What do you look for in a gym and why? What makes a gym worth it for you? Gym feature chat!
AdamAthletic
Posts: 2,985 Member
in Chit-Chat
I spend almost as much time in one gym or another as I do lurking around the MFP forums making a pest of myself and replying to one discussion or another.. all about dem cat memes!!!
But, over the years I have been a member of a huge amount of gyms - ranging from state of the art £/$300+ a month country clubs (no, I didn't have to pay - there's no way I could have afforded that! I'm a PT so, I was able to train there after a client had left), down to simple £/$10 a month basic.
You know, strangely - I've found the very lowest end of a budget to be the gyms I prefer the most and simply because they concentrate on getting the best lease deals they can afford to get the member base they want!
For me, they have to have a good number of treadmills and the ability to set the treadmill to 2 hours +.
What are your gym prerequites?
Maybe you don't like being surrounded by Olympic lifters? Maybe you want the freebies.. I hear some gyms over there in the US give free pizza!!!
And... out!
But, over the years I have been a member of a huge amount of gyms - ranging from state of the art £/$300+ a month country clubs (no, I didn't have to pay - there's no way I could have afforded that! I'm a PT so, I was able to train there after a client had left), down to simple £/$10 a month basic.
You know, strangely - I've found the very lowest end of a budget to be the gyms I prefer the most and simply because they concentrate on getting the best lease deals they can afford to get the member base they want!
For me, they have to have a good number of treadmills and the ability to set the treadmill to 2 hours +.
What are your gym prerequites?
Maybe you don't like being surrounded by Olympic lifters? Maybe you want the freebies.. I hear some gyms over there in the US give free pizza!!!
And... out!
1
Replies
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Just weights?OutOfUserName wrote: »weights
It seems a fairly basic requirement haha, I think most gyms have weights.
That said, there was a gym I went to a while ago that ONLY had resistance machines - needless to say, it didn't stay open very long!
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I go with cheapest which is the free pizza place. I don't have any big goals so it's good enough for me and you don't have to eat the pizza or free tootsie rolls they keep at the front desk.0
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KyleGrace8 wrote: »I go with cheapest which is the free pizza place. I don't have any big goals so it's good enough for me and you don't have to eat the pizza or free tootsie rolls they keep at the front desk.
Hey, I wasn't knocking it! Sometimes I think there should be more things like that over here - it encourages a healthy attitude towards food as well as exercise in my opinion!
That being said, I tease my fiance about the fact gyms over there have stuff like that! She lives in the US and I'm always gobsmacked by the features some of those gyms have. Ones over here (even expensive ones) seem basic in comparison!0 -
OutOfUserName wrote: »AdamAthletic wrote: »
Just weights?OutOfUserName wrote: »weights
It seems a fairly basic requirement haha, I think most gyms have weights.
That said, there was a gym I went to a while ago that ONLY had resistance machines - needless to say, it didn't stay open very long!
all i need.... weights, a cage, and dumbbell sets
Awesome!
A cage - lifting or boxing type?
Just trying to get a better picture, I'm currently thinking you mean an old-school type gym?0 -
AdamAthletic wrote: »KyleGrace8 wrote: »I go with cheapest which is the free pizza place. I don't have any big goals so it's good enough for me and you don't have to eat the pizza or free tootsie rolls they keep at the front desk.
Hey, I wasn't knocking it! Sometimes I think there should be more things like that over here - it encourages a healthy attitude towards food as well as exercise in my opinion!
That being said, I tease my fiance about the fact gyms over there have stuff like that! She lives in the US and I'm always gobsmacked by the features some of those gyms have. Ones over here (even expensive ones) seem basic in comparison!
I am not upset over any Planet Fitness. I think the food thing is sabotage. My location has a ton of variety in equipment so I'm very happy with it. A little weights, a little cardio. Some really swol people are seen there all the time. Just have to go during non peak hours because they have plenty of members that do all the annoying gym newb stuff.0 -
24 hours and how big the weight area is0
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OutOfUserName wrote: »AdamAthletic wrote: »OutOfUserName wrote: »AdamAthletic wrote: »
Just weights?OutOfUserName wrote: »weights
It seems a fairly basic requirement haha, I think most gyms have weights.
