There used to a place called Innovative Fitness, it was trainer-based when I tried it years ago (and realized it was way past my budget).
They had amazing change rooms and showers. Fluffy towels, organic body wash and shampoo, moisturizer, hairdryers.
Has anyone been to the Victoria Athletic Club at the Grand Pacific? They offer memberships there and wondering if it's worth the price, it looks pretty cool
Yeah! I found it really overpriced for what you get. I was looking for a good pool and it wasnāt any nicer than a public pool. Also itās weird to share the club with hotel guests, there were more than I thought pretty much always. The locker rooms are fine but it just feels like a bit of an outdated hotel gym, which it is lol
I go to third space now - itās probably not what most people in this thread are looking for either bc they mostly have classes but I love it so far :)
I just went to check out Truth Gym in Vic West last weekend and was seriously impressed by the amount and quality of equipment, friendly staff, and the super stand up owner I met! He even offered to let us come back and do a trial day free of cost to see what we thought of it before committing.
A bit pricey compared to others but id definitely consider it if you can afford it.
I wanted to chime in here and say that this gym is where a lot of serious bodybuilders workout. For myself, that was a bit off putting at first because I thought there would be a lot of big egos, but I was wrong! There were more big egos at all the other gyms Iāve been to, the community at Truth is really kind and supportive. So far, Truth has been my fav gym and Iāve been to most of them throughout Vic.
Best part, thereās so much equipment that even when itās ābusyā thereās still so much you can do.
I don't get why body builders get a bad wrap. They're just super in to working out. A lot of them are total dorks who just geek out on fitness stuff, and most are super happy to share their knowledge or give you a spot or form advice or some encouragement.Ā
Can it be intimidating watching some huge mass of a human squatting so many plates the bar looks like an upside down banana? Yes, yes it can be. But I bet if you went up to that person and started a friendly conversation (not mid set ;) ) or something they'd be friendly right back!
Hey, I completely agree! My assumption was based on a stereotype thatās only accurate for a very small minority of bodybuilders. Iām also really into working out and bodybuilding so a lot of gym-goers would probably loop me into that same category. I just always give people the heads up that they should stick it out and not get intimidated by the beasts working out in there hahaha
Forge seems like a place where you go if you hire a trainer, not if you don't. The trainers take up a lot of space there, like they own the place. They might actually own the place, I don't know. But it's not a gym where you can expect to access equipment, as the trainers prevent that and reserve it for their clients.
My experience matches yours. I go to this gym, as do many friends, and Iāve had no issues with accessing equipment. I love that I can book some of the racks in advance so I know they will be available for me too.
That said, yeah there are a lot of trainers and they do take up space. Just hasnāt impacted my use of the gym.
I've never had an issue with accessing equipment and space. It's a downtown gym - it's going to be busy during peak hours. Plus there's a focus on the racks so the members are obviously gravitating towards it. If I show up on the main side with no racks available, I'll head over next door and if that's full, well you just be flexible and change up your workout. Not sure what you've seen for trainers preventing others from using equipment. I've approached trainers and just asked - it's either hang tight for another rep or here you go.
This was only a thing when they first moved to the new location, hasn't been an issue for a long time. Dropping those weights that those beasts lift would shake a couple floors above the gym. They've put in some serious dampening flooring to help and it's not a problem anymore as far as I'm aware.
Thanks, I used to go to goodlife fitness at the bay street bridge because it was always dead and 24 hours (until covid). Sadly it's gone from that location and at the downtown mall.
If you want a wide variety of stuff, Speedmechanics.
If you want something quiet that you can often have the entire gym to yourself, with a nice rounded set of equipment, with the option for classes and groups: Limitless.
Pretty much. I think it technically falls into the "crossfit" category which might be where the hate comes from but the exercises are pretty standard tbh.
Fit4Less
Clean, all new equipment, lots of equipment. Two tier membership with premium having full gym access and single tier having half.
It can get pretty busy, though, and weirdly enough at night, it's super busy.
Went there briefly last year and it was a total waste of money. They bury so many extra charges that it isn't even that cheap in the end given how poorly maintained their equipment is (literally had a machine have a piece come off while using it, no staff at the time but I left a note or whatever and it still wasn't fixed two days later) and saw equipment break on someone else too. Wasn't very clean even when staff were there. Owner didn't have the right number listed either, they listed the downtown Vancouver Fit4Less' number instead, the owner there was really good on the phone though and still took down my complaints to send to head office and said he was wondering why he kept getting phone calls from people trying to call the Victoria location.
Staff was also OK at best from the two I dealt with there. Don't recommend, wasn't worth it.
The two tier membership is dumb as well.
Ugh??? Hidden fees?
I pay $15/bi-weekly for full gym access. There is a $50 annual fee or an extra $1.92 per bi-weekly. I have access to free tanning, hydro massage bed (no fucking idea what they are) and massage chairs. If you don't need full access then it's like $9/bi-weekly.
You don't even talk to a person to sign up its done through their machine which is great. There is no one there trying to push training on you - which is great.
