Kindle Climbing: A Large-Scale Indoor Climbing Center at Suwon Station
A massive indoor climbing center, Kindle Climbing, spanning approximately 400 pyeong, has opened near Suwon Station. Based on a visit from its opening last October, this is a detailed review of a recent return visit. Kindle Climbing is located at 1st Floor, 124 Sehwa-ro, Gyeonggi Province Suwon Gwonseon-gu. It operates from 10 AM to 11 PM on weekdays and from 10 AM to 8 PM on weekends and public holidays. Visitors can enjoy 4 hours of free parking. For inquiries, please call 0507-1476-5015.
Overwhelming Scale and Facilities
From its exterior, Kindle Climbing impresses with its sheer scale. The space is so vast that I initially had a little trouble finding the entrance. Upon entering, you’ll notice the very large shoe and clothing lockers, hinting at the extensive facilities within Kindle Climbing.
Even on a Friday afternoon, the center was bustling with visitors. A day pass for Kindle Climbing costs 22,000 KRW. If you plan to visit frequently, purchasing a multi-visit pass is much more economical. A 5-visit pass with a one-year validity period offers a significant discount, making it a great option for regular climbers at 18,000 KRW per visit.
Convenience Facilities: Changing Rooms, Shower Rooms, Foot Washing Stations
The spacious women’s changing room, visible immediately upon entry, is equipped with numerous lockers and even shower facilities. Having shower facilities, which are rare in other climbing gyms in the Suwon area, is a major advantage of Kindle Climbing. Furthermore, the foot washing area, boasting an impressive seven stations, is the largest I’ve encountered at any climbing gym.
Diverse Climbing Sectors and Amenities
Beyond the foot washing area lies the stretching zone, where you can view the entire gym map. Excluding the boards, the climbing walls are divided into seven sectors. While 3 hours might be sufficient at other gyms, you should expect to spend at least 4 hours or more at Kindle Climbing. This aligns with the provision of 4 hours of free parking.
I even took a panoramic photo, amazed by the sheer scale. The facility also includes what appear to be Kilter and Moon boards, offering a variety of climbing experiences. Further inside the gym, opposite the slab wall, is a cafeteria. Drinks are essential during climbing, and considering the lack of affordable coffee shops between Suwon Station and Lotte Mall, an unmanned coffee machine has been installed.
Canned drink vending machines are also available. During my recent visit, Monster Energy drinks were being sold. The prices are the same as convenience stores, making it convenient to purchase them at the gym. However, the distance between the drink holders is a bit inconvenient. Basic first-aid supplies, such as spray-on pain relief, are also available next to the holders, which is useful.
There appears to be a dedicated area for trial experiences and lessons. Along the endlessly extending walls, comfortable single-person sofas and beanbags are arranged at the very back. The transparent holds, which I saw for the first time, are said to be the worst due to lack of friction, but I haven’t experienced them myself.
Difficulty and Enjoyment
Passing the restroom located right in front of the entrance and looking at the remnants of the opening event, the highest score recorded at the time was 452 points. A problem I remembered as navy blue then has since changed to sky blue, and even the sky blue routes felt very difficult during my recent visit. Kindle Climbing has a somewhat high difficulty level, but visitors commonly agree that this makes it more enjoyable. The difficulty at Kindle Climbing is indicated by various colors, ranging from red to black (โค๏ธ๐งก๐๐๐ฉต๐๐๐ค๐ค).
Through the videos I took during this visit, I could feel the satisfaction of successfully completing a dyno move and the fun of aใใ (Viet) route. Although I attempted it almost at the end and lacked the strength, I looked forward to my next visit to alleviate my regret.
I conclude my visit to Kindle Climbing with an entrance shot and a group photo of the crew. If you’re looking for a large-scale, comfortable indoor climbing experience near Suwon Station, I highly recommend Kindle Climbing.
