When choosing the right gym to meet your fitness goals, it’s important to remember: Not all gyms are created equal. Just because there’s a gym down the block doesn’t mean it’s the right gym for you. To truly maximize your gains and meet your fitness needs and goals, you need to be picky when choosing your gym. Ideally, it should be like a second home and become a place for solace and stress relief—not a chore that you reluctantly drag yourself to. Finding the perfect gym fit goes beyond making sure it has the equipment you need—you need to consider your budget, how motivated the environment makes you, and whether there is a community of likeminded people. These are the keys to staying motivated and really integrating fitness into your lifestyle.
These 10 tips will help you weed out the crappy gyms and help you uncover the optimal environment for you.
1 of 10
Science Photo Library / Getty
Identify Your Goals
Before you even step foot in the door of any gyms you must ask yourself, what are your goals? If you aspire to be a world-class powerlifter joining a Planet Fitness may not be the smartest idea. Based on the physique you are trying to build that should help you weed out undesirable gyms.
2 of 10
Westend61 / Getty
Optimize Location
Location, location, location. Aside from being important for a business, your gym’s location is extremely important to your training regimen. If your gym is 30 minutes away, chances are you will miss more sessions then you actually make. Commuting time to and from the gym also plays a big role in the amount of time you can commit to working out. I’ve found that the ideal travel time for the gym is around 5-15 minutes. Anything more than that, and your gym commute will be worse then your work commute.
3 of 10
Matthew Leete / Getty
Try Before You Buy
I always recommend getting a guest pass to the gym before you actually commit to buying. You want to test out all the machines, check the environment and experiment with different times so you get a feel for the gym before committing. You can get a good feel if you like the place by working out there for a week.
4 of 10
skynesher / Getty
Take Inventory
One of the first things to look for when you find a gym is the type of equipment it has. Brand new stuff is a plus, but always scope out to see if they have enough power racks, dumbbells, and benches.Also check out the space between all the equipment. Does the gym have ample room, or does it look crowded and closed in? Battling for space to use the equipment isn’t fun, so when you go on a gym tour, try out all the different machines to check if you’ll like or dislike anything.
5 of 10
Serts / Getty
Feel Out the Atmosphere
Does walking into the gym make you want to lift crazy weight, or is the gym putting you to sleep. You want to make sure the gym will provide you with a good positive lifting environment. Some gyms just have no “energy” and the atmosphere seems almost dead. This may not sound like a big deal, but on the days when you don’t feel like working out, it is. You want to walk into a place that motivates you and amps you up.
6 of 10
Alvarez / Getty
Read the Rules
No slamming of the weights, no deadlifts allowed, bo T-bar rows, lunk alarms, the list of stupid gym rules goes on and on. Some gyms just don’t cater to certain people. For instance, if you walked into a Planet Fitness and you are a grunter, more than likely you will get thrown out. You need to align yourself with a gym that fits your lifting habits. If you like to deadlift, find a gym that has a platform.
7 of 10
snapphoto / Getty
Keep it Clean
There’s nothing more disgusting then going into a dirty gym. If you feel like you need a tetanus shot before working out there, it’s a good idea not to join. Always check out the bathrooms and the benches. Are the machines cleaned and well maintained or are they ratty or dirty. it’s a gym, so it won’t be as sanitary as a hospital, but you don’t want to work out at a garbage dump either. You want to be comfortable working out there on a daily basis.
8 of 10
Westend61 / Getty
Count the ‘Bros’
“Hey bro, need a spot”, “Hey man you need to eat eight ounces of chicken breast 20 minutes after a workout to make gains, bro.” This is where Planet Fitness may have it right with the “lunk alarm.” There’s nothing worse than getting ready for a heavy squat while listening to bros talk about the girl on the treadmill. There are plenty of people who go to the gym to socialize, so if you’re serious about results and are there to work, a gym full of meatheads might distract you.
9 of 10
andresr / Getty
Check for Hidden Fees
“Join now for only $1!” Have you seen those advertisements around? I’m sure you have. That’s how most gyms lure people in. Low barrier offers that sound too good to be true. There’s a lot of fine print in a gym contract. Most gyms have a maintenance and enhancement fee, which is a basically a fee charged to you in addition to your standard monthly dues to help “enhance” the gym. You want to ask about any fees associated with your membership. See what’s included and what would be extra. Ask a lot of questions before you sign on the dotted line.
10 of 10
Cultura RM Exclusive/Corey Jenkins / Getty
Check Air Quality
This is a big one. Nothing’s worse then lifting in a hot, stuffy gym with no air flowing through it. The place probably stinks and can make you feel uncomfortable. So when you go on your initial tour of the gym, take note: Is the free-weight area too hot or cool, and are there fans or windows? Those things can make you irritable and uncomfortable.
