Gym Reviews

vibez

Howdie folks,

Just starting a tread to find out whats the best gym in Dublin/Leinster. I recently joined the National Aquadic Centre in Blanch and i must say i am impressed so far.

With the like of Total Fitness & Westpoint on the doorstep of the NAC people thaught i was crazy joinin.

Full membership was a reasonable €440 and id say 99% of classes are free for members.

Weight area isnt to bad, and machines are in fairly good condition.

Peak times are never over full either which is nice, ive heard Total fitness can be hectic!

How do you rate your Gym?

justsomebloke

DCU gym. for cardio quite decent. for weights dear god it is crap actully no it is really really really crap. My membership will be up in around the start of october and at that point i will probably look for another gym.

Then again if i could find a reasonably priced bodybuilders/ powerlifter gym around santry drumcondra i would join that and stay with DCU aswell. So if anybody knows any let me know;)

fletch

Paid €395 to join Crunch Fitness in Lucan/Clonsilla...think it's closer €600 for non-students. The Fitlinxx system is pretty cool, sensors attached to each machine record your personal workout....it never seems too busy although I'll reserve judgement til the Winter sets in. Don't like the way the free weights are in front of all the CV machines, I'm too self consious to use them as a result. But other than that, the pool is nicely heated and the whole place seems spotlessly clean.

comer_97

I'm in Jackie Skelly's on Clarendon St. And it is a dive. Weight area is very small, at peak times even off peak it is hard to get near the machines and there are very few free weights.

lots of treadmills, but the cross trainers have seen better days, the footstraps are all ripped and most of the TVs don't work.

I paid nearly 800 for the honour of using the gym!

Soulgirl

I have to say I love the Fitness Dock on Camden St. The staff there are really friendly and enthuastic. There's always a nice buzz when you go in there, even if you're feeling lousy after work.
The machines are decent, plenty of weights and the classes are very good - high standard and you come out aching!
Really think they do a great job down there. I've been a member for two years now and wouldnt consider changing gyms.

Oobie

I joined Jackie Skelly in Swords but for the last few weeks I've been using the Clarendon Street one and it's horrible. I won't be renewing my membership when the year is up.

Ph3n0m

comer_97 wrote:

I'm in Jackie Skelly's on Clarendon St. And it is a dive. Weight area is very small, at peak times even off peak it is hard to get near the machines and there are very few free weights.

lots of treadmills, but the cross trainers have seen better days, the footstraps are all ripped and most of the TVs don't work.

I paid nearly 800 for the honour of using the gym!

Aye, but off peak tis grand, as long as you are willing to get there at 6:30 in the morning

Ph3n0m

Oobie wrote:

I joined Jackie Skelly in Swords but for the last few weeks I've been using the Clarendon Street one and it's horrible. I won't be renewing my membership when the year is up.

thinking that myself - but what other decent gyms are around that area?

LegacyUser

Crunch Fitness in Dun Laoghaire...Savage Gym. I really like it and can definitely call it my second home at this stage. It's got a quality set up but one downfall would be the smaller freeweights section(there are two freeweights sections, one with dumbells up to 20 and the other which is smaller which has dumbells from like 20kg upwards...)

I dislike the fact that there are no tennis courts and this is one advantage Westwood has over it, well that and the fact that the jacuzzi and saunas etc are not mixed but the whole setup in Crunch is far superior to that of Westwood.

fletch

cheesedude wrote:

Crunch Fitness in Dun Laoghaire...Savage Gym. I really like it and can definitely call it my second home at this stage. It's got a quality set up but one downfall would be the smaller freeweights section(there are two freeweights sections, one with dumbells up to 20 and the other which is smaller which has dumbells from like 20kg upwards...)

I dislike the fact that there are no tennis courts and this is one advantage Westwood has over it, well that and the fact that the jacuzzi and saunas etc are not mixed but the whole setup in Crunch is far superior to that of Westwood.