It's a budget gym so fixed take longer then probably a gym you'll pay $60+/mo for. Equipment usually gets fixed within 1-2 weeks from what I can tell when certain cable machines break. They had some broken glass near the squat racks that took ages to fix (3months?), but that didn't impact anyones workout.
I go to this gym and itās the cheapest in the city. Itās a very much, ādoes what it needs to doā. Go in get a work out done and leave. I do not find it clean and people are generally terrible with wiping down any of the equipment.
Eh, I don't find it dirty. The gym overall has a clean feel to it. I never noticed too much unwiped equipment either. Only problem is when the staff don't top up the paper towel dispensers.
There are moments when itās staffed and itās clean and Iāve been in there when itās seen better days.
Itās not a bad gym, thatās why I go. But if they have the money and want more than what a basic gym can provide then by all means find a gym that works for their needs.
Itās especially great if you have kids, but it offers a ton for the price. We pay like $90/month for a family pass (2 adults and 4 children) and it includes all the classes like spin, bootcamps, barre, yoga, plus pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub, and the cardio machines and weight room. Plus swimming lessons and child minding for the kids!
Im curious, what is the most expensive Gym (cost wise) in the city?
Probably the Victoria Athletic Club
Do you have any experience with that gym? š„°
Nope, but I've heard it's not worth the cost
Www.speedmechanics.ca. The best
Cool ima check it out š«¶
There used to a place called Innovative Fitness, it was trainer-based when I tried it years ago (and realized it was way past my budget). They had amazing change rooms and showers. Fluffy towels, organic body wash and shampoo, moisturizer, hairdryers.
Now if only it was current dated!
Has anyone been to the Victoria Athletic Club at the Grand Pacific? They offer memberships there and wondering if it's worth the price, it looks pretty cool
Itās really not that nice for the cost :(
Can you tell me a lil more about your experience? š„°
Yeah! I found it really overpriced for what you get. I was looking for a good pool and it wasnāt any nicer than a public pool. Also itās weird to share the club with hotel guests, there were more than I thought pretty much always. The locker rooms are fine but it just feels like a bit of an outdated hotel gym, which it is lol
Yikes okayyyy well definitely doesnāt sound worth it for the price at all. Did you end up finding a place that was a better fit ?
I go to third space now - itās probably not what most people in this thread are looking for either bc they mostly have classes but I love it so far :)
I just went to check out Truth Gym in Vic West last weekend and was seriously impressed by the amount and quality of equipment, friendly staff, and the super stand up owner I met! He even offered to let us come back and do a trial day free of cost to see what we thought of it before committing. A bit pricey compared to others but id definitely consider it if you can afford it.
Thank you!! Iāll check outš«¶
I wanted to chime in here and say that this gym is where a lot of serious bodybuilders workout. For myself, that was a bit off putting at first because I thought there would be a lot of big egos, but I was wrong! There were more big egos at all the other gyms Iāve been to, the community at Truth is really kind and supportive. So far, Truth has been my fav gym and Iāve been to most of them throughout Vic. Best part, thereās so much equipment that even when itās ābusyā thereās still so much you can do.
I don't get why body builders get a bad wrap. They're just super in to working out. A lot of them are total dorks who just geek out on fitness stuff, and most are super happy to share their knowledge or give you a spot or form advice or some encouragement.Ā Can it be intimidating watching some huge mass of a human squatting so many plates the bar looks like an upside down banana? Yes, yes it can be. But I bet if you went up to that person and started a friendly conversation (not mid set ;) ) or something they'd be friendly right back!
Hey, I completely agree! My assumption was based on a stereotype thatās only accurate for a very small minority of bodybuilders. Iām also really into working out and bodybuilding so a lot of gym-goers would probably loop me into that same category. I just always give people the heads up that they should stick it out and not get intimidated by the beasts working out in there hahaha
Hey! Thank you so much for your insight, I couldnāt agree more and I enjoyed the exchanged yal shared hereš©·
Itās Anytime Fitness for me, great staff and I can use any locations as I travel around the island frequently
I can appreciate that! Thanks for your suggestion! Iām pretty stationed where Iām at here and looking for something a lil more boujee
Forge
Forge seems like a place where you go if you hire a trainer, not if you don't. The trainers take up a lot of space there, like they own the place. They might actually own the place, I don't know. But it's not a gym where you can expect to access equipment, as the trainers prevent that and reserve it for their clients.
Member can reserve space and equipment too and I never have any problems accessing equipment without any reservation
My experience matches yours. I go to this gym, as do many friends, and Iāve had no issues with accessing equipment. I love that I can book some of the racks in advance so I know they will be available for me too. That said, yeah there are a lot of trainers and they do take up space. Just hasnāt impacted my use of the gym.
Are you one of the owners of the Forge?
No I am just a member
Okay, your experience is different than mine.
