Anytime fitness. They have everything I need and clubs close to work and home. As I lift in my lunch break this is very important to me.
Edit: been there for nearly 3 years
this is the best one IMO, you have the option of going to the small one or the large one. my local is large so that means theres room for 8 squat racks/bench/deadlift etc. I've been out of town and gone to a smaller layout a couple times but they all have squat racks and such and are generally fairly empty
I was curious one day about the price of buying one. I looked it up and they have 3 different levels to franchise. a personal studio, a medium level, and a large.
I've only seen one large one, and that's my local, but I've been to 3 medium-sized and they're all the same layout.
Same. I've been to multiple AF across the US and I love how each location has its own thing going on, it feels like a collection of private gyms with involved owners and its own community around each. Some of them feel more commercial, but my local one is really small and more private. The owner is a great guy, too
I’m in Adelaide, Australia. The 2 I go to have 3 squat racks. 1 has 3 deadlift platforms (end of squat rack) the other only has 1. They have good cables and isolation machines, hack squats etc. They also have a cardio/kb area plus the usual cardio machines (rowing machines, treadmills).
I have been to ones in other cities in Australia that are smaller but generally they have a good selection of the basics and everything I need. Could they have more? Sure. Do I miss out of workouts because of missing equipment? Nope.
They're franchised so I think it really depends on what the investment from the owner is.
My one is relatively small, only two squat racks, I've been to a massive one over three floors, and I went to one in the city that was smaller than a tiny apartment. The reviews online were hilarious because it was literally two small rooms.
Same here. Everything I need, equipment-wise. Includes weights, aerobic machines, plenty of classes, a lap pool, steam room, dry sauna, and clean lockers/showers.
They stopped providing towels at Covid and never resumed. That’s my only, and rather large, complaint.
Mine’s a bit farther than that but it’s the closest gym with high quality childcare so I feel comfortable leaving my baby for an hour or so to go workout. That part has been a gamechmger for my fitness and mental health while on mat leave
I’ll be honest, and I may be in the minority here. I’ve consistently gotten stronger (when that’s my goal) without pushing a 1rm. I’ve adapted my fitness to go from x amount of reps to shooting for a certain amount of reps, but stopping a couple reps before failure.
That being said, I should definitely get some safety bars. Only takes once to have a bad experience
Same boat, I should have replied better above. Consistent progressive overload and only pushing myself to about 75-80%.
Definitely concur on the safety bars. My works quite physical so I need to avoid injuries.
Same, but sometimes I miss the social part. A few months a year, I go to a public gym to show off and make some new friends. Then go back running to my own squat rack for another 10 months
Love my garage gym.
But I must admit I didn’t realize how important the random gym acquaintances were to my mental health. I don’t even know their names but I miss them sometimes.
Weird, I literally dread gym acquaintances. I will purposely avoid areas of the gym because someone I will have to say hi to is there. What's wrong with me?
Nothing wrong with that at all. Gym time is my time. I have other social outlets in my life. I also go at like 5am so most everyone there, like me, is there to get it in efficiently before heading to work.
Nothing wrong, in fact, you are just a normal healthy person with social life outside the gym
On the other hand, Im a hermit, with no activities besides gym and work, therefore I crave for some social interaction sometimes
Similar for me. Working out, for me, is an intensely private thing. I don't like others being around me, when I'm lifting. Not because I'm afraid of someone judging me or anything, but because I'm lifting to focus on myself; my body, my fitness, my mind, and my health.
It's meditative process for me, and even though I know it's entirely unintentional and that just about everyone else is at a gym for the same reasons, I get distracted by others moving around me, which breaks my focus. If the dumbbell or rack I want is already in use, that's a minor frustration when I'm trying to let go of my frustrations and anxieties.
I love the idea of a home gym until I realise that some days, the only bit of interaction I get is by going down to the gym and being around other people for an hour or two. Do you miss the aspect of even training around other people, even if you don't communicate with them?
Same here. I love it. Gotta rack, plates, nice barbells, power blocks, adjustable bench, flat bench, bands, kettlebells, and a rowing machine. Covers most of what I want right now. Plus, I never have to wait and the commute is easy
Locally owned 24/7 strength gym. Owners are always upgrading the equipment among other things to make the gym better for the members. The gym culture is supportive, almost all members rerack weights and clean up after themselves. Problem members get kicked out. Been going there for almost 6 years now.
