This PF location is convenient right off of 880 freeway where the old Pak N Save was. Typically I…read moredon't stop on Hegenberger, but again it's convenient. This was my first time in the gym in over a year. I signed up for the black card through the Active Fit program with my health insurance. I was pleasantly surprised. It's one of the bigger facilities. It was clean ( didn't go into the restroom though). They have numerous equipment to use and about 15 TVs to watch. The parking lot is a mess, but it's shared with various businesses. Don't leave anything in your car as there's broken glass all over. There are numerous Teslas charging stations in the parking lot. For the convenience, this will be my main location.

Convenient location. Great equipment, with a nice open layout. The gym is very clean inside but the…read moreparking lot is the complete opposite. The pavement is very rough and there's the trash everywhere. Regular sweeping and a security guard would make me feel better about coming to this gym.

Great business for training and injury prevention or rehabilitation. They have the equipment and…read moretools required for every client's needs . More importantly, Jasmine, Kara and their staff are knowledgeable and meticulous about how to train and/or recover from injury properly. I personally was making slow progress in recovering from a long term injury. Jasmine's professional help has provided much needed pain relief and gotten me well on the road to complete recovery!

I've been coming here for years and if you don't mind older equipment and want to work out any time…read moreof day this is a good place to come. Friendly people, women owned.

I've been going to MissionHQ for nearly a year and it's been incredible working with the trainers…read moreand with the other people going. The classes are challenging but modifiable for all fitness levels. The have a variety of classes around choose from and option for open gym use. Wilson and Amy are so encouraging and motivating. You also can't miss the meal prep/food sales Monday nights post workout (try the tri-tip and chicken soup if you have a chance!)

Finally made it to the gym. Once there, i am able to focus on my own timeline. Coach are available…read moreif you need to be guided.

I second everything Giselle said below (we miss you Giselle!). The gym is now called Island Grit CF…read moreafter Charlene Miller (w/ Ryan) took over in 2024 as headcoach/s. The coaches, training, camraderie, encouragement from beginner to elite - you will find it here. I was a strong cyclist when I started in 2021 but found I could take it to a higher level of muscle development with the great vibes here.

Now called Shipyard CrossFit, this place is literally my second home. I've been going 4-5 times a…read moreweek for almost 2 years now and this community has become such an incredible support system. The comraderie is unmatched and the culture here is inclusive, light hearted and warm. The monthly membership fee is shockingly affordable compared to other boxes in the area, AND it includes full access to the rest of the gym that it's housed in. The head coach, Sharon, is a gem. She is always finding ways to enhance the experience of being a member and fosters an incredible environment to work out in. Friday nights are the best. The crew stays for awhile after the workout to enjoy each other, share a few beers and kick the weekend off right. Whatever your fitness goals are, this is the spot. All experience levels from beginners to elite long time athletes call this home. Come on in and join us!

If you're looking for a gym where the trainers will lovingly torture you while you question every…read morelife choice you've made, BodyMechanix - Laurel is your spot. I've been coming here since I turned 34 (I'm 37 now, so let's just say my attendance record here is more consistent than my dating life), and it's become my second home. My happy place? Boxing with Nico on Thursday nights and Andy on Saturday mornings. They work us hard--from the bags to the mitts--and you can tell they genuinely love what they do, which makes you want to work harder too. The vibe here is energetic, supportive, and community-driven, even if you're like me--assertive, rebellious, and just a little defiant. I've made it my mission to talk back during workouts, roast the trainers mid-burpee, and encourage others to listen to their hearts when Nico, Andy, or any of the other amazing trainers push us like soulless robots. (They're not soulless, I promise--just slightly sadistic, in the best way.) If you think lifting weights and working out is drab, you haven't done it here. The community is what makes every drop of sweat and near-tear worth it. The trainers truly care about your transformation, not just physically but in how you see yourself and your own strength. They've created a space where you feel seen, pushed, and celebrated, even when you're lying on the mat wondering why you thought a 6pm class after work was a good idea. Shoutout to the trainers Ming, Angelo, Warren, and Tori, who keep the energy high, the encouragement real, and the workouts spicy. And to owner Terrell, who's built a place that feels like home (if home had kettlebells, a power rack and trainers encouraging you on while you question your life choices). If you're looking for a place to get strong, laugh while suffering, and meet some of the best humans in Oakland, come here. And if you see someone talking back to the trainers while smiling and refusing to quit, that's probably me. Come say hi, and let's complain about landmines together.

Meh, place just OK. Kind of snooty workers, strict rules, very small inside, too expensive, nowhere…read moreto park. Not feeling it.

Touchstone gym located in downtown Oakland…read more This is a more small and intimate gym in comparison to Pacific Pipe. There is a small Boulder section, top roping, work area, weights, and workout area. The staff here is super friendly. My friends took the intro to climbing class here and they really enjoyed it. The staff was really helpful in teaching them the ins and outs

I love the structure. Super fun, climbing competition. Great stuff. Super fun…read more I came for the 2024 climbing competition. I had such a great time so glad I came. This building is gorgeous and so fun so aesthetic. The staff was super friendly. When I made a joke about my chalk, they were receptive and fun. Their store was pretty well stocked. Grab myself an adorable, red crop sweatshirt. They're set up was very organized. Literally zero drama. Highly recommend, and I'll be back.

