Preface: I’m not getting paid to say any of this. This is just my personal experience and opinion about Planet Fitness.
Planet Fitness gets a lot of flack for not being bodybuilder friendly. We’ve all seen the “Not Planet Fitness approved” memes.
But honestly, Planet Fitness is a pretty good gym for most people.
First of all, it’s a low price point. Memberships start at $10 per month. Planet Fitness clubs have enough equipment for the average Joe to get fit.
Every Planet Fitness I’ve been to is clean and has lots of space to move around. The members were respectful and overall my experience training at Planet Fitness was a pleasant one.
Not to mention, there were even a few babes there which is a plus. (It’s proven by bro science that you train harder with women around.)
Depending on your training experience, preferred style of training, and budget, Planet Fitness may or may not be the best gym for you.
In this post we’ll take a look at what Planet Fitness has to offer and if it’s the right choice for you.
Planet Fitness Equipment
I’ve never had an issue with equipment not being available when I needed it at Planet fitness.
Even if the exact piece of equipment was occupied there’s usually a suitable alternative available at that same moment.
There’s at least one or two machines to train each body part and a decent selection of free weights.
There’s also an ocean of workout machines and cardio equipment.
They have a literal phalanx of treadmills, ellipticals, and stair steppers to choose from.
They also have Abs Circuit, full body machine circuits. Which is basically 30 minutes of 10 machines, that gives you a green light when it’s time to move to the next machine. This is cool way to keep up the pace while training.
Plus, there’s plenty of space for calisthenics and stretching.
Planet Fitness Equipment Limitations
There are no olympic barbells. So the big three lifts are out of the question. (No bench press, Squat or deadlift.)
There are no squat racks or deadlift platforms.
Dumbbells only go up to 50 pounds. Curl bars might go up to 60 or 70 pounds.
They have Leg Press for claves and thigh training. You can do split squats, lunges. and still get a solid leg workout.
Planet Fitness has Smith Machines so you can do rows and quasi-deadlifts. Not ideal, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend training this way all the time, but it is effective and works in a pinch.
Overall there’s a lot of equipment and options to choose from. You can get a good chest and arm day workout at Planet Fitness. Aa well as a passible lower body workout.
Planet Fitness Vibe
This is not a hardcore gym at all. In fact they’ve positioned themselves as the anti-meathead gym.
You’ll see all types of people here. They’re all there for the same thing directionally, and that’s to get healthier.
So, you’ll have that in common with them at a baseline.
Benefits of Planet Fitness
It’s a big gym with lots of options. It’s cheap and a good value for the money.
It forces you to be creative if you’re used to training for performance, aesthetics or bodybuilding. It’s a good opportunity to change the tempo of your training. Like focusing on more reps and volume based workouts, rather than heavy weight.
Planet Fitness Black Card Perks
If you want a cushy gym experience opt for the Black Card Membership.
I think it’s $30 per month. (Which is still way cheaper than other gyms).
Black Card gets you amenities like tanning, club lounge access, and hydro massage.
This is what my clubs offered at least. Yours could be different so look into the details.
Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass
This was cool to see. It gives me hope and shows me that this corporation has soul.
Planet Fitness opened their doors to teens and let them train for free all summer.
That’s incredible. Since according to studies many kids and teens feel sad or depressed. (Which is very concerning.)
Working out can help you feel better. So this is a cool initiative that shows Planet Fitness might actually care about peoples’ well being.
Accepting Culture
If you’re nervous about going to a gym, Planet Fitness is a great option because you’ll fit right in.
Plus there’s so much equipment and so much space in these gyms that you never feel cramped or forced into awkward interactions with other gym goers.
Planet Fitness Free Day Pass
Planet Fitness offered a free day pass to check out their clubs.
So, take advantage of this free day and see if the club is a good fit for you. You’ll have to check and see if your club offers this still. But if so it’s a good opportunity to check out the gym.
Planet Fitness Reopenings
Planet Fitness is a corporation and has a responsibility to its clientele. They are cautiously reopening their clubs as COVID restrictions lighten up.
There are over 2,000 Planet Fitness locations so you have to look up your local club’s status.
Should You get a Planet Fitness Membership?
Planet Fitness is a great value for the money.
They have good amenities, locker rooms, showers, tanning, massage, snacks, drinks, and a friendly staff.
If you’re looking for a gym to bodybuild, or for sports performance, there are better options out there.
I’m not getting paid to say any of this. This is just my experience and opinion.
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