Hangar 18 Orange

Bouldering off the 57 in Orange

Hangar 18 Orange is a bouldering-only gym on West Struck Avenue in Orange, just off the 57 freeway. It was The Factory, also known as Factory Bouldering, until Hangar 18, a Southern California chain, took it over in 2020 as its eleventh gym. It is the largest of the chain's three bouldering gyms in Orange County, and one membership covers all eleven.

More than 9,000 sq ft of climbing terrain is split into four bouldering sections with over 150 problems, including a 90-degree cave with climbs of more than 25 ft, a slab area and plenty of overhangs. Problems are graded with coloured tags that each cover a range, such as orange for V5–V7, and the setters put up new problems from Monday to Thursday. A training area has a campus board and hangboards, the fitness area has racks, free weights and an air bike, and there is a member lounge with sofas and table tennis.

Your first visit

First-timers sign the online waiver and orientation confirmation, then book a 30-minute Intro to Bouldering class ($35, or $30 for 13 and under), which includes a day pass and rental shoes. Climbers must be at least 6, and under-14s need an adult to spot them. After that a day pass is $22, and memberships start at $54 a month with no initiation fee.