What's the best gym in Manhattan?

[Guest KongKingBing]

Looking to join a gym in the city. I want a gym with a nice-sized gay community and decent equipment. I do not want to go someplace costly like an Equinox. I want the gym to be in Chelsea or Hell's Kitchen, to be honest. I want the gym judged by the following:

 

1) cleanliness

2) sleaziness (are people hooking up in the locker rooms)

3) crowdedness

4) cost

 

Thanks for the feedback.

[hypothetically]

Looking to join a gym in the city. I want a gym with a nice-sized gay community and decent equipment. I do not want to go someplace costly like an Equinox. I want the gym to be in Chelsea or Hell's Kitchen, to be honest. I want the gym judged by the following:

 

1) cleanliness

2) sleaziness (are people hooking up in the locker rooms)

3) crowdedness

4) cost

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

Lol, well first..

1) I’ve found that no gym in NYC is spotless unless it’s Equinox. Even then.

2) Every gym in NYC has “sleaze” (if you consider circle jerking in a stream-room sleaze..) but most have or will eventually disable their steam rooms because the boys don’t know how to behave. Unless it’s Equinox. Where you pay to get away with it. But it’s not the 90s, guys may saunter about and jo in the steam room but no one is actually fucking in the locker rooms. Do that at home. Someone, somewhere can host.

3) Every gym in NYC is crowded during peak hours. The only time a NYC gym will not be crowded is if you go during the day or if you go to a 24Hr gym and go after 9pm.

4) what is your budget?

 

TMPL is in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen and is a newer concept of David Barton’s. It’s not the same price of say, Equinox, but it’s still not a cheap gym. 80% of the gym is gay. A lot of the members have migrated to Equinox.

 

 

Planet Fitness is also in the heart of HK. Super affordable at ten or twenty dollars a month dependent on if you want solo club or multi-club access. You get what you pay for. While large, it is a very simple gym and can often times get dirty and overcrowded. There are gays, but due to its inexpensive membership rate the clientele can get...kooky. The layout also reminds of, idk, a Sam’s Club. It’s 24 hours also. A lot of Brazilian/Colombian escorts that live in HK go in the wee hours of the morning.

 

Crunch has locations in HK and Chelsea, and has recently rebranded and knocked down some of their pricing to compete with the mid-tier gym (i.e. Blink Fitness). The Chelsea location is very large (in the former location of David Barton Chelsea/YMCA) and very gay.

 

http://www.60by80.com/images/stories/new-york/tourist-information/perch/resources/newyorktoucrunchchelsea01.jpg

 

NYSC is sprinkled about in both neighborhoods but I was never a fan because it’s either too dirty or too sterile. It’s such a quintessential New York gym, I can’t say it’s nice, but it’s functional I guess. Number of gays vary by location.

 

 

Chelsea Piers. I just know it’s a gargantuan facility and offers....A LOT of everything. Pool, track, boxing rings; it’s essentially a sports complex if that’s your jam.

 

Per what you’re looking for. I think you should go with TMPL or Crunch Chelsea. But don’t forget you have Blink Fitness, CrossFit, Barry’s Bootcamp (which is always very gay if group fitness/bootcamp style environments are your jam).

Edited June 24, 2019 by hypothetically

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

First off, if you're going to a gym based on how much play you're going to get in the locker room, just find a bathhouse.

 

Second, NYC is expensive. There's no such thing as a 'cheap' gym. Even NYSC and 24 Hour Fitness run $50+ a month.

 

TMPL has awful online reviews and multiple contract and billing issues. They had their water shut off a few months ago. I wouldn't touch that gym with a ten foot pole. It's all sizzle and no steak.

 

Equinox is expensive because it's a good gym. You can buy into one, specific location and lower the price.

 

Love Chelsea Piers: It is gigantic. Lots of room. You can get a great workout there.

 

If you're wanting it cheap and open all the time, I'd recommend Planet Fitness.