I'm a member of Crunch in Clonsilla....you don't happen to know off hand can I use the one in Dun Laoghaire (could be handy cause I work out that way)

vibez

Jaysus lads i rekin i got best deal goin on here,

NAC also has the machines that logs ur work out very handy indeed.

LegacyUser

fletch wrote:

I'm a member of Crunch in Clonsilla....you don't happen to know off hand can I use the one in Dun Laoghaire (could be handy cause I work out that way)

Yeah you defo can...

comer_97

the only reason im in jackie skelly's is the location otherwise i wouldn't go!

mystery lady

YMCA, Aungier Street
small gym but good use of space, sauna, lots of classes all evening long - aerobics, dance, alternative etc...5 euros for gym, around 6 euros for classes

Ph3n0m

while we are on this rating of gymns - can anyone recommend any of the other gyms in the city centre, that wont break the bank like Jackie Skellys

bobk

crunch fitness in temple bar is awful,

always busy, hot and smelly

staff are uninformed and couldn't give a toss

used it a lot to start with, now i never go

abetarrush

Westpark in Tallaght

Good gym, great staff and lots of free features [classes, personalised programmes, swimming pool, nutrition info]


Only bad thing I can say is that the weights area is always packed esp with hoggy foreigners

Smellyirishman

Liffey Valley Fitness.

~€500

Great gym, has everything I would ever need, although I only use the free weights. Never have any hassle getting an oly bar and a rack, occassionally have to put thing on hold for a bench, but only very occassionally. Good cardio section, haven't been there in a while but never see problems getting a machine. Nice looking swimming pool, but I have yet to tog out! Fair few classes, pay for yoga/pilates ones, have yet to attend any classes.

Some nice looking instructors too.

Only complaint, is no water outlet. I once forgot to fill my bottle and asked "Em, is there anywhere I can get water?" and was pointed to a vending machine :rolleyes:.

A little on the expensive side considering what I use but the convenience is unbeatable. (5 minute cycle. 10-15 walk)

yomchi

Was in Westpoint, membership up this month. Quite enjoyed it there machines are in good nick, weights are good apart from the dumbells that just go as far as 30kg, good amount of benches and the like, very clean and CHEAP!
Since being in Phibsboro for most of the day now, I decided I'd pop into Power House to have a nose, a lot of big dudes in there which is handy if you need any advice, nice guys as well. However the machines are ancient and the dumbells are like something a circus strongman would use - you know the one's like two canon balls on each end - savage gym for getting humongus, but I couldn't hack the ancient machines or the rope on the tricep pull downs!
So rang a mate of mine who works in Finglas Corpo gym, she said that they have 30kg weights, a squat rack and a bench's for pressing etc. Went up on Monday and my jaysis, it's pity full. It had none of the mentioned appartus, they had a barbel but no bench! dumbells were only 20kg, the squat rack turned out to be a shelf for stacking the EZ bars, the cable cross over machine was brutal and it was FULL of idiot teenagers giving them selves arthitis and slipped discs. The staff seem not bothered by what was going on and none of them (people working out) ever heard of selected number of reps for each exercise, I think one bunch of budding arnolds did about 100 sets of 1000 reps with the smith machine!! showing complete disregard for anyone else wishing to use it. NEVER AGAIN!
Its back to westpoint for re-newed membership.

RANT OVER

tribulus

Crunch UCD, it's okay, very convenient when i'm in college but it can get ridiculously overcrowded at times. Weights area is ok, they got in some extra benches and have some 40KG dumbbells now but there still way short on plates and the squat rack is constantly hogged by wannabe rugby players doing 1/4 rep squats with 150KG when they should be doing half that. rant over also

Can anyone recommend any gyms geared more towards resistance training around ucd/clonskeagh area or (near) city centre?
Total fitness malahide road isn't too far from me(great gym imo) but without a car i've no realistic way of getting there.

