Western Power Reviews

Great Western Power Company is like the cool kid of the Touchstone gyms in the East Bay. Problems are tougher, the staff are the chillest and the community only cares about one thing - you got the beta on that? If you hear someone complaining about problems being soft or inflated - they're obviously a try-hard. What do we do with try-hards - ignore them.

If you ask stupid questions, you'll get stupid answers. If you need to be coddled - go to 24 hour fitness where the people drink prozac spiked vitamin water. Otherwise, stop whining - GWPC is a climber's gym - not a fitness planet, not a la fitness, not a crossfit.

You're expected to get callouses, you're supposed to bleed, the ropes smell like bum sweat because it's better that way and you know what, the adults who climb there like it.

They have some easy kid friendly routes from 5.3 and up that are not too high and are slab, my 5 year old was able to complete the 5.3 and almost finished a 5.7 in the main climbing area that had a slight overhand near the top, which he really was stoked to get to. I liked that the holds are not too far apart for a toddler's reach, unlike a 5.7 route made for adults, such as what you would find at Ironworks or DRG. They also had almost brand new kids rock climbing shoe rentals, a big plus compared to the other touchstone gyms. I wished they had some bouldering for kids there because the V0's have holds that are too far apart and too high of a start for a toddler's reach. Dogpatch has an entire kids bouldering area, but I guess GWPC has limited space for bouldering. Friendly staff. Only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is because there is no parking other than metered street parking @ $2/hr

This is my home gym and its great for what it is: they rotate the routes frequently; holds are cleaned between uses; there is a sizable gym upstairs; and they have a variety of classes. However, GWPC feels like it caters more to getting people signed up than keeping its members happy. Give the workout area an overhaul and buy from more than 2 brands of climbing holds and this place turns into the best climbing secret in the bay!

I want to love my neighborhood climbing gym and it s with sadness I m giving this poor review. This gym has a leaky roof which causes a serious mold problem. I am asthmatic and the mold makes it difficult for me to breathe. Management clearly knows about the problem (they put buckets out to catch the rain - which is a tripping hazard) and when I complained last year I figured it was a new problem and they d fix it. I don t understand where our high membership fees are going if not to fix something as basic as the roof. The rain also makes holds slippery and causes such bad rope friction on their old ropes that some can t even be used. I would not climb at this gym anymore if there were any other alternative.

all the touchstone gyms are great, but this is my favorite. it's not the biggest or the newest or the fanciest, but it has a great community of climbers who really support each other. when i come here i feel like everyone is in it together to crush routes. i really like the setting, too. go to another touchstone gym for the coolest routes, come to this one too feel at home.

Great Climbing Gym lots of top rope routes a good bouldering area not a lot of stuff for beginners thou

The urban legend/rumor that Touchstone had thrown up holds into the big steam pipe atop the building totally got my hopes up. I don't know why I was so excited about hopping into a dirty tube and getting black lung, but still. Definitely much much smaller than Mission Cliffs and the bouldering area is essentially the left wall while the right wall is toproping. I did like the upstairs gym area though; spacious and empty.

Just bouldered the last time I came. Fun and straight-forward V2s, and the kiddy wall had some ego-boosting routes on it too. Weird slope made me wonder about falling and face-sliding down the wall, but thankfully topped off without blood anywhere.

Surrounding neighborhood seems like it's in a transitory period and JUST about to get gentrified, but not quite there.

A lot of BART travelers make this their regular home gym. Has great bouldering and top rope routes, a separate gym with traditional weights and rings, and a supportive atmosphere.

Come here for ropes - less crowded than Ironworks and the lead wall has nice routes

The friendliest and generally best climbing gym in the Bay Area.

It was my first time ever climbing! By that I mean really really first time, and my instructor was amazingly amazing and the whole crew and people working there are amazing! Seriously felt like a pro. I did 5.10A and it was legit !
If you are ever planing to try new things and rock climbing happens to be that then this is the place!!! Parking might be everyone's complaining point but hey free parking right the other side by 21st and another block by 22nd street, so yepi Kia yey!

Awesome location, friendly staff, fun routes. Stick your head in the smokestack and look up. It's a little smaller than other Touchstone gyms, and I didn't like the thin, movable bouldering mats (used to places that have thick mats covering the entire floor).

Good rock climbing gym with lots of different routes. It's a little pricey for day passes, other than that solid. Make sure to bring your own lock, also there is no communal chalk.

