GTA Hardcore Gym Reviews

[K-Max]

While preparing to find options to best do the starting strength program and for my curiosity, I visited a few of the hardcore gyms in T.O and Mississauga. Just brief opinions if anyone is interested.

http://www.kmaxwell.ca/2012/05/14/5-toronto-area-hardcore-gyms-mini-reviews-and-starting-strength/

[fmrdh]

Any Gold's Gym I've ever been to has been real good.

New one opening up in Vaughan

COMING SOON!
7700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON
Highway 7 & Keele Street
1.905.738.4747

[Sean Summers]

I would have to agree with K-Max on some of the gyms listed in his piece....

Fitness 365 - hardcore - too bad it really hasn't changed much since it was Arnold's Gym, then Monster Gym...etc.

Fitness Fanatix - not too bad. I always thought it was in a weird location but what the hell....it still has it a non-commercial feel to it.

You missed the most hardcore gym of them all - Anvil. This is where all the serious powerlifters go - based out of a garage and you have to call ahead to make sure there aren't going to be too many guys there when you want to go....does it get any more hardcore than that???

[K-Max]

I heard about Anvil, but couldn't find an address or webpage. Though that might be too hardcore for me. LOL. Mind you, Google and Apple were built in Garages.

[Sean Summers]

Oh yeah and I almost forgot...

Venice Gym in Scarborough is pretty good also.

I've never been to Frog's Gym but I think I might check that one out in the near future.

[SuperQT]

I would have to agree with K-Max on some of the gyms listed in his piece....

Fitness 365 - hardcore - too bad it really hasn't changed much since it was Arnold's Gym, then Monster Gym...etc.

Fitness Fanatix - not too bad. I always thought it was in a weird location but what the hell....it still has it a non-commercial feel to it.

You missed the most hardcore gym of them all - Anvil. This is where all the serious powerlifters go - based out of a garage and you have to call ahead to make sure there aren't going to be too many guys there when you want to go....does it get any more hardcore than that???

Agreed about 365 I first went there when it was Monster pretty much the same equipment over the last 10 years I'd guess.

Fanatix location sucks or I would probably go there more. They also owns Vision which is my home gym for over 2 years it could use some more hammers less old school nautilus’s IMO but overall dam good gym, not many places will let you use chalk. I really like the new manager of the gym nice guy doing a lot to bring more to the place and not jacking the price which is nice.

Last gym was System Fitness loved that gym it had amazing hammers and for the big boys it was good to DB's went up to 180 I believe but before I moved they took them away do to complaints. It could haves used another step mill also being where it's located it was always a pain to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Right around the season change it would be like going into the amazon jungle or if the A/C was busted which happened often.

True hardcore gym is Mack's but it’s closed now. I only went a few times with my old training partner nothing fancy at all but a lot of nostalgia to the place.

New Generations in Newmarket was pretty decent gym IMO as well a ton of free weights not much cardio equipment from what I can recall been a good 7 years since I was there.

[Sean Summers]

Oh yeah I forgot System - good hardcore gym (at least it was when Darren Oliver worked there) but limited/pay parking.

[SuperQT]

Oh yeah I forgot System - good hardcore gym (at least it was when Darren Oliver worked there) but limited/pay parking.

Exactly why I stopped working out there when I moved from walking distance parking drove me nuts.

[Sean Summers]

It is on the subway line though...
Sucked for me as I drive everywhere so I would have to look around for parking to train with Darren. Geez I miss that guy!

365 is just off the 401. Easy drive. Parking is not too bad.

Yep, I agree with you on Finatix - really weird location.
Venice has parking available.

[#8]

you all missed the most hardcore of the bunch. liberty village goodlife.

I actually watched a guy load up 405 on the squat bar and do a 3 inch ROM squat for several reps! Does it get any more hardcore than that?!?!?!?!

[SuperQT]

It is on the subway line though...
Sucked for me as I drive everywhere so I would have to look around for parking to train with Darren. Geez I miss that guy!

365 is just off the 401. Easy drive. Parking is not too bad.

Yep, I agree with you on Finatix - really weird location.
Venice has parking available.

Yeah I regret the fact I never trained with him really nice guy.

365 is on my way to and from work but I hate getting ready in a gym bathroom when I can get ready at home. Also when I would go there right after work it was always busy.

At least now with Vision I have figured out a split that opposite to what most people are doing so I rarely wait for anything. I do arms on Friday which can be a joke cause there is a ton of shore rejects in there getting there pump on before the club.


you all missed the most hardcore of the bunch. liberty village goodlife.

I actually watched a guy load up 405 on the squat bar and do a 3 inch ROM squat for several reps! Does it get any more hardcore than that?!?!?!?!

LMAO one of my friends will not train at libirty do to all the cruising going on in the mens locker room. I think most chain gyms in the city have that problem before Bally's went out of business I worked out there my training partner at the time was not a happy camper if he had to use the mens locker room.

[K-Max]

Er--- Cruising?

(The K-Max has no idea of this term.)

[SuperQT]

Er--- Cruising?

(The K-Max has no idea of this term.)

cruising
a : to search (as in public places) for a sexual partner. b: to go about the streets at random but on the lookout for possible developments.
a: Let's go cruising the streets for a sex partner.
b :The cabdriver cruised for an hour before being hailed.

In the gay community it's not the streets as much as men's locker rooms in health clubs or so I have been told. One of my friends has had me in tears I was laughing so hard telling me about the goodlife locker room behaviour he's seen through out GTA gyms but by far the worst in the downtown core.

[K-Max]

Ah ok. I'm surprised to hear about about the Liberty Village one is infamous for that. I haven't worked out at that one, but isn't it very coed oriented? The Yorkville one at Bloor/Yonge I think has has it way more as it's the closest one to the Church/Wessley community.

[SuperQT]

Ah ok. I'm surprised to hear about about the Liberty Village one is infamous for that. I haven't worked out at that one, but isn't it very coed oriented? The Yorkville one at Bloor/Yonge I think has has it way more as it's the closest one to the Church/Wessley community.

Yeah that was a sports clubs of Canada before it was a good life I trained there a few times. For a girl it's not really an issue they are nice to look at and they are not gawking at me LOL The Bally's I went to the most was at Bay and Bloor it's now Extreme. I know my training partner got approached more than once in the looker room and he's pretty much the straightest looking man alive. I think it might be challange to see if they can turn people. I dunno.

[K-Max]

A popular guy he must be. Just sayin' ;)

I guess for some, it doesn't hurt to attempt that. It's like the same thing as getting people interested in what you're interested in.

[LostSomewhere]

I have seen things in the Liberty Village goodlife gyms... like 2 guys coming out naked of the same shower stalls... Not joking.

[LostSomewhere]

Totally agree. I've seen dudes hooking up many times in Goodlife locker rooms. Example: two dudes coming out of the same shower stall with smiles on their faces. True story. I'm sure people do it in saunas and showers stalls all the time.

[cog]

A popular guy he must be. Just sayin' ;)

I guess for some, it doesn't hurt to attempt that. It's like the same thing as getting people interested in what you're interested in.

Not really.If somebody was interested there are plenty of clubs in that area.A gym is for working out,not working things out.:)