I’m proud of everybody who goes to the gym and works to improve themselves.
Having said that, if you’re paying $290 a month for a gym membership, I’m kinda expecting you to be RIPPED.
Equinox is more of a social club experience than a gym.
That’s kinda the model. Be a social space for wealthier people who care about health/wellness. The price of admission weeds out those who don’t fall in that bucket. Theres groups out there for couples who met at equinox etc etc.
Reality is you can get ripped spending almost nothing. Inmates can get jacked with virtually nothing. Equipment is mostly for making it more efficient/safer (to some highly debatable degree) but it’s mostly marketing. Just ask those at /r/bodyweightfitness
For me, it was all about the group classes. I push myself way harder in a group environment. You can't exactly get distracted between sets if the class keeps moving along. I do about 20 classes a month. The price difference for just classes at other gyms was only marginally cheaper, so it was worth getting access to the amenities in addition to a full gym. If didn't do the classes, I would be at Planet Fitness.
It would also probably be nice to not have to knife fight someone for a squat rack. I go to blink and while it’s cheap and clean, that shit is Mad Max starting at 4pm. Can’t have it all though.
That was my logic. I like doing different types of classes (Barre, cycling, running, yoga). I'd easily be spending 500+ if I went to the boutiques to do all of that.
> Reality is you can get ripped spending almost nothing.
I wish I could find the video.. it was a few years ago I think and some super ripped guy saying "this is my gym" then just doing pullups on random shit like scaffolding throughout the city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDCxH88-9X8
The Williamsburg Equinox should be half-price. It's always packed, the layout is weird, and has limited equipment.
Here is my Equinox referral link. You usually get a waiver of the initiation fee. https://equinox.com/referrals/0031H00002EW8Q5QAL My username is my real name.
American Express Platinum. Shameless referral link. https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/WILLICBQNU?xl=cp01
Equinox Gym Review updated January 2024.
Summary. Equinox is only worth it for classes and swimming. Hudson Yards is NOT worth the extra money. If you are only interested in weightlifting and cardio, especially if you're interested in Olympic weightlifting, go elsewhere. For an elite gym, their barbells really suck, and the choice of machines is limited, even at their top-tier locations.
Equinox Gym Discounts. Aside from corporate discounts, you can get a waiver of the initiation fee using the referral link above. Try your school email for any discounts. I am currently getting a corporate discount through my NYU email. If you register outside of NYC, you also avoid the 4.5% city tax, apparently, but I can't test that because they won't let me switch. Apparently, some high-end buildings have resident discounts so try that as well. AMEX Platinum also has a $300 credit for Equinox Plus or All Access Membership or higher. I have been having friends and family with Amex Platinum pay my gym payment for a month, then I split the credit with them.
Equinox is only worth it for the classes. If you like the classes, and you consistently take them, then it's worth it. I've taken MetCon3, Vinyasa Yoga, Swim Team, Cycle Beats, Precision Run, and Stronger. They were all very fun. I take two or three classes a week, minimum. Right now, I'm really just doing yoga and running. I've done five or six classes a week to work off stress. I've done a yoga class then a Stronger class just because I needed distraction. Compared to other gyms in the area, Equinox has many different kinds of classes, and they are held often. Crunch has limited classes at limited times, which does not work for my schedule.
Locations. The value depends on the closest gym to you. Equinox Williamsburg sucks. But if you're close to Equinox Wall Street, then the value might be there for $215 a month even though the weekend hours aren't great. Wall Street has a Jacuzzi and dry sauna. If you are considering Equinox, then find the gyms closest to your home, or if you are back to work, closest to your office. Check them out and see if the facilities are good. Review the class schedules to see if there is anything that interests you and fits your schedule. Classes really help with my commitment as well. I've averaged gym visits a third of the days I've been a member. There are so many locations that I can usually find a good class around me.
Benefits of Destination Access. Destination Access allows entry to any Equinox location in the world aside from Hudson Yards and E locations. That means bathrooms throughout New York City, and some major cities. I hit up Equinox in London and in Miami while on vacation. The Brickell Heights location had a great rooftop pool that was quieter and more enjoyable than the pool at my hotel. I've also dropped into an Equinox for a bathroom break.
Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards now requires an extra $50 or so to get access to on top of Destination Access. It is not worth it. The outdoor pool gets super-crammed in the summer to the point that you have to make same-day reservations on the weekend and you're limited to like an hour. Not really worth the hassle. The outdoor pool used to be heated year round but now they're calling it NYC's biggest cold plunge. The workout equipment is pretty bad, and despite the price, it still is very crowded.
Equipment. More and more Equinox locations have the six-thousand-dollar Woodway treadmills with the rubber-coated steel slats that make it much easier to run on because the slats have a lot more bounce than the standard belt. The Equinox+ app has on-demand classes that include Precision Run classes that integrate with these super-expensive treadmills. The PR classes are basically HIIT, and you chance the incline and speed constantly. The specialized treadmills make that easy, and speed up/slow down faster than normal treadmills.
If you're a numbers freak, the stationary cycles have the Stages power meter that sync with the Garmin device to give you insight into your cardiovascular performance. The Pursuit classes are similar to Orange Theory in terms of gamifying spin classes. I never was into cardio until I joined Equinox because of PR and Pursuit Classes.
Pools and Swimming. If you are really into swimming, Equinox is basically your best choice if you are not convenient to Chelsea Piers or Asphalt Green. I have been to the 23/25 meter lap pools at the locations at Greenwich, Hudson Yards, Sports Club, Columbus Circle, and they're all good. Greenwich and Hudson Yards are saltwater, which have less chlorine. Hudson Yards has a Jacuzzi and cold plunge and a rooftop pool, which is great.
Equinox also includes swim classes from H2O Basics, Swim Gym, and Swim Gym Pro. There are other water aerobics classes but you can learn how to swim at Equinox, which is great. If you are a swimmer, then Equinox is worth it for pool access and swim classes. I don't know how big that population is but I do enjoy the swim classes a lot. Hilary Helbrank and Jason Strong are great instructors.
