★ 5

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★ 5

Great atmosphere and nice paths for climbing. Very laid back and inviting. Plus, the have complimentary towels.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Favorite rock gym! I especially love the warm, welcoming environment. Excellent routes & frequency of route changes.

I greatly support The Knot‘s values and how they treat their employees, gym members and the Gainesville community. This is more than a rock gym; it is a safe haven, a peaceful retreat, a place to nourish connection.

I can’t say enough about how much The Knot has meant to me, my loved ones and the Gainesville community. Not only has it helped me build confidence, strength, and lasting friendships, but it’s also become a hub where people of all ages come together to challenge themselves and support one another. The staff always go above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome, and they organize fantastic events and classes that bring our community closer. I’m so grateful for the positive, encouraging atmosphere. They’ve truly created a place where both climbers and newcomers feel like they belong.

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★ 5

I have so much fun climbing at The Knot and I love how inclusive the space is!! Feeling safe in a gym of any kind is a top priority and they take it seriously!

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★ 5

I’ve been coming to the gym since I was taken here on a first date. The date went so well, and the environment was so welcoming and beautiful, I signed up as a member with my limited yoga teacher salary. It’s not an expense that I took lightly, and it’s not one I’ve ever regretted. I then asked to be a yoga teacher, and it’s been one of my favorite classes in my schedule to teach. I’ve gotten to know the gym intimately, and when I say it’s one of the most fun, engaging, and community oriented places in Gainesville, I’m not exaggerating. I still come as a climber, I still come as a yogi, I still come to just say hi. I hope to continue to work and climb and be a part of this community for a long time.

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★ 5

Awesome local business - everyone is kind and inclusive, no matter who you are or your climbing experience!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great place with a friendly, hard-working staff that seems to really love what they do and do it well! Love the signage.

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★ 5

Amazing! Will be visiting again.

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★ 5

I love this place!! Staff are wonderful and friendly. Reasonable prices and a great work out. I wish I could give the Knot 10 stars instead of only 5!! Definitely check it out!!

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★ 5

Incredible climbing gym with amazing staff! I’ve been coming since they opened and will continue to do so until I can no longer climb

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★ 5

The Knot is a clean, safe gym with friendly and devoted staff! They also host and participate cool events around town to make Gainesville a better place to live

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★ 5

The Knot is a great local business who is not afraid to speak out about what they believe is wrong. We love a brave and ethical business that doesn’t shy away when others hide out and stay silent. Politics exist everywhere in life whether people like it or not, and if you’re a person who doesn’t “do” politics or believe in engaging with them on any level, then freely try taking your business elsewhere without feeling the need to blow up their reviews publicly (aka becoming part of political discourse yourself.)

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★ 5

Absolutely love the Knot! The staff are kind and attentive and it's an inclusive space that welcomes all climbers. I started climbing in August of 2024 and since then have been going once or twice a week on average. The facility is clean and well-maintained. They change up the routes on a regular basis so even if you go all the time there is always something new to try. There are routes for every level as well which I appreciate as a newer climber. They also have shoes and chalk to borrow if needed. It's a great community - the other climbers are friendly, even the more advanced climbers, and always give me tips when I ask for help.

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★ 5

Great place and very massive on the inside. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Membership is worth it! 🧗‍♂️

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★ 5

This place is awesome! You would never know the size of the gym from the outside. They have done a great job utilizing the space. The shear number of routes is mind-blowing.

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★ 5

As someone new to the rock climbing community, I can honestly say I’ve really enjoyed my first two visits to The Knot! Two friends from work encouraged me to give it a try, and I instantly fell in love with the experience. The staff are incredibly welcoming, the facility is clean and well-maintained, and there are plenty of fun and challenging routes for all levels.

If I had one small suggestion, it would be to have a few auto-belays available—but that’s just a personal preference and certainly not a dealbreaker. It doesn’t change how much I’ve enjoyed climbing here or how excited I am to become a member soon.

Thank you to everyone at The Knot for making me feel so welcome!

RS

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

The staff is great. The atmosphere has the feeling of a community with the mindset that we are all in this together. Great place to spend time.

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★ 5

Life changing place with top notch setting, a fantastic community, and firm but fair grading. 11/10, can not recommend trying this place out more highly.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 1

Beginning class only teaches bouldering. No auto-belays. If you want to do wall climbing, you have to bring your own partner.