I've been to most Bay Area and Sacramento Touchstone gyms and GWPC is my favorite. While it lacks a sauna that some of the others have, and the total wall space that Dogpatch Boulders can and certainly should take pride in, it makes up for it with awesome people that work there, amazing classes, and perhaps the most challenging and interesting bouldering problems among indoor climbing gyms.

I am often climbing early weekday mornings when Kyle is the guy welcoming everyone at the front. He has been instrumental at times in advising me and others about how to solve a particular problem. And today without even slightest hesitation helped me fix my bike chain. It would have been a really stressful day otherwise. In addition, Marie Schwindler is an amazing Bootcamp instructor. Avram Pearlman, her no-longer-fiancee-cause-husband is a killer evening yoga instructor. Chaturanga, upward facing, chaturanga, downward facing.

I have no reservations about GWPC and short of moving away from the Bay Area, I have no plans to stop coming here.

Also Great Western Power Company has an amazing name, and that chimney can't be mistaken for anything else.

A really great facility. Something for everyone, even if climbing isn't your jam, it's a great fitness center. Friendly atmosphere & staff. Def coming back next time im in oakland!

Convienently located. great bouldering. Good for a first date or some interesting meet ups.

Such a wonderful facility. Miss it lots, plan to visit when I'm back in the area.

Great climbing gym. Even though it's small, all the times I've been there it was never too crowded and we could get top rope routes easily. Some routes are challenging. People are nice. I highly recommend.

Friendly staff, great workout/warmup area, a ton of classes and workshops. Bit on the small side, and I wish there was a sauna.

Had a good time climbing. The routes were fun and well set. My bike was stolen while I was inside the gym. The gym has cameras pointing right at the front door and bike lock area. The staff wouldn't take time to review the camera without a police order... Some community...

GWPC is the most transit accessible climbing gym I've been to in the San Francisco Bay Area. Less than two blocks from the 19th Street Oakland station makes it a great spot to get your climb on before heading to/ from anywhere you please in the Bay. Ample bicycle parking available (indoors and on-street corral) for those who bring #bikesonboard. As for the routes/ setting, Touchstone crammed as much as reasonably possible in a very tall building with a small footprint. Route setting appears to be very consistent across different setters across the gym. The facility is smaller than most in floor space but they've made good use of a downtown location.

Went there last year with my school. I liked it so I paid for a week of training and real fun. Can't forget the experience of going in the roof. See the review in the bottom with the kid. THAT'S ME

The bike racks and young crowd mean this place is full of people that take public transportation and cycle. That creates a cool vibe that contrasts with the atmospheres of other gyms I ve been to with extensive parking lots. Being around healthy happy people makes you healthy and happy too! A big plus is that since it s such a bikeable neighborhood people can walk to bars or restaraunts or concerts afterwards instead of jumping into huge SUVs to get back to their suburban homes. Always choose a gym close to s train ... the network effects will benefit you !

The climbing is fine, the main issue I have is the smell:

You can smell weed, smokers, street smells from inside the building.

Great for climbing and bouldering. It's a smaller gym and can get crowded. I kind of wish the place would get an upgrade. The locker room is very cramped with 4+ people changing and the exercise equipment, namely bikes and treadmills are old and don't work well. Staff are very friendly and responsive.

Touchstone member just out touching other stones.... ALL Touchstone facilities have their own uniqueness. I like this one cuz of the ol skool ambience and "crossfit" area.

Great walls. Great classes. Fun times all around. If you're a member try Mission Cliffs or Berkley Ironworks for their sauna, makes climb recovery much better.

Great staff. Wonderful facilities. And they always play the dopest music! They cultivate a spectacular community.

Full weight room on top of bouldering, top roping and classes makes for a great gym membership, even if you aren't into climbing.

My home gym is Ironworks and GWPC is much smaller being situated in downtown Oakland. I came here for the Crossfit intro class.

The locker is tiny and not as clean as Ironworks. I liked the different floors for working out -- seemed very spacious and airy on the upper most floor.

If you're into rock climbing, the walls feel crowded.

Great climbing gym! Professional, clean, routes gets changed pretty often, and very good staff.

My kind of place! Very laid back (but still safe) staff, awesome climbing routes that change regularly, and the coolest people. Hoping they can maintain that Oakland vibe when Uber moves in next door.

Good location, near the BART. Really neat building, with climbing walls constructed around an old smoke stack from a power plant. The bouldering walls are comparable to what Mission Cliffs has, but more spaced apart. Top-ropes here can get a little crowded and claustrophobic though.

This was a great gym to visit and seemed like an even better place to be a member. All around great gym, just a little less floor space than I'm used to. And, as always, expect the guys behind the counter to be climbers and not customer service professionals.