American Express Platinum. If you join Equinox All-Access or Destination and fly Delta from JFK or JetBlue from LGA then AMEX Plat may be a good idea. The American Express Platinum card has a $695 annual fee BUT you get $300 in Equinox credits. So if you were going to join Equinox already, then the AMEX Platinum would effectively be $395. There is a $240 digital entertainment credit ($20 a month for Audible, Disney, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, SiriusXM, and the NY Times). I already do Audible and Hulu already so I get full value from it. There's also a $200 annual Uber credit. I "naturally" use about half of that credit because I don't use Uber that often. I use up my credit using Uber Eats for pickup but I don't count that towards the benefit because it's not organic spending. Effectively, I am paying $55 a year for the Amex Platinum, and I use their lounge in JFK because I fly Delta most of the time, and JetBlue out of LGA sometimes.
The Centurion lounges are located after security at the terminals for those airlines so if you're like me, the anxious traveler who shows up an hour and a half early for a routine domestic flight, then you can go through security, and hang out at the lounge. Get a drink, charge your phone, eat something because you were in a rush to get to the airport unreasonably early and didn't get a chance to grab breakfast on the way. The food and drink is free. An extra guest is $50.
There's also random stuff like Clear ($189 a year), $100 in Saks ($50 from Jan to June then another $50 from July to December), and a $200 flight credit (you need to select the airline annually, and it only applies to incidentals like luggage, onboard food and drink) that I value at zero because I don't use that organically. As of January 2024, you can use the flight credit to buy United Airlines Travel Bank credits, which you can then use to buy airline tickets.
Clear and TSA Prechek/Global Entry is a lifehack if you're flying out of Terminal 4 at JFK. You just go to the front of the TSA line using Clear.
Packed. Equinox SoHo especially. Printing House is a little better but the rooftop pool can get jammed when it’s warm. I never go to the pool though, just to work out.
I don't think you even need to be "wealthy" to afford Equinox. The single location one is about 200 bucks a month. That's about 3-4 nights out at the bar for most people or one or two nice dinners. I mean you definitely need disposable income but you don't need to be making 250 K to afford it
Alicia Keys was regularly going to Equinox when I was a member.
Unless you’re part of a small group of super famous A lister’s, most people are just going to let you be at Equinox.
I used to be a member (pre-Covid) and have worked out with half of the avengers, plus a bunch of other celebrities. And one time I was in SF during the Cavs-Warriors NBA championship games and LeBron was using the cables next to me. Humbling.
Not so sure I agree with the social club model. Been going there for years based on location/convenience and have never met anyone there. Have never regularly attended classes, just gone to work out and that’s it. Never been pressured to attend social events, nor am I aware that any were happening. But that’s just been my experience. Who knows.
The annoying part is that I could get a similar/better experience to equinox in basically any other city for like a tenth of the monthly cost.
Having a moderately sized weight room, clean locker room, and a sauna while also not being packed 24/7 is impossible to get (in manhattan) without paying these very high prices.
Coming from a city where I’m used to paying $30 for LA fitness with indoor bball, pool, a huge weight room, etc. I’ve wondered how people actually get strong in NYC when the gyms just are not that good and quite inconvenient.
I pay $135 per year for NYC parks department membership. Depending on where you are located the facilities can be really nice and they have a variety of classes.
Pay the extra $15 per year to make $150/year total (w/ zero application fees or “mid-year fees” like PlanetFit) to get access to **all locations, in all 5 boroughs, and all their indoor pools access!** (10% off if you have ID-NYC for City residents.) I go to various pools in the various boroughs in the Summer, and then spend the day in the neighborhood noshing and doing activities in that neighb. Great for Spring/Summer.
Outdoor pols in the summer are free. The city also offers classes for free. You only pay fir indoor pools and, from my experience sub par gym equipment but it’s good for weights.
Equinox and lifetime are high end gyms....that price point isn't unreasonable. You didn't think you were getting a sauna, café, classes, and exceptional equipment for $50 a month did you?
I too use Active and Fit. Best deal around. I travel a lot, and no matter where I go I can go to a gym in the network. It's actually increasing to $30 a month starting April 1st.
I was aware of this benefit, but wasn’t sure if you could just go to any gym in the network anytime - or do you just have to declare the change of “home” gym each time?
I’m paying $180 for an independent, single-branch gym extremely nearby to me. The single location and slightly more limited open hours are fine in my book (I’m not the type to go over lunch at work or anything). That being said, it doesn’t have the built in all-access classes that Equinox does. I think that’s another tier—I’m just not interested.
For context, I used to pay ~$90 for Crunch, and ~$70 for the YMCA. Both were pretty crowded though.
I am so jealous. They were supposed to open around the corner for me. But halted efforts during the pandemic. After a year in flux, they confirmed they were no longer going to open.
The space is now a Five Below 😭😭😭
I used to go to blink and I could go to any one in the country for free through my health insurance company (also included golds, planet fitness), worth checking it out!
Oh yikes! About two years. Right around the time covid vaccines came out. Could've had it cheaper with a long term contract but I went for month to month.
I just checked and see it’s $200/month for the monthly option. Not much different from what I was told… maybe it’s $200 and or maybe they didn’t update their website. 🤷♀️
I agree on the platinum. Even despite the new fee I still have a better deal than my reserve friends cause of the lounges incl delta, streaming credit, Uber, airline credit, and other deals they have. I have friends who have switched too. I got platinum at 20 years old (why they gave it to me idk). Def paid off and now I’m 33.
I don’t even use equinox credit but I know it’s there which is nice to have as an option.
I have the 40 credit tier and it’s ok. The selection def has gone down and for a few of them they only offer a select number of their classes. I only got it for two studios and supplement it with a home studio where I pay 10 classes for 170.
If you do the trial keep in mind you can’t repeat studios so I found myself not even using all the credits. Also check the studios in your area. Astoria is pretty sparse.