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★ 5

I have become a regular to the Knot since a couple of months ago. I love to come in the early morning and workout. My first day, Dani was the team member who took me in and helped me get started. Always he has a great smile, encourages me to have fun and complete my project (hard circuits at the gym). I get very happy when I see him at the entrance because we get to catch up. When I get to the gym, I always ask for a pair of shoes and chalk and last time that I went to the gym, Dani saw me parking and had my shoes and chalk ready even before I entered the gym. Great team member, culture and customer service that the Knot has. 10/10. Coming to this gym is totally worth it.

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★ 5

Can get very busy on the evenings during the week. About a dozen top ropes, and fun bouldering areas. Staff and most members are very friendly and helpful for people just getting started.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Fun for climbers of any age and experience. They have a variety of routes at various difficulties that change often enough to keep it interesting. Definitely a fun way to get a workout. Staff is SUPER nice and chill

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great gym, staff are super friendly

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★ 5

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★ 4

A great small gym. I started climbing here in 2002 when it was The Gainesville Rock Gym! Good bouldering terrain, yoga studio, and relaxing spots to sit, work, hang out. Rope climbing is good but they have shorter walls. Plenty of weights and training equipment as well.

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★ 5

Fun! Challenging! Unique! Deceptively good exercise for so many muscles. First, BIG KUDOS to The Knot’s awesome owners and staff! Why? I volunteer with the Big Brother/Big Sister organization which provided this mentor with the most awesome 10 year old on the planet to befriend and entertain with new experiences. One of the perks is a BBBS pair can enter free of charge with the BBBS Liason, who makes sure we are safe and informed. Kid friendly too! More than just climbing, there are weights and machine to use and bars and rope to use. There is a large tumbling mat, short cave walls and a large ramp that provide three levels of difficulty for easier, more horizontal climbs up to experienced folks. The challenging vertical climb also has multiple options for foot and hands - you can choose to make your challenge level whatever you feel like that day. It’s quite high and really exhilarating. *Rest assured you will be safe as you are harnessed, roped and held by a spotter* Here’s the best part for me personally; keep in mind that I am 63, and, though in decent shape, I don’t workout regularly. That said, I scaled that wall like I was horizontal and I did NOT choose the easiest route. Bottom line: Was I proud, exhilarated and out of breath, you bet, was this gym the most fun this lady and her mentee had in a long time, oh yeah ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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★ 5

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★ 5

I love this gym and my love has only grown for it since I started my membership 7 months ago. I didn't see many detailed reviews from consistent members so I am highlighting what they're doing right. I climb about 3-4 times a week and I've been climbing for about 9 months - V4. 5.11 max.

- The best rope setting I've climbed in a gym. It's hard to find a gym with good bouldering and rope setting. It feels like many gyms just mindlessly throw up holds on the wall for rope routes. It doesn't feel like there's any flow or feel of an intended beta. Harder routes at these kinds of gyms would just entail smaller holds, not necessarily technical or thoughtful move patterns. The knot does have shorter rope walls so that also probably helps with creating quality setting. It's good to see a similar level of priority for setting good ropes and boulders.

- The variety of climbing walls. The tall comp wall, steep 30-degree wall, tunnel, cave, and slab wall. The knot makes great use of their small space. I don't usually see this level of variety at larger gyms.

- The community. The smaller size of the gym, the number of consistent climbers, and more give it this tight-knit feeling. While it can be annoying for visitors or casual climbers, I appreciate that it's members only. I always recognize climbers every time I go and it feels good to be surrounded by people that love to climb consistently. I know this will change when they expand, but I hope the feeling of community does not. Also, the fact that Gainesville is a college town adds to this feeling.

- The boulder setting! Always hard, fun, and interesting. Other chain gyms with good setting often have this commercial or generic feeling to their setting. The Knot stays creative and it's clear that setters are given the freedom to do what they want.
I would much prefer climbing at a gym that sets hard for the grade or more true to outdoor grading, than the opposite. I love that the setters are great climbers themselves and a lot of them are around my age. It's also cool to see them become better setters as I'm always checking who sets which boulder or route on the app.

