or if you are climbing alone, the two bouldering caves are both great. The routes are updated every couple months, but they never get old because there are SO MANY to do! Lots of challenging routes at every level for any climber, no matter how much experience they have. Then there are the yoga and fitness classes. These are free with a membership, but you can also take them if you buy a daypass or use a member's guest pass. The instructors are super great at helping you reach whatever fitness goals you are hoping for, and they are very knowledgable and caring about what they do. The gym upstairs is great, too -- lots of equipment and space to work out. And if you're running on the treadmills, the second story location allows you to overlook the rest of the building, and you can watch the climbers as they go up the walls. A nice way to pass the time if you're running :) A recommendation I have is, if possible, come before 3 PM. If you come after that, there are a lot of kids that make the place very crowded and a bit hectic, because they have gotten out of school at that point. And the same goes for work hours -- if you want to beat the crowds, come before 6PM or else the after work crowd will meet you there! All in all, I LOVE PG and definitely recommend getting a day pass here at least once. And, let me tell you, that'll soon lead to a membership. You'll love it!! :) read more

Planet Granite is a great climbing gym, however this location (when compared to the other two) is a little bit on the weak side. It's not bad at all, but I mean it's just sort of small. The top roping routes are pretty short and it can get crowded really fast due to the smaller space of this location. The staff is kind and the other members are great too. There are two bouldering chambers around the outside as well as a yoga room. There is a fitness center upstairs and I believe this location allows for you to just have a fitness membership at a cheaper price than the 70 bucks a month for the full gym access. Not bad I thought. read more

I was looking for a gym that was affordable and quality, and relatively close to my home. This gym is no Equinox but it's not trying to be, and it's also no 24 hour (which I'm happy about). It has a full weight room, cardio machines, stretch room and classes for yoga room, TRX, lifting etc. This is not just for rock climbing, which is also great by the way! I usually boulder (note the shoe rental is an extra $2). I'm glad my friends introduced me to this gym, it's already helping my mentally and the physical will come, but that's secondary. read more

My home gym is the Planet Granite in Sunnyvale, but I've always wanted to stop by Belmont too. I think that the Belmont PG is probably the oldest out of all three gyms. Maybe they are next in line for a remodel! It's a bit smaller, and parking can be really tough because they don't have a dedicated lot. However, those in the know have advised me to park in the lot just one block north. The walls are shorter, but they more than make up for it with the terrain of the walls, which are very different from PG SF and PG SV. There are lots of overhangs and caves that make for some rather challenging climbs. I think that the setters do a great job keeping their routes creative. I noticed a lot of climbs that traversed in order to make the most of the shorter walls. I didn't get a chance to try out the bouldering, but they have two separate, cave-like areas, one of which has a nice skylight. The locker room was stocked with the same amenities you'd find at the other gyms, it was just smaller. PG Belmont also offers yoga and other fitness classes. And their upper level has the same cardio and weight machines that you'd find at the other two gyms. I think that I'm going to try and stop by more often. It was pretty deserted on Saturday morning around 10:30 when I climbed, but the crowds started trickling in by 12:30 when I left. read more

Just went here the other day and as we arrive it took two people to figure out how to find my friend in the system, for them to say she's never been to this gym before, even though she was previously a member, then needed to sign a waiver again, and they said she didn't have her belay card on file and wanted to retest her, when she showed them the card from the Belmont gym and promptly corrected them. Then they offered to change her 10 pack to a digital card, but with all the mishaps in checking in, she refused. While I waited I decided to take the belay test, since I am relatively new to PG. The woman I had was pretty condescending. I do know all the safety requirements, I've been outdoor belaying and belaying at other gyms, she was looking for particular words vs knowledge on what to do, so she said she'd only give me a day pass. The climbing itself ended up being really fun. I have gone climbing at other gyms, and have never experienced such awful customer service. This experience with the gym staff definitely soured my opinion on it. read more