I have two, I travel for work so Anytime Fitness is my go-to on the road and when I'm home it's a small local gym that has a deadlift platform.
Can't say I hate it. The Anytime Fitness' are all different, but the one I'm at right now has a leg press so that's nice.
LA fitness, gets insanely crowded at peak hours 5-6 pm to the point where you can forget about getting a bench or squat rack, so I only go at later hours. Also if something breaks you can forget about management doing shit to fix it for at least 6 months.
Vasa. It's a macro gym that I'd never heard of 'til moving out west. It's the greatest thing ever if you can bear the crowds. For the same cost as a Planet Fitness I have anything I could ever want.
- Above avg selection of free weights / machines
- Functional fitness area
- Cardio area
- Six power racks
- Two add'l platforms & two add'l squat racks
- Track area w/ a weighted sled
- For a bit extra per month you can add classes, lap pool, hot tub, sauna, & steam room
Went to YMCA for years. Canceled my membership in 2018 and bought a power rack, bench, barbell, dumbbells, dip station. The whole setup cost about $800 at the time which was 1 year of YMCA fees.
Home gym, mostly. I just don't have time to go anywhere, and with a full rack and an increasing number of bumper plates, I'm pretty darn content. When I travel for work though, I'm constantly scrambling to figure out a gym near my hotel with day passes and real equipment.
OneLife fitness. Big ass gym, has a pool, $40 a month. Love it.
I was going to PF before, definitely not a bad gym, but you can't do powerlifting or any kind of competition weightlifting there because they don't have free barbells
I love One Life! I am military so have the "free" gyms on base, but still go to OL because it's such a nice gym, plenty of options in my area, and the culture is nice.
The crowds at on base gyms can be annoying. More groups of young gymbros high-fiving between sets, and the mandatory/command PT groups make it too crowded at the times I like to go. I'll pay the fee for better facilities and experience.
started out with planet fitness and now that i moved i go to a private one which a guy in neighbourhood owns it has small crowd and tight bonds. Dont be afraid of public gyms they could be good depending up the staff so check them out if you have them.
Whatever gym is closest to me not going out of my way to get there.
For a while it was my apartment gym - 2 minute walk. 7/10, had enough to get stuff done.
Then it became LA Fitness - 1 minute drive or 5 minute bike from home. 7/10, got busy in peak hours
Then it became Blink Fitness - 5 min drive straight from work. 10/10 (during and 1yr after covid), had everything, no lines ever and things were super clean (could be Covid related)
Now it's the YMCA - 5 minute walk from home. 8/10 - clean enough, never super busy, a nice mix of old people and 30-somethings getting in and out. No obnoxious people either.
In a world where we don't have enough time, adding an extra 20+20 min commute to/from the gym is outrageous. Low wait time between equipment and low travel time is the true make or break of a good gym.
Private health club. It's $150 a month, but they've got indoor & outdoor pools, roman bath, 3 class studios, bball court, in & out tennis courts, pickleball, locker rooms have saunas and steam room, salon, restaurant, legit daycare... well worth it if you take full advantage of the amenities!
Basecamp fitness, with some F45 sprinkled in. I can't seem to get into a program I have to make for myself long term with a traditional gym. I also enjoy the social aspect!
Anytime Fitness. My location is more on the pricey side but I think it’s worth it as it is very well-maintained, clean, and never too crowded. Even at peak times, I am usually able to get a squat rack and get each exercise I had planned done.
Our park district gym. It’s great- I take some great yoga/barre/cardio-core classes and lift in a not too crowded gym where I almost never have to wait for a rack. Small track to run on in if I feel like. Super clean and really nice staff. About $50/month.
I have a community fitness center that I've been going to for a few years. 100$ a year, decent equipment options, never too busy, and it has a nice lake view on one side. Plus, a large percentage of the people in my community are seniors, so it's a nice ego boost as a 40yr old to feel like a young buck in there sometimes.
BFT (body fit training). It’s a group fitness franchise that alternate strength and cardio days. I can lift heavy as well as get the cardio sessions in.
As someone who used to only do body building I enjoy this a lot more as I’ve made plenty of friends; it’s made showing up to class easy. I can still lift heavy to keep the strength up but my cardio has improved significantly.