King of Kings

i'm in ALSAA at the airport

It's dirt cheap - 33euro a month.
Open till 10.30 mon - fri and 10pm sat & sun - which is ace as most other gyms close early at weekends and I have no life so sat night training is cool.

Downside is it's small with not a huge selection of stuff but it does seem to have one of everything (almost)

Also apart from mon/tues nights it's fairly qt.

Pass by 2 gyms to get to it (jackie skelly sword andimage fitness studio).
so it must be doing something right.

Also use of sausa , pools etc...there is a bar there too but cos I've no life I haven't been.

darraghw

jsb wrote:

DCU gym. for cardio quite decent. for weights dear god it is crap actully no it is really really really crap. My membership will be up in around the start of october and at that point i will probably look for another gym.

Then again if i could find a reasonably priced bodybuilders/ powerlifter gym around santry drumcondra i would join that and stay with DCU aswell. So if anybody knows any let me know;)

Have you tried to get acces to the sports/elite part, great set of weights there.

Stark

Westpoint is very good gym and it's absolutely great value. It also has a swimming pool, sauna and steam room which adds even more value. I never find it too hectic tbh.

I wish they'd invest in some decent air conditioning though. I don't know how people use the downstairs treadmills, they being right next to the heated swimming pool and all.

Flex

jsb wrote:

DCU gym. for cardio quite decent. for weights dear god it is crap actully no it is really really really crap. My membership will be up in around the start of october and at that point i will probably look for another gym.

Then again if i could find a reasonably priced bodybuilders/ powerlifter gym around santry drumcondra i would join that and stay with DCU aswell. So if anybody knows any let me know;)

Hey jsb, do they let you use the 'elite gym'? I hear thats got very good equiptment, but alas I amnt allowed to use it :mad: lol

Flex

I go to Westpoint. Very good gym in terms of quality of equiptment, its very tidy and well layed out and so on. Great membership price too, and other people who lift there seem like nice people. 3 things I dislike; 1) Not enough free weights which means the place gets crowded very easily 2) Dumbells arnt heavy enough and 3) As someone else already mentioned, they seriously need to improve the air conditioning throughout the gym

justsomebloke

Flex wrote:

Hey jsb, do they let you use the 'elite gym'?

no, why do you think i don't like the DCU gym:D oh i miss the old DCU gym it was small and smelled of sweat but man it so much better

kwalsh000

Theres also that new northwood gym just up from aldi in ballymun/santry. From what ive heard and seen it looks decent..but at 500 a year..either way, if your bored no harm in taking a wander up there. Also santry stadium has a mini gym..just free weights there..not really that busy..none of this cardio machine lark so you if your from the area no harm in checking it out.

vibez

I heard the one in blanch does be chocka block all the time. a friend says that yes its cheap but only for that he would nt be a member. is this true?

My missus got an offer through work to join Alsa (gym beside airport, sorry bout spellin ) 7 euro per wk !!! wat a give away.

Im suprised not to be seen more comments on Total fitness

RPGGAMER

my gym is UL gym in limerick



good gym overall. free weights excellent except for lack of reverse hyper bench

great outdoor facilities too. track and such

its open to membership and public pay as you go which is handy.

cardio is decent too has everything and staff are knowledgeable ( and train hard/competitivly themselves - very unusual in most gyms)

lacks jacuzzi though


can be busy in peak times oct-may.

RPGGAMER

Flex wrote:

Hey jsb, do they let you use the 'elite gym'? I hear thats got very good equiptment, but alas I amnt allowed to use it :mad: lol

HERCS gym in dublin. lurcan street i think.

gazzer

Im also a member of the NAC (since Nov 05) and i think it is a great spot.. I havnt done any of the classes yet but there are plenty of them and nearly all of them are included in the membership.. The only gripe i would have with the place is that they only have the one squat rack and sometimes you can be waiting ages to use it..

vibez

gazzer wrote:

Im also a member of the NAC (since Nov 05) and i think it is a great spot.. I havnt done any of the classes yet but there are plenty of them and nearly all of them are included in the membership.. The only gripe i would have with the place is that they only have the one squat rack and sometimes you can be waiting ages to use it..

