What is the best chain gym?

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of getting a gym membership and I want to go to one of the major chains because of convenience and all the amenities they get you. Which one do you recommend over the others and why?

PS If you're going to ask the reason Planet Fitness isn't on the list because they're very bare bones with stupid rules and a long list of complaints against them.

Gold's Gym

LA Fitness

Bally's

24 Hour Fitness

YMCA

[WeaponZero]

LA Fitness and Bally's have insanely high rates compares to the other ones you mentioned. A friend I have who is an LA Fitness member says it's worth spending the money. Bally's not so much.

I personally like Gold's because of the Cardio Cinema and the Les Mills classes that are included in the membership. In fact I would say that the cost of a Gold's Gym membership is worth it for the Les Mills classes alone. Just by attending specific classes 4-5 days a week you can put together a workout program that will match P90X in results and intensity but is more fun. But I hear not all Gold's locations have them.

If your local Gold's offers Les Mills classes, I'll say that one without question. Otherwise 24HF or LAF depending on your budget (LAF prices are double or, in some cases, triple what you would pay for Gold's or 24HF).

[WeaponZero]

YMCA is good but not worth the money. You're paying prices that are a lot more than Gold's or 24H to work out in a traditional gym that doesn't' have any of the modern amenities of the other places you mentioned. It's just weights, a swimming pool, and one or two dance studio type rooms where they conduct aerobics or kickboxing classes. It's good, but not worth the money considering what Gold's and 24H offer for less.

[themastaplan]

Ive been a member at Bally's before...its about $25 a month...

but you're a girl, maybe you're into tanning? maybe you're not, but planet fitness is like $20/month and that's the gym membership and it includes unlimited tanning

um YMCA is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY over priced for what you get.

Gold's Gym I hear is good but I hear the contracts are insane and very long.

Never been to LA fitness because I'm on the east coast and I don't even know if they have that here...

24 hour fitness well - its open 24 hours so you can go whenever you want...

it depends on the perk's you are looking for...all in all for a girl, I'd suggest Planet Fitness, but that's just what I hear...

so I voted C only because I've been there, but its $25/month and you only get to use the gym...

[WeaponZero]

Bally's for $25/mo? That's ridiculously cheap compared to what the local one told me. They were telling me $45/mo plus a $100 annual fee.

[themastaplan]

really 100 annual fee? no way...the gym I'm at right now is called Worlds Gym and its $5/month and a $15 annual fee (for new equiptment and sh*t) but recently I complianed because they never renew their equiptment (foam pads, handle bars, etc) and I mean 15 every year for every member...they better have stuff kept up to date...anyways yeah ballys was 25/month...im switching to a local gym called Flex that's $10 a month and your only bound in it for 3 months

[cristinaboss]

Planet fitness sucks ass. I used to be a member, and their facilities suck and the part that bothered me the most was that, they had free pizza the first Monday of every month. Seriously? Gyms are supposed to promote good health and lifestyle. Not fat asses and heart attacks. Having said that, I personally go to LA Fitness and I pay $30/month. I think it's worth it because it's a well equipped facility, has a pool, basketball court, and sauna. There's also a lot of classes to choose from like spinning, kickboxing, yoga, etc. A lot of the people that go there are rude, but it doesn't really bother me because I go there to work out, and I'm not there to socialize.

[Asker]

Our local PF has the pizza night on Tuesdays. It makes no sense that they hand out free pizza and tootsie rolls to people trying to get into shape. Free protein bar night would make sense though.

[calichick]

24, because you don't have to worry about making sure you get a workout in before they close. theyre open 24 hours! ;P lol obviously haha

[MissAndee]

Ballys for me because I am so into the sauna and whirlpool and its month to month, you can cancel at anytime.

[WoIIie]

I go to 24-hour fitness. This particular one has a basketball court. I pay something like $27/month. Other gyms are cheaper I am willing to pay extra to have access to a good indoor court. If I ever pick up tennis, a tennis court is there. Same with volleyball and swimming.

Just figure out what you like doing and the benefits will make the price worth it.

[kheserthorpe]

I picked gym based on location.

If someone opened up a space with 3 squat racks that was closer to my work, I'd move there.

[WeaponZero]

That's actually the reason I picked Gold's. I commute by bus and the spot where I transfer is right in front of a Gold's Gym that has $30/mo membership. It's too conveniently located for me to have any excuses not to.

[RememberWhenItRained]

I voted for the Y, but that's the only one out of the selections that I've been a member of. Facility was good and rates were pretty decent too.

Now I just use my univ. gym. shame there's rarely an open bench :/

Good Q!

[martyfellow]

24 hour fitness, because they don't bother with frills, it's just for people with heavy schedules who need to work out at off hourse. A lot of pretty women there.

[joshuadwa]

24 hour fitness for sure.

Why? They sign my paychecks

[Asker]

Of course that doesn't make you biased at all :)

[xxxmegan]

B-but...planet fitness has purple pens...THAT WRITE PURPLE! D:

[probabilist]

I pay a dollar for a day use at my community gym. Not the best gym but the best price.

[sweet_18]

YMCA cause the one I used to go to had a lot to offer, like it had a lot more to do there and was more interesting

[Anonymous]

LA Fitness. Even though they never hire professional staff, I still like that chain gym.

[sweatgirl]

depends on what u r looking for.

[Eiffelgirl21]

I picked 24hr fitness. It is like gold's but 24hr!

[Alpha93]

I used to go to Golds gym when I lived in the U.S

[Anonymous]

i like planet fitness

[Anonymous]

the one that opens 24/7