Very big Pros, and very Big Cons at this gym…read more
PROS: Equipment
CONS: Price, management, and policies
There's an amazing selection of quality equipment, all from Arsenal Strength. Not many other gyms will make the investment into actually having such high quality machines, although Iron Vault's cardio selection is lacking (but then again, cardio is not really a draw for Iron Vault's ideal customer).
Iron Vault also has a great sense of community, although it feels very clique-y during certain hours wherein the majority of regulars come in.
It feels like IV also chooses to hire from within the community it's established, which is a great concept in theory, and very important to building a strong community. However, this unfortunately means the majority of staff comes across as having no customer-facing experience whatsoever working in such positions. Sometimes it feels as if the staff is simply putting in the bare minimum to get what I assume to be a employee-priced discount on membership.
On any given day during the staffed hours, I wouldn't be surprised to see the staff on duty getting a workout in rather than being present at the desk.
The television selection is great, as it mostly has either CrossFit, Strongman, or any other strength-focused sports on all of the many screens, yet for some reason there were times when it was also kept on a channel that solely played Fear Factor. I don't mind the show, but it's a little off-putting when trying to get a workout in.
The $100 per month price tag isn't too off-putting, but I would expect either more attentive staff, more bathroom space, or even locker-rooms to justify it. You'd get more amenities at literally any other gym in the area (even the budget gyms), or you could get an entirely better experience at an Equinox for just $200 total.
I recently moved away from South Norwalk, and could no longer maintain my membership at IV. If you cancel your membership at any time during the month, your membership is terminated immediately, despite paying for the full month in advance. They do not prorate your membership in this situation, nor do they just revoke access at the end of the month.
Overall, if you like a gym with quality equipment and machines, a decently sized turf/stretching/plyo area, and prefer to workout in the early mornings, this is a great choice. However, if you plan on coming in any time after 2:00pm, be prepared to have long wait times on equipment and to be inundated with high-schoolers, with staff either sitting at the front desk scrolling on their phones, or working out themselves and taking up equipment during the busiest time of day.