[Guest KongKingBing]

Lol, well first..

1) I’ve found that no gym in NYC is spotless unless it’s Equinox. Even then.

2) Every gym in NYC has “sleaze” (if you consider circle jerking in a stream-room sleaze..) but most have or will eventually disable their steam rooms because the boys don’t know how to behave. Unless it’s Equinox. Where you pay to get away with it. But it’s not the 90s, guys may saunter about and jo in the steam room but no one is actually fucking in the locker rooms. Do that at home. Someone, somewhere can host.

3) Every gym in NYC is crowded during peak hours. The only time a NYC gym will not be crowded is if you go during the day or if you go to a 24Hr gym and go after 9pm.

4) what is your budget?

 

TMPL is in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen and is a newer concept of David Barton’s. It’s not the same price of say, Equinox, but it’s still not a cheap gym. 80% of the gym is gay. A lot of the members have migrated to Equinox.

 

 

Planet Fitness is also in the heart of HK. Super affordable at ten or twenty dollars a month dependent on if you want solo club or multi-club access. You get what you pay for. While large, it is a very simple gym and can often times get dirty and overcrowded. There are gays, but due to its inexpensive membership rate the clientele can get...kooky. The layout also reminds of, idk, a Sam’s Club. It’s 24 hours also. A lot of Brazilian/Colombian escorts that live in HK go in the wee hours of the morning.

 

Crunch has locations in HK and Chelsea, and has recently rebranded and knocked down some of their pricing to compete with the mid-tier gym (i.e. Blink Fitness). The Chelsea location is very large (in the former location of David Barton Chelsea/YMCA) and very gay.

 

http://www.60by80.com/images/stories/new-york/tourist-information/perch/resources/newyorktoucrunchchelsea01.jpg

 

NYSC is sprinkled about in both neighborhoods but I was never a fan because it’s either too dirty or too sterile. It’s such a quintessential New York gym, I can’t say it’s nice, but it’s functional I guess. Number of gays vary by location.

 

 

Chelsea Piers. I just know it’s a gargantuan facility and offers....A LOT of everything. Pool, track, boxing rings; it’s essentially a sports complex if that’s your jam.

 

Per what you’re looking for. I think you should go with TMPL or Crunch Chelsea. But don’t forget you have Blink Fitness, CrossFit, Barry’s Bootcamp (which is always very gay if group fitness/bootcamp style environments are your jam).

 

This is hands down the best reply on this website, like ever. Thanks.

[Guest LeonTrotsky]

First off, if you're going to a gym based on how much play you're going to get in the locker room, just find a bathhouse.

 

Second, NYC is expensive. There's no such thing as a 'cheap' gym. Even NYSC and 24 Hour Fitness run $50+ a month.

 

TMPL has awful online reviews and multiple contract and billing issues. They had their water shut off a few months ago. I wouldn't touch that gym with a ten foot pole. It's all sizzle and no steak.

 

Equinox is expensive because it's a good gym. You can buy into one, specific location and lower the price.

 

Love Chelsea Piers: It is gigantic. Lots of room. You can get a great workout there.

 

If you're wanting it cheap and open all the time, I'd recommend Planet Fitness.

You left out CRUNCH, the gym I go to...

When I went gym shopping I first went to west village (new) TMPL location.... left there in a hurry - owned by David Barton (who was there at the time....) - his last network of gyms went bankrupt and closed with NO notice to members or staff leaving people stranded and ripped off... They also have some really bad customer service stuff - even before I signed up stuff was going wrong, so I cut my losses and moved on.

 

My Crunch location (Union Square) is nice.... friendly staff, good facilities, hot guys (hehe), and while not a cheap gym, it's a reasonable price I would say.

[edjames]

Also in NYC is Chelsea Piers.

https://www.chelseapiers.com/fitness/locations/chelsea/

 

And, inexpensive and popular is the local YMCA's

[Guest LeonTrotsky]

I would also say as a general comment to be aware that there will be hard sell for you to work with a trainer..... and to beware of "free sessions"!

