For those of you still checking in, you’ll note I haven’t posted anything significant on the fitness side since March 5th, over five months ago now (yikes)! As I’ve eluded to in the past, this is mostly because my work schedule has changed, which caused my commute hours to change, with a net result of putting me in traffic for an additional one to two hours per day, and sucking all of that free time out of my life. This meant something had to give, and that something has been my blog.
However, I also haven’t posted anything fitness related because I have been experimenting with both dietary and training regimes over the last 10 months or so, and I’m not quite ready to post results yet. I have lots of good data, some of it in strong support of some very specific conclusions, but it’s not conclusive enough yet that I’m ready to post it. I’ll post soon, and it will be interesting stuff. In the mean time, however, I have switched gyms, which prompted me to evaluate all of the gyms in the area, and I thought I would share my observations.
Anytime Fitness
In general, this place is for seriously casual trainees. They generally populate small storefronts in strip malls, so their footprint can’t really accommodate a lot of equipment. They are very clean and use really nice equipment, in general, and aren’t all that packed. However, they are pretty much unusable, as far as strength training goes. They have one set of dumbbells, which maxes at 95s. One power rack and one smith machine, but only ~600 lbs of plates (only eight 45’s in the whole place), one bar, and no bumper plates. Also, their machine selection is lacking (no calf machines at all), and low weight (the leg press maxed at 450 lbs). Also, at $35 a month, they were the most expensive. They are actually open 24-hours though, which is a major plus.
24-Hour Fitness
By and large, these are large, well equipped gyms, but this depends upon the specific location. 24-hour has different ‘levels’ of gyms, and the higher levels (super sport) actually have a lot of good stuff, while the lower levels are more like Anytime. The one I went to was classified as a ‘Sport’, and while they had a lot of stuff, they only had a single power rack, no squat racks, and no bumpers. Also, the equipment was old (though in good repair), and they completely lost me by asking me to ease down my 425lb deadlifts. Finally, their sales tactics are really sleazy. They only give out three day trials (not nearly enough time), they require first and last month’s dues up front plus a sign-up charge, and they start out with a rate of ~$35 a month, but if you don’t go back, they will give you an email offer for $25 a month. And speaking of email, they will spam you incessantly. Finally, the club I went to wasn’t really open 24 hours, more like 24 hours for 6 days a week and 16 for one. But the sheer number of clubs they have makes them a decent choice if you travel a lot.
Powerhouse Gym
I very briefly reviewed these guys here back when I was in Pensacola, but looking back now, I have to say this is the best commercial gym I’ve been to yet. Most of the floor space was devoted to strength training, and at least half of that was devoted to free weights, which is awesome. This is the only place I’ve been to with at least four places to squat (two power racks and two squat racks), and they had, hands down, the nicest power racks I’ve ever used. Also, the bars were nice, they had tons of plates, and a full selection of machines in good repair with plenty of weight. If they were in San Jose, I’d be sorely tempted to drive 30 minutes out of my way just to lift here. However, the closest one is in Redwood City. They are also not really 24 hours, like 24-Hour Fitness, but at least they don’t have it in their name.
Gold’s Gym
This is where I ended up settling on, though I’m still a bit conflicted on how I feel about them. I originally reviewed them here, and I still stand by those conclusions. The environment is nice. It’s clean, bright, and modern, and generally much less dismal than the dungeon gym I’m used to. Since the last time I was here, they’ve increased the equipment. The main strength training floor now is dominated by free weights, cable, and plate-loaded gear, while a second room is now devoted to the selectorized crap. They still only have two squat racks, and no power racks, which bugs me a little. They do have a small selection of bumpers, however, and don’t bitch if you deadlift.
Still on the equipment, most of it is really nice. The dumbells I like a lot, as they are rubber coated so you can toss them if you want, and they now go up to at least 120. The bars are curious. On the one hand, the knurling is good, and grip is not much of an issue on deads with these. On the other, they use a bolt and C clip to retain the ends, which is generally reserved for shitty Chinese bars. But until I break one, I’m not going to worry about it.
The social environment is still very meat market-ish, and dominated by bros, but it’s not all that packed even during peak hours, so it’s livable. However, I’ve yet to see anyone except me squat more than 175 or pull more than 225.
They and Anytime are the only gyms to require a contract, which I don’t like, but all factors considered, they are still the obvious choice. So, that’s my new home gym, at least until I get pissed off and take a hike.
#1 by Geek Gmr on September 10, 2013 - 2:17 am
dude.. thought you had your own weights at home?
#2 by Brian Hill on September 10, 2013 - 3:28 am
I do, but I quit doing Madcow a while back. I’m doing more hypertrophy-focused stuff now, which means a lot of machines, so…Commercial gym it is. :/