Raw versus Sportsco?

celestial

I am in the market for a new gym and will be looking to join a new one in the next week or so.

It's a choice between Raw in Portobello/Sth Richmond Street or Sportsco in Ringsend.

I'm thinking ppl on here are gonna have far more experience with Raw, given the location, but just want to hear experiences of both. My priorities in order of preference:

1. not too busy from 5.30 - 7 p.m.

2. lots of weights and decent amount of space in weights area

3. pool/sauna etc

Have to say Raw looks the business with its massive selection of weights, and looks huge, but interested to hear what ppl think.


Cheers

cojomo2

Are you aware that sportsco dont have a bench press?

They only have a couple of smith machines...

Danye

celestial wrote: »

1. not too busy from 5.30 - 7 p.m.

2. lots of weights and decent amount of space in weights area

3. pool/sauna etc




Cheers

1. It can get very busy, obviously with it been peak time every gym would usually be busy, but I have never really found it to be that busy that it interups your work out.

2. A great selection of weights but I wouldnt say there is a HUGE amount of space.

3. No pool, but there is a small sauna in the mens changing area, not to sure about the women.

It is a good gym do and has a couple of Squat Racks so thats a big plus for me.

I was actually thinking about sportsco myself as it looks very good on their website and the pool would be a big plus, but as the above poster mentioned that they dont have a bench press and if that is the case, more than likely no power rack! So for me thats a big no.

Why dont you drop into Raw one of the days at the time you mentioned for a trial and see how you get on.

celestial

Ah yes! I remember that someone mentioned in another thread that Sportsco has no rack. That's not good at all.

The impression I get is that Raw is more weight-lifter friendly, whereas SportsCo is more an all round leisure centre type place.

Mark6

celestial wrote: »

Ah yes! I remember that someone mentioned in another thread that Sportsco has no rack. That's not good at all.

The impression I get is that Raw is more weight-lifter friendly, whereas SportsCo is more an all round leisure centre type place.

Exactly right Celestial - definitely a leisure centre type place - they don't try to sell it as anything else.
No bench, no squat rack, one bar - steal weights from the Smith machines.Dumbells to 50Kg.
The weights area is small and is quite busy from 5.30 to about 7.30.
Loads of different types of cardio machines.
Pool and leisure suite - I've never used them so can't comment.
Staff are good, place is bright and clean - changing rooms can get crowded though.

Drop in and see for yourself they will be happy to show you around

discombobulate

Member of Raw myself and if its weights your doing then sounds like no comparrison. I'm only using the gym there for cardio at the moment. Doing weights back in my garage for other reasons. Did a weights session there though last tuesday around 8pm.

Seems to be ever improving. More and more racks and plates being added all the time.

Was still quite busy around this time though. Faded off after half 8 so would imagine could get very busy in the weights section around 6pm. They went through a big push for members during the summer and seems to be very packed at times now. Remember having to almost join a queue for a bench at times.

grimloch

discombobulate wrote: »

Remember having to almost join a queue for a bench at times.

This had improved dramatically since the second bench got added.

Yeah Raw gets pretty busy between 5.30 and 7.00 but to be honest it doesn't seem like anywhere is a ghost town at that sort of hour.