[+ oldNbusted]

I would also say as a general comment to be aware that there will be hard sell for you to work with a trainer..... and to beware of "free sessions"!

 

 

I've observed a lot of these free sessions, and I find them real puzzling. Usually there is someone who is clearly in very poor condition and the trainer is putting them through the grinder. Is it a conspiracy to make them so worn out they never come back, even though they keep paying for a membership?

[Monarchy79]

I would also say as a general comment to be aware that there will be hard sell for you to work with a trainer..... and to beware of "free sessions"!

 

Amen!!!

When joining any gym,

I always suggest, if possible (and if you like it), getting free classes like a Pilates reformer class in place of the personal trainers.

 

The PTs who are usually pre-assigned new members are usually newer, inexperienced, or trainers who don’t have much of a clientele. The top trainers are too booked to entertain new members.

[Guest KongKingBing]

Also in NYC is Chelsea Piers.

https://www.chelseapiers.com/fitness/locations/chelsea/

 

And, inexpensive and popular is the local YMCA's

 

Have you ever used the Chelsea Piers? I went there for a gymnastics class a few years ago and it was great. I did not know they had a gym.

[BaronArtz]

@hypothetically thank you for a very comprehensive review of the various gyms in HK!

 

For the upperwestisde, the choices are basically limited to Equinox, Crunch and NYSC. There are also a number of boutique gyms that personal trainers use to work with their private clients.

 

I was a member at Equinox 92/broadway and 76/Amsterdam for a long time. Equinox offers an excellent service but in the end I decided it wasn't worth their ever-escalating membership fees. I didn't use their trainers, didn't use any of the group classes and I certainly didn't feel like paying for their scented towels. Equinox is selling too many memberships for the size of their locations and it got horribly crowded during rush hour. To the point that getting a workout in became a challenge. Many women favor Equinox, I guess because it is clean. The female clientele at Equinox tends to be very snooty which is a huge turnoff. In fact, I should write a separate post about why women don't belong in gyms. As a plus, I will say that the personal trainers often are hot and some are 'available' to their male and female clients.

 

NYSC on the upperwestside is really 'hit or miss' depending on location but more often 'miss'. Badly maintained and broken equipment. The steam room at the 82/Broadway location is basically a sex club that has been closed down by NYPD several times. Some of the clients are just there to hang out and cruise in the locker room - you never see them in the gym space. It grossed me out.

 

I currently use the Crunch on W 84. It is not a great gym but it is priced correctly for what it is. It has all the equipment I need at a reasonable rate. The crowd is gay-ish. I do see quite a few of the local escorts working out there. Some of the personal trainers there are quite good and at a more affordable rate than Equinox.

 

Just my 5 cents for the upperwestside.

[hypothetically]

@hypothetically thank you for a very comprehensive review of the various gyms in HK!

 

For the upperwestisde, the choices are basically limited to Equinox, Crunch and NYSC. There are also a number of boutique gyms that personal trainers use to work with their private clients.

 

I was a member at Equinox 92/broadway and 76/Amsterdam for a long time. Equinox offers an excellent service but in the end I decided it wasn't worth their ever-escalating membership fees. I didn't use their trainers, didn't use any of the group classes and I certainly didn't feel like paying for their scented towels. Equinox is selling too many memberships for the size of their locations and it got horribly crowded during rush hour. To the point that getting a workout in became a challenge. Many women favor Equinox, I guess because it is clean. The female clientele at Equinox tends to be very snooty which is a huge turnoff. In fact, I should write a separate post about why women don't belong in gyms. As a plus, I will say that the personal trainers often are hot and some are 'available' to their male and female clients.