Ye your rite bout the squat rack and i find they only have 1 bench you can set the incline on.

My biggest grip is the roid heads who use the weights and dont put them back :mad: :mad: :mad:

vibez

gazzer wrote:

Im also a member of the NAC (since Nov 05) and i think it is a great spot.. I havnt done any of the classes yet but there are plenty of them and nearly all of them are included in the membership.. The only gripe i would have with the place is that they only have the one squat rack and sometimes you can be waiting ages to use it..

Ye your rite bout the squat rack and i find they only have 1 bench you can set the incline on.

My biggest gripe is the roid heads who use the weights and dont put them back :mad: :mad: :mad:

jebuz

Gym in Mount Pleasant Tennis Club

I really like this gym, probably because I'm usually the only one in it. Sometimes there might be 1 or 2 others at most. For such a small gym it has 2 treadmills, 2 bikes, a rower, and all the necessary weight machines and free weights you would need. A nice cold water tap, a tv and a hi-fi system make it all the worthwhile. Its 70 euro for the year but you gotta be a member of the tennis club too. and don't tell anyone about it, its my little secret!

tribulus

kwalsh000 wrote:

Theres also that new northwood gym just up from aldi in ballymun/santry. From what ive heard and seen it looks decent..but at 500 a year..either way, if your bored no harm in taking a wander up there. Also santry stadium has a mini gym..just free weights there..not really that busy..none of this cardio machine lark so you if your from the area no harm in checking it out.

whats the one in santry like weightwise?
Also doesn't the gym in morton belong to clonliffe harriers? Or can you join anyway?

kwalsh000

Ah the northwood one seemed okay, but i have n ot been in it since it opened..was only in it before it was finished fully. But from what ive heard its good weight wise..
The one in santry stadium is open to everyone as far as i know, i was going to start using it so enquired and for a form to fill out. So its not limited to members only

iregk

I'm in west park in Tallaght. I think its a fantastic gym, brand new purpose built building so very bright, spacious and airy with a huge amount of equipment. Even at peak times it doesn't look anywhere near full!

Instructors are bang on which is a big difference to the last time I was a member there when it was above the leisure plex. So many of them then were so far up their own a$$.

Only down side and im nit picking here, the spinning room gets seriously hot, even with air con on. they could do with putting another two conditioners in there.

viper c

Think you are beena bit harsh on JSF, i am a member of the club in greystones and iot is great, huge gym and really helpful staff, have to say i love it. I was a member of the Carlisle gym and hated it, they are cheap but the club is crap......

Chucky the tree

Ah the one post wonder who comes on to defend their gym and also takes the oppurtunity to slag of their direct competition.


honestly, doesnt look suspicious at all...

Flex

jsb wrote:

no, why do you think i don't like the DCU gym:D oh i miss the old DCU gym it was small and smelled of sweat but man it so much better

Aint that the truth. I go to DCU and I couldnt believe it when I went to join up and found out that the 'elite' gym was off limits. Ken Robinson's an idiot

Santa Claus

I'm in Westwood Clontarf and find it pretty good. It's 70 euro a month normally but as I'm in Clontarf rugby club I only pay 50 a month.
There's plenty of machines and free weights so you never realy have to wait around.

Frederick

I go to the UL gym, and its great!!
Totally agree with rpggamer, the free weights section is class, but no reverse hyper thing.
Downside is its a bit small, gets very busy throughout college year

First few weeks of term is crazy, all the newbies out doing the Bi's and 100million crunches, but they usually disappear after a couple of weeks never to be seen again!

As for instructors, its motivating to see them training hard themselves. One of the lads is a competitive powerlifter and I heard recently he holds the national Deadlift record, nice work!

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