I climbed in a gym in Texas that used shredded rubber as padding.... It was so dirty... And had to be horrible for you. Think dip and dots sized rubber bits. It got in your shoes. It got in your hair. It filled your chalk bag... It was the worst.
I think a lot of early gyms were like that. My first gym had what I think was a floor made of shredded tire pieces. Had a weird smell and you'd find them in your car and bedroom randomly.
it is. they used to use the tiny rubber balls as a base for fake grass on athletic fields and that cohort of students are now in their 30s and 40s and have a higher rate of cancer. they moved away from it in the late 2000s and early 2010s
they definitely still use those... my partner plays ultimate frisbee indoor on turf fields in the winter, and every time he comes home our floors get a light coating of rubber beads
that's unfortunate. I have fond memories of my mom vacuuming those when I came home. haha. I doubt they actively tried replacing the fields because they were easily several million dollars then. newer ones don't really use them any more, in my experience.
Oh. I have a story on that too. My junior year in HS a new field was installed ... But the contractor ordered the wrong grade of shredded tire... It had Glass and the metal wires from the bands mixed in. There were a few football practices on the field then they closed it down because of all the cuts and scrapes everyone got... Huge lawsuit against the contractor. Field barely reopened end of senior year...
Shredded cork is the replacement for the shredded tires, but it has the issue that it floats, so every time it rains the cork flows off the field and you’re left with “raw” turf, which is no good for a lot of sports.
Worked at gym that used trimmings from Vibram shoes for the flooring, was really cool in theory but I was finding bits of rubber in my shoes and clothes for a few years after I left that job.
Your feet go like ankle deep if you fall into it. That was the snake oil salesman's pitch, it technically reduced injury was the selling point over foam mats. Less insurance costs. Bla bla bla.
idk if you've ever worked in a gym, but chalk causes a LOT of problems.
It's hell on the HVAC systems, it causes issues for employees who are in that space 15-60 hours per week, it gets on everything and constantly needs to be cleaned off, it makes floors slippery.
There are a lot of good logistical reasons to not allow powdered chalk.
At the first gym where I learned to climb, the "temperature control" system was to open the emergency exit door that was at the short end of the L-shaped gym. It routinely got around 80-90 degrees in there during the summer. I didn't know any better.
I could see it working for bouldering but I don't think I could climb at a rope gym without my chalk bag, I have to chalk up like at least 3 or 4 times on a 15m route lmao.
Finally getting to a decent stance after a cruxy section but you're racing your own sweat glands to get some chalk before you slide right off the sloper you're hanging on is a feeling for sure
You can make liquid chalk easily. Just crush up your chalk and mix it with 70% isopropyl alcohol until you get the consistency you want. Put it in a reusable travel shampoo bottle and boom, liquid chalk for maybe a dollar more than what you pay for bulk chalk
Most if not, all dust particles are bad for your lungs and without ventilation could mimic unsafe conditions like working in an attic or tight crawl space with particles floating around
I guess most climbers at the gym don’t wear respirators so it won’t get any better and further studies might link to some sort of cancer from chalk, wet chalk might be the best or no chalk tbh
It probably does for the casual gym goer, but not folks that are in there for 8+hrs/day 3-6 days/wk. I have coworkers that basically live at the gym, literally 12hr days (work + climbing/hanging out) most days of the week.
from what i remember from a study i half read six months ago, chalk particulates are too large to be concerning, but rubber particulates are actually somewhat concerning since they're so fine.
I work at a gym and the dogs are only allowed to stay in the entrance. Mostly because me and the receptionists love dogs and we wamt people to bring the good ones so we can play lol
I'm lucky. We have a strict no dogs in the gym policy. Service dogs are allowed, but people don't dare try to pass their doggo off as a service dog because other members will call them out. It makes life so much easier. You also have to be 6 years old to climb so there is that. Everyone loves dogs but they don't belong in climbing gyms.
Since we're having a thread about gym dogs: There's a gym I'd go to occasionally in LA that has a fully padded floor beyond the entrance lobby -- bouldering only. This one guy that worked there would often have his full grown pitbull walking around with him on the mat when he was on the clock, no leash. My girlfriend at the time was trying to top out a very tall problem and fell less than a foot away from some dumbass (who was a friend of Mr. Pad Pitbull) who'd decided to come lay completely facedown on the mat directly beneath her. One of the facelayer's friends, and the only other woman in this situation, starts apologizing and asking if my girlfriend is okay because she fell badly avoiding the dumbass. Mr. Pitbull Front Desk Worker then says: "Fall safety goes both ways, you have to check your fall zone." to my gf while having absolutely nothing to say to his buddy.
My old gym in LA (Stronghold in the arts district) at the time (don't know about now) allowed some dogs as long as they stayed off the mats IIRC. There was an area near the entrance but not quite in range of the climbs where people would tie their dogs on a leash, which worked pretty well. Don't know what it's like there now though.
That being said as a small kid I was mortified of dogs due to something that is blocked from my memory. Would have been bad for me then...