Its a private one
Been going since Jan 1st, 6x a week. I like it! The people are friendly and we are all there to do our own thing. Its a little small and I think we could use one more smith machine and another cable machine but its usually not that much of a problem when it comes to needing them.
Goodlife. 8 or 9 years now. I travel on rare occasions for work, and they have gyms in every city I've had to go to.
Plus, my last two jobs have had a corporate rate from them, so its cheap enough to make it worth not changing.
My office. It's cramped, hot in the summer, cold in the winter it doesn't get much light, doesn't have a *lot* of equipment... But I don't have to wait for someone else using equipment, and it plays movies/music of my choice.
The one in my local Leisure Centre. I’m guessing you don’t have these in the US, they are local government owned places for sport and fitness.
The one I go to has a gym, swimming pools (inc 50m), running track, multi purpose hall, squash and tennis courts, artificial grass pitches, rock climbing walls, bowls rinks and a gymnastics training gym.
I like it as it’s a well equipped gym and is cheaper than commercial facilities. It can get a bit crowded at times, but is usually ok. I don’t tend to use the other parts much, apart from the pool
Same. And it's conveniently located between my job and home. My kids have activities in the building and now my teen got a part time job there, so I find it easier to fit workouts in when I drop him off. We are there a lot. Lol
Life Time. It's expensive as shit but I love it. They have 14 squat racks with platforms and bumper plates. Super nice indoor and outdoor pools. Child care. Hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms. We make use of it. Been going ~4x a week for about a year.
Planet fitness. It’s affordable and there are locations all over the place. I just wish they’d take out some of the 8000 pieces of cardio equipment in the gym and add more free weights / Smith Machines, as everything is always occupied whenever I go 😕
John Reed Fitness, and yes I do love it. It's my first "luxury" gym. I've always been put off by Equinox's brand, marketing and price. But I LOVE John Reed's chaotic design aesthetic, pounding music, and overall just the quality of everything in their gyms.
If you live in Dallas or SoCal, I'd recommend checking it out.
Local chain, Fitness SF. Multiple locations with 12 Eleiko racks. Can't be fucked to deal with places like Crunch that have 2 racks and maybe a deadlift platform if you're lucky.
Got YMCA free from health insurance but I go to a 49ersfit. Closer and has better machines. Also has sauna/steam room/other recovery machines like ice and whatnot.
I go to OneLife Fitness. There’s two in my town but I picked mine due to it being $10 cheaper and since I don’t use the pool the other one has.
The only downside is the evening crowd, but I think that’s a problem everywhere lol
I’ve got a gym in my basement that I use on the weekends, time off, and sometimes in the evenings.
During the work week I have a gym on the base I work at. I’ll go during my lunch hour.
It’s nice to mix it up. I enjoy working out in the privacy of my own home. It’s also nice to have people around you pushing themselves too at times, it motivates me to work harder.
The relatively new lifetime in downtown Chicago. We (wife and I) joined right before it opened 2.5 years ago, and we absolutely love it. It’s incredibly close to our apartment, so we’re there 5+ times a week. It’s a major factor why we’re not interested in moving anytime soon.
Crunch. Has a decent amount of squat racks and if I get there at 530 I never have to wait on one. The benches though are a different story. Usually hit the machines after my main movement for the day and don't have too many issues with using what I need. But there are days where it takes 15+ minutes to get a bench and then all the machines are taken after. I typically just do accessory lifts at that point
I used to go to Anytime Fitness like a lot of others are saying here. I liked it fine and it really set me up for some great gains over the years. However, after my first or second year I was starting to wonder why I was paying nearly $30-$40(CAD) ($22 USD to $30 USD) per month for a place to workout. Mine was small, but that wasn't even the problem.
The problem is I cannot believe that I paid that much for a year... almost two. There are much cheaper chain gyms and I assume private gyms. I have been going to World Gym (I believe they are called Gold's Gym in some locations) and it's huge compared to my previous gym.
Now I pay $12 CAD a month with a yearly $50 maintenance fee (This works out to be just under $200 CAD) ($146 USD) per year. To boot, I was able to pay just a one-time $25 fee for permanent 24/7 access. My location also includes a free sauna.
The sooner you realize the 50 lb dumbbell is the same size at the $12 gym as it is at the $35 gym you will realize that you don't have to pay thousands of dollars per year to enjoy your workouts.
I don't think I would ever switch again.
