24 Hour Fitness: What Do You Expect for $10/month?
Written: Jun 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Variety in classes, convenient locations
Cons: Can get crowded, trainers not very inspirational
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| randilyn's Full Review: 24 Hour Fitness |
I have been a member of 24 Hour Fitness (formerly Family Fitness Center) for over five years now. This was the first athletic club I had ever joined because it was very affordable. When I started my new job, I had 30 days to take advantage of an offer where the company picked up the tab for the enrollment fee, and I only had to pay $10/month for any club in town with no long-term commitment. How could I pass that up?
Facilities
At first, there was only one building at 24 hour fitness. It had the basic men's and women's locker rooms, a child care center, the cardio room (including weight machines), a class room, and a small free weight area. Due to the rapid growth of Las Vegas (where I live), expansion of the club was necessary to keep up with growth. They took some space in a building a few doors down where they put a much larger class room and the child care center. They moved the free weights into the old class room, put an ab room where the old child care center was, and this freed up much more space in the cardio room for more elliptical cross trainers, bikes, treadmills, and some new weight machines. They also added a steam room and sauna to the locker rooms. After this expansion, 24 Hour Fitness was a much nicer place to work out in because it was not so dang crowded!
Classes
There is a fairly wide variety of classes at 24 Hour Fitness. There is everything from multiple levels of step classes, sculpting, box aerobics, yoga, spinning, etc. The best part is, it does not cost any extra to attend classes. There are some very popular classes where you can make a deposit to guarantee a space, but if you arrive 1/2 hour early you can be pretty sure of getting yourself a space in the class you want. Spinning classes can fill up quickly because there are a limited number of bikes. On the other hand, they can fit many more people in the Yoga class so you would never have to reserve a space for that.
The instructors that I have had experience with are very good. I have taken Yoga from a lady who is very patient and does not push you too hard, which is very important in a class where most students are first-timers or beginners. I've also taken Spinning classes from a couple who are very inspirational and know how to push you (but, again, not too hard).
My only complaint is the lack of classes when I am available to take them. There are very few classes scheduled on the weekends, and none later in the evening. It seems the only classes I can make are at 6:30 or 7:30 in the evening, so this leaves me limited in options. There are early morning classes (I'm not a morning person, so no thanks) and classes during the day (when I'm at work....). I have to think I'm not the only person in this boat, the room is just sitting there empty, but more classes in there !!!
Clientele
I think just about anyone can work out at 24 Hour Fitness and fit in. People working out there range from high school kids to fire fighters to buff dudes to silicone queen strippers to the grossly overweight (glad to see them trying to work it off!) to 80-year olds to people trying to lose those last few pounds (me). You will find a little bit of everything there.
Equipment
You will find a little bit of everything at 24 Hour Fitness. You can watch TV while riding the recumbent bike or stepping. You can watch people using free weights while running on the treadmill, or you can watch people using the weight machines while using the elliptical cross trainer. They also have a few rowing machines, a ski machine, and the cardio machines that is like riding a bicycle with your arms (don't know what those are called). They have all the basics. In early evenings, between 5:30 and 6:30, there might be some waiting at the treadmills or ellipticals, but otherwise you can get right on the machine you want.
24 Hour Fitness, Sport
24 Hour Fitness starting opening up Sport clubs in Las Vegas. They built one right on the way on my commute home from work, so I decided to upgrade my membership. For a $49 upgrade fee and now $25/month (instead of $10), I can use any 24 Hour Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness Sport in the world, and they have a pool and basketball court.
This gym was nicer than my old one because it was brand new, and more modern looking. I was a little disappointed with the pool, it is hardly bigger than the one I have at home! Fortunately hardly anyone uses it, so it doesn't really matter. I thought it was important to belong to a gym with a pool because I have these dreams of competing in triathlons someday, and I wanted to be able to swim year round.
Conclusion
24 Hour Fitness is a good, basic gym for a low price. You usually can get the best deal on a membership if you work for a company where you can get a group membership deal. Just about anyone, from the serious workout-a-holic to the average Joe or Jane can fit in here. If you are looking for the most cutting edge gym, look elsewhere. But if you are looking for the basics, consider 24 Hour Fitness.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
randilyn
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Location: Las Vegas, NV
Reviews written: 101
Trusted by: 56 members
About Me:
I own a candle and spa accessories business. My real job = financial analyst.
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