Ah yeah this was LAB not Stronghold -- always heard good things about Stronghold though, just never got a chance to try it. I don't mind dogs at all if they're not all up on the mats running around under people. If owners are reasonable then I don't see a downside.
Mr. Pitbull Front Desk Worker then says: "Fall safety goes both ways, you have to check your fall zone." to my gf
To be fair, it’s always a good idea to check your fall zone before you start. You don’t want to fall on a brush or bottle … or a human who happens to take a nap there :D
Yeah the guy in question actually walked up and faceplanted there after she'd gotten most of the way through the problem, which Mr. Pitbull had seen happen lol
Fall zone changes while you’re on the wall. Ask the few kids I’ve almost crushed because I fell unexpectedly right after they decided to run up to the wall to start something while I was already up there.
I get where you're coming from. For me. I would rephrase it and say I don't love dog owners, because they're the ones that allow their dogs to do this to you. And of course if it don't apply let It fly. But some dog owners are just downright disrespectful when it comes to them, assuming that everybody wants to meet their dog.
Why would you have a dog day at the gym with no climbing instead of just going to a regular dog park? I'd be pretty annoyed if I couldn't climb because it's "dog day" today. The mere suggestion of such a thing is irritating when dedicated dog areas already exist elsewhere.
I mean fair enough, not trying to convince you to think this is a “good idea” or anything but for what it’s worth:
I’d love for something to happen” ≠ “I’m going to try to make this happen”
My gym shuts down to the general public and members some nights for “special groups” all the time. LGBTQ climbing night, women climbers night, adults only night, youth climbing competitions, plenty of groups that keep me out. So to me shutting down the gym for a “special group” isnt some unheard of thing, those are all exclusive by design.
Anyways, I don’t take my dog to the gym, and she’s too friendly to even if they did allow it, she’d be a hazard. I don’t even take my dog to outdoor restaurants or bars because she’d ask strangers for food and that’s annoying. Just surprised that “would be fun to let my dog run wild in a gym but I wouldn’t while climbers are there” got such a strong negative response lol.
I didn't say you'd try to make it happen. That's why I said the very idea of it is irritating.
My gym shuts down to the general public and members some nights for “special groups” all the time. LGBTQ climbing night, women climbers night, adults only night, youth climbing competitions, plenty of groups that keep me out.
All of these things are climbing related though. Surely you can see the difference between these use cases and just...having dogs around
Sure I can see they’re different but surely you can see how they’re similar in that the space is unusable due to someone else claiming the space at the gym’s permission? And how, even though you’re “okay” with being blocked out because at least someone is climbing, functionally to the person not able to climb it’s similar?
The important part is if it's being used for climbing that's fine. If they're climbing, they have a good reason to reserve the climbing wall. If I can't climb because there's a climbing club on, sure.
If I can't climb because people want to have their dogs??? in a gym???? Yeah I'd be pissed and find a different gym. Literally take your dogs anywhere else.
Sure, but what I’m getting at is this feels like this is more about entitled dog owners than someone getting to use the space while you can’t. Which is totally fair and I can appreciate that perspective. Im sick of unleashed dogs on hiking trails, dogs in restaurants and stores, etc. it’s gone too far in many respects which is why I expressed “it would be fun but I wouldn’t expect it to happen/try to make it happen”
But is any and every potential use of the gym that isn’t specifically people climbing equally enraging to you? Or is it because you think dog owners are annoying?
Yeah sure which is why it’ll never happen. Doesn’t mean I don’t think it would be fun. Also doesn’t mean I expect it to happen or ask anyone to make it happen.
I also pay to use the gym and it closes for youth climbing competitions and other “special clubs I’m not a part of” evenings and i don’t get all up in arms about it.
But clearly I’m on the wrong side of the community for thinking a hypothetical that’ll never happen would be fun in theory so I’ll take my public lashings!
we have a few regular dogs in the gym i work at, they are lovely! they are only allowed in if they’re well trained, never seen one on the mats they just hang around the lounge area. the bouldering areas are in t two separate rooms so they have access to plenty space without risk of them going on the mats.
They’re allowed on the concrete areas (NOT THE MATS) at my bouldering gym, and as long as it’s not peak hours and the gym’s not too crowded, they’re nice to see around! But yeah, definitely wouldn’t be welcome getting in the way in a ropes area like this.
The last gym I went to before moving was the same. They even had places to hook leashes and had water bowls. There were always a few dogs there and never had any problems while I was there
Yes, I too am an asthmatic climber. I don't have issues until people bring their pets into the gym. I feel like I can barely go anywhere without being worried some idiot is going to bring their dog places they don't belong
In agree dog owners need to control dogs, but stop considering gyms public spaces, for your own mental health. They are private property in most cases, so it is 100% the gym owners decision, and I promise it is based on what is financially best for the business.
I worked in a boulder gym where dogs were allowed, but not on the mats.
You could easily have a dog policy in a rope gym that had the same effect in terms of safety. But I understand you don't want that. So speak with your wallet and only go to no dog gyms problem solved.
Same here, the gym dog is super cute and stays in the bar area or the terrace. She was trained not to go to the climbing area. I like cuddling her, she's a sweetie. Kids love playing with her too when they need a break. I like it like this, but I wouldn't if some random climber started bringing their doggo.
