| Tue | 06:00 am -11:00 pm |
| Wed | 06:00 am -10:00 pm |
| Thu | 06:00 am -11:00 pm |
| Fri | 06:00 am -10:00 pm |
| Sat | 08:00 am -08:00 pm |
| Sun | 08:00 am -08:00 pm |
big climbing gym. can get crowded with lots of University students.
Been coming here since I moved to the area in 2014. Is about time to leave a review...
I really like this place, not only because of the classes, the climbing, or the fitness equipment, but also because of the community here, including the excellent and super friendly front desk staff and the other folks who work here (setters and maintenance folks) who have all become really dear to me.
There is towel service, there's a sauna, showers are clean, and the gym is kept up-to-date and improvements are made. The equipment in the weight room is great, and they have everything you need for your lifting desires. There is a large selection of classes and every month other events take place too.
I recommend BIW to everyone who is looking for getting/staying in shape and for a great community.
Convenient location, near the 80/880 freeway. I went a lot during the day time when I was still a student and that pretty much avoided all of the crazy congestions that people are talking about. It's fairly economical for students since there are some good discounts on membership. So if you are a student, you should definitely check it out.
Excellent routes, very friendly people. The routes are a bit stiffer than your normal gym, so leave your egos at home. This is a positive though. It can get a little crowded, and you have to wait your turn, but the setting totally makes up for it, as well as the friendly people. Highly recommended! -Matt
Ridiculously crowded nowadays. I don't climb so can't speak to that but if you are planning using the non-climbing part of the gym, good luck. The showers and sauna is well maintained.
One third the space is climbing. Of that third, half the Bouldering abuts the toproping (great!), there's zero room to sit leaving most people half the climbers to crowd the wall (great!!), all the while little toddlers run around (great!!!!).
In short, avoid this place.
Come during the off-hours or parking may be a problem. Equipment for Oly lifting and traditional strength training. Plenty of cardio machines from treadmills to ellipticals, rogue bikes and even an airrunner.
Climbing options are great- lots of lead, sport and bouldering options. They rotate often enough, and having a membership with touchstone gives you access to all the sister gyms as well.
Great place, price is a bit steep but still cheaper than some other places with similar offerings.
Come during the off-hours or parking may be a problem. Equipment for Oly lifting and traditional strength training. Plenty of cardio machines from treadmills to ellipticals, rogue bikes and even an airrunner.
Climbing options are great- lots of lead, sport and bouldering options. They rotate often enough, and having a membership with touchstone gives you access to all the sister gyms as well.
Great place, price is a bit steep but still cheaper than some other places with similar offerings.
Great choice of climbing walls. Gym has all the equipment and weights you would need for a workout. Changing rooms are very clean. Sauna is a bonus. Showers are simple, remodel happening now though - should improve them a lot.
Great choice of climbing walls. Gym has all the equipment and weights you would need for a workout. Changing rooms are very clean. Sauna is a bonus. Showers are simple, remodel happening now though - should improve them a lot.
Great gym! Unlike most people, I didn't go there for climbing but to use the weight room to do my lifting workout. The staff was super friendly and helpful. I got a day pass ($20) and I was ready to train! The gym is overall pretty big and well equipped. I didn't use most of the equipment but there are many machines, treadmills, dumbbells etc. I did my workout in the free weights room, which is very well equipped. There's one standalone power rack (with safety pins and everything), and a big Rogue rig/rack with adjustable safety arms and J-cups. Great selection of bars, including a beautiful Rogue Cerakote Ohio Power Bar, Ohio Bar and Rogue Olympic Bars. A lot of metal plates and Rogue bumper places, starting at 5 lbs. I can recommend the gym to everyone!
Great gym! Unlike most people, I didn't go there for climbing but to use the weight room to do my lifting workout. The staff was super friendly and helpful. I got a day pass ($20) and I was ready to train! The gym is overall pretty big and well equipped. I didn't use most of the equipment but there are many machines, treadmills, dumbbells etc. I did my workout in the free weights room, which is very well equipped. There's one standalone power rack (with safety pins and everything), and a big Rogue rig/rack with adjustable safety arms and J-cups. Great selection of bars, including a beautiful Rogue Cerakote Ohio Power Bar, Ohio Bar and Rogue Olympic Bars. A lot of metal plates and Rogue bumper places, starting at 5 lbs. I can recommend the gym to everyone!
While Ironworks Gym is my favorite place to workout in the East Bay, they appear to be falling into the trap that many other gyms do: selling more memberships than they have the capacity to deliver on.
After asking one of the staff members succinct questions regarding how busy it gets during various hours, I decided to go ahead and join again--initiation fee + one month = approximately $200. However, everytime I rolled in after work, there was either no parking available, or the few parking spots that where available where too small for me to risk my new mid-sized truck getting dinged by neighboring vehicles.
The net result: One $200 yoga class. Ouch!!!
The parking issue was not made clear to me at all.
While Ironworks Gym is my favorite place to workout in the East Bay, they appear to be falling into the trap that many other gyms do: selling more memberships than they have the capacity to deliver on.
