why are crossfit facilities/ classes SO expensive?

akadrea

I'm not knocking CF, I am just curious! I would LOVE to go to CF classes, but the cost and lack of childcare and hours prohibit me from doing so. The gym closest to me doesn't even have a proper squat rack so trying to do a WOD by myself is laughable (plus, I think I'd need that group mentality/ help)

vstraughan

It's expensive because its the latest 'thing'. Wait until the next big 'thing' is out and the prices will go down.

micheleb15

You have a planned WOD each time you go that was designed by a professional. It's like having a trainer plan each of your workouts without paying $80 a session. It can be much cheaper than a trainer for all that you receive.

Joreanasaurous

I would imagine their insurance is through the roof as well.

lina011

do it at home.......... look online. all gyms are expensive

cwolfman13

Because they are all the rage...supply and demand. Plus, you have a coach or several coaches working with the class and designing the WODs

3dogsrunning

Because they are all the rage...supply and demand. Plus, you have a coach or several coaches working with the class and designing the WODs

Also, unlike a gym, the size of the box/equipment limits the amount of people that can belong to the box. I suppose that would depend on where you are but the box here is pretty small. Workouts are limited to 10 people and there is only so many available classes per day. You don't have as many people signed up paying monthly dues as you would a regular gym.

That said, Crossfit here is pretty affordable and nowhere near some of the prices I see on here. It is more expensive than my old gym, but not by a whole lot.

racheljonel

you can sign up at www.bodeefit.com and they will send you a Crossfit-ish WOD every day for free!

akadrea

I think maybe the biggest drawback is the lack of childcare, LOL! I know I can find WOD online, but I really benefit from a group setting - I'll keep with my YMCA membership, I suppose ;-)

micjamtow

Locally- Crossfit costs $180/month. I can join Planet Fitness for $10/month. With start-up fee, gym fee, and monthly fee, PF is $190 for a whole year. I acknowledge the group motivation and workouts would be worth it, but not for me to start. If the CF looked more "cooler" or updated it might be different. I know that's not what's important, but that does help "sell" the investment. The CF here is just an empty hole-in the wall: renting out unused Karate space.

zilla

For a few reasons:

1. It is on trend
2. Insurance is a *****
3. Normally smaller and capped numbers
4. Pretty much a group PT session
5. You normally pay a month fee and are able to come to as many sessions as you want, so you might do 2 a day 7 times a week (if you were crazy)

Also, proper technique is really important with Cross Fit. So I would make sure you've had either a trial at a Cross Fit studio or some PT sessions before trying WOD by yourself.

Try something like group classes if you want the 'push' without the price.

akadrea

I go to group classes at my YMCA and lift
On the side, injust think I'd really like CF. oh we'll, the hours, cost and lack of childcare prevent me from joining.

jsuaccounting

Because they always have a trainer to work with them - in a regular gym you work out on your own. However, it is cheaper than a one-on-one trainer.

Capt_Apollo

for a number of reasons, crossfit is expensive. mostly because it is generally very small class sizes. the crossfit gyms around me have 15-20 people limits. so you are getting very individual attention. it is not like a body pump class where you are packed in with 49 others and no one corrects your form.

and btw, i looked into martial arts in my area too. same price. and no class size limits. had to share a punching bag with another person at my trial class.

LaurenAOK

You have a planned WOD each time you go that was designed by a professional. It's like having a trainer plan each of your workouts without paying $80 a session. It can be much cheaper than a trainer for all that you receive.

This... I haven't done CF, but from what I've heard it's basically like having a personal trainer. Even though you're in a group you get lots of individual attention, and all kinds of varied workouts.

CakeFit21

for a number of reasons, crossfit is expensive. mostly because it is generally very small class sizes. the crossfit gyms around me have 15-20 people limits. so you are getting very individual attention. it is not like a body pump class where you are packed in with 49 others and no one corrects your form.

and btw, i looked into martial arts in my area too. same price. and no class size limits. had to share a punching bag with another person at my trial class.

This.

my class is capped at 15 I think, and we have two coaches. We pay $18 bucks a class, the drop in rate is $20. Is that unreasonable for all the equipment, programmed WOD's, limited class size and TWO coaches at one of the top boxes in the country?

GeekAmour

They have to pay for all their organic grass fed beef chunks.

janebshaw

You're right. Crossfit is over priced and over rated.

My advice is to check around at your local non-Crossfit gyms and see if they offer personal training on a deal for small groups.
Or maybe the YMCA or other local gyms offer "starter" boot camp type classes where they have special instruction until you learn all the moves you need to safely participate in the training..

meshashesha2012

depends on the box. the crossfit location near me is only $60 a month and that comes with indoor rock climbing ..

k8lyn_235

You have a planned WOD each time you go that was designed by a professional. It's like having a trainer plan each of your workouts without paying $80 a session. It can be much cheaper than a trainer for all that you receive.

This... I haven't done CF, but from what I've heard it's basically like having a personal trainer. Even though you're in a group you get lots of individual attention, and all kinds of varied workouts.

