Local Gyms Outpace the National Chains

[THE BOUNCER]

Exercisers often are happier at smaller local gyms, a new survey finds.

If your New Year’s resolution includes going back to the gym, you may be happier at a local club than a national chain, according to a new survey by Consumer Reports.

In its first-ever survey of health clubs, the magazine polled more than 10,000 subscribers who had visited a gym in the past six months. Gym-goers gave opinions on staff, equipment, classes, crowds, cleanliness and billing issues. Included in the group were 3,400 respondents who gave their reasons for canceling a gym membership during the previous three years.

Notably, national health club chains fared the poorest in the survey. The magazine found that private studios for yoga, dance or Pilates and gyms at local community centers, schools, work and nonprofit Jewish Community Centers and Y.M.C.A.’s received the best marks. National chains were often criticized for long wait times for machines, problems with contracts or fees, poorer cleanliness and less adequate locker rooms than other gyms.

“Consumers can pay up to $95 a month to join a health club and get certain extras like personal training sessions and spa services, but CR’s survey indicated that they might be happier spending a lot less,” said Jamie Kopf Hirsh, an associate editor at Consumer Reports. “There are some great values to be found at the gyms at Y’s, community centers and J.C.C.’s.”

One national chain did well in the ratings. Life Time Fitness received high marks for its equipment, locker rooms and classes, and for being open 24 hours a day.

The survey also found that paid gym memberships come with a fair share of administrative hassles. Among respondents with memberships, nearly one out of five reported having had a problem with contracts or fees, such as an unexpected dues hike or inability to freeze a membership temporarily during an expected absence. Thirty-eight percent of respondents who had canceled a membership to a big chain complained it took excessive time and effort to cancel, and that they received bills after cancellation and had other problems.

Although big chains didn’t score well, one advantage is that they often offer extras like personal training, child care, spa services and electronic tracking systems that allow members to monitor their workout progress. J.C.C.’s and Y.M.C.A.’s often offer classes tailored to specific groups, including kids, women and seniors. College and university gyms provide greater access to large-scale athletic facilities such as basketball courts and even climbing walls. The survey found that nearly a third of college gyms had large-scale facilities compared to 10 percent of commercial clubs. Meanwhile, gyms in apartment buildings or housing complexes are viewed as convenient but tend to have limited equipment.

The magazine recommends insisting on a trial membership before signing up and visiting the gym during the week, weekends and different times of day to gauge the conditions.

[Source: New York Times]

[SonofBone]

I "was" a member at Life Time Fitness. It was a little bit preppy & much more machines than free weights, but that place was always very clean.

I asked a girl in the sauna one day how often they cleaned the windows and she said 3x/day.

[THE BOUNCER]

Originally Posted by SonofBone

I "was" a member at Life Time Fitness. It was a little bit preppy & much more machines than free weights, but that place was always very clean.

I asked a girl in the sauna one day how often they cleaned the windows and she said 3x/day.

i dont think my gym has ever been cleaned. (yes, that is a good thing.)

[SonofBone]

Originally Posted by THE BOUNCER

i dont think my gym has ever been cleaned. (yes, that is a good thing.)

If it keeps crowds away, I agree. The gym I use now is brand new and has too many people in it because it is brand new and New Year's folks. People don't put their weights up and it seems like the staff doesn't clean the locker rooms very well.

Anyway, I caught a cold in that bitch last week that I'm still trying to get over. The gym & grocery store were the only two places I went when I got it.

Here is a layout of LifeTime:
Life Time Fitness - Feel good inside

I'd venture to say it is a good place for singles to mingle.

[Chadd77]

^ Do you iron your shirt before going to the gym?? Just bustin your balls. I went to a place like that for a week free trial and hated it. It was a meat market and most of the guys seemed to be prepy a-holes. Not my type of place. Oh yeah, they didn't allow chalk in their gym.

[SonofBone]

Originally Posted by Chadd77

^ Do you iron your shirt before going to the gym?? Just bustin your balls. I went to a place like that for a week free trial and hated it. It was a meat market and most of the guys seemed to be prepy a-holes. Not my type of place. Oh yeah, they didn't allow chalk in their gym.

Funny you mention the shirt thing. Solstice gets pissed when I try to wear shirts that have rips in the back or holes in the arm pits.

I can wear whatever I'd like as long as it doesn't have any rips.