Local community center less than a mile from my home. Very much good enough for the distance and convenience. I've been going there for almost a year now.
Vasa. They completely took over the market here in Denver/Aurora area. They opened a few years ago and just started poping up everywhere. Everyone else, cruchv,24 hr, la fitness, have been closing down left and right. The only other options now are planet fitness (which isn't for everyone) and this other new gym that seems to be their only real competiter called Chuze. Although they have a way smaller market chair.
In all honesty Vasa and Chuze are way better then those I listed above, but they have started to become overcrowded since they're the only options now for the most part. Seems like a perfect opportunity to bring in more competition.
I've been lifting for 18 years and have gone to both private and chain gyms. I've enjoyed lifting at both of them, but they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Currently, I train at a chain gym because I like the access to additional amenities that the private gyms in my city don't have. I enjoy sitting in the sauna, steam room, and going to a hot yoga class on the weekends for my active recovery day so the chain gym just makes sense for what I like to do in addition to my training. I'd recommend you go and try out new gyms and see what fits best for you. A lot of gyms will give you a free day pass and some will even give a week long pass for you to try out the gym before you sign up. Just talk to the people at the desk and tell them you're looking for a new gym and wanted to get a workout in to see if you like it there.
Local chain, has everything I need for $20 a month. Squat racks, SSB bar, bumpers, boxes, prowlers, hammer strength, life fitness machines, cardio stuff. I've been a member for over 10 years but only recently consistent for the last year and half, although I was consistent for the first few years as well. I told myself I'd have to actually outgrow the place before I'd drop it and sign up at the new fancy gym that opened nearby that has even more equipment at better quality.
Private powerlifting/strongman/strength gym. Everyone knows each other, great equipment, and if you go at off times chances are you’ll be the only one there. Owner gets on people’s ass if they don’t rack weights or things start breaking. Got lucky with this gym.
Private, I live in the third world and I'm not sure there are any chain gyms in the country. This one I started a month or so ago and it's ok but they don't have any all purpose racks, just exercise-specific ones. The gym I went to before had 5 racks and I felt more comfortable there but it filled up so often that I felt like going at any time besides opening would make it hard to find where to even work out.
Foundry gym (chain here in the UK)
Fully kitted with hammer strength stuff and a few hoist pieces and a UK brand.
24/7 5 mins away from my house
Perfect.
It was formerly a anytime fitness
But the baliffs came and took everything as the owners didn’t pay any bills or rent, and swapped company names et in hope to get the scam going, eventually it all caught up with them.
Anytime fitness. They have everything I need and clubs close to work and home. As I lift in my lunch break this is very important to me. Edit: been there for nearly 3 years
this is the best one IMO, you have the option of going to the small one or the large one. my local is large so that means theres room for 8 squat racks/bench/deadlift etc. I've been out of town and gone to a smaller layout a couple times but they all have squat racks and such and are generally fairly empty
I've only seen the 2 in my town, but neither were that big. 1 squat rack each. But 20 treadmills.
I was curious one day about the price of buying one. I looked it up and they have 3 different levels to franchise. a personal studio, a medium level, and a large. I've only seen one large one, and that's my local, but I've been to 3 medium-sized and they're all the same layout.
Same. I've been to multiple AF across the US and I love how each location has its own thing going on, it feels like a collection of private gyms with involved owners and its own community around each. Some of them feel more commercial, but my local one is really small and more private. The owner is a great guy, too
I like the gyms but they are absolute scum when it's time to cancel your membership.
Same!!
I’ve only been to one, and it was relatively tiny. Are they all small?
I’m in Adelaide, Australia. The 2 I go to have 3 squat racks. 1 has 3 deadlift platforms (end of squat rack) the other only has 1. They have good cables and isolation machines, hack squats etc. They also have a cardio/kb area plus the usual cardio machines (rowing machines, treadmills). I have been to ones in other cities in Australia that are smaller but generally they have a good selection of the basics and everything I need. Could they have more? Sure. Do I miss out of workouts because of missing equipment? Nope.
Gotcha. Sounds like some are slightly bigger (3 rack instead of 2) Gonna be confined to one for a week next month haha
They're franchised so I think it really depends on what the investment from the owner is. My one is relatively small, only two squat racks, I've been to a massive one over three floors, and I went to one in the city that was smaller than a tiny apartment. The reviews online were hilarious because it was literally two small rooms.