My wife, who has some climbing experience, suggested that we would see if we would enjoy indoor climbing. We looked up this place and decided to sign up for an introduction class (intro for me, fresh up for her). Having a toddler usually prevents us from doing things like this, but this time we felt adventurous and the three of us went to Planet Granite. When we arrived there the friendly team welcomed us and signed us in. I needed shoes, so we went through a couple of sizes until I had a pair that didn't make my toes curl. Who would've thought that my climbing-shoe-size is 3.5 larger than my usual size? (Next Time i probably get one half a size bigger). Michael was our trainer for the day. And we have to give him a lot of credit. Having a toddler that comments everything she sees, wants her parents attention, and cries because she's to tired next to us must've been very challenging. He was so patience with our situation and often explained things multiple times. We didn't feel as he was judging us and even accommodated a second trainer to do some of the exercised with us. From what I can judge the infrastructure seemed new, the trainers knew what they're talking about, and other people enjoy their time at (or on?) Planet Granite. 5 stars because I have nothing to complain about and lack of knowledge what I could complain about. read more

The guy at the front desk sucks. He needs to work on his customer service. He is very rude and lack what it takes to be an instructor. If you are reading this bruh you suck. read more

Liked it. Airy. Clean. Pretty tall. Empty during work hours. Everyone that comes in during that time is solo n goes to the fitness area. The routes r really fun! All levels. Kudos for the setters. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Always cleaning the place. Well run place! read more

Movement - Gyms Near Me - Belmont, California

I'm used to the Sunnyvale PG, but came out to explore this one with a friend who lives in the area and wanted to try this one out. I don't really boulder, so I'm really just covering the top-roping in this review. Compared to Sunnyvale, it's a much smaller gym, but I feel like they're a lot more creative with their route setting to compensate for that--the routes aren't all a nearly straight vertical climb, and I appreciate that because I'm not yet very good at remembering to look around for other hand/foot-holds. I also like that they have walls that are a little more random than the generally flat panel ones in the center, which resemble the Sunnyvale gym more closely. The staff here seems a little less approachable, but it may simply be that I've interacted with the Sunnyvale staff a lot more from having started out with a couple of classes there, so I kind of know them a bit better than just strangers. The locker room and bathroom here is a bit dated and worn, but seems to be clean enough. Parking is confusing--after coming twice, I am still not sure where to park, but we've managed by finding street parking or parking in the lot for the car shop next door. I think they have a fabled lot somewhere, but I'll be darned if I can find it :/ Definitely a place I need to bring my usual climbing partner, because I think she'd appreciate the route creativity :) All in all, a better gym than I thought it would be a first sight! read more

Wish Planet Granite was closer so it could be my go to gym. Front desk personnel were friendly helpful educated and hard working. There were about 4 people people behind the counter and each person busy either with supplies, check ins, training new customers on climbing or checking on people putting on climbing shoes. Our party of four wanted to go bouldering. We climbed for a good 3.5 hours and had a blast. This gym has regular workout equipment upstairs, a yoga studio, 2 bouldering rooms and a central area dedicated to belaying. It can get quite crowded because this gym is smaller than most of the other Planet granite locations. Highly recommend this experience. read more

Movement - Fun exercise - Gyms Near Me - Belmont, California

Though I prefer the Sunnyvale and SF location, this location is closer to work so I come here about 2-3 times a week. People are friendly and although it can get quite busy after work, you usually don't have to wait too long for a climb. People here are more laid back than other PG locations so I always have fun and meet tons of new people! read more

Movement - Gyms Near Me - Belmont, California

I mainly boulder here. The areas are small but the setting quality and the volume of climbs per wall is great. The people are very friendly as well. They also have a Moon board on the top floor!!! My main gripe is that there are hella people bouldering in their street shoes. These are mainly new climbers and they don't know... but I feel like the gym should address how unsanitary this is. read more

The first customer service is cool but after you've gone through check in and all you're pretty much on your on. Feel free to ask questions because you can get a lil lost . You need special certification to do the big climbing. They have a couple areas for boulder climbing you can do without it tho. They have a great workout area. It's pretty much a full workout area. They have special event nights that are pretty cool too. The parking isn't as bad as it used to be, it's actually pretty good. They have stumptown coffee here too. read more