Some things that can be improved. Nothing crazy but:

- Some walls/panels could be re-textured/replaced/better secured upstairs.
- Cleaning the holds more frequently. I didn't have a problem with this but this is some feedback from a friend.
- More thoughtful V0s-V2s. I thought a lot of the easier boulders at Vertical Ventures for example were super cool and interesting and not just jug ladders so I would like to see that at the Knot as well. Our V2s are usually pretty solid though.
- Alternative to the paper finish/start tags. They often fall off, and it's more wasteful in general. Would also like to see the boulder grades on the start tags so we don't have to look on the app (I would still like to use the app in conjunction). I don't like to have my phone on me when I climb, but I'm kind of forced to.

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★ 5

Best climbing gym around. I just wish the membership was more affordable for me.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great place to boulder. Members and staff are all very nice and helpful.

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★ 5

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★ 5

My wife and I dropped in for a day pass. The staff was amazing their head setter is super fun to talk too. The bouldering is incredible I have never seen so much overhung terrain in a space that small in my life. The top ropes are kind of inconsistent some routes are sandbagged by a whole number grade some are right in the sweet spot. Overall wonderful gym. And the staff the staff are just the shining star of this gym. Will be back!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Friendly staff. We enjoy the different levels and variety of climbing walls. A great place to hang out and exercise with the family and doing something good together. Hubby wants me to give 5 stars. 😁

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

I’m a sucker for local-owned climbing gyms with dimly lit bouldering caves and sandbagged top rope. Feels like home❤️ Places like this make you strong and keep you strong. My only complaint about this place is that even the juggiest of holds was the biggest grease bucket of caked-up chalk, shoe rubber, and grime. Also, whoever handles the graphic design for this place is on their A-game!

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★ 5

Great fun. Great environment. Staff and fellow climbers are all supportive and friendly.

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★ 5

Membership price is too expensive, but it's worth it to try out the gym once a month on a guest pass.

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★ 1

No auto belays on the rock walls. You cannot use 2/3rds of the gym without a partner.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Loved this gym! Came down to visit a couple friends who are members, and climbed 2 days strait (something I would normally never do). There is so much variety from the comp wall, slab, cave, top rope, and a tunnel the goes to the upper part. There are even top out sections which is really cool. The routesetting is awesome. Even got my 1st flapper working on a really cool route in the cave because it was amazing and I really wanted to finish it. Definitely would recommend this gym to anyone, and will definitely be back.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

Love this gym honestly. the staff is knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Place is kept pretty clean too. I think my only complaint is that they keep getting more new members which is great because I think it's a really fun hobby, however, the gym is only so big, and can only hold 65 people at a time. I have seen a huge increase of new ppl since last year and it does tend to get overly packed where you have to make reservations to climb, if you don't you can expect to wait 30 minutes or longer depending on the day or night. I feel if the gym was made a little bit bigger it would better accommodate all the new comers and long time members at the gym to have the best climbing experience possible.

Source: Google

★ 3

This climbing gym in fine. Nothing more, nothing less . The facility is small compared to other facilities I have been, but the price for membership is among the priciest. I would have expected a smaller facility would reset their routes more frequently but the Knot does not. They close 20% of their bouldering wall down for individual classes so if you happen to go during that time, tough - you still pay full price for the membership though. There are no package deals like 10 passes or access membership. I guess that is what you should expect if there is only one climbing gym in town. You have to reserve time slots ahead of time because they are not able to accommodate all of their members during busy times. The staff are friendly. Would change to another climbing gym if that was an option.

In response to business owner:
Thank you very much for your response. When I was there last weekend, I asked the very friendly staff if the far wall was closed as there were cones blocking it off with only a handful of climbers using the wall. The staff member said "Yes, it will reopen at 2:30 PM. They are doing the classes right now", which one would understand as the wall is closed for classes. It is nice to know that now one can utilize the walls even when there are classes going on. Thank you for the information.

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★ 5

Super cool gym! I especially love the comp wall. The only things I think would make it better is lead climbing, and crack climbing.

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★ 5

Great staff, great climbs, great experience overall.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Incredible. Come here with my friend all the time. They have rentals, and the entry fee for guests going with an active member is only 10$ including rentals. Great exercise and great fun, never change, The Knot!