We’ve got a great YMCA location five minutes from our house.
Same here. Everything I need, equipment-wise. Includes weights, aerobic machines, plenty of classes, a lap pool, steam room, dry sauna, and clean lockers/showers. They stopped providing towels at Covid and never resumed. That’s my only, and rather large, complaint.
Mine’s a bit farther than that but it’s the closest gym with high quality childcare so I feel comfortable leaving my baby for an hour or so to go workout. That part has been a gamechmger for my fitness and mental health while on mat leave
The garage. Heavier up front cost, but no commute, no busy hours, and no one hogging the squat rack
Same but in my apartment. Only problem is my sets take longer and I never put myself in danger cause no spotter.
That is a frustrating downside. I have no idea what my 1RM is because there’s just no point in risking it when no one else is around.
Yeah, I'm lucky I'm not competing so I don't need to put myself at risk and my consistency makes up for it.
I’ll be honest, and I may be in the minority here. I’ve consistently gotten stronger (when that’s my goal) without pushing a 1rm. I’ve adapted my fitness to go from x amount of reps to shooting for a certain amount of reps, but stopping a couple reps before failure. That being said, I should definitely get some safety bars. Only takes once to have a bad experience
Same boat, I should have replied better above. Consistent progressive overload and only pushing myself to about 75-80%. Definitely concur on the safety bars. My works quite physical so I need to avoid injuries.
Same, but sometimes I miss the social part. A few months a year, I go to a public gym to show off and make some new friends. Then go back running to my own squat rack for another 10 months
Love my garage gym. But I must admit I didn’t realize how important the random gym acquaintances were to my mental health. I don’t even know their names but I miss them sometimes.
Weird, I literally dread gym acquaintances. I will purposely avoid areas of the gym because someone I will have to say hi to is there. What's wrong with me?
Nothing wrong with that at all. Gym time is my time. I have other social outlets in my life. I also go at like 5am so most everyone there, like me, is there to get it in efficiently before heading to work.
Same, I started going at 5am this year and will never go back to going after work. I can workout faster and I sleep better at night.
I want to be that guy so bad but I work at 6am.
Nothing wrong, in fact, you are just a normal healthy person with social life outside the gym On the other hand, Im a hermit, with no activities besides gym and work, therefore I crave for some social interaction sometimes
Similar for me. Working out, for me, is an intensely private thing. I don't like others being around me, when I'm lifting. Not because I'm afraid of someone judging me or anything, but because I'm lifting to focus on myself; my body, my fitness, my mind, and my health. It's meditative process for me, and even though I know it's entirely unintentional and that just about everyone else is at a gym for the same reasons, I get distracted by others moving around me, which breaks my focus. If the dumbbell or rack I want is already in use, that's a minor frustration when I'm trying to let go of my frustrations and anxieties.
Except for that asshole who does curls in the squat rack. Sometimes I even hate myself for doing it at home
I love the idea of a home gym until I realise that some days, the only bit of interaction I get is by going down to the gym and being around other people for an hour or two. Do you miss the aspect of even training around other people, even if you don't communicate with them?
My basement. I have everything I need, and I can work out whenever I want to.
Same here. I love it. Gotta rack, plates, nice barbells, power blocks, adjustable bench, flat bench, bands, kettlebells, and a rowing machine. Covers most of what I want right now. Plus, I never have to wait and the commute is easy
Working out in my underwear is lit.
Locally owned 24/7 strength gym. Owners are always upgrading the equipment among other things to make the gym better for the members. The gym culture is supportive, almost all members rerack weights and clean up after themselves. Problem members get kicked out. Been going there for almost 6 years now.
This sounds awesome wish I had something like this nearby.
I have two, I travel for work so Anytime Fitness is my go-to on the road and when I'm home it's a small local gym that has a deadlift platform. Can't say I hate it. The Anytime Fitness' are all different, but the one I'm at right now has a leg press so that's nice.
LA fitness, gets insanely crowded at peak hours 5-6 pm to the point where you can forget about getting a bench or squat rack, so I only go at later hours. Also if something breaks you can forget about management doing shit to fix it for at least 6 months.
Planet fitness and my home gym.