Not comparing it to the other locations, this is an excellent climbing gym. Fairly large area, two bouldering rooms, wide variety of top rope levels, gym equipment on the second floor, and yoga classes. Climbing lessons of varying kinds offered for beginners and more advanced climbers. Rental gear available so you can come with just your will to go vertical. Also, one of the best parts for me, is the other climbers are generally very friendly and courteous. You can find help if you're struggling without looking hard. read more

Movement - Gyms Near Me - Belmont, California

We are here right now for a birthday party and it is a big mess. Eli is insisting on helping his 5 kids only. His reasoning makes sense - otherwise the kids end up waiting in line very long. But he has taken over the ABCD climbing area and the other kids in the Birthday party are not getting a chance to do it. Meanwhile the person assigned to my child Alan is allowing everyone in line to climb his route! So my child is just standing in line while the children assigned to Eli are getting many turns. There should be one agreed upon policy and they should stick to it. The other two are helping one child each and have currently disappeared. read more

Doris Yoga is a highlight in my week! And I feel the positive effects for 1-2 days after. For the first time someone is paying detailed attention to my entire musculoskeletal system and giving me exercises that work. I've been training with Doris for a month now, after my friend told me that Doris Yoga helped her regain height! That's right. She's measuring 1 inch taller now consistently (not a one-off data point!) at the doctor's office. Doris discovered immediately that my right hip flexors are weaker, spotted the gaps in my abs and lats and helped me strengthen them in this short period of time. I have much to work on and train but already see the incredible effects. My movements have improved  tremendously! Running is easier, dancing is much more fun. Smoother, more range of motion and freer. She's picky like an old-school ballet teacher who comes around and really does the micro adjustments, the slight pivoting of the heel that makes the world of a difference. She focuses on her students, not on herself. I've seen many yoga teachers show off their gorgeous poses but don't move around to help the newbies. She's devoted to her students' successes and celebrates the small wins from day 1. I'm not surprised that she has many, many followers! I've become one of them. read more

I'm giving Planet Granite Belmont 4 stars because I do not like it as much as Planet Granite Sunnyvale (my review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/planet-granite-sunnyvale-3#hrid:7kV0vYlt__Dyfxx55ceXIg/src:self). It is a lot smaller and less active, and the walls are shorter by 10 feet (50 as opposed to 60 ft). The cleanliness and the quality of the ropes and holds were comparable though, and I did like the routes themselves. The walls had some cool features though not as many as in Sunnyvale, because of the more limited space. The difficulty level was slightly more difficult than the Sunnyvale location. Parking was on the street in a residential area, which was kind of weird. We checked out the climbing wall "treadmill" machine too, which was very hard to use. Definitely more of a novelty than anything. The second floor also has some other gym equipment. Verdict: This was definitely more like a standard rock wall gym than its Sunnyvale counterpart. Good routes but nothing stood out. read more

Planet Granite Belmont requires that visitors go through more rigmarole in order to start climbing than any other gym I've visited. They require all guests, even frequent climbers, to watch a 5 minute orientation video. Also, if someone makes a mistake filling out the waiver form (which I did, I accidentally put the wrong state-of-issue for my driver's license) then they have to go through the entire process again. This overhead is really frustrating if you only have 90 minutes or so to visit. read more

Free fun is gooood, like 5 star goood. If you know a member here, the first Friday of every odd number month entitles them to bring a guest. As a first timer, you get belaying/climbing lessons as well as equipment for free. I've never climbed before, hell the last time I even tried anything remotely similar was long ago when I failed climbing a tree for my 5th grade crush MaryLou, so I approached this with a lot of trepidation. The lessons were informative, and quite comprehensive on the safety aspects of tying knots and belaying, though could be more thorough in the actually execution of the climb. I guess I really shouldn't kick out when coming down, huh? I picked a climb that was in a corner and ended up cartoon bouncing back between the two walls smashing into the AC vent before finally getting down...so a bit banged & bruised. But if you can swing this w/ a current member, you're saving like $40...not bad if you bored on a Fri night. On a side note, for my fellow bigfoots, they only have up to size 14's on rental and they are sized down by 1/2. read more