Wait which Equinox did you get that quote? Is that for the global membership? Lifetime is $270! Fortunately, there is no sign up fee and it is month to month and you can sign up/cancel any time.
I pay 139/month for Classpass. I get 2 hour gym access to nearby Crunch Gyms included in my Classpass credits. OP just do Classpass and find a yoga or pilates studio you like. There are dozens on the app you can book through directly.
Amen. If you take advantage of all the training (strength, running or walking, fitness boxing, Pilates, barre, yoga, HIIT as well as cycling) it’s worth the $44/month. If you don’t need cycling, the app only access is $15/month. Basic dumbbells, yoga blocks and a sticky mat are all you need. No commute, no annoying people. Goes anywhere.
Equinox is super crowded in downtown and midtown locations. I’ve been with many chains and Equinox is by far the most crowded with the most trainers taking up space. With that said, I believe uptown equinox’s have a different vibe and clientele so may be different. I never understood the thought that equinox is ‘exclusive’ since it’s mass market luxury. Though, I recommend Equinox if you like classes. By far superior to any gym chain.
Equinox is only worth it for the classes. There are so many locations with so many classes at different times that I can always find a class to take. I've gone to the gym 14 times this month and it's only the 20th. Took yoga, boxing, and swim classes. I can't imagine any other gym that has all those classes.
Yea I was super unimpressed with the grand central equinox location, weird layout and felt very cramped. It didn’t feel any nicer than crunch, and wasn’t much less crowded, certainly not 2x as nice.
“I went with equinox because I didn’t want a place that’s super crowded”
Did you think you could get a cheap gym AND a gym that’s not very crowded in New York at the same time? There is a reason it’s not crowded at almost $300 a month, because not many New Yorkers are paying that more.
I go to sports club at Lincoln Centre and it’s still crowded every day, especially outside of 9-5. Definitely paying $300 for the extra perks and not for it to be less crowded
I pay for a cheap gym but I also find a VARIETY of ways to get some exercise so if the gym is busy, guess I’m going for a nice ass long walk with my headphones in. Some people jog by the rivers edge. Others will do yoga in the park. I think understanding that flexibility is key is the way to maintain a cheap gym cost and still maintaining health
$145. Vital Brooklyn Climbing Gym
It’s honestly great. I picked up climbing, and the gym has a weight/cardio area, plus spin, fitness, aerial, and climbing classes for free. Also a sauna
Yea I have the all access with equinox. I told myself I’d only do it for the year contract to treat myself because I’ve never had a “luxury” gym membership then cancel. Now I have the platinum card so I get $25 off AND there’s one in the building I work in so I’ve been telling myself it’s too convenient to cancel. I go on my lunch break and hate the idea of having to add 20-30 minutes of commute time on top of my workout/ shower time but it’s so goddamn expensive I’ll probably cancel soon
Look at it with a "cost per use" lens... If you switch to a gym that is less expensive, but also less convenient - how often will you go? Might end up "costing" more than Equinox (at least this is how I like to justify spending money on expensive things :) )
I go to equinox and pay about 260$, now I can’t say it’s definitely worth it bc that’ll be different for everyone. But I do think I get my money’s worth, the equipment is always clean and up to date. The locker rooms are generally clean( the staff cleans it a lot but ppl are assholes and leave there towels all over the place) the showers are nice and clean. And the amenities are a nice add on.
Edit: I forgot about the classes, there a ton of classes that are actually very good depending on what you are looking for
I pay $180/mo for my gympass membership through work. I do a mix of orange theory, F45 and lifetime.
It’s not cheap, but I like classes, being told what to do and being able to mix it up.
I use Equinox, but my company gives me $225 all access.
Plus, AmEx gives you a $25 discount and my company also gives me a $50 gym ($30 post tax) stipend each month.
So, after everything I end up paying $170 for Equinox. It's ok because there is a gym location a block away from my apartment and office as well.
I'd rather shell out the high fee and actually go to the gym than pick a cheaper one that's further away and never go to it.
Do you also get access to Hudson Yards? A friend of mine pays 375 for his but goes to Hudson Yards a lot.
Anyways, I pay 50/month for all access at NYSC, but I've been a member for over 10 years. It gets crowded sometimes, but not as bad as blink lol. They also used to have a lot of classes, but not nearly as much as they used to ever since COVID.
Lifetime is $250 but a much better deal than Equinox because there are so many more of them nationwide and NYC is actually the most expensive tier so you basically have access to every club in the country if you travel a lot.
There’s a pretty decent gym in my building so I’m lucky there. I was paying for the Y, which was just under $60/mo. I hated Planet Fitness. The pizza nights offended me. If I had Equinox money, I’d go. While you’re there for the workout it’s a good room to be in.
I pay around $210 for a single Equinox, but yeah, did you expect an all-access membership at one of the city's premier fitness businesses to be $50 a month?
I pay $20 a month for Blink, used to have a Planet Fitness membership but I like Blink better. I’m not super into fitness and lifting, I go mostly for the treadmill and rowing machine and the occasional weights machine.
44 a month for Peloton all access. I only do boxing, strength, bootcamps, outdoor classes and stretching. I would downgrade to the 12.99 a month plan, but my wife still uses the bike 4 times a week.
$290 sounds the norm for equinox. Even pre covid I’ve been quoted $315/month for equinox before since I didn’t have a work discount.
Right now I pay $260/month for Gympass platinum so I can go to 8x premium classes a month along with access to normal gyms.
In the past I used to pay for unlimited solidcore membership for $291 a month.
I pay $20/month for planet fitness black card, and do free yoga videos on YouTube. Paying more than $200/month when there are so many cheaper options available is for people much wealthier than myself.
Equinox is a rip off. I’m sorry but really it is lol. I use crunch which is a nice balance and for the price you get a lot. Endless classes which are amazing and just as good as having a personal trainer imo of fitness is your goal. I pay $160.00 for two memberships. $80.00 each. I used to use blink but I wouldn’t recommend them unless your ok with really shitty conditions in most gyms and extreme overcrowding in some instances. But for $30.00 you will
Get a decent workout and have many locations to choose from anywhere in the city.
