A Guide to Top Tier NYC Gyms

The best gym for you is the one you will attend the most. There is no reason to pay a few hundred dollars a month for something you will not use. Similarly, finding the cheapest possible gym will not do you any good either if it does not have the equipment you need. The primary factor in finding the proper New York City gym is location. We all know how difficult traveling in the city can be, especially during rush hour. The last thing you want is to get off of work and spend 90 minutes traveling to your gym. A gym that is very close to your home is a gym you will be the most likely to visit.

Because of this, joining a big gym chain is often the answer for those who have trouble gaining motivation to make the journey to their gym. With multiple locations in the city, gyms like Planet Fitness and Gold's make it impossible for you to make an excuse. These gym chains generally cost less than top-tier gyms, but they also offer fewer amenities. Thus, it may be worth the extra funds to join a middle or top-tier gym. Places like New York Sports Club offer a variety of equipment at reasonable prices. If you are willing to pay a bit more money, a gym like Equinox Fitness or The Sports Club at Chelsea Piers might be for you.

New York Sports Club

With 55 locations in New York City, you will have no reason to skip out on a workout. These gyms offer medium-priced membership fees (usually around $75 per month). New York Sports Clubs are generally well-cleaned, and the staff is friendly and helpful.

If you want to check out a New York Sports Club, you should get a trial membership at the location you are most likely to attend. This is because New York Sports Clubs vary greatly in the amount of equipment they have, how their classes work, and so on. Some New York Sports Clubs have little free-weight equipment, for example, while others may be short on elliptical machines. Make sure you visit the location closest to your house to make sure they have what you need before purchasing a membership.

New York Sports Clubs can also get very crowded. If you are looking for a place to get your workout in and leave in a hurry, this may not be the gym for you.

Equinox Fitness

Equinox Fitness is another gym that has multiple locations in the city (21 in Manhattan). These gyms are very clean and maintained even better than New York Sports Clubs. The initiation and monthly membership fees are pretty high (usually about $400 and $125, respectively), but the service and experience will be much better than New York Sports Clubs. Equinox Fitness gyms are particularly known for their extensive and well-run classes.

Most people who join Equinox Fitness find the higher fees are worth the benefits. The machines all look new, the locker rooms are clean and well-stocked, and the lines are shorter than at New York Sports Clubs.

The Sports Club at Chelsea Piers

Recently named the top gym in New York City by Fitness Magazine, the Sports Club at Chelsea Piers is the ultimate top-tier gym. The gym has 20,000 square feet of cardio and weight equipment, as well some extremely unique fitness options like rock climbing, indoor volleyball and kayaking.

The largest inconvenience of The Sports Club is that is has just one location on the Chelsea Piers. If you do not live near this area, traveling can be a pain. Because of all of the great perks, however, many members make long journeys just to attend.

Of course, joining The Sports Club at Chelsea Piers will not be cheap. Initiation fees can run as high as $600, while monthly membership fees are generally around $150. If you live in the area and yearn to join a top-end gym, though, then The Sports Club is for you.