Are Norway's Gyms BETTER Than American Gyms? Oslo Klatresenter Tour

[@magmidt]

Wish I was there to show you around!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Next time Magnus! My wife and I fell in love with Oslo 🥰

[@phloemz7311]

Magnus! When I was watching this video your ad for climbing blueprint came up

[@sinnerman20]

Wait you didn't collab with Magnus while in Oslo?!

[@Grasfh]

Uwu

[@bloodyfitnerd1947]

@@MiguelClimbs Should check out his other gyms too.

[@strandlie92]

Came here for the climbing, stayed for the architectual analysis of my local gym!👌🏼

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha thank you so much for watching!

[@cameron8641]

Yesss! I appreciate you bringing climbing and architecture speak together for your architect followers!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks! I should do more. Don't want to nerd out on architecture TOO much for the climbing followers 😉

[@justapenoindex]

@@MiguelClimbs "climbing follower" here and i enjoyed it a lot. that compression and release bit was super interesting! next time, you need to climb some routes though ;)

[@csapeti]

​@@MiguelClimbsPlease do! Superb format! 😊

[@bennis123]

As an architect regularly climbing at Oslo Klatresenter this was a fun combination of my interests!

[@MiguelClimbs]

@@bennis123 Haha, awesome gym! 💪

[@bennis123]

@@MiguelClimbs Agreed! Would love to design a climbing gym! Not often you get the chance to design such vertical and weird spaces. Reach out if you're returning to Oslo, I'll show you some of the interesting buildings around here :)

[@MiguelClimbs]

@@bennis123 Would love to go back to Oslo one day! Let me know if you're ever in LV. I'll show you the cool buildings out here 😎

[@serenekim28]

Such a well written script 🤓 I love the way you say klatresenter

[@MiguelClimbs]

Smh sticker 😅

[@MrSimbabque]

You beautifully put into words with your architecture background what it felt like for me walking into the gym in Oslo. It's impressive and makes you feel small. And then you try the really hard boulders and it makes you feel weak, but in a good way. You're right about the KZbin feeling too. When I first walked into the Refuge (and met you) it was a bit similar to coming to the Oslo one (though Magnus wasn't home). But I find it much more interesting to watch videos shot at gyms I've been to afterwards. I spot all the details I noticed at the Refuge when I was there in your videos now, and I remembered a lot of stuff I saw in Oslo watching this. Similarly Parthian in London, which is one of my local gyms, in Magnus' most regent video. It makes you feel connected to "the TV" in some way I guess.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks for the comment Julien! I really do hope that I get to visit Parthian in London one of these days!!

[@MrSimbabque]

@@MiguelClimbs look up Beest Boulders in Rotterdam. It's in an old, former school gym. But they put several of them on top of each other in a tower. I went there recently. You walk into the building and it's just a hallway with an elevator. You go to the top floor. And then there's windows all around, a free standing block in the middle, so much light. Amazing coffee. And three more floors below, all with 360 views of the city.

[@jorgecrimps]

Such a well made video, I love having the viewpoint of an actual architect that values the work behind the gym more than us regular climbers would.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Awwww yeah! Thanks Jorge! Hope you get to go there one day on your travels! 🙌

[@maxdilcon5679]

I'm from London and visited this gym on the way to Flatanger. Really insane, none of the 50+ London gyms come close

[@MiguelClimbs]

Yeah! Although Flashpoint Bristol was really cool. Really liked that gym hehe

[@jonathanrossddsmhs1271]

Turning this video into an architecture tour allowed Miguel to write off his summer vacation as a business expense. 🤫😁

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂😂 Brilliant! I wish! I'll have to do that for my next gym tour video

[@JesusRobledo23]

The architectural analysis was 🔥 Great vid as always man.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks bro! 🔥

[@Glenners]

This must have been amazing! Although the gyms are fine in Canada, they are nowhere CLOSE to anything the US has to offer. Europe is on a whole nother level. The next time I go to my climbing gym I'm going to tell them they need more compression in the entry way so it really RELEASES when you come in haha

[@MiguelClimbs]

@@Glenners 😂 Thanks for watching! 🙌

[@markbloyd9852]

My in-laws are Norwegian, and we all went there over 20 years ago. This was before I was into climbing, so really missed out on that. But Norway is extremely beautiful. Hope you got to travel a bit more and maybe see the fjords. Thanks for giving us the tour, it was definitely different from watching Magnus' videos, especially with it being daylight outside, and more people around.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Yeah Norway was absolutely amazing! Loved Bergen and the fjords. You have to go back! Thanks for watching!