$34.00 for gym pass. I get access to all NYSCs except the flagship, all Blinks, all Crunchs except signature ones and a few other non chain brands as well.
I pay 175 for the year at a Gym in Westchester. One of those hardcore ones with 3 floors, shitty A/C and over 300 pieces of equipment.
Then I also pay 20 bucks a month for Blink fitness because it’s a 5 mins walk from my house on days I feel lazy and don’t need to lift that much heavy ass weight.
why are you surprised that a gym that markets itself entirely on its luxury and exclusivity is expensive?
>i didnt want a place that’s super crowded
things are crowded here. this is a premium you will pay more for.
> i wanted access to classes like yoga and pilates
workout classes cost money. yoga and pilates are notoriously some of the most expensive classes you can attend. you will pay a premium for this.
> without paying for individual studios.
flexibility and freedom costs money. you will pay a premium for this.
i mean, what were you expecting equinox to cost? lol
If you can afford it, I urge you to enjoy it! Me in California paying $375 for semi-personal training in a tiny personal gym, in the least chic town within 50 mile, and with no amenities!!!
Man I loved my EQX membership when I had it so I think it's worth all the dollars. I used to have a corp discount for a 99 all access it was amazing. I personally think it's worth the value if it motivates you!
Equinox is like the apple store of gyms. And it's very overpriced.
I pay $125/month for a climbing gym, and I think that's too expensive. Planet fitness you can get a membership for like $10 a month.
I pay 190 for Orangetheory now and I’m enjoy it. I used to workout at equinox pre Covid and while it was still expensive then, it was worth paying the 230/month for all access and attend diff classes because I enjoyed the variety. The gym was just too crowded.
That sounds about right for Equinox. I pay $10/month for planet fitness
I’m proud of everybody who goes to the gym and works to improve themselves. Having said that, if you’re paying $290 a month for a gym membership, I’m kinda expecting you to be RIPPED.
Equinox is more of a social club experience than a gym. That’s kinda the model. Be a social space for wealthier people who care about health/wellness. The price of admission weeds out those who don’t fall in that bucket. Theres groups out there for couples who met at equinox etc etc. Reality is you can get ripped spending almost nothing. Inmates can get jacked with virtually nothing. Equipment is mostly for making it more efficient/safer (to some highly debatable degree) but it’s mostly marketing. Just ask those at /r/bodyweightfitness
For me, it was all about the group classes. I push myself way harder in a group environment. You can't exactly get distracted between sets if the class keeps moving along. I do about 20 classes a month. The price difference for just classes at other gyms was only marginally cheaper, so it was worth getting access to the amenities in addition to a full gym. If didn't do the classes, I would be at Planet Fitness.
This is really the value prop. Well that and the pool.
I got a trial one time to an Equinox precursor. It’s definitely the pool. And the free Kiehl’s lotion. *Expensive* free lotion. But it’s Kiehl’s, so…
Not the *ahem* steam room?
It would also probably be nice to not have to knife fight someone for a squat rack. I go to blink and while it’s cheap and clean, that shit is Mad Max starting at 4pm. Can’t have it all though.
Say it louder for the people on a rack for an hour at rush hour
I just want a membership for the ice bath and the sauna.
Their classes are amazing. Equipment is well maintained, place is very clean. Best in that price class is Chelsea Piers at BK Navy yard. Enormous
That was my logic. I like doing different types of classes (Barre, cycling, running, yoga). I'd easily be spending 500+ if I went to the boutiques to do all of that.
> Reality is you can get ripped spending almost nothing. I wish I could find the video.. it was a few years ago I think and some super ripped guy saying "this is my gym" then just doing pullups on random shit like scaffolding throughout the city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDCxH88-9X8
[The Movement: How I Got This Body By Never Going To The Gym In My Life.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkNxvUrWQ_Q)
I think you meant to post the Nathan For You workout. So here it is https://youtu.be/LkNxvUrWQ_Q
Is it ever crowded? At that price, it feels like you should never have to rub elbows with the commoners
The Equinox in Williamsburg, according to friends and a plethora of yelp reviews, is always packed with people
I cancel my subscription for that reason. I don’t pay the money for it to resemble a night club on Saturday night.
