Fitness First Vs Golds Gym Vs Harpers (Fitness First in General)

Member Name: bhayanid

Product:	Fitness First in General
Date:	01/12/08 (416 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Drinks Machine, Good Facilities

Disadvantages: Not Cheap and gets packed during peak hours

This was my second gym after Golds Gym and before my current gym which is Harpers Gym. The reason I originally joined Fitness First was that it was more local than golds gym and I no longer had any use for a swimming pool so did not want to pay the big extra. Fitness First costs me £40 a month and I signed up during a promotion time so did not have to pay a joining fee as long as I signed up initially to a three month contract and paid £120. I thought this was a good deal but looking back at the time I was only able to go gym two or three times a week so it was working out to around £3-5 every time I went. At Golds Gym I was paying £45 a month but I had the added benefit of a swimming pool. Now at Harpers I am paying just £33 a month and get the gym and swimming pool use. So easily Harpers in terms of price is the best deal.

Ok now I can talk about the facilities as I have got the prices out of the way. Bear in mind I am just talking about Fitness First in Harrow but it has all the facilities you would need. Lots of running machines, all the different weight machines and a nice side part to do free weights if thats your thing. Also my favourite part is the seperate small room which has the aerobic balls and what not, so you can do your abs there and stretches and things like that. It is a very slick room. Overall I feel that everything is a bit cramped inside and at certain parts of the day, like the evenings when everyone has finished work and school, it gets very packed. Certain machines you may have to wait a long time as their is a queue for it. This is a testament to how popular Fitness First is. At Harpers, not being as popular a gym, whatever time I go the machines are always free and the most amount of people has only half filled the gym up. This is the reason I prefer Harpers though, so I can do what I want, when I want and not have anyone disturb me to ask how much longer I will be on the machine. I currently go at least 5 times a week and this works out to less then £2 a session. Also I get the added use of a swimming pool.

The great thing about Fitness First is that there is also a drinks machine with lots of different flavours, unlike Golds and Harpers where there is only a water fountain. Overall I do highly recommend Fitness First but suggest that you go during the day or if you work try and go about an hour before it closes when people start to leave. Also, if you are interested in trying out Fitness First then just go to www.fiitnessfirst.co.uk and follow the link there.

Summary: A very good gym, but look elsewhere if money is an issue