After asking one of the staff members succinct questions regarding how busy it gets during various hours, I decided to go ahead and join again--initiation fee + one month = approximately $200. However, everytime I rolled in after work, there was either no parking available, or the few parking spots that where available where too small for me to risk my new mid-sized truck getting dinged by neighboring vehicles.
The net result: One $200 yoga class. Ouch!!!
The parking issue was not made clear to me at all.
While Ironworks Gym is my favorite place to workout in the East Bay, they appear to be falling into the trap that many other gyms do: selling more memberships than they have the capacity to deliver on.
After asking one of the staff members succinct questions regarding how busy it gets during various hours, I decided to go ahead and join again--initiation fee + one month = approximately $200. However, everytime I rolled in after work, there was either no parking available, or the few parking spots that where available where too small for me to risk my new mid-sized truck getting dinged by neighboring vehicles.
The net result: One $200 yoga class. Ouch!!!
The staff was absolutely rude and kept my ID hostage. I would not come back to this place and give them patronage. Stay away! If you are visiting from out of town, do not come here. The day pass is $25 for their 15 foot wall for lead Climbing.
This is what happened... I arrived an hour before closing time and wanted to take a tour with a staff or check out the gym to see if it's worth the $25 day pass (for the next day, when I would have more than 1 hour to climb). The staff refused a tour and instead asked for my driver's license so that I can see for myself. I checked out the lead climbing area, was pretty unimpressed, and left to go back to my car. I left the gym without my ID. When I realized it, I drove back and asked the front desk for my ID. The male staff, different from the female one who took my ID in the first place, held my ID in his hands and started the following line of questioning: "what time did you get here? where were you this whole time? I saw you disappear for awhile" I explained that I had left without my ID and now I'm here to pick it up. He still didn't budge and responded with "well, you people come in here and try to sneak a workout in." At this point I've assertively told him to hand back my ID and that I did not try to sneak a work out in. I left because I was very unimpressed by their facility and customer service. Note that this Caucasian male staff used the phrase "you people" when talking to a POC. This is not acceptable.
The staff was absolutely rude and kept my ID hostage. I would not come back to this place and give them patronage. Stay away! If you are visiting from out of town, do not come here. The day pass is $25 for their 15 foot wall for lead Climbing.
Excellent variety of climbing options. Everyone is really helpful with tips and showing you how to do a section if you have trouble.
Great walls, awesome cardio, fantastic instructors.
Experience with this gym has been great. The staff are approachable and knowledgeable, and the culture amongst climbers is friendly. I appreciate that they mix up new routes every other months or so. Definitely my favorite gym in the bay area.
Good place to climb, moderately spacious enough, good staff.
Great climbing gym
Cons:
Gets super crowded
Holds can be seriously greasy due to volume of traffic
Humidity is high
Pros:
Full service: towels, showers, weights, and massive loads of climbing
Great all around gym. Nice balance of rope walls and bouldering problems to go along with standard gym equipment and group classes.
Best sauna of the Touchstone gyms. Interesting variety of climbing, lotta overhung routes a little stiffer than gwpc rating wise. 2nd best bouldering in the bay (see: dogpatch boulders) and great variety of classes. Lot of really fit boys girls men and women but a pretty open and welcoming environment. Way less cliquey vibe than the boulder area at gwpc.
I like the gym, but it's over priced. it has a corporate feel with prices raising all the time. One of the best setups for indoor roped climbing I've seen any where. I love the cracks, wish there were more of them.
I appreciate that they have high standards for their lead belay test. I've met a number of people who are not good belay and have not been able to pass the test at BIW and as a result have taking it at GW which has a lower standard. Wish the other touch stone location would have the same standard has BIW.
Movement, Earth Treks, and City Rock climbers add 2 grades to each route to get a similar climb.
Gym is really good for your self esteem, if you're into vanity grades.
Great size! Lots of lead and bouldering!
I come here to boulder every once in a while. The cave here is awesome and the other bouldering areas are interesting. If you're in to rope climbing and don't have a partner, just walk in and have them announce it over the speaker. It's super common here. Parking lot's always packed, but the wait for a spot never takes too long.
Very pleased with Ironworks in Berkeley. My daughter was interested in rock climbing, so I reached out to see if they offered a camp over winter break. Initially they had said no, but then a few days later responded and said they had decided to move forward with youth winter camp. The communication, responsiveness and willingness to support the camp, I thought was awesome. My daughter was very excited every day to climb and cannot wait to go back for more! Even one of her classmates was there for the camp as well. Thank you for the great experience.
Very pleased with Ironworks in Berkeley. My daughter was interested in rock climbing, so I reached out to see if they offered a camp over winter break. Initially they had said no, but then a few days later responded and said they had decided to move forward with youth winter camp. The communication, responsiveness and willingness to support the camp, I thought was awesome. My daughter was very excited every day to climb and cannot wait to go back for more! Even one of her classmates was there for the camp as well. Thank you for the great experience.
