REI Gets Foothold As Rock Gym Popularity Climbs

REI and Momentum TM Indoor Climbing will lay the first stone of their new joint venture, REI Co-op Climb, in Katy, Texas, in July.

“These gyms are an important resource for avid climbers, and they’re an onramp for getting more people into the sport,” said John Sheppard, REI Divisional VP of experiential programs and new ventures.

Katy’s 36,000-square-foot Momentum gym will be the first where members can take advantage of REI’s on-site retail presence to purchase gear and register for programs and events. The collaboration rocks for REI members, too, as participants in the Learn to Climb program will receive two weeks of free climbing at the new gym.

Students and members of all levels will have opportunities to take their skills from the wall to the wilderness in “gym to crag” classes. These are possible thanks to REI’s Outdoor School, which will help climbers transition from Momentum’s Climbing School to real-world, outdoor adventures.

Last year, 350,000 people participated in the Outdoor School for one activity or another, learning new skills or brushing up on old ones — and always focused on fun.

“The co-op is an ideal partner to further our vision, by providing Momentum climbers with a gateway to memorable outdoor experiences,” said Jeff Pedersen, Momentum CEO and cofounder.

The popularity of rock gyms has been on the climb for several years, with 188 indoor climbing gyms opening in the U.S. between 2010 and 2016 and a total of 414 facilities nationwide, according to Climbing Business Journal.

Momentum Katy opens on July 15. With rope climbing, bouldering, training walls and even a kids’ section, the 29,000-square-foot climbing area will have space for hundreds of climbers at once, with classes geared toward beginners, experts and everyone in between.

Guests can also take advantage of an on-site cross-training area, yoga studio and locker rooms. On the mezzanine, auto-belay climbing and party space will be available. Members can even get a little work done between climbs at one of the site’s laptop work spaces.

But that’s nothing. Later this year, a second REI Co-op will launch with the new Momentum Silver Street near downtown Houston. At 40,000 square feet, it will be one of the largest bouldering gyms in the country, making it an ideal venue to host major climbing competitions.