We visit my family every year once or twice per year in New Jersey, right across the river from New York. My kids train in a gym right next to theirs, but everybody in that whole metro area has been buzzing about this one gym.
It’s a relatively new place called Vital in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It is a bouldering gym, and yes, it deserves a whole post. Today, we’re going to be talking about Vital Climbing Gym in Brooklyn.
Let me tell you this, it is way more than just a bouldering gym. This place is out of this world, it’s not cheap; it’s about $35 for a day pass per person. But when you get there, you’re probably going to spend the whole day there.
VITAL Climbing Gym – Brooklyn
I normally accompany my men to the gyms because I find them fascinating, and a lot of them are pretty cool to hang out in. I could always work in them, but Vital definitely took the cake on everything.
First is this enormous bouldering gym in Greenpoint. At one point was this area that was like warehouses and factories, and today it’s this up-and-coming, very hipster-like area.
But because it used to be warehouses and factories, the spaces there are enormous right if they weren’t made into apartment buildings, you can build a considerable gym such as vital, and it’s also placed perfectly right across the river, the other side of the river on the east side.
Looking over Manhattan. It’s a 24-hour climbing facility, where the whole place is pretty much made out of glass windows, and you can do a bunch of activities, including aerial silk, yoga, cycling, and fitness classes, as well as climbing clinics and rooftop bouldering.
With its 45,000 square feet of climbing walls, kilter, tension, hang boards, campus climbing, slacklines, and other fitness equipment, VITAL Brooklyn is a fantastic destination for climbers and fitness enthusiasts alike.
Areas at VITAL Climbing Gym
When you first enter vital itself, there is this enormous space. There is a café area where you can work, and it’s a vast place and even has some beautiful outdoor tables. So there’s plenty of space for people who don’t climb that visit with climbers, and then the entire bottom is All these different bouldering projects. I mean, they have all levels from V1 to probably V13.
I’m not sure if they’ve made even harder ones today. They have a room for kids, they have all levels, and they rent shoes. Obviously, it is pet friendly, and I mean it’s enormous, and then they have this whole room where it’s a gym.
Inside the gym, apart from rock walls, there’s an awesome cycling studio all set up with a killer sound system. They’ve got fitness classes, weight machines, and full programs with instructors for folks looking to do yoga, aerial silks, or any other cool exercises. And there’s a membership plan as well, for all these.
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Gym
So, if you’re going to just go and work out while you’re with somebody who is participating who is climbing, I mean, this gym has it all, and literally, you could spend a couple of hours there and not use all their machines. So that’s an amazing place.
They also rent out for aerial yoga and for all these other classes, so you can find out their schedule as well. But I’m serious; if we weren’t there for climbing, this is where I would be all day long.
Bouldering Area
However, the coolest part of all is upstairs. They have this entire outdoor bouldering area, including a fire pit, and a beautiful restaurant with all sorts of options, including a lot of vegan food, and that’s where I spent the majority of my time next to a fire pit.
We were there in the fall, so it wasn’t too cold or too hot. It was just perfect. But in the evening it did definitely get a bit chilly. The views are spectacular. And my men enjoyed climbing as well on the second floor on the top floor outside while I watched them work on my computer and ate a delicious meal. Honestly, if you’re going to be bouldering from zero level to whatever your level is, this is going to be a place for you.
My Take
I ended up doing it because I like to walk around the neighborhood a lot of times. The neighborhoods are really cool and in this particular area, Greenpoint was really hip. I went and checked out some cool little organic shops right next door and had a coffee there. Then I had coffee in Vital, then I had dinner in Vital.
We literally spent six hours there. And amazingly enough, my kids were just going full-on, including my husband. So it was a full-day trip. Really easy to get to. You could drive, and there’s plenty of parking, or you could take public transportation. There are tons of subway stops or public buses. So it’s really easy to get to. And you could also do with day passed, you could do weekly, you could do memberships.
They actually have exclusive access because it’s 24 hours. Yeah, 24 hours. Some people actually like to go climbing at three in the morning; who would have known to check out Vital? It’s just an incredible experience all around, and make sure you go upstairs so you want to go on a day that it’s not raining or snowing or too cold to really enjoy the entire gym.
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What To Wear In VITAL Climbing Gym
As for wearing gear, this place is pretty specific. You have to wear clothes that are fitted but stretchable. If you don’t have your own shoes, rental shoes are available there, which aren’t very expensive. Avoid wearing loose jewelry or accessories that can get caught in the holds. Plus, make sure to wear comfortable and breathable clothes as it can get sweaty while climbing.
Bottom Line!
Overall, Vital Climbing Gym in Brooklyn is a one-of-a-kind experience that offers so much more than just bouldering. From its prime location with stunning views of Manhattan to its diverse range of activities and classes, this gym truly has something for everyone. We highly recommend checking it out and making a day of it, as you won’t be disappointed. I know I can’t wait to go back and spend another six hours there! And who knows, maybe I’ll even give bouldering a try next time!
Last Updated on March 12, 2026
