Climb a rock: Here’s where to go climbing near New York City

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climb outdoors near NYC

We were looking for a hobby that took us outside after we moved to the city a few years ago. Luckily, we haphazardly discovered rock climbing. Whether you’ve climbed at a local gym a few times or you’ve yet to slip on a climbing shoe—climbing can be one of the most thrilling ways to experience the outdoors and there’s more than a few options to give it a go near New York City. We recommend climbing with guides if you’re doing anything other than bouldering until you have a good grasp of the technical knowledge needed to safely climb outside. Local shops like Alpine Endeavors and HighXposure Adventures both offer guided trips to the areas where you can rope climb listed below. Continue reading Climb a rock: Here’s where to go climbing near New York City

Social climbing: How outdoor activities can help a new city feel like home

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Outdoor Community in a new city

This week we bring you a personal essay from contributor and Sorta Outdoorsy pal Allie Lee. If you have a Sorta Outdoorsy story you’d like to share, email us at hi@sortaoutdoorsy.com.

When I made the New Year’s resolution to “be more spontaneous,” I had no idea that I would actually keep it. But soon, I found myself, with just a few weeks’ notice, moving from New York to London. Although I was excited to move to a new city and get out of my comfort zone, I was nervous about leaving the close-knit climbing community that was a big part of my life in New York. Continue reading Social climbing: How outdoor activities can help a new city feel like home

This video about urban climbing will inspire you to go to the gym

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We find it’s hard to not talk about climbing as much as we’d like to (we don’t want to be just a newsletter about climbing after all) and this video, produced by the activewear company Prana, helped us to understand why. Of all the outdoor inspired activities available in cities, urban climbing seems to have become one of the most popular thanks in part to the explosion of climbing gyms (at least three new gyms have opened in NYC in the last five years). Continue reading This video about urban climbing will inspire you to go to the gym

The Kickstarter for these retro style climbing shoes was funded in five hours

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Yesterday, a Missouri-based company called So iLL launched a Kickstarter campaign for four models of high performance climbing shoes that look like a pair of your favorite vintage kicks. The campaign was funded in five hours and had more than doubled its goal by the end of the day. Continue reading The Kickstarter for these retro style climbing shoes was funded in five hours

Perk Beta: Climbing with Emily Harrington, Cedar Wright and the North Face

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Emily Harrington and Cedar Wright
Photo by @lisahaefnerphoto

One of the best parts about living in a sizable city is that it’s almost always a destination for tours and events. You can hear your favorite author read their latest book or you can see a movie before it’s released. You can also boulder with professional climbers. Continue reading Perk Beta: Climbing with Emily Harrington, Cedar Wright and the North Face

Indoor activities for outdoorsy people: Rock climbing gyms in New York City

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Rock Climbing NYC

A few years ago, we stepped into a climbing gym for the first time as third wheel on a friend’s date. Since then, we’ve become obsessed with the sport, dedicating multiple evenings, weekends and vacations to it. There’s something about the combination of physical strength and mental challenge that makes climbing the perfect workout.

Climbing outdoors can be a little intimidating, even if you already know how to tie a figure eight knot. Luckily, New York is home to multiple climbing gyms where you can learn the ropes. They all offer intro classes that cover basics like how to tie into roped climbs, how to belay (i.e. hold the rope for your climbing partner) and how to safely drop down. Plus, you’ll meet climbing partners who become essential if you get as stoked on the sport as we have.

But even if you’re not into the idea of performing gymnastics 40 feet off the ground, climbing gyms offer fitness classes like yoga, capoeira and core workouts, not to mention weight rooms and cardio equipment. Often built in converted warehouses, the gyms also serve as a hubs for social events like film screenings and breakfast clubs.

Use our guide to find a gym near you and climb on! Continue reading Indoor activities for outdoorsy people: Rock climbing gyms in New York City

Boulder Denim is about to release a line of jeans you can actually live in

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Boulder Denim Skinny Jeans Womens

We’re living in the golden age of technical clothing. But while it’s easy enough to find jackets or shirts that look good and perform even better, we personally haven’t been able to find a pair of jeans that we can wear to the climbing gym and then out to drinks on a Friday night. Enter Boulder Denim, a Canadian company that’s about to release a line of jeans that will become your everyday go-to but that can stand up to the physical and flexible demands of climbing, hiking and, apparently, yoga.

“We noticed people like to climb in jeans but it always boggled my mind how people could do so in such restrictive pants,” said Bradley Spence, Founder of Boulder Denim. “Jeans are thick, heavy and have very little stretch. The only thing they have going for them is their style, durability and protection from rocks and climbing walls.”

So Bradley and his team set out to create a technical, stretchy and stylish denim that was made to last more than a few trips to the crag. Check out our interview with him below and mark your calendars for November 19th—that’s the day you’ll be able to snag a pair of these pants on Kickstarter. Continue reading Boulder Denim is about to release a line of jeans you can actually live in

Your Thursday morning coffee is on us

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Brooklyn Boulders opens a bit earlier on Thursday mornings which means you can fit in a few climbs or a yoga class before heading off to your morning meeting. They call the occasion Breakfast Club and we’ll be there this week with your coffee ready. Swing by and say hello.

What: Breakfast Club at Brooklyn Boulders
When: Thursday, October 1st (We’ll be there from 7am-Noon)
Where: 575 Degraw St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
How much: Free for members (you’ll need a day pass if you’re not a member or yoga $12 to drop-in)

 Continue reading Your Thursday morning coffee is on us