[@RedHornSSS]

Architecture review of climbing gyms is dope!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Glad you liked it! 😂

[@philahn]

Miguel, you speaking Norwegian is making me feel funny.

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 you're the best Phil.

[@jraskl]

The Front is my home gym! did not expect to see it here haha but such a cool video concept Miguel, definitely would love to visit Klatresenter one day!!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Woah cool! Thank you so much for watching! 🙌

[@Stektsopp]

its a fantastic gym. been there a couple times. has everything.

[@Nightwishmaster]

Very cool to see a tour of this gym! I went there basically straight from the airport when I was in Oslo as I had over 6 hours to kill before I could check in to my hostel and I had such a good time there. I only got to visit it once as I was only in Oslo for a single day as I was passing through to Tromsø but exploring that massive place was a lot of fun, even though I was exhausted from my overnight flight from NYC lol. The upper floor was my favorite as well since I was alone and had nobody to belay me all I could do was boulder and auto belay routes. I was there in the winter after they had just gotten a ton of snow but it was super sunny and the sun was reflecting off the snow making it very bright and warm feeling upstairs. The staff was great too, there's a Canadian guy that works there that was super helpful, he helped me figure out how to get to my hostel after I was done and taught me a lot about Oslo and Norway in general. The pastries and coffee are absolutely delicious too!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Woah cool comment! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! ☺️ Let me know if you're ever in LV!

[@haydenburns700]

the tour video is amazing man!! honestly any content with this sort of effort is going to be great, good job!!

[@MJD.21]

Can’t wait to watch this one! Awesome content my man!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thank you brother! 🙌

[@Espentsai]

Hi Miguel.. As a Norwegian I visiting Oslo KlatreS😂enter almost weekly or as we local calls it "OKS" 😉 Just have to say that I'm really impressed by your pronunciations of the different locals names 😅 and also an amazing presentation of the center 😇 Luv to see you testing more centers i Norway and compare them with centers "overseas" 😉 keep up the good work.. 👏

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Wish I knew beforehand that you locals call it OKS. Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching! 🙌

[@Sway___SD]

love the architectural focus! honestly my favrotie overview of a gym I've ever seen, would love to see more stuff like this :D

[@MiguelClimbs]

Awww thank you! So glad you enjoyed it! I'll keep that in mind ☺️

[@Diogompgf]

Really cool to see this kind of content from you. Different, but still really high quality. Enjoyed a lot.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed 🙌

[@jonkrause6714]

Most epic tour and review/comparison - great job, Miguel. 🤘 Absolutely beautiful, and even more so with your architecture language inclusion that flowed equally as well as the entire video. Wicked rad. 🤙

[@MiguelClimbs]

Means a lot Jon! Thank you! 🙌

[@brianallen8579]

We will make it there some day!!! Thanks for the tour!

[@MiguelClimbs]

For sure! Thanks for watching! 🙌

[@brianallen8579]

@@MiguelClimbs no problem! need another tall guy collab soon!

[@pollywave]

You need to release a compilation of your favorite climbs set to some lo-fi beats. I vicariously climb through your vids when I'm at the office haha

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha thanks so much! Ok noted!

[@SteinarMortensen]

Your pronunciation of places in Oslo is superb, Miguel! First American that I've heard doing it so well. My Canadian ex didn't manage in 15 years 😂

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Maybe my native Spanish helped me with the pronunciation!

[@MLWAM]

Great video as always!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thank you so much! 🙌

[@Cruuzie]

I always enjoy the cafe there after a session. It’s such a nice place and always buzzing with people. It feels like a lot of locals come just for the cafe, too, even if they aren’t climbers.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Yeah the cafe had so much seating! Definitely a vibe, I loved it!

[@andersjakobsen9906]

As a Norwegian, and climbing at Oslo klatresenter. I'm really impressed over your afford to pronounce the Norwegian. Kudos 👏 👏

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha thank you for watching! 🙌

[@avon_sw]

wow one of your best videos yet!!💪🏻👏🏻 the articulate architect.

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Thank you friend!

[@RoadtoV11]

I love this architectural vid! They know how to build gyms in Oslo don't they haha You have to visit the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck in Austria next time!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha thank you Cris! I would love to go to Innsbruck one of these days 😍

[@atrane3530]

As someone who graduated from Arch school last year.... I appreciate that 3D programmatic diagram!!

