 Overview
Nestled in the centre of Stevenage is the Fit4Life gym, within walking distance of most of the car parks, an easy drive from quite a few of the outer business parks this gym is sat in a great location and offers everything you could really need to get going and have a great session! The gym itself is a good size, set up on a second floor within a unit the gym is then split out over 3 levels (ish) in 3 directions, with a main weights floor area with cable machines, free weights and plate machines. A separate cardio area which as ever is my personal preference in gyms, an upper studio containing boxing kit and a further separate open studio for anyone to use. The space itself feels open and the gym has a fantastically weird vibe I have to say, somewhere between a spit and sawdust gym and a modern 24 hour gym. The kit is a blend of ages across the board as well as a slight variable quality but the music is loud, on point and the atmosphere one that almost has a buzz of fun and competitive yet like a family. I really liked the buzz here. The weights area occupying the main area as you come in has a distinct split between the cable machines at the back which have a full range of what you would expect, the gym isnt a huge factory gym so don't expect multiple of any bits of kit but one of each is enough given the floor space and they all appear to be well maintained no split covers or anything. Moving into the free weights you have a cage and a smith machine, no deadlift pad and not sure given the floor you are on if this would be frowned upon and you might have to queue to squat, a second rack wouldn’t go amiss. The dumbells go up to 50kg with one set of each so again all you need, with around 3 free benches and an incline, decline and flat barbell bench setup ready to go you really do have one of each that you could wish for here. Plate loaded machines were a bit more sparse but again with shoulder press, chest press and leg press there isn't a lot more to really ask for here and I was very happy . The cardio kit is up in a separate room and there is plenty of it, with the very standard affair of running, rowing, bikes and elliptical machines. The only complaint I have here is that the TV situation is quite sparse and as a guest I didn't have access to wifi (there was some not sure if its for members or just staff) which would have made a long grinding cardio session very dull. The rest of the gym pretty open feeling which I liked the studio when not in use had its doors open and people were in and out doing kettle bell swings which was good as it gave more space in the other areas. The boxing area upstairs was pretty cool and open again for people to nip up and have a go. The changing rooms were a little dated in some ways with the wood being a bit tired but they are there which is better than 24 hour gyms that have none and it felt clean enough. Overall the gym is a gym, it has the buzz of a gym and delivers what a gym should, if you couldn’t tell I was quite enchanted with my visit to find such a standard and yet robust offering of a gym which was accessible to all people from beginners to focused lifters! (this isn't a powerlifter gym guys to be clear and it doesn’t try to be it really is just a gym for the people!) With signs like "tired of being fat and ugly? Just be ugly!" I don’t know how you can't have fun at a place like this, I didn't speak to many other people but if the clients match the theme it should be a great place to go. How busy? I would say here we come to the downside, I arrived at around 10 and there were a few people here even then during a week day At 4pm when I headed off the place was pretty busy, not heaving but this is still pretty early and given the number of certain bits of kit I could see this place getting a bit sweaty and busy, definitely worth checking out at the time you want to use it before singing any contracts. Equipment Free weights area 1 squat racks (0 with deadlift platforms) 1 flat bench, 1 incline, 1 decline 3 free benches Dumbells up to 50kg Set of plate machines including Chest Legs Shoulder press Cable machines including Standard isolation/chest etc Cable cross over x2 Facilities Changing/showers 2 studios Free weights area Weights machines Cable machines Cardio area Boxing bags Pricing £25 a month, cheaper with a longer contract and there are guest passes available This is a good price I would say and well within the value of the gym Other bits There is a sign up fee of £30 which feels a bit over the top these days I would try and haggle this Not open as early or late as some other places, with 8am Saturday and 9am Sunday start times and closing at 6pm (!!!!!) on a Saturday watch out if this doesn’t match your training pattern http://www.f4l.com/stevenage/about https://www.facebook.com/Fit4LessStevenage/
2 Comments
|
RSS Feed