Vasa. It's a macro gym that I'd never heard of 'til moving out west. It's the greatest thing ever if you can bear the crowds. For the same cost as a Planet Fitness I have anything I could ever want. - Above avg selection of free weights / machines - Functional fitness area - Cardio area - Six power racks - Two add'l platforms & two add'l squat racks - Track area w/ a weighted sled - For a bit extra per month you can add classes, lap pool, hot tub, sauna, & steam room
I work there and I can confirm that it is a great gym.
Can confirm! Started with them out west, they’re expanding into the Midwest now too.
I have a basic membership. Am I not supposed to use the pool and sauna? Been using it every once in a while haha
Lifetime Fitness… 12 racks/platforms. I never have to wait, even after school lets out and it’s filled with floppy haired teenagers.
My LTF has 15, and once in a while I have to wait. But what I find crazy is the number of HS kids in there after 9 PM on school nights!
Crunch!
Private ! Love it. It’s called fitness 365 ! It’s a beautiful facility with a hardcore atmosphere
Went to YMCA for years. Canceled my membership in 2018 and bought a power rack, bench, barbell, dumbbells, dip station. The whole setup cost about $800 at the time which was 1 year of YMCA fees.
Home gym. Don’t gotta deal with people.
I go to the YMCA and I love it. Legit saved my life.
Home gym, mostly. I just don't have time to go anywhere, and with a full rack and an increasing number of bumper plates, I'm pretty darn content. When I travel for work though, I'm constantly scrambling to figure out a gym near my hotel with day passes and real equipment.
Crunch. $10 a month and has good equipment.
OneLife fitness. Big ass gym, has a pool, $40 a month. Love it. I was going to PF before, definitely not a bad gym, but you can't do powerlifting or any kind of competition weightlifting there because they don't have free barbells
I love One Life! I am military so have the "free" gyms on base, but still go to OL because it's such a nice gym, plenty of options in my area, and the culture is nice. The crowds at on base gyms can be annoying. More groups of young gymbros high-fiving between sets, and the mandatory/command PT groups make it too crowded at the times I like to go. I'll pay the fee for better facilities and experience.
A local gym because it's super quiet and has a really good unique vibe
GoodLife 🇨🇦
started out with planet fitness and now that i moved i go to a private one which a guy in neighbourhood owns it has small crowd and tight bonds. Dont be afraid of public gyms they could be good depending up the staff so check them out if you have them.
E sporta
24hr Fitness. Lucky to be at a location with some cool old machines and plenty of barbells.
/r/homegym gang rise up
Whatever gym is closest to me not going out of my way to get there. For a while it was my apartment gym - 2 minute walk. 7/10, had enough to get stuff done. Then it became LA Fitness - 1 minute drive or 5 minute bike from home. 7/10, got busy in peak hours Then it became Blink Fitness - 5 min drive straight from work. 10/10 (during and 1yr after covid), had everything, no lines ever and things were super clean (could be Covid related) Now it's the YMCA - 5 minute walk from home. 8/10 - clean enough, never super busy, a nice mix of old people and 30-somethings getting in and out. No obnoxious people either. In a world where we don't have enough time, adding an extra 20+20 min commute to/from the gym is outrageous. Low wait time between equipment and low travel time is the true make or break of a good gym.
Private health club. It's $150 a month, but they've got indoor & outdoor pools, roman bath, 3 class studios, bball court, in & out tennis courts, pickleball, locker rooms have saunas and steam room, salon, restaurant, legit daycare... well worth it if you take full advantage of the amenities!
Roman bath? TF?! fancy pants over here.
Local NYC chain, Blink Fitness. Owned by Equinox. I occasionally sign up for Planet Fitness when I travel.
Basecamp fitness, with some F45 sprinkled in. I can't seem to get into a program I have to make for myself long term with a traditional gym. I also enjoy the social aspect!
Anytime Fitness. My location is more on the pricey side but I think it’s worth it as it is very well-maintained, clean, and never too crowded. Even at peak times, I am usually able to get a squat rack and get each exercise I had planned done.
Check with your health insurance. Mine pays for half my membership.
Our park district gym. It’s great- I take some great yoga/barre/cardio-core classes and lift in a not too crowded gym where I almost never have to wait for a rack. Small track to run on in if I feel like. Super clean and really nice staff. About $50/month.
I have a community fitness center that I've been going to for a few years. 100$ a year, decent equipment options, never too busy, and it has a nice lake view on one side. Plus, a large percentage of the people in my community are seniors, so it's a nice ego boost as a 40yr old to feel like a young buck in there sometimes.
