Sport & Health v. Golds Gym

Hi there. Has anyone had memberships at at Sport & Health and Golds that can speak to whether one is better than the other? I've been curious for a while whether it would be worth changing - I currently have a Sport & Health membership. I have kids that would go to the Kids Club (and not really impressed with the Kids Club there) so that is definitely a consideration. I'm not completely unhappy where I am, just wondering if there is better to be had.

 

I have been a member at both. First, I was a member at S&H in Brambleton and now I am a member at Golds. Here are my thoughts. Both are nice clubs. Both have plenty of fitness classes and good equipment. SH rate was higher than Golds. The pool at SH is about the same as Golds. However, SH had an outdoor pool (which I never used). Golds has an indoor lap pool and a separate shallow pool (kids pool?) with basketball hoop and area for kids to play. SH is not 24 hours, but neither is Golds. Golds does have a 24 hour section with all the equipment you would need for a 1am workout . Golds is also open until midnight, I believe. Neither has towels. The showers are a little nicer at SH, but the locker rooms are virtually the same. You need to bring your own lock to Golds. Golds has a steam room and sauna. Whereas, SH has a sauna only. As far as equipment, both have good up-to-date equipment. I like the Lifefitness treadmills. Not all of Golds treadmills have monitors, but many do (and I've never had a problem getting one with a TV). Both have the Kids Club. SH has TVs that have closed circuit TV to the daycare. I usually did not watch my kids on the monitor at SH anyway. Golds does not have closed circuit monitoring to the Kids Club. The Kids Club at Golds costs extra. I don't remember how much. Golds has a full size basketball court. I think SH was bigger, but not noticeable. Golds has certain fitness equipment that SH does not have. For example, Golds has punching bag, speed bag, and boxing equip. SH seems to have more kids (high school). I think because is so close to Briar Woods High School, the basketball teams, volleyball teams, etc. seem to use it (maybe at a discount). I'm not a bodybuilder (or even very big) and at first I was a little intimidated at Golds (using the free weights), but after I saw that there are truly a variety of people there (large, small, old, young), I feel perfectly comfortable. I am not a gym rat, so I usually do my 1 or 1.5 hour workout and leave. Golds has everything that I need. My insurance covers the cost of Golds, so that was my reason for switching from SH, which was not covered. The Blue Cross plan is now $25 month at Golds (if you have BCBS, you may want to consider). Golds is all one level, whereas SH has two. I noticed tanning booths at Golds, but have never used them, so I can't comment. That's all I can remember right now. Hope that helps.

 

Could you clarify your comment for me? I'm reading that there is a 24 hour section and another section that closes at midnight? Just want to make sure because I'd actually be there at 1am!

Thanks!!

 

Golds is open from 4am - 11pm. Weekend hours are different. On the backside of the building is the door to the 24 hr section. Free weights, machines, bikes, treadmills. Basically everything except the pool, the basketball court, the pool, the locker rooms. There are small lockers in the 24 hour section and if I recall correctly (only went once) the bathroom on the 24hr side does have one shower.

Golds doesn't provide towels for showering but they do provide little towels for wiping your sweat and for cleaning off the machines. In a pinch you could probably use 3 or 4 of those to towel off after your shower.

As for the Golds Kids club, it's $20 a month per kid if you want to add them to your plan. You can add them and remove them at any point, you're not committed on contract. Drop ins are $7.50 per kid.

 

In regards to the rates for the kids club, I'm pretty sure the first child is $20 and each child thereafter is $5. Just thought I'd add in case this makes or breaks the decision
One additional positive thing to note, the GM at Golds is really great. He is always there, always has a smile on his face and is always willing to try and fix a problem or issue that arises. We've been members of many gyms over the past 20 years and never encountered someone like him.
I can't comment on S&H. Wouldn't think about changing gyms now as we are so happy at Golds! Good luck with your decision!

 

I didn't know BCBS covers the Gold's gym fees.... that's something I need to consider switching.

 

http://www.fepblue.org/news/benefitsandservices/affordable-healthclub-memberships.jsp

Here is the complete list:

http://www.blue-365.com/refused.html

Hope it works out for you!!

 

Thanks for all of the feedback. The pricing of the kids club is definitely a consideration - I have 3 kids, so if it really is $60 more a month, that is a total deal breaker. $30 is a little easier to deal with!

 

Charmed1, try a week pass at Golds. You're not the first person I've heard of that has had some issues with S&H kids club. Try Golds and see what you think!

 

I was a member at both SH and Golds, and truly enjoy Gold's gym MUCH better! Better hours and a bigger space to work out, more machines and more weights. Oh and the movie cinema was a huge selling point for me and I use it regularly! I don't have any young kids that would use the child care services, but my teenagers love working out there!

 

My daughter doesn't like the kids club at S&H at all...she loves...absolutely loves the Kids area in LTF and even enjoys the rock climbing area along with the awesome swimming pool there with its two different slides that they have. The kids area at LTF is more interactive has more activities involved than S&H. The kids area at S&H in my opinion is way too small. Golds activities are somewhat limited. LTF is more expansive in my opinion...and the indoor swimming pool for the younger kids is much better than the one at S&H. Golds has a good sized pool for the kids but she likes the one at LTF better.... Just my .02 here.

 

I've been a member at both and they are both nice facilities. Most of the relevant commentary has been covered here. There is definitely a benefit to having the 24hr section at Gold's if you work out early or late, but that isn't a big deal to a lot of folks. As someone who spends 3/4 of their time in the gym lifting weights it comes down to two things, in my opinion...

1) The layout of sport and health is problematic as there are often families with children making their way though the primary weight lifting areas to get to the pool(s). This was particularly bad during times where group lessons occurred and there was steady stream of people flowing through the free weight areas. It was distracting at best and unsafe at worst.

2) For the size of the facility, Sport and Health has a surprisingly small number of machines and free weight equipment in terms of both total number and diversity. To put this into context, I feel the 24hr section at Gold's has as much or more to offer than the entire S&H gym in that regard. Keep in mind the 24hr section is not quite 1/2 the size of the regular weight lifting area, so you have a materially larger weight lifting facility at Gold's. It isn't even close.

With that in mind, if you are planning to take classes and use cardio equipment, I'd look at the schedule, kids club, and your need for an outdoor pool and make a call based on your preferences and cost. But if you regularly lift weights, especially free weights, Gold's is the place to be. And, generally speaking, WITHOUT a bunch of grunting, yelling, weight-throwing types you sometimes find at the gym.