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Glad you enjoyed! Maybe architecture reviews of climbing gyms should be a thing.

[@TheJustinConnor]

Wow awesome vid brother! ❤

[@TheJustinConnor]

…and it was the same feeling I had walking into refuge!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Hahaha thank you bro!!

[@junyuzhang414]

I want to think more about architecture of gyms now that u made it so cool lol

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Please do! Everyone should be thinking about that stuff 🏢

[@adianezsanchezgomez1539]

What an amazing video

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thank you! 🙌

[@Blaster1713]

Lol, it’s nice to see me primary school and my parents house from a drone view. Living there for 18 years and seeing the drone view is quite something

[@MiguelClimbs]

😍

[@steffanievillegas7613]

I love seeing your worlds collide in this video! I'm ready to go back when you are! I ❤️ Norway.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Woohoo! 🥳 Let's do it! 🇳🇴

[@leonilavillegas3670]

What a spectacular place! Impressively designed. Great review!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks! 🙌

[@wrathika]

Never been to Oslo, but the other thing that impressed me a few years ago when i visited Stockholm's main Klattercentret was that it was just 15ish euros for a day pass! A similar gym in the US was around $30 at the time and is now closer to $50 for the day.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Yeah! Especially the expensive gyms like Vital Brooklyn! Thanks for commenting! 🙌

[@patrickgoogle4011]

Love the architect viewpoint, it’s something we normies get to experience but don’t think critically about. Speaking of, are you bringing your architecture knowledge to new climbing gym projects?

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks for the feedback! Maybe one day! I primarily focus on hospitality, but gym design would be fun one day 🙌

[@augustclimbing]

You walked in the steps and touched the very same holds of Magnus Midtbo 😮 Do you feel stronger as a result 😉 Haha but great video 👍🏻👍🏻 I’m not an architect but I do appreciate good design and it’s cool to hear your perspective on this gym. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to visit it in the future. But there’s this awesome gym in Vegas that Id like to visit first.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha definitely feel stronger 💪 We'll be waiting for your in Vegas dude! 😎

[@hideonbushxiong9127]

If ur still in Oslo, u should try klatreverket løkka! Best boulder gym in norway🙌🏾

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thank you for the beta! 🙌

[@hideonbushxiong9127]

@@MiguelClimbs wdym beta?😆

[@kft4764]

It's always insightful to hear a professional's opinion on something, they often have appreciations of things unrecognized by untrained eyes.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thank you for the comment! Sounds like I need to try more videos like these 🙌

[@qriz5]

Great video

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks so much! 🙌

[@yvindholvik3323]

lol never been in the climbing area but used to deliver pizza over there

[@Boscoeguidazu]

I went both Oslo and Bergen. Oslo climbing style was different than we are used to in Spain (although it might have change now because there is a spanish setter since then). Bergen had a French routtesetter so its style is more european (¿?). You have to visit Findland: they are obsessed with toe hooks.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Oh heck ya, I would love to visit Finland! I need to try some climbing gyms in Spain too 🤩

[@Boscoeguidazu]

In Spain the best setting ever is at PiuGaz (Bilbao). @@MiguelClimbs

[@kptain.kanopee]

did you checked Climb-Up Aubervilliers in Paris ? this is a sick gym... Magnus went there.

[@MrBinkk]

Damn just noticed my grandpa lives on the opposite side of the traintrack lol, perhaps ill climb there next time im visiting oslo

[@MiguelClimbs]

What!? Yeah! You must! Thanks for watching!

[@MrBinkk]

@@MiguelClimbs never realised how big it really was inside!

[@fruit1600]

How difficult did you find the grades in Oslo compared to the Refuge?

[@MiguelClimbs]

They were very similar actually. Setting was different, but grades felt the same!

[@thibaultng]

Isn't that Marte on the right side at 8:25 ?

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha, I don't think it is 🤪

[@danschmidt5189]

LOL, did they really put a 69 start hold in the kids area?

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Yeah, glad you found that funny.

[@innok5032]

You should travel to the new climbing gym in Trondheim! It's called Grip Leangen and it's HUGE!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Oh nice! Thank you! I'll have to check it out 🤩

[@NoelleWilson-w3s]

If you haven’t been, you need to check out the Pacific Pipe in Oakland!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Ok! Haven't been, will definitely check it out next time I'm in the Bay Area.