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★ 5

Great routesetting, we thoroughly enjoyed every top rope route we tried. Wall height is at the sweet spot where it challenges you, but doesn't drink all the creative juices from the setter)

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★ 5

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★ 5

so cool so much fun And the staff is really friendly and patient

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★ 5

My daughter took me there. First time climber. Place is awesome. All kind of difficulties for different climber levels. I liked the strength section with the dumbbells. Has everything you can except. Did not regret it.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Nifty little climbing gym

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★ 5

One Hundredth Review :) Staff are very friendly. Place is great.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

I was Skeptical about trying this gym because there was not many reviews and we were from out of state but I have to say, they were a pleasant surprise.
Not the largest gym I have been to but a very unique set up.
The way they use their space was different but in I good way. Was a refreshing take on standard gym walls

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★ 1

They don’t give a real heads up before they close for a week of competition but still charge you the full month for it.

On of the owners is a gargantuan jerk, and inspires that kind of jerkiness in the new wave of climbers at this gym (not at sun country) and overall makes this place as commercial a climbing gym as you can get.

They want you to think they’re a mom and pop shop so when they treat you like AT&T you have sympathy and let it slide, meanwhile they’re raking in egregious profits off of misadvetising and poor customer service.

Edit: I closed this account. Many of the experiences I had before I left Gainesville have continued when I returned to Gainesville. You can try to minimize or put aside these issues, or you can acknowledge and own up to them with an earnest attempt to examine how you can fix them.

If another rock gym opened up in downtown Gainesville you can bet you’d lose a lot of your clients because there’s no reason to be loyal to a brand that isn’t loyal to its stakeholders.

Also I am not the only person you’ve reached out to in response to pointing out your issues. Issuing warnings for reviews, or intimidating people, is in no way in the spirit of the community.

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★ 5

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★ 1

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great place to exercise and the staff are all super helpful

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★ 5

A wonderful place for connecting with friends and getting a move on and a move up!!

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★ 5

I went for the first time yesterday with my friends and it was sooo fun! I would love to go back 🥰

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★ 5

Just joined about a week ago. Great gym, lots of options for both beginner and advanced climbers. Super happy with my membership. Added bonus, they have basic free weights and yoga classes included in the membership!

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★ 5

The route setting here is fantastic!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Cool spot

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Excellent facilities with awesome staff!

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★ 5

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★ 1

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 2

This is not a place for young kids. They don't have day pass unless you go with someone who has a membership as their guest and you still have to pay 15 dollars for it.

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★ 5

Hehe monke

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★ 5

My favorite place ever right now.
I love that routes are updated in chunks every 2 weeks, so there’s always something new to work on.

I come here 3-5 times per week!

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★ 5

Great space, friendly staff, wasnt used to the app based grading system and layout but loved it by the end of my first session. Only criticism I have is that there are no day passes so if you climb you have to buy the membership

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Lots of fun

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great staff and very fun!

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★ 4

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★ 5

Great Bouldering Gym!!!!

Routes: 5/5 Fun and creative route setting even for lower difficulty problems.

Staff: 5/5

Cleanliness: 5/5

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★ 5

Great friendly staff.

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★ 5

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★ 5

We had a great time bouldering and top-roping. Thanks to the helpful staff for getting us oriented and set up with gear. I hadn’t been since the facility changed owners.

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★ 5

The best climbing gym in Gainesville. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Fun and interesting routes.

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★ 4

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★ 1

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great place to visit frequently. Love that they open earlier and stay open late. Also love that it's members only (members can bring guests too) because almost everyone who is there is respectful and gives each other space to climb. Looking forward to signing up for some of their free yoga classes and taking part in future bouldering competitions!

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★ 5

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★ 5

I have been climbing here since January and it has been a great experience. The staff have all been extremely helpful and friendly. In my opinion they have a good range of difficulty in the problems and the setters do a great job of making some really fun routes in the space. The gym offers bouldering and top roping along with a warmup area with some equipment. I also really appreciate the classes they offer, the yoga classes are always a good time. The intro to climbing class was so informative and helped me have a more enjoyable start to my climbing journey, I highly recommend it for any beginners.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Best climbing gym in Gainesville! Workers are nice and at least one wall updated weekly.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Such a fun place with very friendly staff. Special thanks to marvel. I didn't let Nicole die. Lol

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 1

Not clear on their website that this is a members only gym. I come to Gainesville a few times a year and unfortunately a membership is just not worth it. The Knot does not cater to all climbers, only ones who live in the area or wish to shell out cash for a full months membership in order to climb once.

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★ 5

Update:
They now offer scheduled belay classes. So my fav climbing gym around!