Though the Sunnyvale locale, with its grand, wide & tall eyefuls of all things "rockclimbing", is where this new athletic infatuation of mine took root, the smaller and modest Belmont location is where I go to nurture that passion in a less imposing atmosphere. Smaller by half the size of Sunnyvale's spacious digs, Belmont offers fewer top-rope routes but makes up for it with quite a bit of variety in "naturals(?)" (chimneys, crack, crag, slabs, etc.) and a [seemingly] more even distribution of difficulties. The same variety can be found in its two bouldering rooms (the main attraction of this gym for me); one room is primarily vertical with some overhangs while the other room offers numerous formations and severe ceiling/roof vantages... either a good testing ground for one physically and mentally. Being a smaller establishment and located in a lesser metropolitan area (the gym itself is seated aside a residential neighborhood), the fewer patrons and perchance not-so-elitist regulars contribute to a comfortable atmosphere, far less intimidating for self-conscious beginners like myself. This would be a great place to get your start or get a taste for the sport... and, shoots, drop us/me a line, maybe we'll join you... ... I know what I'm doing, I promise not to drop you ________________________________________ And yes, somehow this location keeps itself less funktastic (BO) than its bigger, more crowded, South Bay namesake. read more

This was my first experience rock climbing. Conclusion, I am very bad at it. That's not to say I can't climb. I can climb. Despite my small, unassuming frame... I'm quite quick and agile. The height of the climb wasn't really an issue either. Truthfully, I thought the height was exciting. I suck at it because apparently, I am really bad at multi-tasking. Who knew? We started with the belay lesson. Our instructor was great. I think his name was Brandon? Anyway, we found him to be fun and informative. He went over different types of knots that we would be using. Figure eight, double figure eight, double fisherman's knot, etc. I soon discovered that there's more to climbing than just climbing. Many steps to memorize and be proficient at. You must be able to: - attach the belay device - complete a safety check for the belayer (check harness, check that you are clipped into your harness, check that the carabiner is locked, check that the belay device is fed and configured properly) - tie in with a double figure eight knot, followed by a double fisherman's knot - do a safety check on the climber (check harness, check where the rope is tied into, check figure eight knot, check double fisherman's knot) - demonstrate correct communication (climber says, "on belay." belayer says, "belay on." climber says, "climbing." belayer says, "climb on.") - demonstrate correct belay technique I went first. I got all the way to the top without incident. Rang the bell to signal success. Then suddenly realized, I had no idea how to come down. So, I call down to my instructor, "Okay, now what?" Probably something I should have inquired about prior to. He responded with something like, "Just sit back as if you are in a seated position. Grab the rope with two hands and let your partner do the rest." Easy enough, if you aren't a control freak like I am. Needless to say, my partner came through for me. Now it was the bf's turn. No fair. He'd been rock climbing before, so some of what we were expected to know, he'd already practiced. He too reached the top without incident. I then suddenly had a thought. Oh, s**t! Is the obvious difference ie; his height/weight ratio to mine going to be a problem?! He's 6' 5". I'm 5' 1". He clearly significantly outweighs me. What's going to happen when I release the brake?! I turn to my instructor with my concerns. He assures me I should be fine. I release the brake... and... F**K! The weight of my partner starts to pull me!!! I calmly blurt out a few profanities while informing my instructor of what is taking place. He quickly grabs ahold of the rope and we (together) safely lower my partner to the ground. What I learned from my 1st climbing experience: - I love to rock climb - I could benefit from much more additional instruction - I am not-so great with the multi-tasking - Watermelon weights (they aren't REALLY watermelons, but instead weights that you attach to your harness to keep you grounded) are a must for petite climbers like myself who climb with larger partners Planet Granite is a great place to climb, especially in the mornings. Perfectly set routes for all levels. Tons of routes to figure out. You could climb non-stop for hours and never even come close to trying everything in your level. And... if the dates on the cards are any indication, the routes change quite frequently. Enough to challenge the most experienced climbers. The front desk staff members were all very friendly and attentive. I'll likely be back, as I'm considering taking the B.R.C. course... if they ever offer it on a Monday or a Tuesday (my days off). For now, the course is only offered Wednesdays from 7-9pm. I only wish that I lived closer so I could come here everyday. read more

