VITAL Climbing Gym West Harlem

Bouldering and yoga on Broadway

VITAL Climbing Gym West Harlem opened as Steep Rock Bouldering's second Manhattan gym, near Columbia University, and took the VITAL name after Steep Rock joined VITAL in 2021. It is bouldering only, with no ropes: its three walls each get a new set every two weeks, and a glass frontage lets daylight onto the climbing floor. Problems carry V-grade tags.

Studio, fitness and programmes

• Yoga: up to 30 classes a week, from alignment-based and dynamic vinyasa to yin, acroyoga, hand balancing, core and Sculpt. Yoga isn't offered at VITAL's Upper East gym, so the studio serves both.
• Fitness: a squat rack and bench, a dumbbell rack, a treadmill, a bike and a rowing machine.
• Coaching: Bouldering 101 and 102 clinics, private climbing and yoga sessions, and the competitive youth team, which trains here.
• Competitions: one-off comps such as the Redline Redpoint and the Haunted Heights Halloween set, and the X-Town Heroes team league with VITAL's other Manhattan gyms.

Visiting

The gym is open from 08:00 to 23:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 22:00 at weekends; it doesn't have the 24-hour member access of other VITAL gyms. Climbers must be at least eight, with chaperone ratios for under-16s, and classes are for ages 16 and up. Climbing shoes, chalk bags and yoga mats can be rented, and prices are subject to New York City sales tax.