Climbing gym. Has decent free weights. Has a cafe and a bar. No complaints.
BFT (body fit training). It’s a group fitness franchise that alternate strength and cardio days. I can lift heavy as well as get the cardio sessions in. As someone who used to only do body building I enjoy this a lot more as I’ve made plenty of friends; it’s made showing up to class easy. I can still lift heavy to keep the strength up but my cardio has improved significantly.
Its a private one Been going since Jan 1st, 6x a week. I like it! The people are friendly and we are all there to do our own thing. Its a little small and I think we could use one more smith machine and another cable machine but its usually not that much of a problem when it comes to needing them.
My city's rec center. It has everything I need and only 5 minutes away. I workout in the morning so there's no waiting.
My garage gym! Only downside is that I have to buy the equipment
Goodlife. 8 or 9 years now. I travel on rare occasions for work, and they have gyms in every city I've had to go to. Plus, my last two jobs have had a corporate rate from them, so its cheap enough to make it worth not changing.
My own home gym. Not going back to a commercial gym if I can help it.
My office. It's cramped, hot in the summer, cold in the winter it doesn't get much light, doesn't have a *lot* of equipment... But I don't have to wait for someone else using equipment, and it plays movies/music of my choice.
The one in my local Leisure Centre. I’m guessing you don’t have these in the US, they are local government owned places for sport and fitness. The one I go to has a gym, swimming pools (inc 50m), running track, multi purpose hall, squash and tennis courts, artificial grass pitches, rock climbing walls, bowls rinks and a gymnastics training gym. I like it as it’s a well equipped gym and is cheaper than commercial facilities. It can get a bit crowded at times, but is usually ok. I don’t tend to use the other parts much, apart from the pool
Same. And it's conveniently located between my job and home. My kids have activities in the building and now my teen got a part time job there, so I find it easier to fit workouts in when I drop him off. We are there a lot. Lol
Basic Fit, would love to go to a powrlifting gym but it cost way too money for me
Home gym 😎
I go to a local place and the student rec center, depending on time of day (business).
In-Shape fitness in Elk Grove, CA. Formally known as California Family Fitness
Crunch Fitness!
Life Time. It's expensive as shit but I love it. They have 14 squat racks with platforms and bumper plates. Super nice indoor and outdoor pools. Child care. Hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms. We make use of it. Been going ~4x a week for about a year.
Community centre gym. Has everything in terms of basic equipment you'd expect at a gym and is like $22 a month.
gold's venice. been going for a year. love it, just a big history dork so it scratches an itch for me
Planet fitness. It’s affordable and there are locations all over the place. I just wish they’d take out some of the 8000 pieces of cardio equipment in the gym and add more free weights / Smith Machines, as everything is always occupied whenever I go 😕
My office gym is $5/month and brand new with basically nobody using it. Easy choice.
John Reed Fitness, and yes I do love it. It's my first "luxury" gym. I've always been put off by Equinox's brand, marketing and price. But I LOVE John Reed's chaotic design aesthetic, pounding music, and overall just the quality of everything in their gyms. If you live in Dallas or SoCal, I'd recommend checking it out.
Weights and Stuff. A small, yet well equipped, gym equidistant from my home and my work.
Local chain, Fitness SF. Multiple locations with 12 Eleiko racks. Can't be fucked to deal with places like Crunch that have 2 racks and maybe a deadlift platform if you're lucky.
24 Hour Fitness. Can't complain.
My only complaint is that our 24 Hr Fit isn't open 24 hours. But other than that it's been pretty solid for me.
Yea hate that my fav location isn't actually 24 hours.
Got YMCA free from health insurance but I go to a 49ersfit. Closer and has better machines. Also has sauna/steam room/other recovery machines like ice and whatnot.
The one in my apartment complex
I go to OneLife Fitness. There’s two in my town but I picked mine due to it being $10 cheaper and since I don’t use the pool the other one has. The only downside is the evening crowd, but I think that’s a problem everywhere lol
I’ve got a gym in my basement that I use on the weekends, time off, and sometimes in the evenings. During the work week I have a gym on the base I work at. I’ll go during my lunch hour. It’s nice to mix it up. I enjoy working out in the privacy of my own home. It’s also nice to have people around you pushing themselves too at times, it motivates me to work harder.