Rock-climbing and bouldering at its best @ Planet Granite, Belmont! For several years at Planet Granite, I rock-climbed at least 3-4 times a week (sometimes even 5 times) and loved every grueling minute of it. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it's not unusual to see the "regulars" befriending and belaying new climbers. They have great yoga classes on the first floor, and on the second floor are the weight room and the cardio area. The treadmills are facing the rock-climbers so you could get a good run in while watching someone scale a wall. The locker rooms are clean and overall, it's just a nice gym. I've climbed at the San Jose location as well but prefer Belmont's gym. Even during the day, San Jose's gym was dimly lit and kinda dark-feeling. Plus, their staff weren't as pleasant to deal with as Belmont's. Parking is easy too! There are open lots on either side of Planet Granite if you can't find something on the street. read more

This location is nice for ROCK CLIMBING and not so much of bouldering. By now, I'm sure you've heard that the Sunnyvale location is bigger than Belmont one and that is definitely true. As I come just for the bouldering, I came at the wrong time this week. It so happens they had a competition so one of the side walls remodeled to accommodate and thus, it wasn't back to the normal V0 and on. They only had one side of the wall. In addition, I came at like their peak hour so it was really crowded with people. Overall, there's plenty of rock climbing space and a nice gym upstairs, too. There's nothing wrong with this place, but as someone who just boulders, I'm more used to going to places with the entire place set up for bouldering. read more

I haven't been to PG SF but compared to PG Sunnyvale, I prefer this place. It's a lot less crowded during week days, and weekends as well. Therefore, less smelliness. OMG, the smell at PG Sunnyvale just hits you like a brick in the face every time you walk in the front door. The routes are more interesting here. Or at least that's what I find. They are technically more challenging. I find the people who come here are also nicer than the crowd at Sunnyvale. Less cocky. And less shirt-less guys. I like guys who keep their shirts on in public, especially when their bodies are not exactly Brad Pitt's. The only thing I don't like about this place is it has only one water fountain downstairs. And the women bathroom is set up in a way that you have to walk all the way to the back to wash your hands. Not convenient, but no biggie. read more

Note: review on Ashtanga yoga class The kind of yoga class I'm looking for. It kicked my butt so much that I was sore for 2 days afterward. Not too crowded on a Saturday AM and the instructor, despite being more like a military drill sargent, walked around the class adjusting people and shouting out poses in English and sanskrit. read more

I signed up for the gym and yoga/fitness classes. For the monthly unlimited price, the value is exceptional. The quality of yoga classes is high, in comparison to other studios. The ambiance is peaceful. The gym does get packed during peak times, so I'd always try to go during work hours (but I'm self-employed, so that's reasonable). Overall vibe is wonderful with down to earth employees and people. Instructors will often walk around during non-class hours to try to teach PG members about their classes and encourage participation. Clearly, they take pride in their work and care about creating a great experience. I can also tell that people really care about the community here. It's great to see a gym where the leadership team really cares about quality while still keeping price points reasonable for lots of different people. I've never felt nickeled and dimed, like I have at places like the Bay Club. The upstairs gym isn't awesome, but it *is* good for a basic workout, if you're not looking for anything fancy. I think everything is very well-cared for given the foot traffic that this business has. read more

I've been a member of PG for years, and kept coming back by joining a fantastic climbing community that feels more like a family after all this time. PROs. - The climbing routes here are challenging, well thought out, and technical - Some of the friendliest people come here to climb, lift, or yogi it up - There are regular community events and climbing comps - Membership at one PG gives you access to all locations (Sunnyvale, SF, Portland) CONs. - Weight machines that break tend to stay broken (there's one that's been 'out of order' for the past 3 months, with no fix in sight) - Upper gym area has some uneven flooring issues, especially in the weight room - It's a specialty gym, so it can be a bit steep (~70/month) Ultimately it comes down to the fact that PGB comes with the highs and lows of being a specialized gym with no competition mid-peninsula, but the sense of community here is what truly makes the Belmont gym shine. read more