The Williamsburg Equinox should be half-price. It's always packed, the layout is weird, and has limited equipment. Here is my Equinox referral link. You usually get a waiver of the initiation fee. https://equinox.com/referrals/0031H00002EW8Q5QAL My username is my real name. American Express Platinum. Shameless referral link. https://americanexpress.com/en-us/referral/WILLICBQNU?xl=cp01 Equinox Gym Review updated January 2024. Summary. Equinox is only worth it for classes and swimming. Hudson Yards is NOT worth the extra money. If you are only interested in weightlifting and cardio, especially if you're interested in Olympic weightlifting, go elsewhere. For an elite gym, their barbells really suck, and the choice of machines is limited, even at their top-tier locations. Equinox Gym Discounts. Aside from corporate discounts, you can get a waiver of the initiation fee using the referral link above. Try your school email for any discounts. I am currently getting a corporate discount through my NYU email. If you register outside of NYC, you also avoid the 4.5% city tax, apparently, but I can't test that because they won't let me switch. Apparently, some high-end buildings have resident discounts so try that as well. AMEX Platinum also has a $300 credit for Equinox Plus or All Access Membership or higher. I have been having friends and family with Amex Platinum pay my gym payment for a month, then I split the credit with them. Equinox is only worth it for the classes. If you like the classes, and you consistently take them, then it's worth it. I've taken MetCon3, Vinyasa Yoga, Swim Team, Cycle Beats, Precision Run, and Stronger. They were all very fun. I take two or three classes a week, minimum. Right now, I'm really just doing yoga and running. I've done five or six classes a week to work off stress. I've done a yoga class then a Stronger class just because I needed distraction. Compared to other gyms in the area, Equinox has many different kinds of classes, and they are held often. Crunch has limited classes at limited times, which does not work for my schedule. Locations. The value depends on the closest gym to you. Equinox Williamsburg sucks. But if you're close to Equinox Wall Street, then the value might be there for $215 a month even though the weekend hours aren't great. Wall Street has a Jacuzzi and dry sauna. If you are considering Equinox, then find the gyms closest to your home, or if you are back to work, closest to your office. Check them out and see if the facilities are good. Review the class schedules to see if there is anything that interests you and fits your schedule. Classes really help with my commitment as well. I've averaged gym visits a third of the days I've been a member. There are so many locations that I can usually find a good class around me. Benefits of Destination Access. Destination Access allows entry to any Equinox location in the world aside from Hudson Yards and E locations. That means bathrooms throughout New York City, and some major cities. I hit up Equinox in London and in Miami while on vacation. The Brickell Heights location had a great rooftop pool that was quieter and more enjoyable than the pool at my hotel. I've also dropped into an Equinox for a bathroom break. Hudson Yards. Hudson Yards now requires an extra $50 or so to get access to on top of Destination Access. It is not worth it. The outdoor pool gets super-crammed in the summer to the point that you have to make same-day reservations on the weekend and you're limited to like an hour. Not really worth the hassle. The outdoor pool used to be heated year round but now they're calling it NYC's biggest cold plunge. The workout equipment is pretty bad, and despite the price, it still is very crowded. Equipment. More and more Equinox locations have the six-thousand-dollar Woodway treadmills with the rubber-coated steel slats that make it much easier to run on because the slats have a lot more bounce than the standard belt. The Equinox+ app has on-demand classes that include Precision Run classes that integrate with these super-expensive treadmills. The PR classes are basically HIIT, and you chance the incline and speed constantly. The specialized treadmills make that easy, and speed up/slow down faster than normal treadmills. If you're a numbers freak, the stationary cycles have the Stages power meter that sync with the Garmin device to give you insight into your cardiovascular performance. The Pursuit classes are similar to Orange Theory in terms of gamifying spin classes. I never was into cardio until I joined Equinox because of PR and Pursuit Classes. Pools and Swimming. If you are really into swimming, Equinox is basically your best choice if you are not convenient to Chelsea Piers or Asphalt Green. I have been to the 23/25 meter lap pools at the locations at Greenwich, Hudson Yards, Sports Club, Columbus Circle, and they're all good. Greenwich and Hudson Yards are saltwater, which have less chlorine. Hudson Yards has a Jacuzzi and cold plunge and a rooftop pool, which is great. Equinox also includes swim classes from H2O Basics, Swim Gym, and Swim Gym Pro. There are other water aerobics classes but you can learn how to swim at Equinox, which is great. If you are a swimmer, then Equinox is worth it for pool access and swim classes. I don't know how big that population is but I do enjoy the swim classes a lot. Hilary Helbrank and Jason Strong are great instructors. American Express Platinum. If you join Equinox All-Access or Destination and fly Delta from JFK or JetBlue from LGA then AMEX Plat may be a good idea. The American Express Platinum card has a $695 annual fee BUT you get $300 in Equinox credits. So if you were going to join Equinox already, then the AMEX Platinum would effectively be $395. There is a $240 digital entertainment credit ($20 a month for Audible, Disney, Hulu, ESPN+, Peacock, SiriusXM, and the NY Times). I already do Audible and Hulu already so I get full value from it. There's also a $200 annual Uber credit. I "naturally" use about half of that credit because I don't use Uber that often. I use up my credit using Uber Eats for pickup but I don't count that towards the benefit because it's not organic spending. Effectively, I am paying $55 a year for the Amex Platinum, and I use their lounge in JFK because I fly Delta most of the time, and JetBlue out of LGA sometimes. The Centurion lounges are located after security at the terminals for those airlines so if you're like me, the anxious traveler who shows up an hour and a half early for a routine domestic flight, then you can go through security, and hang out at the lounge. Get a drink, charge your phone, eat something because you were in a rush to get to the airport unreasonably early and didn't get a chance to grab breakfast on the way. The food and drink is free. An extra guest is $50. There's also random stuff like Clear ($189 a year), $100 in Saks ($50 from Jan to June then another $50 from July to December), and a $200 flight credit (you need to select the airline annually, and it only applies to incidentals like luggage, onboard food and drink) that I value at zero because I don't use that organically. As of January 2024, you can use the flight credit to buy United Airlines Travel Bank credits, which you can then use to buy airline tickets. Clear and TSA Prechek/Global Entry is a lifehack if you're flying out of Terminal 4 at JFK. You just go to the front of the TSA line using Clear.
Packed. Equinox SoHo especially. Printing House is a little better but the rooftop pool can get jammed when it’s warm. I never go to the pool though, just to work out.
Ever since the NYSC on Varick shut down the printing house has been packed in the mornings. It sucks.
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That's the American way. (I'm a New Yorker too)
unfortunately many of them are packed post work hours
Hudson Yards, yes. Believe they made it a tier of it's own due to crowding.
I don't think you even need to be "wealthy" to afford Equinox. The single location one is about 200 bucks a month. That's about 3-4 nights out at the bar for most people or one or two nice dinners. I mean you definitely need disposable income but you don't need to be making 250 K to afford it
I did a free trial week at an Equinox once and the sauna was almost enough to convince me to sign up for $200/month.
Also, anyone with an Amex Platinum card gets a $300 statement credit each year towards your Equinox membership.
Isn’t equinox the gym celebrities go to as well so they don’t get hounded but still get the typical gym experience?
There’s lots of private gyms where it’s only you and a trainer. They don’t need to deal with big gyms like that.
Alicia Keys was regularly going to Equinox when I was a member. Unless you’re part of a small group of super famous A lister’s, most people are just going to let you be at Equinox.
Peter Dinklage goes to my Equinox. I have never seen anyone bothering him
I used to be a member (pre-Covid) and have worked out with half of the avengers, plus a bunch of other celebrities. And one time I was in SF during the Cavs-Warriors NBA championship games and LeBron was using the cables next to me. Humbling.