That said, there was a gym I went to a while ago that ONLY had resistance machines - needless to say, it didn't stay open very long!
all i need.... weights, a cage, and dumbbell sets
Awesome!
A cage - lifting or boxing type?
Just trying to get a better picture, I'm currently thinking you mean an old-school type gym?
lifting cage for squats
Gotcha!
Yeah, that really is a must!24 hours and how big the weight area is
Good call!
The main gym I go to now is 24 hours and I'm often there at 4am, it's a lifesaver! (I'm typing this at 4:20am, so - it's nice to have the option of having a gym open to go to!)KyleGrace8 wrote: »AdamAthletic wrote: »KyleGrace8 wrote: »I go with cheapest which is the free pizza place. I don't have any big goals so it's good enough for me and you don't have to eat the pizza or free tootsie rolls they keep at the front desk.
Hey, I wasn't knocking it! Sometimes I think there should be more things like that over here - it encourages a healthy attitude towards food as well as exercise in my opinion!
That being said, I tease my fiance about the fact gyms over there have stuff like that! She lives in the US and I'm always gobsmacked by the features some of those gyms have. Ones over here (even expensive ones) seem basic in comparison!
I am not upset over any Planet Fitness. I think the food thing is sabotage. My location has a ton of variety in equipment so I'm very happy with it. A little weights, a little cardio. Some really swol people are seen there all the time. Just have to go during non peak hours because they have plenty of members that do all the annoying gym newb stuff.
I think that if it encourages a few people whom woudln't otherwise go - although it would do nothing for me, it ccan only be good to have the added feature there.
And yeah, newbs can get a little annoying - but, it's nice to see people getting into fitness too, what annoys me is when they stand next to equipment for an hour posing for photos and doing little/nothing!1 -
First thing I look for is *monsters* lumbering around... if they are there its a good gym!
If it's full of skinny guys staring at girls *kitten* I walk straight out...2 -
A bit of everything. I like to bounce around through the different sections. That said, I haven't paid for a gym membership in a while. I prefer walking/running in the park, my karate dojo and dancing in the living room0
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I look for the biggest bang for the buck, which is why I typically get on board with the YMCA. The last YMCA I was a member of allowed you use to all YMCA gyms in the county (Shelby, TN), which was awesome when I had to travel for work. Plus, YMCA locations often allow members of the military to workout for free if there isn't a military gym close, or they charge only $5 for a day pass...even if they are simply home on vacation. They typically have a good variety of fitness classes that are always fun to attend, and I like the challenges they sometimes have...for example one of the ones in the Memphis area did a 26.2 mile run/walk/elliptical etc... in conjunction with the Boston Marathon.1
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SchweddyGirl wrote: »I look for the biggest bang for the buck, which is why I typically get on board with the YMCA. The last YMCA I was a member of allowed you use to all YMCA gyms in the county (Shelby, TN), which was awesome when I had to travel for work. Plus, YMCA locations often allow members of the military to workout for free if there isn't a military gym close, or they charge only $5 for a day pass...even if they are simply home on vacation. They typically have a good variety of fitness classes that are always fun to attend, and I like the challenges they sometimes have...for example one of the ones in the Memphis area did a 26.2 mile run/walk/elliptical etc... in conjunction with the Boston Marathon.
YMCA is my kind of gym too. Good size indoor and often outdoor pool too, enough equipment for the crowd, sauna and steam room, showers with a small changing room in each stall, free coffee and a juice/shake bar, good choice of classes - most are free/included with the membership, involved in the community, and affordable plus I get a discount there at work.0 -
I need me some mirrors, and squat racks, and dumbell racks, and cardio machines, and a gym that attracts the attractive, i mean what good is lifting if ya can’t see what positive results look like... yup Ima gonna go with that0
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@OutOfUserName is right, weights are all that’s required. But I like a good cable cross over machine, some select hammer strength, leg press and squat rack.
If I have these I’m set.2 -
It's a bit spit and sawdust where I go, but I like it. Lots of different rooms so I can get away from other people. I don't like the all in one room type places.0
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Has to have an Olympic platform and bumper plates and allow Olympic lifting...also, a power rack.0
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Plenty of openings and not crowded.
Lack of idle chit-chatters wasting time and space.
Variety of equipment for strength and conditioning.