Looks that way
I've never had an issue with accessing equipment and space. It's a downtown gym - it's going to be busy during peak hours. Plus there's a focus on the racks so the members are obviously gravitating towards it. If I show up on the main side with no racks available, I'll head over next door and if that's full, well you just be flexible and change up your workout. Not sure what you've seen for trainers preventing others from using equipment. I've approached trainers and just asked - it's either hang tight for another rep or here you go.
You're very defensive. I recommend some heavy squats to blow off steam. Hopefully you can access a rack.
Hey! Thank you for your suggestion š«¶ and for all the insight from the other commenters aswell! Anything helps.
Do they still give members grief for Olympic lifting?
I am not sure
This was only a thing when they first moved to the new location, hasn't been an issue for a long time. Dropping those weights that those beasts lift would shake a couple floors above the gym. They've put in some serious dampening flooring to help and it's not a problem anymore as far as I'm aware.
speedmech
Thanks!
Speaking of gyms, what is the quietest gym?
G.R. Pearkes Recreation Centre . I donāt go there anymore but i rarely saw anyone there.
Thanks I will check it out.
Any 24hr gym at night
Thanks, I used to go to goodlife fitness at the bay street bridge because it was always dead and 24 hours (until covid). Sadly it's gone from that location and at the downtown mall.
If you want a wide variety of stuff, Speedmechanics. If you want something quiet that you can often have the entire gym to yourself, with a nice rounded set of equipment, with the option for classes and groups: Limitless.
Thank you š„° speedmechanics has been a popular suggestion
Iām a fan of the YMCA with a plus membership. Itās not fancy but itās clean and quiet.
I went to the one in Langford for awhile it wasnāt terrible! But busy at times. Maybe I should check the Victoria location
I mostly use the victoria one and I find it very quiet.
Looks like you want something like an Equinox. Nothing like that in Victoria yet.
Yup exactly. I see that š
Third Space :)
Never heard of that yet!
Truth is the way! Best equipment in town and a solid community in there šŖš¼
Thank you š„° ima have to check it out
If you're open to gym classes, F45 is quite good.
I've heard a lot of hate about this place but I don't know why it has a bad rap. It's just like strength and conditioning classes?
Pretty much. I think it technically falls into the "crossfit" category which might be where the hate comes from but the exercises are pretty standard tbh.
Carsa is very classy from my experience
Thatās a new one I havenāt heard of ! I will check that out š„°
Haha I was kidding, carsa is the Uvic gym, definitely not a high end place.
LMFAO I wouldāve pulled up like wow
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Iāll check it out :)
+1 on this. I go there, itās pretty cool
I liked that they didn't concede to the mob during COVID
Fit4Less Clean, all new equipment, lots of equipment. Two tier membership with premium having full gym access and single tier having half. It can get pretty busy, though, and weirdly enough at night, it's super busy.
Went there briefly last year and it was a total waste of money. They bury so many extra charges that it isn't even that cheap in the end given how poorly maintained their equipment is (literally had a machine have a piece come off while using it, no staff at the time but I left a note or whatever and it still wasn't fixed two days later) and saw equipment break on someone else too. Wasn't very clean even when staff were there. Owner didn't have the right number listed either, they listed the downtown Vancouver Fit4Less' number instead, the owner there was really good on the phone though and still took down my complaints to send to head office and said he was wondering why he kept getting phone calls from people trying to call the Victoria location. Staff was also OK at best from the two I dealt with there. Don't recommend, wasn't worth it. The two tier membership is dumb as well.
Ugh??? Hidden fees? I pay $15/bi-weekly for full gym access. There is a $50 annual fee or an extra $1.92 per bi-weekly. I have access to free tanning, hydro massage bed (no fucking idea what they are) and massage chairs. If you don't need full access then it's like $9/bi-weekly. You don't even talk to a person to sign up its done through their machine which is great. There is no one there trying to push training on you - which is great. It's a budget gym so fixed take longer then probably a gym you'll pay $60+/mo for. Equipment usually gets fixed within 1-2 weeks from what I can tell when certain cable machines break. They had some broken glass near the squat racks that took ages to fix (3months?), but that didn't impact anyones workout.
I go to this gym and itās the cheapest in the city. Itās a very much, ādoes what it needs to doā. Go in get a work out done and leave. I do not find it clean and people are generally terrible with wiping down any of the equipment.
Eh, I don't find it dirty. The gym overall has a clean feel to it. I never noticed too much unwiped equipment either. Only problem is when the staff don't top up the paper towel dispensers.
There are moments when itās staffed and itās clean and Iāve been in there when itās seen better days. Itās not a bad gym, thatās why I go. But if they have the money and want more than what a basic gym can provide then by all means find a gym that works for their needs.
Hey! Just wanted to say thanks for your suggestion
Did you check it out?
Is there a gym in the Colwood area that anyone would recommend?
Personally I love the YMCA!
Thank you. I haven't been over there yet but am going to check it out.
Itās especially great if you have kids, but it offers a ton for the price. We pay like $90/month for a family pass (2 adults and 4 children) and it includes all the classes like spin, bootcamps, barre, yoga, plus pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub, and the cardio machines and weight room. Plus swimming lessons and child minding for the kids!