The range of services and facilities provided by gyms has expanded considerably over the years. If you walked into a gym in any city across the US a decade or two ago, you would have expected to have been met with plenty of treadmills and a well-equipped free weight section. 

Fast forward to today, where not only are gyms packed with state-of-the-art modern machines, but their offering have also expanded in terms of the classes that they offer. On top of that, many gyms can be found with luxuries such as saunas, steam rooms and cafes on site.

The most suitable gym for you will ultimately be determined by your fitness goals, interests and respective search criteria. However, there are a number of frontrunners across the city of Chicago that have become extremely popular because of the quality of services they offer.

The aim of this article is to walk you through some of the best gyms across the city of Chicago so that you can make a more informed decision when it comes to signing up for that membership!

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Ludo
5
5 (19 avis)
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$40
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1st lesson free!
Beccalynn
5
5 (6 avis)
Beccalynn
$50
/h
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1st lesson free!
Jonathan
5
5 (11 avis)
Jonathan
$60
/h
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1st lesson free!
Tara
5
5 (6 avis)
Tara
$85
/h
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1st lesson free!
Yana
5
5 (14 avis)
Yana
$70
/h
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1st lesson free!
Eftychia
5
5 (5 avis)
Eftychia
$77
/h
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1st lesson free!
Craig
5
5 (19 avis)
Craig
$60
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1st lesson free!
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Equinox Gold Coast

There are few chains that manage to whittle their way to the top of the list in every city they open quite like Equinox. The Gold Coast branch is located on the Magnificent Mile so it’s more than accessible for anyone in the city of Chicago. Despite it’s central location, the gym provides a 30,000-square-foot luxury fitness experience!

Of course, when you’re on the hunt for a new gym, equipment is going to be at the forefront of your concerns. One of the features that members of this Equinox branch get to enjoy is a junior-size Olympic pool that is even put to use in some of the aquatic fitness classes conducted at the gym.

A personal trainer working with his client on the gym floor.
A personal trainer will ensure that you are able to do your exercises with the correct form. Photo by Pixabay

Of course, as you might expect from the luxury experience that has become expected from any Equinox branch, you’ll find plenty of amenities to aid your post-workout recovery. There is no better motivator than having a eucalyptus steam room, spa and sauna to retreat to once all the hard work is done. 

So, putting yourself through the many fitness classes offered, such as their Precision Ride, Sculpted Yoga™, Best Butt Ever or MetCon3, becomes all the more attainable with such a rewarding end goal in mind!

If all this sounds good to you, then you’ll likely find yourself a little curious about the membership options that are available to you.

For starters, regardless of what membership tier you subscribe to, you’ll have access to in-club and digital classes, as well as the EQX+ app. Upon starting out, you’ll also have a personal training session to avail of completely free of charge which offers members some guidance to get their training off on the right foot!

By training at one of the best gyms in Houston, you’ll have an easier time meeting whatever fitness goals you’ve tasked yourself with achieving.

Chicago Athletic Clubs

Another gym that you will likely find among the highest and most rated on Google Maps are the Chicago Athletic Clubs which actually operate out of seven well-placed facilties across the city.

Nobody wants to have to spend more time commuting to their workouts than they spend in the actual gym for the duration of their workout.

That’s why proximity is such an important factor among avid gym goers, and with locations spread across Bucktown, Evanston, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, West Loop, and Wicker Park, you’ll have little difficulty finding a branch near you!

A gym member is working towards his fitness goals with some lunges
Photo from Shotpot

On top of that, the spread of locations also makes it easier to get a workout if you are out and about traveling within the city, helping you fit your workouts more seamlessly into your lifestyle.

If you were to stand outside of any of the branches across the city and survey members walking in or out of the gym about what makes it one of the best gyms in Chicago, you’d likely hear a lot about the facilities and equipment. 

That’s because, at many of the locations, there are lap pools, functional training areas with green turf, and state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment that make training fresh and enjoyable. 

Then, those who participate in the many classes that are offered across the branches will also attest to the quality and inclusivity of these group sessions. BODYPUMP, Zumba, yoga, and cycling are just some of the classes favorited across Chicago Athletic Clubs.

Discover the crème de la crème of fitness at the best gyms in LA, where excellence is the standard and options abound.

FFC Fitness Centers

The next gym that we’re going to take a look at here in the windy city is the FFC Fitness Centers, which have become immensely popular among those whose fitness goals revolve around cardio, strength training and functional fitness.

As you might have hoped, the gym is stacked with treadmills, ellipticals and stair masters, giving you plenty of options when it comes to working up a sweat. Members also have functional training spaces and designated free-weight sections of the gyms to take full advantage of in their training.

Given that this sort of training utilizes some of the most commonly used pieces of equipment, such as barbells, dumbbells and treadmills, their well-stocked gym floors ensure that you won’t have to wait around before getting to the exercise you’re looking to do next.

What you can expect on your first visit at FFC Fitness Centers.

Fitness enthusiasts expect more from their gyms in today’s day and age than ever before, and in order to be in contention for the best gym in Chicago, you can bet that you’ll need to provide a long list of services to members.

So, if you’re looking for something to help spice up your training and get away from trying the same thing each time you step foot on the gym floor, then you can try your hand at their boxing, yoga, spin, HIIT, Formula 94, LOADED, and Chisel classes.

Weekly Classes
300

FFC provides over 300 classes weekly across its network. 

One thing that sets this gym apart from others, even on a list of the city’s best, is the specialized personal training that is offered across weight management, sport-specific training, and post-rehabilitation. 