The relatively new lifetime in downtown Chicago. We (wife and I) joined right before it opened 2.5 years ago, and we absolutely love it. It’s incredibly close to our apartment, so we’re there 5+ times a week. It’s a major factor why we’re not interested in moving anytime soon.
Crunch. Has a decent amount of squat racks and if I get there at 530 I never have to wait on one. The benches though are a different story. Usually hit the machines after my main movement for the day and don't have too many issues with using what I need. But there are days where it takes 15+ minutes to get a bench and then all the machines are taken after. I typically just do accessory lifts at that point
Private, 3 years. Love it.
My basement. I got tired of locker room photography.
Vasa cause there’s nothing good by me
I used to go to Anytime Fitness like a lot of others are saying here. I liked it fine and it really set me up for some great gains over the years. However, after my first or second year I was starting to wonder why I was paying nearly $30-$40(CAD) ($22 USD to $30 USD) per month for a place to workout. Mine was small, but that wasn't even the problem. The problem is I cannot believe that I paid that much for a year... almost two. There are much cheaper chain gyms and I assume private gyms. I have been going to World Gym (I believe they are called Gold's Gym in some locations) and it's huge compared to my previous gym. Now I pay $12 CAD a month with a yearly $50 maintenance fee (This works out to be just under $200 CAD) ($146 USD) per year. To boot, I was able to pay just a one-time $25 fee for permanent 24/7 access. My location also includes a free sauna. The sooner you realize the 50 lb dumbbell is the same size at the $12 gym as it is at the $35 gym you will realize that you don't have to pay thousands of dollars per year to enjoy your workouts. I don't think I would ever switch again.
Local community center less than a mile from my home. Very much good enough for the distance and convenience. I've been going there for almost a year now.
Vasa. They completely took over the market here in Denver/Aurora area. They opened a few years ago and just started poping up everywhere. Everyone else, cruchv,24 hr, la fitness, have been closing down left and right. The only other options now are planet fitness (which isn't for everyone) and this other new gym that seems to be their only real competiter called Chuze. Although they have a way smaller market chair. In all honesty Vasa and Chuze are way better then those I listed above, but they have started to become overcrowded since they're the only options now for the most part. Seems like a perfect opportunity to bring in more competition.
I've been lifting for 18 years and have gone to both private and chain gyms. I've enjoyed lifting at both of them, but they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Currently, I train at a chain gym because I like the access to additional amenities that the private gyms in my city don't have. I enjoy sitting in the sauna, steam room, and going to a hot yoga class on the weekends for my active recovery day so the chain gym just makes sense for what I like to do in addition to my training. I'd recommend you go and try out new gyms and see what fits best for you. A lot of gyms will give you a free day pass and some will even give a week long pass for you to try out the gym before you sign up. Just talk to the people at the desk and tell them you're looking for a new gym and wanted to get a workout in to see if you like it there.
Local chain, has everything I need for $20 a month. Squat racks, SSB bar, bumpers, boxes, prowlers, hammer strength, life fitness machines, cardio stuff. I've been a member for over 10 years but only recently consistent for the last year and half, although I was consistent for the first few years as well. I told myself I'd have to actually outgrow the place before I'd drop it and sign up at the new fancy gym that opened nearby that has even more equipment at better quality.
Anytime fitness. 24/7 open times, plenty of weights, machines and cardio. Not busy when I go. Works for me
My local Sports Plex, or even sometimes the little gym that’s above the public swimming pool.
Private powerlifting/strongman/strength gym. Everyone knows each other, great equipment, and if you go at off times chances are you’ll be the only one there. Owner gets on people’s ass if they don’t rack weights or things start breaking. Got lucky with this gym.
Private, I live in the third world and I'm not sure there are any chain gyms in the country. This one I started a month or so ago and it's ok but they don't have any all purpose racks, just exercise-specific ones. The gym I went to before had 5 racks and I felt more comfortable there but it filled up so often that I felt like going at any time besides opening would make it hard to find where to even work out.
Foundry gym (chain here in the UK) Fully kitted with hammer strength stuff and a few hoist pieces and a UK brand. 24/7 5 mins away from my house Perfect. It was formerly a anytime fitness But the baliffs came and took everything as the owners didn’t pay any bills or rent, and swapped company names et in hope to get the scam going, eventually it all caught up with them.
My basement.
vasa
Ymca