[@caliwong]

The Refuge is great lol

[@MiguelClimbs]

🙌

[@TheRightish]

I feel like the South Main Front in SLC is deceptively small. The racetrack setup gives three pretty small bouldering areas so there isn't actually much bouldering there if you're a regular. It also forces everybody into the same area, so the bouldering areas feel crowded even when there aren't a lot of people around and the new set is claustrophobic at times. The staff also didn't feel as welcoming as the other 20 gyms I've been to over a decade. It's a weird vibe for sure.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Oh sick! Thanks for the comment. I actually haven't been there since 2020 and it was very empty when I went. But I'll have to go back and give it another review now that it's been open for 3 years. The bouldering area at the other Front location is pretty good though right?

[@TheRightish]

@@MiguelClimbs I think the other location is better overall. Better rope climbing for sure and the bouldering feels more open with better angles on the walls. The training areas are better as well. You should check out the Bouldering Project though! The best bouldering gym and probably the best setting in SLC with a similar layout to the Refuge. Momentum has the best rope climbing and the best price point IMO, but it shows it's age a bit.

[@henrikengebretsen7869]

You mention that the training is kind of hidden there but I feel like most Norwegians prefer being by themselves when training. Therfore I think they made the training room more hidden on purpose because of our culture. I’ve never watched your videos before but I love the vid and the insights you give.

[@MiguelClimbs]

Thanks for watching! Yeah I kind of got that sense about Norwegians when visiting 😉

[@johnsausby2987]

The lack of friction on the walls always irratates me at OKS. It makes smearing super spicy!!

[@MiguelClimbs]

Haha I didn't mind that too much! The walls in my home gym in Las Vegas are super smooth. Thanks for watching! 🙌

[@iggimoore]

You should have got in touch with Magnus; and in England all the training centres are hidden away too - this is because you need to be over 18 or have had an induction etc. Stops the young or beginners hurting themselves. 😉

[@MiguelClimbs]

Hehe I did get in touch with him. He was in LA at the time filming some content. Thanks for watching!

[@xinsanedefeatx]

People who haven't been there will probably consider this a hot take but VITAL BK is a better place to hang out than climb (setting is very subpar compared to other gyms in NYC) It's core issue imo is the main reason US gyms aren't as good as European gyms. It feels super commercial, doesn't have much soul or sense of community compared to many other gyms On a more positive note, this gym looks like a climbers wonderland, whether you're a sport climber or a boulderer

[@MiguelClimbs]

Awwww yeah, I love climbing hot takes. You think the VITAL they're building in LES will be any better?

[@xinsanedefeatx]

@@MiguelClimbs Since my biggest gripe is the setting and lack of community, I'll only know once they open up 🤷‍♂️ VITAL BK facilities themselves are gorgeous, but each time I've gone the setting felt unimaginative and too obviously prompt driven ie gaston, traverse, etc (tho from what I know that's common in commercial route setting) Don't get me started on the roof either, stunning view, especially at sunset, but man you don't wanna take a bad fall on their shredded tire style "padding". Again to me a better spot to chill with friends than send hard, but I think that's moreso what they're aiming for to be fair, just not my cup of tea

[@MiguelClimbs]

@@xinsanedefeatx Totally! Thanks for the feedback! 👊

[@BoulderingHighlights]

2nd

[@MiguelClimbs]

So close my friend! 🥈

[@SHO-1989]

May be America can host Climbing Gym World Championships in America where gyms from foreign countries are not allowed to participate, and decide which gym is the best gym in the world 🌎

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂

[@xogus8551]

6 👀 9

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂

[@asterixzm]

Thx for making observe this gym instead of Magnus)

[@MiguelClimbs]

You're welcome my friend!

[@hw7089]

First 🎉

[@MiguelClimbs]

Wooo! 🥳

[@Crazyoldman84]

Wales has boring gyms too😢

[@MiguelClimbs]

🥲

[@riotchock4259]

dont even think this is the best gym in oslo for bouldering

[@LeonkingVR]

Norge

[@Thrusthamster]

"This landscape in Norway is unreal" The south-east of Norway is pretty much the most boring landscape we have lol

[@MiguelClimbs]

😂 Compared to where I live in the desert, it's pretty beautiful

[@Thrusthamster]

@@MiguelClimbs I mean I know it's pretty nice. But travel just a few hours away and you'll be shocked 😄