The best Personal coaching tutors available
Ludo
5
5 (19 avis)
Ludo
$40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Beccalynn
5
5 (6 avis)
Beccalynn
$50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Jonathan
5
5 (11 avis)
Jonathan
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Tara
5
5 (6 avis)
Tara
$85
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Yana
5
5 (14 avis)
Yana
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Eftychia
5
5 (5 avis)
Eftychia
$77
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Craig
5
5 (19 avis)
Craig
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Christiaan
4.9
4.9 (4 avis)
Christiaan
$30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Ludo
5
5 (19 avis)
Ludo
$40
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Beccalynn
5
5 (6 avis)
Beccalynn
$50
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Jonathan
5
5 (11 avis)
Jonathan
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Tara
5
5 (6 avis)
Tara
$85
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Yana
5
5 (14 avis)
Yana
$70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Eftychia
5
5 (5 avis)
Eftychia
$77
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Craig
5
5 (19 avis)
Craig
$60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Christiaan
4.9
4.9 (4 avis)
Christiaan
$30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
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Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness stands out among Chicago gyms for its welcoming atmosphere. You'll find a Judgment Free Zone™ that caters to all fitness levels, especially beginners.

The gym offers free fitness training with certified trainers who can show you around and provide instruction on cardio and strength machines. This support helps you get started and feel comfortable in the gym environment.

Take a look at Planet Fitness memberships.

If you're looking for affordable gyms in Chicago, Planet Fitness has you covered. Their Classic membership starts at just $10 a month, giving you unlimited access to your home club.

For those wanting more perks, the PF Black Card® membership offers additional benefits like access to any Planet Fitness worldwide and the ability to bring a guest.

At Planet Fitness, you'll have access to a wide range of cardio equipment to get your heart pumping. From treadmills and ellipticals to stationary bikes, there's something for every preference. The gym also provides strength training options with various machines designed to target specific muscle groups, helping you build a well-rounded fitness routine.

Embark on a tour of the best gyms in NYC, where each facility offers a unique flavor of fitness to tantalize your workout taste buds.

CrossTown Fitness

If you are somebody who prefers to apply themselves to a fitness endeavour where you’ll be able to better gauge your performance and improvements, then functional fitness is going to be for you, and CrossTown is going to be the best gym for your journey!

Chicago natives have flocked to CrossTown in numbers for the scalable workouts they provide, combining cardio and strength training so that you waste no time getting in better shape. 

The gym provides a variety of drills that focus on endurance, stamina, and balance, and you can get involved with them alongside other members.

For many, the community far exceeds what you might expect to find at other gyms, given that you’ll be working out alongside others and pushing them to achieve similar goals to yourself!

A group of women participating in one of the free classes that are offered with their gym memberships.
Photo from Shkrabaanthony

When it comes to staying consistent with your efforts in the long run, keeping your fitness routine exciting and challenging is going to be essential. One of the great things about Crosstown is that the class provided are always different, so that’s one thing you won't have to worry about as a member! 

Unlike other gyms in its niche, Crosstown provides classes for smaller numbers, giving its members better value for money along with more personalized attention from their certified trainers. 

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Membership

The 30-minute high-intensity strength training sessions you can expect from CrossTown target your whole body, and their instructors will demonstrate the exercises at each station before you get started!

If you think about how daunting it can be to step into a new gym for the first time, this adds to the appeal of Crosstown, making it an accessible and inclusive environment to get your progress underway.

If you're looking for the right gym for you, looking at the best gyms across America is a great place to start your search!

LifeTime Fitness

The expression ‘last but not least’ has never held so much weight as we wrap up our shortlist of the best gyms in Chicago; we finally get around to talking about LifeTime Fitness.

Life Time Fitness Facility
126,000 sq ft

What better way to drag yourself to the gym than knowing that once you’ve executed your workout, you can kick back and see Chicago from the gym’s rooftop pool? This facility is popular among its members and is perfect for post-workout relaxation or getting some laps in!

Many gyms can feel like you're stepping into a cave for the duration of your workout, but LifeTime Fitness certainly makes the most of their location, giving plenty of natural light!

A personal trainer working closely with one of her clients, helping her to accomplish her goals
Working with an experienced trainer will ensure that your training aligns with your fitness goals. Photo by Tsquared Lab

The gym is a great option for fit families, too, with plenty of family-friendly programs and a Kids Academy that offers care and activities for children from 3 months to 11 years old, while the parents get to focus on working towards their goals on the gym floor. 

Given that fitness often gets thrown to one side when you’ve got little ones to look after, this is a service that is more than appreciated by many of its members.

Another attractive aspect that sets the gym apart from other gyms that you might have on your shortlist of prospect options is the cutting-edge recovery treatments that are available, like NormaTec® Compression, Hydromassage, and Hyperice® Vibration Therapy. 

These are great facilities that can help you recover between your training sessions without missing a beat in your work, family or social lives outside of the gym.

Using Superprof to Find a Local Trainer

If you feel like there is value in having an experienced personal trainer by your side for weekly or monthly personal training sessions or check-ins, then you might want to turn to Superprof for a seamless search process.

The platform has a stringent vetting process that screens the personal trainers who sign up and list their services. This gives you a stamp of assurance that the trainer that you come across will have been validated for their respective qualifications and experience.

You can also look at reviews that have been left by past clients to get a sense of their training style. This will give you a sense of whether or not they are the best option to help you achieve your respective fitness goals.

To get started, all you have to do is head over to the Supeprof homepage, type personal training alongside Chicago and begin sorting through the list of experienced mentors!

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Samuel

University teaching Assistant in Business Strategy, Statistics, Economics and Project management. My interests include reading, live music, chess and travel.