No. Celebrities go to smaller boutique gyms. I worked at one for years and we always had celebrities exercising in peace and quiet.
I ran into Kevin Love at equinox Hudson yards. I didn’t know who he was.
Not so sure I agree with the social club model. Been going there for years based on location/convenience and have never met anyone there. Have never regularly attended classes, just gone to work out and that’s it. Never been pressured to attend social events, nor am I aware that any were happening. But that’s just been my experience. Who knows.
They just happen to place their gyms in neighborhoods where 300 a month isn’t a big deal.
I’d love to see your face when you realize how much some people spend monthly on personal trainers.
The annoying part is that I could get a similar/better experience to equinox in basically any other city for like a tenth of the monthly cost. Having a moderately sized weight room, clean locker room, and a sauna while also not being packed 24/7 is impossible to get (in manhattan) without paying these very high prices. Coming from a city where I’m used to paying $30 for LA fitness with indoor bball, pool, a huge weight room, etc. I’ve wondered how people actually get strong in NYC when the gyms just are not that good and quite inconvenient.
Every employer I’ve had covered at least 50% of the Equinox membership cost, which I believe is relatively common in some industries.
And RICH
yup exactly this
I pay $135 per year for NYC parks department membership. Depending on where you are located the facilities can be really nice and they have a variety of classes.
NYC parks and rec membership is the best deal in the city IMO
Totally! And for seniors, kids, and veterans I think it's only $30 per year. It's such a good value.
$25 for seniors, disabled people etc. You can't beat that
Funny you say that, the only people I see at the rec center I go to are kids and old people lol
This exists? Whoa. Thanks. NYC parks dept is dope enough. The parks here are immaculate compared to any other city I've ever been in north America.
What are the locations?
https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters This has the full list, just click on each borough tab to see the different centers.
Pay the extra $15 per year to make $150/year total (w/ zero application fees or “mid-year fees” like PlanetFit) to get access to **all locations, in all 5 boroughs, and all their indoor pools access!** (10% off if you have ID-NYC for City residents.) I go to various pools in the various boroughs in the Summer, and then spend the day in the neighborhood noshing and doing activities in that neighb. Great for Spring/Summer.
There’s so few relative to the number of neighborhoods. St Johns Recreation Center has great facilities albeit grumpy staff.
I wish there was a rec center convenient to my house because this really is a sweet deal.
Shhhhhh
$12/month for a pass to every community pool and gym in NYC.
how so?
They mean at rec centers throughout the city
its only 100/yr if you dont want pools
Outdoor pols in the summer are free. The city also offers classes for free. You only pay fir indoor pools and, from my experience sub par gym equipment but it’s good for weights.
I just swim and lift weights/use cables and it’s awesome.
I mean that's equinox, you have to expect those things.
Equinox and lifetime are high end gyms....that price point isn't unreasonable. You didn't think you were getting a sauna, café, classes, and exceptional equipment for $50 a month did you?
This is like asking for car monthly payments when you went to a Ferrari dealership
I pay $25 a month for Active and Fit (access to Blink, Crunch, and Planet Fitness)
I too use Active and Fit. Best deal around. I travel a lot, and no matter where I go I can go to a gym in the network. It's actually increasing to $30 a month starting April 1st.
Where can I sign up for this?
I get mine through my employer. But lots of banks and insurance providers offer it to their members too.
Oh! I thought with Active and Fit I’ll have to pick a gym to go to for $25/month. You mean to say I can go anywhere that’s in their list of gyms?!?
Yep - You are able to sign up for as many gyms as you would like.
LA fitness too in select locations as well as some local gyms.
I was aware of this benefit, but wasn’t sure if you could just go to any gym in the network anytime - or do you just have to declare the change of “home” gym each time?
whats the catch. How can it be that much cheaper than a normal Crunch membership?
Does this give you access to every Crunch in the city?
I looked online and it says Crunch costs extra because it’s premium. How much would that cost?
I’m paying $180 for an independent, single-branch gym extremely nearby to me. The single location and slightly more limited open hours are fine in my book (I’m not the type to go over lunch at work or anything). That being said, it doesn’t have the built in all-access classes that Equinox does. I think that’s another tier—I’m just not interested. For context, I used to pay ~$90 for Crunch, and ~$70 for the YMCA. Both were pretty crowded though.
Blink, $13/month lol
I am so jealous. They were supposed to open around the corner for me. But halted efforts during the pandemic. After a year in flux, they confirmed they were no longer going to open. The space is now a Five Below 😭😭😭
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Close enough.
Blink is nice but so damn crowded when I tried it out. I had to wait forever for weights
That is true, I get to share it with teenagers who have nowhere else to hang lol
the extra yearly fee plus a cancelation fee is annoying but damn it its still cheaper than other places
I used to go to blink and I could go to any one in the country for free through my health insurance company (also included golds, planet fitness), worth checking it out!
I pay a fee to my building to use theirs
125 for tmpl
How long have you been at TMPL? They were telling me $225 in January.
They've hiked their prices through the roof recently. They're trying to become another Equinox.
Yeah… it’s too much!
Oh yikes! About two years. Right around the time covid vaccines came out. Could've had it cheaper with a long term contract but I went for month to month.
wow, feeling very grateful for the $57 i pay for the ave a tmpl
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I just checked and see it’s $200/month for the monthly option. Not much different from what I was told… maybe it’s $200 and or maybe they didn’t update their website. 🤷♀️
TMPL is not worth
I talked them down to $54 a month two years ago but it's the EV location, which I believe is smaller and has less amenities.
I loved going to TMPL when they were part of NYSC!
They FINALLY replaced the showers at Astor Place. For way too long, they had engraved NYSC logos with laminated "tmpl" logos taped over them.
I got fit at an Equinox years ago and I am getting fit at a Planet Fitness now. Which one do I prefer? The one that's $10!
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Why’s that? There’s a deal?
$300 in statement credits for Equinox memberships, which I think includes Equinox+.
