How to Pick a Gym

Ten things you must do before you finally break down and commit to any gym membership.


1. MAKE SURE THE LOCATION IS CONVENIENT. Ideally, your gym should be on the route between your home and your job so you see it every day and have no excuse for not stopping.

2. CHECK OUT THE GYM DURING THE HOURS YOU PLAN TO WORK OUT (and not some afternoon you take off from the office). That way, you'll know exactly the kind of crowd to expect when you start going. Also, scope out the parking lot. How easily are you able to get a parking space?

3. VISIT THE GYM DURING ITS PEAK HOURS if you’re looking for a trainer. If you can find one who’s available, you know exactly whom not to hire; he's probably no good.

4. MAKE SURE THE GYM HAS WHAT YOU NEED. A good gym should have the following:
Dumbbells that increase by small increments - particularly ranging from 5 to 50 pounds
A set of two dumbbells for every weight up to 50 pounds
At least one set of every weight from 55 to 100 pounds
At least one squat rack for every 5,000 square feet

5. LOOK UNDER THE CARDIO EQUIPMENT. If you see dust or trash under the treadmills, stationary bikes or elliptical machines, the gym’s equipment isn't well maintained.

6. INSPECT THE CLIENTELE. Is the gym crowd mainly young or old, yuppie or hard-core? More important, how do you fit into the mix?

7. LOOK IN THE SHOWER AND THE LOCKER ROOM and ask your self, is this a place I want to be naked in?

8. ASK FOR REFERENCES. Talk to the gym's patrons and ask them what they dislike most about the place. If you find they love the wide selection of free weights but complain that the locker rooms are always filthy, you might decide if it's worth joining. You can also choose to shower at home instead of the gym.

9. EVALUATE YOUR CONTRACT. Most reputable gyms use closed-ended contracts. That means that when your membership expires, your payments end. Some shady gyms tend to offer open ended the deals. Translation: even when your membership expires, you continue to be charged until you tell them to stop. It's legit, but sneaky; they hope you wouldn't notice.

10. GET A FREE PASS. A gym should offer some form of free evaluation, introductory workout or complimentary session before you join. This is your chance to finally decide if this is the right gym for you. If you have a 1-week pass, make sure that you go every day or as many days as you can. You can do different exercises and utilize different machines on each visit.