How to Choose a Gym

Apr 20, 2017 · Reviewed Sep 17, 2026 · 1 min read

The only test that matters

Will you go twice this week, on a normal week? If the answer depends on a juice bar, pick a closer, uglier gym. Frequency beats granite floors.

A 20-minute tour checklist

At least one free rack or Smith, and a bench, during the hour you will actually train.
A leg press or hack squat if you prefer machines.
Dumbbells high enough that you will not outgrow them in two months.
Showers and a place to put a bag if that is what makes you go after work.
Staff who can explain a contract in one page. Initiation fees and 12-month traps are a no.

Big-box gyms (including Planet Fitness-style clubs)

Low price and lots of locations are real features. Some clubs discourage heavy lifting or deadlifts. If your plan is machines, walking, and a press, that culture is fine. If your plan is a barbell full-body, tour at 6 p.m. and watch whether anyone is actually squatting. The old Planet Fitness review on this site said the same thing at 3,000 extra words: match the gym to the work, not the ad.