 

NYSC on the upperwestside is really 'hit or miss' depending on location but more often 'miss'. Badly maintained and broken equipment. The steam room at the 82/Broadway location is basically a sex club that has been closed down by NYPD several times. Some of the clients are just there to hang out and cruise in the locker room - you never see them in the gym space. It grossed me out.

 

I currently use the Crunch on W 84. It is not a great gym but it is priced correctly for what it is. It has all the equipment I need at a reasonable rate. The crowd is gay-ish. I do see quite a few of the local escorts working out there. Some of the personal trainers there are quite good and at a more affordable rate than Equinox.

 

Just my 5 cents for the upperwestside.

 

We must’ve been neighbors. I lived on 71st & Columbus above what use to be Cafe Talulah for years!

[BaronArtz]

We must’ve been neighbors. I lived on 71st & Columbus above what use to be Cafe Talulah for years!

 

Very close! I am on West 86th. Sadly, the UWS is not as gay as it once was. The last gay bar closed YEARS ago.

[hypothetically]

Very close! I am on West 86th. Sadly, the UWS is not as gay as it once was. The last gay bar closed YEARS ago.

 

I recall. It was on Amsterdam or broadway right? Little dive.

[Guest LeonTrotsky]

I love my CRUNCH union square for anyone downt

[+ sniper]

I'm not sure if it's as true of the city locations, but Blink fitness which is owned by Equinox is cheap and clean. A lot of cardio equipment, not necessarily all the weights you might want, but if you're just looking for a basic workout and clean, it's probably the best deal around.

[Guest LeonTrotsky]

I'm not sure if it's as true of the city locations, but Blink fitness which is owned by Equinox is cheap and clean. A lot of cardio equipment, not necessarily all the weights you might want, but if you're just looking for a basic workout and clean, it's probably the best deal around.

The Blink at 8th and 26th is spacious and nice and reflects the demographic of nearby Chelsea. But still basic in many ways - you must bring your own towel.

[BaronArtz]

I recall. It was on Amsterdam or broadway right? Little dive.

 

Yes indeed. The Candle Bar. With an authentic back room and a men only bathroom in the basement. Memories ...

[BaronArtz]

I'm not sure if it's as true of the city locations, but Blink fitness which is owned by Equinox is cheap and clean. A lot of cardio equipment, not necessarily all the weights you might want, but if you're just looking for a basic workout and clean, it's probably the best deal around.

 

Last time I checked, Blink's Bryant Park location had limited operating hours. Like - c;losed Sundays. For that reason, I didn't pursue it further.

[Guest LeonTrotsky]

So... about all of this....

 

It all really depends on what your personal needs and likes are, of course. Someone who is skilled at working out will likely need fewer amenities than someone already comfortable in a gym, and will probably need less help navigating through equipment in order to have a satisfactory experience, For me, all I need are a few benches and enough heavy things to move around. And a place where no one will bother me or get in my way during my work out. So I do not want an overly "social" setting.

 

So I recommend once you have determined whether or not the gym has enough equipment for you, you then do a "culture check". What does this look like? To me: if I see lots of people hogging the benches, weights, machines so they can be texting.... that's a hard NO. If people seem to spend more time fixing their hair than working out, another NO. Got it?

 

I think the variety of responses here shows that gyms have personalities -- the original poster was super smart in asking for advice on what kind of setting works, and that the responses have been super informative in assembling a jigsaw puzzle of information needed to make a decision.

 

Thanks guys - James (a/k/a LeonTrotsky, a/k/a SexyAsianStud, a/k/a Apichart)

[Gadfly22]

Equinox offers an excellent service but in the end I decided it wasn't worth their ever-escalating membership fees. I didn't use their trainers ... As a plus, I will say that the personal trainers often are hot and some are 'available' to their male and female clients.

I currently use the Crunch on W 84. It is not a great gym but it is priced correctly for what it is. ... Some of the personal trainers there are quite good and at a more affordable rate than Equinox.

For what sort of "training"?