Ive been a gym go'r all my life. But as you change so does ur habits. I spent some time looking…read morefor a reason why I should go beyond 'Looking Great Naked'. But first I had to signup. I spent NYE 2022 in Hong Kong & did a great deal of walking alone & thinking to myself. I decided to signup there and when I got back Id attend. Ive always been reluctant to do crossfit simply bc it didnt look like me (body, community, etc). But when I walked thru the door (insert meme "How yall doing!") I found what I really wanted which was encouragement w/i a Community. Now I was most impressed driving by daily or riding the 14 bus frm East Oakland to Downtown for the office...seeing their smart use of outdoor space. This brightened the community & demonstrated you can throve anywhere in Oakland w/ positive intentions & smiling people. Now its only been a few sessions yet Ive done 2x a day but when you experience anything it has to be inside first! Glad I went to see what its all about...and I can use any weight Id like! Special S/O to Jason(trainer extraordinaire) who is POC...Ive never seen many POC so FYI visibility matters..& they are always on time & point! (Prayer Hands) Fyi no pics just imagine me naked hahah

I needed a place to do CrossFit WODs with knowledgeable instructors and I didn't want to get lost…read morein a big gym with no one to talk to. Some of these places have so many members that you can feel lost in a crowd. CLASS SIZE: Enter Sequoia CrossFit, where the biggest thing is the actual gym building! The classes are a perfect handful of 10-15 people and the instructors keep a keen eye on your form and make helpful suggestions. DOGS: But the best thing about it is that it is dog-friendly!!! Matt, the owner, has welcomed my dog, Stella, with open arms and even lets her run around with his own pups before and after class when everyone has left. It's the thing she looks forward to the most, more than the actual dog park! LOCATION: One thing I should say, though, is that there are no big signs so I had a hard time finding the gym next to a mechanic shop and buffet. I was nervous to go in and I tried researching it on Google Maps but even there you can't tell where the building is, especially when the hangar doors are shut. Just know that it is a dark grey building. I'll try to post more pics of the outside and post them here. FRIENDLINESS: As a travel nurse, I move often from city to city. This gym has felt like a diamond in the rough, not because of the huge space, free parking, large bathrooms, new equipment, and other amenities, but because of cool people like Coach Matt and Coach Chris and the rest of the members here. I'm currently doing the Open right now, and they have been so accommodating even when I have to retry to get a better score. And now I'm looking forward to their in-house competitions where they have silly trophies and the goal is just to have fun and get to know other members! I could write more about this wonderful space, but I recommend that you come and check out their free introductory class and packages before committing to a membership if it feels right. I promise that you will feel so vibrant and accomplished because of all the support you'll receive that you will easily rise to the challenge.

First and foremost, this gym is huge. It has an amazing amount of equipment spread over multiple…read morelevels. It doesn't matter if you want to do cardio, weights, lifting, barbells, dumbbells, stretching, balancing, they will have the equipment for you. They also have a decent schedule of classes. What are the coolest aspects of this gym is the basketball court. It fills up routinely with pick up games and it's not hard to find other people to play with. This gym is the parking. I typically end up parking on the street, and the area gets pretty dicey. My car was broken into one time. It's important to not leave anything in your car or people will come break in. A lot of people don't know this, but the YMCA offers low income programs that provide subsidize memberships. It's not free, but they help out with the monthly fee in part.

The Oakland YMCA is better than the Berkeley one, but there is still plenty of room for…read moreimprovement. Let's start with the pros: it's in a good location, it's a sizable space, and they have a lot of cardio machines. I recently had to wait for a machine, and that may have been the first time I've experienced that here. Now for the cons: 1) Like other East Bay YMCA locations, there is no towel service. I have exercised at YMCA locations all over the Bay Area, and I've noticed that on the Peninsula and in San Francisco, Marin, and the South Bay, members do not have to bring their own towels. I get that it's a luxury, but I wish the holdouts in the East Bay would get with the program. 2) There is no hot tub. (This is something the Berkeley YMCA does have.) 3) Machines and other things are out of order for extended periods of time. (See photos.) 4) The water pressure in the men's locker room is lackluster. 5) They renovated the men's locker room last year and it is certainly nicer, but I don't understand why they insist on those mats that feel slightly less painful than stepping on legos. (See photo.) 6) The staff does not answer the phone - at least not consistently. Earlier this month, I called three times over the course of a week to ask about something I accidentally left in the locker room and to check about holiday hours. All calls were during business hours, and no one ever picked up. I left a voicemail the first time and never got a call back. Am I going to continue using the YMCA? Yes - it's a 10-minute walk from home, and it has the basic gym necessities for me. I'm unlikely to recommend it until they start putting in a little more effort, though.