Update:
I have come with my gf 4 times now to get her belay certified, and multiple times by myself to see if they are available. Each time we went they told us they are not available and told us set of times to come back. Not only have they have been inconsistent in recommending times, but when we came at each of those times they, told us to come at a different time. On the last time my gf even took off from work just to come at the only consistent time they recommended--around 11-12 noon. Also, unavailable.

They don't offer appointments for training. They're phone number doesn't work, so we can't check when/if they are available.

I hate saying all this bec the facility is really great with lots of potential, but we're both pretty fed up.I

Old review:
My fav climbing gym around. Great staff and service and great routes.

My only complaint is that I came with my gf twice, she paid $10 each time and both times there were no staff around to certify her for belaying. I imagine since it's a new gym and theyre short staffed, but I hope they can fix that soon.

Otherwise an all around great gym.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

There's knot a better place in town for climbing😉 ! Great gym, great staff, great perks, and a great community of climbbererers.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Really cool experience, truly unique climbing gym.

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★ 5

Best rock gun in the Gainesville area

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★ 5

Very helpful staff! Ashley taught me how to belay today and was extremely kind and patient with me, it was a great experience. Love this gym!

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★ 5

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★ 5

This is a great rock gym. It's not huge, but the routes are varied and at all kinds of levels from beginner to advanced. The staff is fabulous. It's a friendly open atmosphere. The owners are local people, so it's not got a corporate feel to it at all. I love it and am happy to be a member.

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★ 5

Love coming here! I haven’t climbed in many years and I feel comfortable to just be at the skill level I’m at. Everyone is very nice and respectful and are willing to help you with anything. They even have hair bows in the bathroom which is such a cool little detail. Even if you are not some amazing climber come to the knot to enjoy becoming one!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Currently only offering memberships and not day passes. Plenty of bouldering routes and even some exercise equipment for a regular workout. Looking forward to see it finished.

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★ 5

The Knot may look small compared to other climbing gyms I have visited, but it is filled with a large range of bouldering and top-rope problems capable of challenging climbers of all skill levels. On each of my past five visits, I have found the staff to be welcoming, knowledgeable, and ready to assist. It is recently opened and still continuing to build out, so I expect it to get even better as more features are added. Currently, due to reduced occupancy, they are not offering day passes and are only open to members. But if you are interested in trying out climbing, find a friend who is a member because each member gets one guest pass per month. I highly recommend this place for both experienced climbers and anyone interested in learning a sport that requires as much problem solving as strength and endurance.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Very nice staff and a good environment

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★ 5

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★ 4

I love the staff they are super friendly and helpful. I was really impressed with the routing. Every route felt unique and planned. The price is good too. I always feel included and everyone was inclusive.

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★ 5

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★ 5

So far it has been everything the Gainesville community wanted and needed in a gym. I look forward to their continuing development and future success.

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★ 5

Great place. So happy there is a climbing gym in Gainesville. There is a tunnel for bouldering! Really fun playground.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Lot's of fun for a good price. The belaying here is absolutely awesome and challenging with really high walls. The bouldering is also pretty cool, with a large cave section on an incline.

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★ 5

Such great people at such a great gym!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Excellent gym! The staff (Bo and Annie) were extremely helpful and welcoming. The routes were really well set; good moves that flowed well. Their bouldering cave is amazing! If you've never climbed before, this would be a great place to get into the sport.

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★ 3

Small facility but definitely has potential. A major problem I have is that shirts are required as well as shoes (normal shoes when not climbing) at all times. At no other climbing gym I've been to is that the case. Especially in Florida where it gets hot and muggy in that small space. I was not informed of these rules when I went and besides climbing shoes, only had sneakers so I had to lug my sneakers around the entire gym. I also would've brought a tank top but was stuck with sweltering in a t-shirt.

Setting isn't too bad and I like the long tunnel bouldering area. A good range of difficulties throughout the gym as well with most seeming to be in the v4-v5 range. I did not and will never top rope there as long as helmets are required. But I don't forsee ever wanting to top rope there as the top roping walls are all vertical and offer no overhang.

Pricing is lower than other places I go but you do get what you pay for.

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★ 5

Excellent environment for family fun.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

A fun climbing gym with a good community in a town with no real rock.

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★ 5

This place introduced me to rock climbing, which changed my life.

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