The top 6 things I look for when choosing a gym.
Choosing a new gym to work out in is one of my favorite things of all time. It’s one of the things that drove me into gym ownership. (and passing on the feeling of confidence in every aspect of life that is built in the gym). I get really excited when I find a cool, new, and unique gym to train at. I hope to pass the same feeling on to all our members at Summit Strength. Here's what I look for in a gym when I want to get a great training session in. Maybe it can help you choose the one that's a good fit for you.
Equipment Selection
A. The gym's equipment selection is my priority when it comes to choosing a gym. I look for 3 main brands to see if the gym carries them: Atlantis, Prime, and Arsenal. These are the current leaders in the gym equipment market. They have the best quality of make and biomechanics. These machines also have the most adjustments to be able to get the setup exactly how you want it. While the gym does not have to be 100% covered in only these three brands, it's aesthetically pleasing when they are. No one company makes the best of every piece of equipment. The best gyms have a hand-selected selection of the top pieces from every brand. These three are the leaders currently (which can change as companies develop).
B. Another thing I pay attention to is the amount of cardio. I look for gyms that have less cardio equipment. These gyms are investing more into better strength training equipment. When it comes to body composition and general fitness, strength training is more beneficial than cardio. I also believe you should go outside to do cardio. “Go get some fresh air and some sun; it's good for you.” -everyone’s mom
Amount of Traffic
A. I love working out in my own space, I program a lot of supersets (doing two exercises back to back with minimal rest in between) with my clients and myself when training. When there is too much traffic, which is seen with a lot of the bigger commercial gyms, it's harder to get a proper heart-pumping workout in. Their benefit is huge, increasing the amount of work done in a short time and being more beneficial for heart health compared to straight sets (Which is a whole topic for another post).
B. Another important part is the gym’s community. I also love learning why other people train. It’s wonderful talking to like-minded people and what’s working for them. When there are 100s of people in the gym, it is overwhelming for me, and I want to get in, workout, and leave. I will stay reserved and focus solely on my training.
Hours of Operation
A. 24/7 gyms have the best selection and variety of equipment. Most of them let you sign up immediately online to get instant access. They also don’t require anyone to open the facility, so you don't have to wait for John to show up 12 minutes late to let you in. Now your whole day is thrown off.
Cleanliness
A. Valuing how clean my space is makes a huge difference for my ability to focus. A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. If the space is clean and put together, it allows my mind to settle and focus on the task at hand. It's also a good feeling knowing I'm not going to get tetanus from a barbell.
B. Key areas to look for are the treadmill covers and underneath the treadmills. Checking the corners of the facility and along the walls where dust bunnies can easily build up. Check the return vents for airflow and the fans for dust, and lastly, check the showers and locker room. The air vents, fans, and underneath the treadmills are the hardest places to clean for facilities. So if these are kept up, there’s a good chance the rest of the facility will always be spotless.
Ownership
A. I always look to see if the ownership has top-tier personal training experience and walks the walk. Nothing is more infuriating than when the gym owner doesn’t practice what they preach. You will also see the gym space is laid out in a much more thoughtful manner. It’s nice to see an owner who is still doing personal training themselves. It shows that they are invested in the members' success.
Reviews
A. The last thing I like to check to get an overview of the space is the reviews. I try to find ones relevant to what I’m looking for too. If I’m looking for a longer-term gym, I make sure the reviews I pay attention to are from longer-term experiences. If I plan on being there only a couple of months, I look for the ones that have language and keywords that match. I will also look at how well the facility is kept up and whether it is even worth checking out. In my preference, I would rather go somewhere that has 1000+ reviews and 4.5 stars + than somewhere with 10 reviews all at 5 stars.
B. Key words to look for:
For long-term memberships: “I have been a member for 6+ months.” “I have been a member of many gyms before”
For short-term memberships: Anything with the cancellation policy
Bonus: Day Passes
These can be a real hit or miss. I personally love them because it allows me to try different gyms and equipment without committing to something long-term. But within my own facility, I am against them. Guests and day pass users do not treat the space with the same respect as everyday members. They also add an increase in traffic to our gym floor, taking away from our members. Since we operate with a capped membership, it ruins the privacy of the space to get an efficient training session in.
Hopefully this helps give you more insight into what to look for when you choose your next gym experience. The best part is there is a gym for everyone. They come in all shapes and sizes and can match whatever someone may want. Whether you are looking for personal training, an open gym experience, group classes, spin, or Pilates, there is a gym for you.