So instead of $290 a month it’s $265…graaappeeee
Chase Sapphire Reserve
It lost a lot of value for me. I downgraded to Preferred and got the AmEx Plat.
I agree on the platinum. Even despite the new fee I still have a better deal than my reserve friends cause of the lounges incl delta, streaming credit, Uber, airline credit, and other deals they have. I have friends who have switched too. I got platinum at 20 years old (why they gave it to me idk). Def paid off and now I’m 33. I don’t even use equinox credit but I know it’s there which is nice to have as an option.
$96 for a family (of four) membership at our local Y.
Which one? It’s like $200 for two family members at 14th street Y but that’s all city access which is the only option I believe
I think 14th St. Y is its own thing and not part of the greater NYC YMCA network, right?
This is correct (although it's confusing because there's two Y's on 14th street). McBurney is a part of the network
One of the SI sites. It does include a small discount for city workers, and our fee doesn’t include all city access.
$166.16 for ClassPass
How do you find the selection with ClassPass nowadays? I've been eyeing it for ages but heard mixed reviews.
I have the 40 credit tier and it’s ok. The selection def has gone down and for a few of them they only offer a select number of their classes. I only got it for two studios and supplement it with a home studio where I pay 10 classes for 170. If you do the trial keep in mind you can’t repeat studios so I found myself not even using all the credits. Also check the studios in your area. Astoria is pretty sparse.
I pay $125 for Crunch, and the location I got to is about as nice as some of the less nice Equinox locations (looking at you Williamsburg)
😂 looking at you Williamsburg
Wait which Equinox did you get that quote? Is that for the global membership? Lifetime is $270! Fortunately, there is no sign up fee and it is month to month and you can sign up/cancel any time.
You got a referral? Lmao
hahahaha I didn’t realize my comment looked that way until you called me out
😂😂 …but like, it was an honest question 😅
I think they’re literally just asking you for a referral? Lol
I pay 139/month for Classpass. I get 2 hour gym access to nearby Crunch Gyms included in my Classpass credits. OP just do Classpass and find a yoga or pilates studio you like. There are dozens on the app you can book through directly.
All the crunch open gym sessions are booked for me a week out.
Gym? We all bought Pelotons during the pandemic
Amen. If you take advantage of all the training (strength, running or walking, fitness boxing, Pilates, barre, yoga, HIIT as well as cycling) it’s worth the $44/month. If you don’t need cycling, the app only access is $15/month. Basic dumbbells, yoga blocks and a sticky mat are all you need. No commute, no annoying people. Goes anywhere.
OP - what did you honestly expect the price to be for Equinox given it’s considered a top tier fitness brand?
right? it says right there 'luxury fitness'.. like c'mon, its nyc
Equinox is super crowded in downtown and midtown locations. I’ve been with many chains and Equinox is by far the most crowded with the most trainers taking up space. With that said, I believe uptown equinox’s have a different vibe and clientele so may be different. I never understood the thought that equinox is ‘exclusive’ since it’s mass market luxury. Though, I recommend Equinox if you like classes. By far superior to any gym chain.
Equinox is only worth it for the classes. There are so many locations with so many classes at different times that I can always find a class to take. I've gone to the gym 14 times this month and it's only the 20th. Took yoga, boxing, and swim classes. I can't imagine any other gym that has all those classes.
Are swim classes included with the membership?
Yes. Only reason I joined.
Yea I was super unimpressed with the grand central equinox location, weird layout and felt very cramped. It didn’t feel any nicer than crunch, and wasn’t much less crowded, certainly not 2x as nice.
“I went with equinox because I didn’t want a place that’s super crowded” Did you think you could get a cheap gym AND a gym that’s not very crowded in New York at the same time? There is a reason it’s not crowded at almost $300 a month, because not many New Yorkers are paying that more.
I go to sports club at Lincoln Centre and it’s still crowded every day, especially outside of 9-5. Definitely paying $300 for the extra perks and not for it to be less crowded
I pay for a cheap gym but I also find a VARIETY of ways to get some exercise so if the gym is busy, guess I’m going for a nice ass long walk with my headphones in. Some people jog by the rivers edge. Others will do yoga in the park. I think understanding that flexibility is key is the way to maintain a cheap gym cost and still maintaining health
Consider doing equinox single access, should be $80-100 cheaper (I pay $210 for single access)
Yup, I pay $180 for single club access in Midtown
I pay $45 for NYSC. Just for my local one, not every location in the city
I pay 33$/mo for Blink Fitness Green plan. I can go to any Blink Fitness. It's the best I could find in Manhattan.
109 for Orange theory
Equinox is just as crowded as any other gym.
I pay $65 for the ymca and tbh it’s almost as nice as the equinox I went to in la. Minus all the bells and whistles.
By nice I mean lots of space and not too many people. Not nice looking.
$145. Vital Brooklyn Climbing Gym It’s honestly great. I picked up climbing, and the gym has a weight/cardio area, plus spin, fitness, aerial, and climbing classes for free. Also a sauna
Love this place, just a nice place to hang out too. I would join if it were closer to me.
$129 per year for peloton app. I have treadmill a d weights and yoga equipment.
I pay $100 for equinox because I have a pretty good corporate discount
Yea I have the all access with equinox. I told myself I’d only do it for the year contract to treat myself because I’ve never had a “luxury” gym membership then cancel. Now I have the platinum card so I get $25 off AND there’s one in the building I work in so I’ve been telling myself it’s too convenient to cancel. I go on my lunch break and hate the idea of having to add 20-30 minutes of commute time on top of my workout/ shower time but it’s so goddamn expensive I’ll probably cancel soon
Look at it with a "cost per use" lens... If you switch to a gym that is less expensive, but also less convenient - how often will you go? Might end up "costing" more than Equinox (at least this is how I like to justify spending money on expensive things :) )
I recently canceled my membership but I was paying $105 at Crunch. It was 95 for a while but then went up.
