Bad Climbers Academy - North Vancouver

Bad Climbers Club - North Vancouver Monthly Meetups at Base5

Monthly Meetups at Climb Base5! Join the Bad Climbers Club at both of our locations:

Coquitlam on the 4th Monday of every month
North Vancouver on the 2nd Sunday of every month at 6:00 PM

About Bad Climbers Club:

Bad Climbers Club began in 2019 after a wildly successful Climbing Outdoors 101 workshop sparked the idea to create a dedicated space for women and gender-non-conforming (GNC) climbers. The club was built on a simple belief: climbing should feel welcoming, fun, and accessible no matter your experience level.

They’re a community that doesn’t take climbing too seriously – and that’s the point. Bad Climbers Club focuses on encouragement over ego, connection over competition, and creating a supportive environment for women and GNC folks to learn, grow, and enjoy climbing together. Through discounted meetups, helpful workshops, and an emphasis on good vibes, Bad Climbers Club offers a place to show up exactly as you are. Whether you’re new to climbing or simply looking for a community that lifts each other up, you’re invited.

No Space? Join our Waitlist!

Amy Hobenshield

5 years ago

Loved all the routes they had, was a wide variety. Everyone there was super kind and staff was ready to help.

Genevieve Ling

Love this rock climbing gym! It was our go to when we lived in the area. The staff are friendly fun and knowledgeable in climbing!

Shawn McGirr

Good sets but lacks in training equipment compared to the competition. Would be really nice if they get a training board (moon, kilter)

Anthony Makhoul

Such a kind, open, social, embracing community + great routes, great workout, great staff members. Overall very positive environment!

Vanilla von Chivalry

Don't ever change. This place is my temple. Love this place. Cliffhanger now owned by the Hive has nothing on you. ❤

Rachel Loerch

1 month ago

Great spot. They change courses monthly. My kid has been going there for like 6 years and still loves it. He's 17

Sigurd Danes

2 months ago

This place has a serious theft problem. Yes, I said it. Someone had to. I have personally lost two pairs of shoes here. When the first pair disappeared, I was willing to let it go because I thought perhaps I had misplaced them. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions or accuse anyone unfairly. But now a second pair has gone missing overnight after I was at the gym. Once could have been my mistake. Twice is much harder to dismiss. And it isn’t just me. I spoke with a Persian couple who told me that their entire gear bag, which they had left at the gym overnight, disappeared. Not one or two items… their whole bag. For years, I have also repeatedly heard people say that their belongings and equipment have gone missing here. I didn’t want to believe it, but after losing two pairs of my own shoes, I can no longer ignore the pattern. I don’t know whether it is a staff member, certain gym members, or a small group of people taking advantage of the situation. I am not accusing any particular person without proof. What I am saying is that this gym clearly has a recurring theft and security problem. To whoever is stealing people’s belongings: you are scum. People work hard and spend real money on their equipment. It is not yours to “yoink” simply because you think you can get away with it. And to the gym management: what the hell, guys? Are these incidents being documented? Are cameras being reviewed? Are patterns being investigated? Are members being warned? When the same thing keeps happening, silence is not an adequate response. Until this is properly acknowledged and addressed, do not leave anything unattended here, not even your shoes.

