What Should I Look for in a New Gym? Ask a PT

In last week’s article, we talked about the correct amount of protein that you should be eating each day, based on your needs. This week, we’re answering “what should I look for in a new gym?”

What Should I Look For in a New Gym?

Question: Hi, I’ve decided to get back into shape and wanted to join a gym. But there are several ones in my area and I’m confused as to which one is best. Is there a way to find out before I commit?

Answer: This is a great question, and one that I have spent a long time thinking about. I’ve been a member of several gyms, and have worked in three during my time as a PT.

And the gyms that I have liked the most may surprise most people. But before I go into that, let’s look at what you need from a gym

What to Look For in a New Gym

Easy to get to

Your gym needs to be as near as possible to your home or your place of work. If a gym is too far, you will find it easier to make excuses not to turn up.

Hours that work for you

I once paid for a month’s gym membership before realising that it didn’t open on weekdays before 6pm and closed at 10pm!  It also wasn’t open on Sundays. Making it completely useless to me (the gym was part of a school, so it was only accessible to the pupils during school hours, which is understandable, but definitely something they should have mentioned).

Equipment – Depending on your goals, what equipment the gym needs to have will vary. If you want to train for powerlifting, then a gym without a lifting platform, or a good squat rack is useless. If you are brand new to the gym and don’t know how to deadlift or squat, then a gym without a leg press, leg extension, or leg curl machine may not be ideal for you.

Price

You need to work out what you can afford per month before you step into that gym. Some gyms can charge an absolute fortune for their services, and yet they can’t guarantee you better results. If you have money to spare, then of course a nicer gym may be worth it, but if one gym is $50 per month and one is $500 per month, it is important to remember that spending more does not guarantee you bigger muscles or more fat burned [1].

All of the above points are crucial to consider, they are non-negotiable. If the gym isn’t open when you need it, then that’s not a good gym (obviously, if you can change your workout time to suit the gym then that’s another matter). If the gym is too expensive, or too far away, or it doesn’t have the right equipment for your needs, then that is a useless gym.

The final consideration is what I think of as the deal-breaker. A gym can tick every single thing on the list above, but if it doesn’t tick the deal-breaker then I’d recommend walking away (unless there are no other options).

Vibe

What are the staff like? What are the other gym-goers like? Do you feel safe? Do you feel comfortable? If you drop a barbell on your chest, do you think someone will come and help you?

I have been a member of two gyms that ticked every box. Great equipment. Good price. Easy to reach from home. Hours that worked for me, since they were 24-hour gyms.

But there were either zero staff, or the staff that were there weren’t friendly. And because so many people were there, the gym didn’t have a good culture. Nobody recognised me when I walked in. Nobody talked to me. And nobody asked if I wanted a spot or offered one.

The gyms were fine, but I soon realised that if I didn’t turn up, nobody cared. My current gym may not be as clean, as big, or as well-equipped. Weekend opening hours are a bit of a joke. But I absolutely LOVE that gym.

When I turn up, the owner greets me by name. He asks what I’m training and how my day has been. If he sees me on my phone between sets, he jokingly tells me to get back to work. I talk to other gym-goers and am on head-nodding terms with many of them. If I need a spot, I just ask.

I know that if I don’t turn up, nobody is going to care. But I also feel like maybe they would? Maybe they’re looking forward to saying hi. So you know what? I turn up. I go to the gym four times per week. I’ve done so every week in 2024 so far. I have not missed a session.

Sure, the squat rack is a little dusty. The air conditioning in summer is just an open door 😂. But it’s the perfect gym for me. Everyone feels welcome and like they matter.

I don’t think my gym is rare. But there are more gyms that don’t have this atmosphere than ones that do. I’d say it’s worth checking out the gyms in your area to see whether one is like mine.

It can make SUCH a difference.

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References

[1] https://wod.guru/blog/gym-membership-statistics/