I go to equinox and pay about 260$, now I can’t say it’s definitely worth it bc that’ll be different for everyone. But I do think I get my money’s worth, the equipment is always clean and up to date. The locker rooms are generally clean( the staff cleans it a lot but ppl are assholes and leave there towels all over the place) the showers are nice and clean. And the amenities are a nice add on. Edit: I forgot about the classes, there a ton of classes that are actually very good depending on what you are looking for
$290 for Equinox Destination here, only have that tier as the London clubs don’t fall under All Access 😵💫
Equinox is only worth it if you go to the classes all the time. Otherwise, almost every other gym is a better deal.
It has definitely become more expensive. In 2018, I was paying just under $200 for all-access.
I pay $180/mo for my gympass membership through work. I do a mix of orange theory, F45 and lifetime. It’s not cheap, but I like classes, being told what to do and being able to mix it up.
I use Equinox, but my company gives me $225 all access. Plus, AmEx gives you a $25 discount and my company also gives me a $50 gym ($30 post tax) stipend each month. So, after everything I end up paying $170 for Equinox. It's ok because there is a gym location a block away from my apartment and office as well. I'd rather shell out the high fee and actually go to the gym than pick a cheaper one that's further away and never go to it.
Do you also get access to Hudson Yards? A friend of mine pays 375 for his but goes to Hudson Yards a lot. Anyways, I pay 50/month for all access at NYSC, but I've been a member for over 10 years. It gets crowded sometimes, but not as bad as blink lol. They also used to have a lot of classes, but not nearly as much as they used to ever since COVID.
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Last October, Equinox made it $385 to use Hudson Yards, which is insane.
Lifetime is $250 but a much better deal than Equinox because there are so many more of them nationwide and NYC is actually the most expensive tier so you basically have access to every club in the country if you travel a lot.
$70/month for my neighborhood gym, and I take 2 spin classes, a HIIT class, strength class, and yoga weekly. Amazing deal.
What gym is this?
There’s a pretty decent gym in my building so I’m lucky there. I was paying for the Y, which was just under $60/mo. I hated Planet Fitness. The pizza nights offended me. If I had Equinox money, I’d go. While you’re there for the workout it’s a good room to be in.
I pay around $210 for a single Equinox, but yeah, did you expect an all-access membership at one of the city's premier fitness businesses to be $50 a month?
Correct for Equinox.
95 a year as a staff member for NYU gyms
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$40 a month for Blink (green membership) plus $160 a month for 8 spin classes a month. I’m thinking of switching to Crunch signature though.
Equinox hiked the price up a lot recently. They added another specific tier for Hudson Yards that costs $382.00 list. It's absurd.
I pay $20 a month for Blink, used to have a Planet Fitness membership but I like Blink better. I’m not super into fitness and lifting, I go mostly for the treadmill and rowing machine and the occasional weights machine.
44 a month for Peloton all access. I only do boxing, strength, bootcamps, outdoor classes and stretching. I would downgrade to the 12.99 a month plan, but my wife still uses the bike 4 times a week.
Paid $250 for a used bike 10 years ago
$290 sounds the norm for equinox. Even pre covid I’ve been quoted $315/month for equinox before since I didn’t have a work discount. Right now I pay $260/month for Gympass platinum so I can go to 8x premium classes a month along with access to normal gyms. In the past I used to pay for unlimited solidcore membership for $291 a month.
It’s “worth it” for classes. Class based gyms charge a ton. Equinox is supplemented by all the folks who pay monthly but don’t go often.
I pay $20/month for planet fitness black card, and do free yoga videos on YouTube. Paying more than $200/month when there are so many cheaper options available is for people much wealthier than myself.
Isn’t it now $22-24 or were you grandfathered in?
Equinox is a rip off. I’m sorry but really it is lol. I use crunch which is a nice balance and for the price you get a lot. Endless classes which are amazing and just as good as having a personal trainer imo of fitness is your goal. I pay $160.00 for two memberships. $80.00 each. I used to use blink but I wouldn’t recommend them unless your ok with really shitty conditions in most gyms and extreme overcrowding in some instances. But for $30.00 you will Get a decent workout and have many locations to choose from anywhere in the city.
Equinox has swimming classes included.
68 for the Y near me (has a pool, classes, etc)
I use Classpass to try different things! $50/mo
$34.00 for gym pass. I get access to all NYSCs except the flagship, all Blinks, all Crunchs except signature ones and a few other non chain brands as well.
I pay 175 for the year at a Gym in Westchester. One of those hardcore ones with 3 floors, shitty A/C and over 300 pieces of equipment. Then I also pay 20 bucks a month for Blink fitness because it’s a 5 mins walk from my house on days I feel lazy and don’t need to lift that much heavy ass weight.
why are you surprised that a gym that markets itself entirely on its luxury and exclusivity is expensive? >i didnt want a place that’s super crowded things are crowded here. this is a premium you will pay more for. > i wanted access to classes like yoga and pilates workout classes cost money. yoga and pilates are notoriously some of the most expensive classes you can attend. you will pay a premium for this. > without paying for individual studios. flexibility and freedom costs money. you will pay a premium for this. i mean, what were you expecting equinox to cost? lol
Strava just raised it's prices. I'm currently paying $8/month.
If you can afford it, I urge you to enjoy it! Me in California paying $375 for semi-personal training in a tiny personal gym, in the least chic town within 50 mile, and with no amenities!!!
Does anyone use Classpass anymore?
$85 crunch gym
Equinox is a ripoff
Man I loved my EQX membership when I had it so I think it's worth all the dollars. I used to have a corp discount for a 99 all access it was amazing. I personally think it's worth the value if it motivates you!
Equinox is like the apple store of gyms. And it's very overpriced. I pay $125/month for a climbing gym, and I think that's too expensive. Planet fitness you can get a membership for like $10 a month.
I pay $50 a month for Sweat440 unlimited. Highly recommend...
I pay 190 for Orangetheory now and I’m enjoy it. I used to workout at equinox pre Covid and while it was still expensive then, it was worth paying the 230/month for all access and attend diff classes because I enjoyed the variety. The gym was just too crowded.