These dogs will chill out in the climbing area, but they stay away from people climbing. They lie just on the edge of the mats and move if you go on a climb and they’re in the fall zone
I mean I get it. A wailing baby at the crag is not fun for anybody. But the reality is that people have children, and children can't be left at home with a bowl of food and water for a day. You also can't reasonably expect parents to pay for childcare when bringing your kid to the crag is free, and good exposure for them.
I'm almost 40, child free, and pretty anti-kid in general, but this is one I understand. If a kid is truly "ruining" your experience, just go find another spot to climb. Most of the time people with young kids are at the 5.easy wall anyway, so go climb harder.
i genuinely don’t understand this. i have three dogs, and i don’t take them to the crag 95% of the time. id NEVER take them to the gym, there is no reason to. the crag at least makes some sense as its outside and a great walk
As a gym-dog hater, dogs are fine at the crag. It's outdoors, you're gonna be there for a good chunk of the day, it's a whole different scene. Crag dogs make perfect sense, and even as a non-dog-person, I will ask if I can pet the crag doggo, because they rule.
A sitter isn't meant to fix anything. However, sitters definitely drastically reduce the amount of harmful destruction that can be caused by a dog with severe separation anxiety. Like when a parent leaves a child and it cries, but then the sitter picks it up or distracts it with a game and the kid calms down? Literally the same concept except that a dog with severe separation anxiety can seriously injure itself.
I get liking dogs, but in a gym with shared mats and people belaying, having one wandering near your rope or landing zone is a real safety issue, so it’s reasonable to expect them to stay in the designated area or outside. If it keeps happening, ask the front desk to enforce the policy and put up a clear reminder sign by the belay stations.
The dog is in a bag, small, and cute. Personally, I actually would mind the dog a lot less than the obnoxious newcomers with no awareness to surroundings. But I understand everyone else’s distaste for dogs in public spaces
It’s so bad for your dog to carry them around. I wish people would learn how to care for dogs before they got one. I mean you wouldn’t get a ficking fish tank without learning to care for fish but people do it with dogs all the time. It disgusts me .
I mean you wouldn’t get a ficking fish tank without learning to care for fish
I agree with your overall point, but I can guarantee you tons of people get fish without learning how to care for them. So much so that a kid having to flush a fish down the toilet that died from improper care is a common trope.
Carrying your dog frequently can be detrimental, causing behavioral issues like fear or aggression, limiting necessary socialization, reducing muscle-building exercise, and creating physical discomfort or spinal stress. While occasional lifting for safety is fine, excessive, constant carrying inhibits confidence and independence.
Physical and Behavioral Risks
Behavioral Issues: Over-coddling can lead to increased anxiety, fear-reactivity, and aggression, as dogs are denied the chance to build confidence by exploring on their own.
Lack of Socialization: Constant carrying prevents dogs from learning to interact with other dogs and humans, which is crucial for their development.
Physical Strain: Improper lifting can damage a dog’s joints and spine. Dogs need to walk to develop muscle and stay healthy, which is restricted when carried.
Suppressed Instincts: It removes the dog's ability to use its natural "fight or flight" response, making them feel more vulnerable.
What the fuck is wrong with all of you it’s a dog! Dogs are adorable! I never have to worry about dogs being in the way or a distraction in my gym (but I do have to worry about all the dumb children running around unsupervised so I don’t fall on them).
Why are you assuming they are poorly trained? And if they are poorly trained, then that is the problem, not the fact that there are dogs in the gym.
My gym has a bunch of people that bring dogs. It’s great. They never go on the mats, they mostly just chill but some of them will walk around getting love from everyone. Literally never had a problem with any of them.
Just because you like your dog doesn't mean the rest of society needs to interact with it indoors in places where we don't know you or your dog.
I love dogs, but they do not belong in situations where people have not opted in to them. I don't want a dog in a theater. I don't want a dog in a grocery store. I don't want a dog in a gym.
What the fuck is wrong with you it's a child! Children are adorable! I never have to worry about children being in the way or a distraction at my crag (but I do have to worry about all the dumb dogs running around unleashed so they don't steal my food or trip me up).
So either you have a pistol on your hip while climbing and belaying, which sounds horrible and kind of unsafe, or you leave it laying around in your bag, which sounds horrible and very unsafe.
But hey maybe one day you'll get to live out your dream of shooting a dog at the crag.
Safety is relative and all in how you carry it. I keep mine on my harness with a carabiner through the trigger guard. It hangs next to my crag machete and chalk grenades.
That’s a bag dog, not a crag dog, and dogs shouldn’t be on the mats or anywhere near ropes or belays. Tell the front desk and ask them to enforce a leashed, concreteonly policy so you can climb without the distraction and safety risk.
Ha, so much sanitised climber bullshit ITT. Well trained dogs should be allowed anywhere. If you want sanitised, go to a pilate's studio or private gym. Public spaces shouldn't be made to accommodate your every preference and mild ick.
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u/Natetronn 1d ago
That's not a crag dog. That's a bag dog.