Busy-ness quotient
Check out a club during the times you plan to attend. If you're a potential "rush hour" member, pay a visit between 4 and 8 p.m. Are all the machines occupied, with a waiting list to boot? If you're interested in classes, see if they're packed to the hilt. Do they require advance signup? If so, can you deal with that?
Cost
Sticker prices can range anywhere from $10 a month for a recreation center to $150 a month or more for a posh, upper-crust club. Get what you pay for: Make the club justify its price tag. Does the club satisfy your needs? Does it offer amenities like child care, lockers, showers and towel service? Also, watch out for extraneous "initiation" or "activation" fees, some of which can be negotiated up or down depending on how long you commit to the club.
Contracts
As with used-car and cellular-phone contracts, read the fine print! Many clubs will promise you a lower rate if you lock into a contract, but this also limits your flexibility in switching gyms if the need arises. You may want to pay a bit more for a no-strings-attached, one-month membership; if you like it, then commit to a contract. Find out if there's a cancellation fee if you need to break the contract. But make sure you're crystal clear on the terms of the membership and contract before you commit.
Try before you buy
According to exercise physiologist Joe Cannon, MS, CSCS, "Never plunk down your hard earned money on a health club before you've had a chance to kick the tires. While your initial tour of the facility may seem impressive, you will not know the real feel of the club until you've had a chance to use it for yourself." Ask for trial workout passes. Work out at the times you plan to regularly attend so that you can feel out the atmosphere. Talk to current members. Ask them about their experiences with the staff and other members.
Out of town
Some clubs will freeze your membership if you have to leave town for an extended period. Some large chains will not do so because they assume you can just go to any of their branches around the country. Maximize the bang for your buck and ask about a club's policy up front.
Concluded