Competent and knowledgeable leaders.
Basically, the setup I have at my house.2 -
I tend to look for one that's press crowded. Of course it needs weights, some cardio machines and of course my favorite, cable cross machines.
I have been at the same gym on and off for about 7 years. Surprisingly it's only crowded after 4:30 pm. I'm there by 7 in the morning so no big deal0 -
I love a small gym with a homey type feel with lots of smaller rooms and a variety of equipment. Which is what my current gym gives me
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I like to have a good variety, and for it to be open 24 hours. I agree with @cwolfman13 as well. The gym I recently switched to has the power racks with attached olympic platforms, and I am really loving them. I also look for a gym with competent workers, and if they say they have personal trainers, that they are good and qualified trainers0
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Just needs a squat rack for me to do curls in. Anything other than that is an added bonus.2
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Plenty of openings and not crowded.
Lack of idle chit-chatters wasting time and space.
Variety of equipment for strength and conditioning.
Competent and knowledgeable leaders.
Pretty much this.
Ideally, I want more than three squat racks and a large, quiet gym with a few bros lifters doing their thing and not paying any attention to me. Small gyms make me feel a little uncomfortable because I feel like I'm either taking a machine/weights that someone else wants, or I'm waiting for someone so I can do my next thing. And I've been to a few gyms where there were lots of ladies lounging on the floor taking insta selfies and hanging out in cliquey groups and the introverted hobbit in me just can't deal.0 -
AdamAthletic wrote: »I spend almost as much time in one gym or another as I do lurking around the MFP forums making a pest of myself and replying to one discussion or another.. all about dem cat memes!!!
But, over the years I have been a member of a huge amount of gyms - ranging from state of the art £/$300+ a month country clubs (no, I didn't have to pay - there's no way I could have afforded that! I'm a PT so, I was able to train there after a client had left), down to simple £/$10 a month basic.
You know, strangely - I've found the very lowest end of a budget to be the gyms I prefer the most and simply because they concentrate on getting the best lease deals they can afford to get the member base they want!
For me, they have to have a good number of treadmills and the ability to set the treadmill to 2 hours +.
What are your gym prerequites?
Maybe you don't like being surrounded by Olympic lifters? Maybe you want the freebies.. I hear some gyms over there in the US give free pizza!!!
And... out!
Non-bumper plates, a spot to deadlift, and a good view is always a perk. My one friend goes to a gym that's $300 x month and I couldn't even imagine. It's all about the classes and spa treatments, but that definitely isn't for me.0 -
I have most of the regular gym equipment in my apartment complex's facility, so I don't need a regular gym.
I have been shopping for a CrossFit gym recently though. Some of the things I look for in a good "box" are:
Plenty of open space
Ability to work out independently, outside of schedule classes
Strong sense of community, non-workout events, fundraising, family days, community days, etc.1 -
Bumper plates, enough power cages/squat racks (with safeties because I'm a wuss) to meet demand, a cable machine for rows, etc.
If I changed gyms, I'd look for one with a proper platform, with bench press racks (vs. using a mobile bench in a cage), and ultimately one with a hot tub/cold tub combo.0 -
24 hrs
a pool
a place to deadlift/platform
not super skeezy1 -
I utilize whichever gym I get a discount at (or is free) with my job. Before my current job the gyms weren't anything fancy but at hospitals, some focused on patient cardiac rehab. No squat rack, no pool, etc. I got lucky now where the hospital works with the YMCA and I got a 50% discount and can go to any YMCA and they all have tons of stuff and pools. I left the hospital to stay with the doctor when he left under the terms that he would just outright pay for my current Y membership, lol. Otherwise I don't think I'd stay paying $64 a month.
To answer your question more directly, it's based on my job perks and I just make it work.0 -
I love where I train but if I had to start looking
The "must haves"- multiple lifting platforms, quality olympic bars, plenty of bumper plates (preferably kg plates), jerk blocks, dumbbells (wide selection up to 100 pounds at least) and lots of squat stands/racks
The "would like to haves" - a pull up rig, a couple sets of rings, some open space for yoga/mobility work, a GHD, a rower, a sauna
The "could care less if it has" - treadmills/ellipticals/bikes, weight machines, kettlebells, sleds, turf, classes0
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