^^truth.

i do crossfit about once a month (my bf does it daily). it's definitely like having a personal training session every day with custom workouts and the trainer does help you with form and adjust certain moves to fit you as an individual, if needed. yea, it's the new "it" thing or "trendy" thing or whatever, but i think it's worth it. it's an amazing workout and it's great if you aren't good at coming up with your own workout routines.

DavPul

Because that's what semi personalized fitness coaching costs. Every time I see someone on the boards talk about crossfit being expensive, they are comparing it to some standard gym where you go in do whatever you want and walk out. No groups, no coaching, no expected performance levels, no training, nothing.

Having a personal trainer at your regular spot costs $50-80 per session, and at 12 sessions per month, that would run you $700+ per month, PLUS the $40 for your gym membership. So crossfit is incredibly cheap compared to 1 on 1 training.

Now lets compare small groups. Usually pilates or yoga in small groups runs $15-25 per session, so those same 12 sessions would cost you $240 per month. Circuit training, boxing, and martial arts training classes tend to fall around the same number. So crossfit, at $160-200 per month, fits right in this niche.

Apples to apples, people, apples to apples.

SrJoben

You have a planned WOD each time you go that was designed by a professional. It's like having a trainer plan each of your workouts without paying $80 a session. It can be much cheaper than a trainer for all that you receive.

If you were paying for a trainer you would be getting exercises that YOU need for your personal progressive training. There is no possible way a random list of movements sent out to the entire nation is an equivalent service.

I bet every morning you're overjoyed to see the latest horoscope that the newspaper people printed just for you. :P

jofjltncb6

Because that's what semi personalized fitness coaching costs. Every time I see someone on the boards talk about crossfit being expensive, they are comparing it to some standard gym where you go in do whatever you want and walk out. No groups, no coaching, no expected performance levels, no training, nothing.

Having a personal trainer at your regular spot costs $50-80 per session, and at 12 sessions per month, that would run you $700+ per month, PLUS the $40 for your gym membership. So crossfit is incredibly cheap compared to 1 on 1 training.

Now lets compare small groups. Usually pilates or yoga in small groups runs $15-25 per session, so those same 12 sessions would cost you $240 per month. Circuit training, boxing, and martial arts training classes tend to fall around the same number. So crossfit, at $160-200 per month, fits right in this niche.

Apples to apples, people, apples to apples.

Aye, ^this.

With the information/correction/training I've gotten in just my first two on-ramp classes, I wish I would have signed up years ago. There's only so much reading articles and watching videos can do for your form (or at least than I was able to accomplish). And at ~$15/class (and only 2-3 of us in the class), much cheaper than any individual/small-group training I could have gotten anywhere else. (Sure, I may change my mind once the "real" classes begin, but so far, I'm drinking the koolaid and absolutely loving it.)

meshashesha2012

You have a planned WOD each time you go that was designed by a professional. It's like having a trainer plan each of your workouts without paying $80 a session. It can be much cheaper than a trainer for all that you receive.

If you were paying for a trainer you would be getting exercises that YOU need for your personal progressive training. There is no possible way a random list of movements sent out to the entire nation is an equivalent service.

I bet every morning you're overjoyed to see the latest horoscope that the newspaper people printed just for you. :P

most boxes dont do the same WOD as what's shown on the main crossfit website.there are 4 boxes closes to me and all 4 have different WODs

chrisdavey

how much are normal cults to join?

Mummyadams

I was a regular gym goer over many years on & off and not once did someone come up to me to correct my form, ask me how I'm doing, what were my goals and wondered where I was last week and is everything OK.
Aside from all the positives that people have already posted, THIS is the main reason I go.
I kick my own a** everytime I do a WOD, I'm pretty sure not many regular gym goers can say that.
That is why I Crossfit and pay the extra to do it.

IronPlayground

Because that much Kool-Aid ain't cheap!

janebshaw

Once you understand the moves and right form for whatever you're doing, one advantage of being in a larger group fitness class is that if you aren't there for every single class, you don't have to explain where you were or feel pressured to make excuses when you have to miss a class now and then..

I recently stopped going to a power yoga class because I got tired of the teacher trying to pull the "Awwwwwww, I am so glad you are back! We missed you!" guilt trip on me every time I wasn't there. And when I started, I had told her that my schedule would not permit me to attend every class.

Personally, I think the main reason she does that is to try and keep a class together so the gym won't take her class off the schedule when attendance gets low over the summer.

I just started taking her yoga class because it's at the same locally owned gym where I do a boot camp class 3 times a week. I can take yoga at the YMCA and not have to deal with her.

ninerbuff

It's called capitalism.:laugh:

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

janebshaw

Another less expensive alternative to joining Crossfit is HITT (High Intensity Interval Training) classes.

Oishii

Just looked up my nearest crossfit box and it's not much different from a normal gym. The price stucture is very reasonable, with different prices depending on how often you want to go, and no contract. If it's still around when my kids no longer need baby sitters, I might give it a go :laugh: