Best Gym near Chicago, Illinois

Steam room is great! Pool is saltwater- staff is very helpful and friendly - club is always immaculate -gym equipment is varied -spin classes are great

This gym is pretty well maintained for such a busy location. The staff is pretty friendly and attentive. The gym is generally clean all the time. My only gripe would be the awkward layout and the equipment is very dated with limited choices. You get a mix of young professionals and DePaul university students that frequent it. The college bros are little irritating sometimes and a bit unhygienic. I’ve noticed a lot of harsh reviews stem from the entitled clientele that frequent the gym and don’t really “workout” but go just for the prestige of saying “I go to equinox”.

I had a fantastic experience at Equinox! From the moment I walked in, the staff was friendly, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. Abigail and Michelle were wonderful—communicative and eager to answer all my questions, making the whole process smooth and enjoyable. I even had the chance to do a private Pilates reformer class with Kiara, who was phenomenal. Her expertise and enthusiasm made the session both challenging and fun. Highly recommend Equinox for anyone looking for a supportive and well-equipped fitness environment!

The newest-looking of all the Equinox clubs in Chicago. Good mix of equipment and great light-filled space. However, I find the Lincoln Park location to have more equipment

I had a facial appointment coming up this week and it’s been canceled due to the manager Rachel Rayburn letting the esthetician go. I was going twice a month to Nashylee for facials. She always gave me the best treatment and best advice on skin treatments. Very humble girl. This gym is over rated and front desk was always clueless as well when checking me out.

The facilities are decent but lacking for the price which is why I’ll give 2 stars. Let me start by saying that I’ve worked at 2 luxury gyms (which this is not) but this gym could be on par if it weren’t for the rude and uninterested staff. The woman at the front desk in the mornings is less than welcoming but i understand that working early in the morning isn’t for everyone. Shane, the membership sales lead or manager, is the most condescending person I’ve ever had the displeasure to encounter. He needs to be retrained or trained in general especially on how to interact with paying members. I don’t recommend paying full price for this gym (go through your employer if you can) and especially not giving them the commission they don’t deserve. The only upside was the general manager was nice, informative, and welcoming when I cancelled my membership. 😊

The facility, amenities, and equipment are great. Machines are new and rarely out of order. All the dumbbells match (an issue at other locations which is very unappealing) the reason I’m giving 3 stars is because the past few weeks the gym has been a MESS. This is no fault of the staff, I’ve seen them attempt to put weights back where they belong. But For some reason, and I don’t know if these are newer members or what, the gym has looked a mess. To the point where there are no dumbbells on the bottom rack. I just can’t believe how inconsiderate some members are. How are you working out but still so incredibly lazy that you can’t re-rack your weights? I’m sure the staff is frustrated with the appearance of the floor. I’m not really sure how to rectify this situation. I workout here every day but I’m now considering a different gym because I get so frustrated having to spend half my workout tracking down weights or other equipment.

I had a great experience working out at LA fitness. Anthon was amazing in setting me up with a membership. He had a sparkling personality and took me on a tour of the gym manny amenities. Located in historic neighborhood of Hyde Park this fitness center has state of the art equipment and beautiful ceiling to floor walls. After an intense workout, relax in the sauna.

DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON PT Concerned by the negative reviews, I had an extensive discussion with Anthon before investing in a PT package of multiple sessions. I was reassured the management was fixing the issues with PTs. If It is doing so, it’s doing so at my expense. I have been assigned to now my third PT in about three months, because the previous PTs have been fired. I had a relatively small amount of sessions because many times PTs were too busy or cancelled the sessions. Several problems with booking occurred (trainers messing up with meeting times, forgetting of showing up or … not showing up because they were fired, with Anthon pretending they were late/could not make it for the session and proposing to change PT). Anthon was aware no consistent training plan was possible, yet he did not have a clear communication and explicitly discouraged me from spending the sessions I bought on PTs he knew were likely to be fired. Given the bad management and lack of a clear communication, I asked to get the PT package reimbursed to stop receiving such a low quality service. I was denied a reimbursement. Today I went through a third re-assessment of my physical abilities by a third PT, and will exhaust the sessions because I have no chance of getting back my money. I hope this PT won’t be fired next week. I strongly discourage anyone from investing money in the PT service. The gym facilities are adequate, but you’d be better off training on your own. The “master trainers” that are supposed to be highly qualified and skilled, and are therefore so expensive, so far proved to be no better than any decently trained PT. It’s not rocket science. The sauna hygienic standards are abysmal, with people entering the area with trainers and dirtying the floor and benches.

My friends and I were in town for a few days and needed a place to workout and noticed LAFitness was close. The employees, specifically Armand, were a great help in getting us our guest passes. The free trial offers full access to the facility.

I love this location! Studio manager Lex is the best! She’s always so helpful and has such a positive attitude. The coaches are great and really motivate me to push myself. HP location is the best!!!!!

I had a really excellent first introductory class at Orange Theory Fitness in Hyde Park! I really like the dynamic nature of the workout, the fact that it combines multiple approaches to fitness and intensity, as well as the data monitoring aspect (heart rate, speeds, etc). If I had known about the fact that it combines running, weights, and rowing, I probably would have signed up long ago! I will definitely be signing up for a membership, even though I think I can only make one class per week given my schedule. - EDIT: after a year and a half at the Hyde Park OTF, I still love it!

I have loved working out at orange theory Hyde park! They have parking and the vibes are better than other orange theory's. Everyone is so welcoming and facility is clean.

I visited the Hyde Park location and tried the 45 minute class. I loved the staff and studio, but decided that I prefer the longer class. 45 minutes was intense and fun, but too short for me Massive props to the staff for making me feel right at home!

I want to start off by saying I love all the coaches at this location and they do a great job getting the class engaged and know their stuff. The front staff is always very friendly and provide great service. I feel like the owners on the other hand have given up on this location. I have visited other locations and the classes are always packed and their owners are doing more marketing to promote the business. I am a person that is very competitive but there are times when there is only 3-4 people in the class, I started not to book classes until I call and see what the numbers look like. The location is not on a Main Street so maybe that is part of the problem but there definitely needs to be more marketing done, this location has underground parking which many other locations don’t so that could be on key point to have people sign up.

I attended an Engage intro class yesterday and it was wonderful! Jackie was a very kind instructor and even though it was a free class she still gave such awesome encouragement and personal feedback. Update: took several more classes with different teachers, some better than others. I couldn't commit to a membership because of frequent travel. The amount of emails, texts, and phone calls once you take an Engage class.... Just isn't worth it. Had one of their staff call me at 7pm twice in a row so I picked up and asked if there was a problem. Did I miss a payment or something important/time sensitive? No! She then said she forgot her reason for calling and had to check her list or something. So basically she's sitting there making calls to get folks to buy more classes. Fine, but don't call me twice in the evening and maybe know who and why you're calling before you pick up the phone.

Great instructions and instructor. The beginner's class was very welcoming and you could tell the curriculum was tailored to various experience levels. The instructor paid attention to each person present to give personalized tips and assistance which helped make a medium sized class feel small and personalized The facility and equipment are very nice, clean, and you can visibly see they take pride in sanitation. Everything you will need for the class is available for free with the class or available to purchase before class. My only complaint is that there are no showers. You can take a free beginner class--which is great. In taking that class you get access to special discounts that make the normal class packages a bit more affordable. However, the class packages are a bit pricey if you're not looking to spend over 100 bucks a month. Overall, loved the experience and the customer service. Looking forward to trying again.

I've attended PB Hyde Park for just over a year now. I used to run, but had a variety of injuries so was looking for an alternative. This has been a great fit for my needs - the classes are as intense as you want them to be, are always on time (starting and ending), it is a supportive, small group environment, and there is a lot of variety in the class offerings (weights, stretching, classic, etc). The instructors are all very good and I now feel stronger than I have in several years as the workouts are very comprehensive. It took several classes to really get in the groove and understand the flow.

This is a poorly managed studio that does not care about how members actually use the studio. They assume that you would read through and remember the initial email of cancellation policy when you signed up for the trial month, and the studio do not bother to send one single text message or email to check in or remind you that they have been charging you all the time. When I finally realized that my credit card has been getting charged after two months of not using the studio due to my herniated disc pain, they simply responded quoting their 30-day cancellation policy. Do not care at all. In addition, I experienced one last-minute class cancellation (30min before the class starts) and wrong charge amount. This is unfortunately the worst gym studio and PB experience I ever had.

I started coming to Barre classes at this location since July. All of the instructors I have had so far have been amazing: they're professional, enthusiastic, and positive throughout each class. You feel very sore initially, but then you build up your muscles quickly and feel stronger and more confident. And, you can adjust the difficulty of each move according to where your fitness journey is and how you physically feel that day. It's the best class exercise I've ever done and I am very thankful to have found this place.

The staff is the worst. They go out of their way to make something as simple as checking in difficult for you. They aren’t informed on policy or services, for example I was given a weekly pass and was told I needed my ID, that’s fine, I go back home and retrieve it and return to the gym, they then tell me that because I was a member before, I can’t enjoy the weekly pass. You would think they could have given me that information the first time . I went to the website and didn’t find that info, I looked at the flyer and that also isn’t stated on the flyer. The gym itself is nice and clean and they have a cool smoothy bar.

Haved turned into the worse location on the south side!! No updates and the equipment is always out of order. You shut down ever Southside gym, predominantly in Black communities, and still can't ensure that customers have an efficient operating gym with such limited options. Was really hoping they would put more efforts into the the new year, but unfortunately it's looking alot like last..... Terrible!

Very spacious and has the equipment we need to get a good work out in. I like this location way better than the Canal street location. Very close to my home - I like that fact and it's a very nice and clean gym. However, it would be nice if the staff/management would make sure that the free weights are were they should be. It's irritating to have to search for dumbbells and curl bars. People not putting their weights away is beyond annoying. I shouldn't have to take off three 45 pound plates for you. If you are strong enough to lift it, you are strong enough to put your weights back. The front desk staff could smile and acknowledge people as they leave and come in.

I’m split about the merge but with standing the wait of what’s to come. Hopefully 24hr access gyms stay and all facilities have a wet dryer for swimwear, proper cleaning teams and spa equipment for essential recovery. This can become an amazing opportunity to be a top prestige gym overall with these necessary changes :)

Called in to ask a simple question if the facility provided an indoor walking track, receiver refused to give her name but offered her name as "Operational manager" 😒. Lets just say she turned away a potential customer which = revenue. Shortly, you will probably see yet another gym CLOSING for whack customer service. 12-27-24 @ 1620ish

Best property manager I have ever dealt with, she is super helpful and professional, that is very important when dealing with storage and space , the lofts itself are very well built and equipped and am grateful to be there. Security is top notch and they have multiple working elevators and parking. Facility's are clean and well maintained and updated. Unlike the other spaces in this area I recommend this spot if your looking for a loft or storage.

To say working with Uhaul Artist Lofts has been the best experience of my life would somehow still be an understatement. As a small business owner I couldn't be more satisfied with the building staff, the building itself, the affordable rent, the included utilities, the free parking, the free wifi and so on. The building manager Sheena has been an incredible help and supporter of my business! James, Dave and the rest of the maintenance staff are always willing to help out and treat my unit with the highest level of care. Whenever I have a concern, it's addressed in an effective and timely manner. I've had a unit in this building for 3 years and have never once had an issue or been disappointed in my experience. The energy of this building is unmatched and it makes me so happy to come to work every day. I couldn't imagine having my business somewhere else and consider myself lucky every time I get to enter the building and my unit!

After scouring the city for creative work spaces, my partner and I stumbled upon this hidden gem over 3 years ago and never looked back. There is a rare industrial charm here–we love the huge, bright windows in our loft and working next to the river. Add to that a high level of security, indoor (heated) loading dock, oversized elevators with moving carts that we use to load in large sheets of wood, canvas, equipment, etc. The management is also easy to work with and their crew is constantly working to transform the building... like when we asked about a mop sink on our floor after we moved in, they already had plans for one and got it done quickly. Sheena, the loft manager, is professional yet so down to earth and was a big deciding factor in our ultimate decision. Her vision and dedication has really revitalized this place and kept us here over the years. Maybe I am biased and spoiled by the nice people, complimentary coffee and all the other perks but I have a hard time believing that I could ever be lured away from what I’ve found here.

Very cool. Ability to drop in for a photo shoot from across the country is paramount to success! Great central location.

The U-haul artist lofts are a dream come true to any aspiring artist or creative. The photos on the internet doesn't compare to the actual experience and atmosphere that is given when entering in this building. The ENTIRE building is securely safe guarded which is perfect because only authorized people have access entering.. The building manager Ms. Sheena is very nice she has great services skills and she appears to be strategically managing this building very diligently. I really appreciate her and the other tenants here feel the same..

I enjoy working out at this location. The staff is friendly, the environment is clean, and I’m motivated to keep up with my goals.

Is a lot hate and judging from the people they work there there are always talking about the customers, they think the customers won’t know it ,the manager doesn’t care because there are a group of her friends they started bullying so she doesn’t care, about it I’m tired of these situations I’m supposed to go to the gym to do exercise not feeling bad , I’m a loyal customer from the beginning but I’m tired of these hate I hope the owner can see this because the managers they don’t care about it . And I hope they check the cameras

This is not my home PF, but I go to it all the all time, because I work close by. The workers are always friendly to me and I swear, I have never heard them talk about customers. They have always been helpful, when I asked about how to use a certain machine. Also, I took a break and recently went back to this gym and the young lady at the desk immediately recognized me. No, she didn't exclaim it, but her smile & hello, said it all. When I am in there during lunch time, they are always cleaning. PS I work for a YMCA and still go to PF to workout, because it is way easier and way cleaner. :)

Been going here frequently for a couple of years. Staff is friendly enough and they do keep everything clean. They replace ripped fabric on machines fairly quickly. Probably the only reason they don't get 5 stars is because of the annoying televisions!! They often have frozen screens for weeks on end, and very limited channels with many having the same programming on them. It seems trivial, but when on a cardio machine, you look up and get annoyed by the televisions; it's just unnecessary.

They throttle the hot water in the shower, has to be manually reset for brief hot water but and they cancelled my membership because i wouldnt allow ignorant men to try and stair me down, what should i look at the floor? Anyway karate is a sport and technically is an exercise so a K-i is talking! Wow! People are scared it seems of talking? Of a word? 🤷‍♂️

We went to the model trains. Great displays tracks trains buildings I enjoy going to the model trains with my son. My son Jonathan always has a nice time. He is now learning to be a dispatcher.

My twins are enrolled in the mom and tot gymnastic class and it has been a good experience for us so far. The class is 45 minutes long, but only about 10-15 minutes of that time is teacher directed, which is great because children 18 months to 3 years usually don't have the best attention spans to follow directions for that long. The rest of the time, they have exploration when we first come in, and then there's an obstacle course set up that they're supposed to follow after the teacher-led time, but no one gets upset with them if they're not doing exactly what they're supposed to on each piece of equipment. They're still free to explore and to skip things if they're not comfortable attempting it. I think it's a great introduction to tumbling and gymnastics.

This is simply an amazing place. Lots of programs for the kids and caring people work there. The area is surprisingly pleasing to the eye and the park is truly huge. You have to stop by to appreciate it all. I recommend this place for family and friends to make great memories and enjoy all it has to offer.

Hi mommy I love you I'm so glad you sigh me up and I aware im going to be good from:dorothy

This is nice I just hope that it only teaching and not competitions

A real boxing gym.

So much fun, we loved the experience & it would be nice if you're not limited to having someone belay you. There's very limited options to rock climbing workout a certified belay to help you. Likewise there's no limits with a belay available. They can also certify you as a belay for free if after passing test.

My son and I were instantly hooked on climbing after our intro courses! We’ve both really struggled to find movement that we enjoy and can sustain. Never did I imagine we’d find something we can do to challenge the bodies together! Rock climbing fits the bill: progressive challenges you can face autonomously or with a partner, approachable and accessible, and is naturally thrilling! The ultimate habit stack! The facility is clean+organized, safety is prioritized and honored, aesthetic is warm+alluring. The staff is authentically and thoroughly helpful. We can’t wait to get back for so many reasons: homeschool climb time, community events, our next climb, hitting the weight room, and group classes. There’s so much to look forward to!

I've been climbing at First Ascent since I started climbing in February 2021. I can't speak highly enough about this gym. All of their Chicago locations are beautifully maintained, well-staffed with extremely pleasant and helpful employees, and have great routes for every skill level. (I've only been to the city ones, but I'm sure the suburban ones are great, too.) I primarily climb at the Avondale location because I enjoy top-roping, but I love the boulder-only gyms in Uptown, Block 37 downtown, and Humboldt, too. Their membership gives you access to any of their gyms, along with access to their weight rooms and yoga/pilates classes. It's like 3 gyms in one membership, it's actually the best. I've visited a number of other climbing gyms, both in Chicago and a few other cities and countries, and no gym has felt more at home than FA. The vibes of the employees and the climbers that go there are great. I've met a handful of climbing partners just from being at the gym and chatting between attempts.

Our family of 4 purchased the $99 family day pass with gear. It was a great way to spend the day. We were allowed to leave for lunch and come back. The pass also allows you to visit any of their other 3 gyms. The Avondale gym is well equipped with a variety of rock climbing and bouldering walls, suited for beginners to advance climbers. The locker rooms were clean with free lockers. The staff was super courteous and helpful. Will be back!

This place is so much fun!! I climbed for about a year at Ohio States climbing gym and it was so much fun I wanted to keep climbing over the summer. This gym was super convenient and has so many different routes!! They also offer some clinics like less climbing or belaying, and have fun events almost every week. It’s a little pricey but worth it in my opinion especially with a small student discount. I cant wait to return next summer for all of the new routes. The staff are also always super friendly!

I’ve been a member at this location since 2022. Within the last few months, it has become a complete disaster from once a great gym. As people mentioned, the acquisition of Xsport completely ruined the quality. -Overly packed. -Dirty. (The original maintenance crew is amazing, but IT’S A LOT to deal with) -Weights are everywhere. -Equipment broken. -Too many people now come here to chill, talk, and be loud. It’s been 5 or so months since someone drove into the side of the building completely smashing it…no sign of fixing it. You would think they would at least adjust their hours to accommodate the volume but no. This is probably something that would make it a bit better. Disappointment. Highly recommend looking into alternative gyms. It is no longer worth the price.

My husband and I were looking for a nice gym while on vacation and this one came up from my search. The young lady at the front desk directed us to Jesus the General Manager. He provided us with a guest pass for each of us. Jesus has amazing customer service, it felt like we knew him for a long time. The gym was very spacious. Very clean. And so modern. When we come back to visit we will definitely be back at this gym.

I joined this location when it first opened. Like most of the recent reviews have stated: it completely went downhill when it merged with XSport. Not only did it become overcrowded with people that aren’t there to workout, but the amount of theft is just unbelievable. My car got broken into in the middle of the day. I canceled my membership immediately and found a cleaner, safer gym with working equipment that’s never crowded. Save your money and your time—join another gym.

I recently had the pleasure of training with Karla Velasquez and I cannot recommend them highly enough! From our very first session, it was clear that she is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about helping clients achieve their fitness goals. Karla took the time to understand my unique needs and created a personalized workout plan that challenged me while still being achievable. Her expertise in various training techniques and nutrition made a significant difference in my progress. I appreciated how she constantly mixed up the workouts to keep things fresh and exciting, ensuring that I never got bored. What truly sets Karla apart is her motivational style. She knows how to push you just enough to help you reach your limits while also being supportive and encouraging. I felt empowered after each session, and the results speak for themselves I’ve gained strength, improved my endurance, and developed a healthier lifestyle overall. I am so grateful for the progress I’ve made under her guidance.

Been going to this gym for almost 2 years and it was so great. Now with the XPort merge is a nightmare. There are long wait times for all equipments, the parking lot is always packed (this weekend my car and 2 others that I saw had their window broken into. No cameras in the parking lot). It sucks because the staff has always been great and the gym was new and clean, but it’s a hot mess right now, no matter what time you go. Hoping it gets better soon, but looking for other locations/gyms I can go now.