3 months ago

I remember when this place was The Edge and actually meant something to the climbing community. Now it feels like a stripped-down, overpriced shell of what it used to be. On a recent visit, chalk dust was hanging in the air and settling over everything. The ventilation felt inadequate, the space looked neglected, and the gym gave the impression of a business cutting corners while expecting members to accept it. I raised it with staff, and they apologized, which only made it seem more obvious that these issues are ongoing and well known. The route turnover is also far too slow. Lead and top-rope routes appear to stay up for far too long, which makes the gym feel stale and poorly managed rather than active and well cared for. I have also watched route setting that looked under-supported, as though staff are being asked to do the job without the equipment or backing they need. What makes it worse is the gap between the branding and the actual experience. Base5 likes to present itself as community-focused, but the reality feels much more cynical. Prices keep rising, communication is poor, and members are left to arrive and discover that classes or school groups have taken over large sections of an already small gym. Under Danielle’s management, the gym feels increasingly overpriced and poorly maintained. It no longer feels like a climbing space built for climbers. It feels less like a climbing gym and more like a business milking a captive member base. What this gym needs is obvious: 1. A proper chalk extraction and ventilation system. 2. Better overall airflow, because the current setup is not doing the job. 3. Lower membership and program costs. Climbers are not an endless source of cash. 4. Clear notice when schools, classes, or group bookings will dominate the walls. 5. Better support for staff. 6. Proper equipment and support for route setters. 7. A much higher standard of cleanliness, because chalk is coating everything. 8. A serious decision about whether this is meant to be a quality climbing gym or just a revenue stream. At this point, the gym feels dirty, stale, overpriced, and completely out of touch with the climbing community it claims to represent. *Edit* to respond to Danielle (The Owner) Thank you for replying, but this is a vague PR response, not an answer. I raised specific operational issues. You responded with nostalgia and generalities. Nothing was addressed directly. I will not be renewing my membership next month. If you are new to Vancouver and thinking about buying a one-year membership, maybe do not…

M Vickers

4 months ago

This is an amazing place for all to learn this sport - particularly children! Kind caring staff are supportive and encouraging and I think Eddy in particular was a standout with young kids - taking the time with those who were afraid and step by step leading them to a great experience boosting self confidence by the bucket! Great place - I was really impressed!

Handyman North Vancouver

6 months ago

I had a good experience at Climb Base5 in North Vancouver. The gym has a nice variety of climbing options including bouldering, top rope, and auto-belays, which makes it great for all skill levels. The route setting is creative and changes regularly, so there’s always something new to try. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere is generally welcoming and community-focused. It can get busy at peak times, and the space feels a bit tight compared to larger gyms, but overall it’s a solid spot for indoor climbing and training.

mohammad reza safdarian

7 months ago

I really enjoy climbing at this gym. The atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming, and it always feels like a great place to train and improve. Every time I come here, I have a great experience and truly enjoy my climbing sessions. Highly recommend it!

Hiroki Hojo

Really impressed with the setting here, great use of angles and movement across all levels. The boulders feel thoughtful and well-balanced, with a nice mix of styles and flow. They also have both rope and bouldering, which adds to the overall experience. Super welcoming atmosphere and a really good vibe in the gym. Great for families as well, very friendly and inclusive space. Honestly, one of the best gyms in Vancouver.

Link Simpson

I have been climbing at this gym since the early 90's. The new management is doing pretty well by the the place. I am impressed with the amount of investment they are making to fix the old place up. The route setting is once again becoming worthwhile. I am glad to see the grades getting slightly harder and more consistent with Squamish style grades. I am looking forward to see what changes are yet to come. One improvement I would like to see more of is better consistency across the different route setters. Is there a base 5 route setter training program?

Tim

Always changing routes. Great staff. Just a little small of space, you feel a bit on top of each other when it gets busy.

Vince

This place is alright. Bouldering problems feel a bit tougher than I'm used to, but that's alright. The space is a bit smaller than others, but charge a comparable price. The staff are relatively friendly. What actually makes me feel like it isn't that great is the space. 1/3 of the gym is under construction. Walls and mats are a bit old (and not very grippy) and at some places just broken. A couple of the volumes are splintered making a bit iffy to utilize, and one of the walls is straight up missing a small piece wall, leaving exposed wood. Wasn't very crowded though with the bookings so it was good in that aspect!

Noman Taylor

If you are into rock climbing then this place is a good option. A good place with quality equipments.

Andy

Fun fun fun. Got what you need

Bad Climbers Academy – North Vancouver

Bad Climbers Club - North Vancouver Monthly Meetups at Base5

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