A Review of All Sender One Climbing Locations!
Sender One is one of the best indoor climbing gyms in Southern California. The first one was founded in 2011, and they’ve gradually expanded all over SoCal since. I’ll be writing up a quick review of each location, similar to my post on all the Hangar 18 locations.
Please note that I (5’3″ female) climb mostly V3-V4s at Sender One– I can do most V3s and some of the easiest V4s. For top rope, I climb between 11a-11c. I’m better at technique-based problems that challenge balance and flexibility over strength, and it is based off of my own skill level that I’ll rank the difficulties for each location.
Prices
I bought a prepaid annual membership during Sender One’s 10th anniversary sale for $1050, which can be activated at any time. I’m waiting for a few of the upcoming gyms to open before doing so. Prior to this, I’ve been purchasing the punch passes when they go on sale, and you can repeatedly buy them if you take Intro to Climbing classes (which you can get cheaper on Groupon).
Sender One LAX
Address: 11220 Hindry Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Parking: There is a lot onsite that wraps around the building, but it’s usually rather packed. There is street parking along Hindry Ave, but double check the signage!
Size: 30,000 sq ft, 2 stories
Type: Bouldering, top rope, speed climbing
Amenities: Locker rooms, showers, yoga and fitness classes, fitness center
Difficulty: Since Sender One uses the same setters, the difficulty across the existing 3 gyms are fairly consistent. LAX could be in the middle.
Overall: This is the biggest of the Sender One gyms, and one with the most amenities onsite. There’s a second story with more bouldering problems, ellipticals overlooking the top rope area, and plenty of training gear such as their MoonBoard, fingerboards, campus boards, and one where you climb up by stabbing wooden sticks into holes.
Sender One Playa Vista
Address: 12775 W Millennium Suite 4-140A, Los Angeles, CA 90094
Parking: Paid parking garage with 90 minute validation, or 2 hour street parking, OR free street parking about 5-7 minute walk away in the neighborhoods.
Size: 7000 sq ft.
Type: Bouldering only
Amenities: Locker rooms, showers, small fitness center
Difficulty: Since Sender One uses the same setters, the difficulty across the existing 3 gyms are fairly consistent, with the Playa Vista location ever so slightly harder.
Overall: A pretty intimate space in the middle of Playa Vista, the smallest location of the existing gyms. I went most recently and found all the routes to be challenging and difficult. Even the V3s really test your technique level and you’re holding onto the holds with the tips of your fingers!
Sender One Santa Ana
Address: 1441 Village Way, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Parking: Parking lot in front of the entrance and around the side of the building, but plenty of space overall in the plaza.
Size: 24,000 sq ft.
Amenities: Locker rooms, showers
Type: Bouldering, top rope, speed climbing
Difficulty: Since Sender One uses the same setters, the difficulty across the existing 3 gyms are fairly consistent. My boyfriend did note that he felt Santa Ana was easiest if he had to rank them. Top rope grading is easier than LAX.
Overall: Lots of cool problems here with creative use of big volumes.
Verdict
If we had to rank the hardest to easiest across the 3 open gyms: Playa Vista > LAX > Santa Ana.
Compared to Hangar 18 grading, I’d put Sender One roughly in the middle of all the Hangars, making it a pretty well-rounded gym.
Upcoming New Gyms
I’m SUPER excited for new gym openings because more variety and they’ll be closer to home 🙂
Sender One Westwood – opening 2023
This gym will be taking over the former Mann Festival Theater in the heart of Westwood, with 10,000+ sq ft bouldering, yoga, and training. You can check out what the walls are looking like here.
Sender One Lakewood – opening 2024
Located across from the Lakewood Center, this location will have the full amenities just like Sender One LAX, but with saunas! This space will be over 28,000 sq ft, located at 4949 Lakewood Blvd, which was a former Office Depot. I passed by the building the other day and there haven’t been any modifications to the roof – The concept photo showed a raised roof.
Sender One Huntington Beach – opening 2024
This location will be over 9000 sq ft of bouldering and fitness facility at the Bella Terra open air shopping mall.
Sender One Aliso Viejo – opening 2025
This location will have 24,000 sq ft of climbing, yoga, fitness, and a Sender City at “The Commons” in Aliso Viejo (26507 Aliso Creek Road).
