My five star review comes with the disclaimer that I was only there on a 7-day trial pass.
I was in the middle of sampling new gyms before committing to one. F45 had a 7-day unlimited pass.
They don't require a credit card up front, so it's really no obligation. I think it's important to attend the classes you normally would (i.e. before work/after work), so you understand the size of the class. That said, as soon as I signed up, I checked the morning classes I wanted to attend. They fill up VERY fast, so 1-week prior, ensure that you book the class you want to attend or you'll get wait-listed. This, to me, was kind of stressful, as there are only so many slots per class. Since I signed up a week in advance, I was able to attend the classes I wanted. You snooze, you lose.
Second, the instructors/staff are all friendly. They recognized my new face and gave a shout out at the beginning of class. They are pretty good at remembering names.
It's a good mix of people, skewing towards mid-late 20's. The gym seems catered to millenials, to this old man (e.g. interval workouts, quick songs, rah-rah from coaches, and station rotation). Because it is High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), the weights are lighter with more reps and less rest. Your body doesn't get accustomed to any one movement. You get coaches' support to keep pushing through that helps keep you honest.
I will say that you'll get a workout. It took a few rotations before I really started to get winded/sweaty. By the end, I felt I had a good lather and workout. It seems like it could be intense for beginners/out-of-shape people, but will melt fat if you commit to keep attending.
To me, it was a good variance from my preferred way of training, but I don't think it's for me long term. If I do come back, I'd probably buy a punch card to attend classes when I need a break from my normal routine. Like most boutique/specialized gyms, it's expensive ($70/week, $565/8-week challenge). However, if you buy a weekly unlimited pass for $70 and attend 5 classes, it's only $14/class.
It's worth a look-see and it seems like members really enjoy it. You'll get a good sweat, muscle fatigue and satisfaction upon finishing, for sure.
If I am going to invest nearly $200/month, I'd rather commit to a gym that more closely aligns with my personal fitness goals. It's not a knock on F45, just a personal choice for me. read more