19 Best Chicago Gyms

Members at #1 Gym have access to free weights including heavy dumbbells, cable machines, ellipticals, stair climbers, treadmills, and bicycles. Monthly memberships include a free personal training session. A team of personal trainers, including the owner of the gym, train members. There is also a masseuse on staff for in-house massages. The gym is near the Belmont CTA stop.

B & W Gym in Edgewater is a 9,000 square foot strength and conditioning facility. The gym caters to powerlifters with 100 pieces of equipment and over 20,000 lbs. of weight available to members. The gym has sponsored over 100 bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions since it opened in 1978. Martial arts training equipment takes up one-third of the building. B & W provides student membership discounts, and yearly memberships start at $20 per month.

Cheetah Gym Chicago is located in Andersonville and has an assortment of strength and cardio workout machines. Members receive free towel service, wifi in the gym, an assortment of shower products, and free coffee until 10 AM. It holds 50 group classes each week. Members can use the gym’s mobile app to check class schedules, see promotions, and plan workouts. Cheetah prides itself on a community spirit and has raised over $200,000 for local charities.

Chicago Primal Gym in Lakeview primarily offers group training sessions of 10-25 clients with 2-3 coaches, kettlebell training, and functional movement. A free sixty-minute training session is available to new members, and the gym membership comes with a thirty-day, money-back guarantee. The gym takes pride in hosting social events and team competitions. The trainers at Chicago Primal Gym hold certifications from StrongFirst, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Coaching & Training Women Academy (Pre- & Postnatal), and Functional Movement Systems.

Coöp is a fitness community in Chicago focused on a non-judgmental atmosphere and personal training. Programs include high-intensity group classes, semi-private personal training, one-on-one personal training, and a program for people who want to lose fifty pounds or more. A registered dietician is available at the gym for personalized nutritional counseling.

Cross Town Fitness holds over one hundred group fitness sessions every week at its locations in West Loop and on the North Side. Available classes include high-intensity interval training, TRX training, aerobics, yoga, and even stand-up paddle boarding. The gym offers corporate wellness programs, personal training, and child care at both locations. Members eat locally-sourced meals at the café inside the gym which offers gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Edgewater Athletic Club offers monthly and yearly memberships with no initiation fee. Located in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago, the gym includes a cardio room, weight room, and swimming pool. Personal training classes cost $50-70 depending upon the package. Group fitness classes are available daily for members, as well as swimming classes. An onsite dietitian counsels members in nutrition programs for a fee.

Fit Pro West offers gym memberships and personal training in the West Loop of Chicago. It allows independent personal trainers to train their clients for a fee. Trainer profiles listed on the gym’s website show that some of the trainers hold certifications from various programs.

Logan Square Fitness is a Chicago gym that has cardio and free weight workout equipment for its members. The gym holds classes daily which include yoga, pilates, boxing, high-intensity interval training, and Barre. The gym opened in Logan Square in 2014.

Ravenswood Fitness Center is a Chicago gym that offers memberships at varying rates for twenty-four months, twelve months, or month-to-month payment plans. It has cardio, weight, and TRX equipment available to members. Group fitness classes are free with the gym membership and include cycling, yoga, Barre, and Zumba. Personal training programs are available for an additional fee.

River North Gym is located on the ninth floor of the Merchandise Mart in River North. Regular membership includes unlimited group fitness classes, two personal training sessions, and three group personal training sessions. The gym also offers corporate wellness programs, which can include biometric screenings, health education programs, and incentive programs. Certified personal trainers conduct small group and individual sessions at River North Gym. Members can choose from forty group classes per week.

Established in 2012, South Loop Strength & Conditioning in Chicago, Illinois, is the home of South Loop CrossFit. This CrossFit-based gym also offers weightlifting programs, nutritional coaching, and personal training. CrossFit programs are available, with new, intermediate, and advanced classes offered. Group classes are available, or members can opt for one-on-one personal training with a licensed professional. Each new member receives a consultation with a coach to determine goals and create a training program based on individual needs.

South Port Fitness is a Chicago gym that has cardio and free weight workout equipment for its members. The gym holds classes daily which include yoga, pilates, boxing, high-intensity interval training, and barre. The gym offers personal training for an additional fee.

Southside Knockout is a martial arts training center in Southside, Chicago, focused on weight-loss. Instructors lead workouts in boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu. “K.O. Bootcamps” combine movements from multiple martial arts with agility training. Client testimonials show fat-loss success stories, including two contestants from NBC’s “Biggest Loser.” The gym offers a free trial at its Southside location and workout videos available by subscription online.

The Foundry is a gym in downtown Chicago, Illinois, that helps busy professionals become attain better health and fitness. Opened in 2011, it offers group classes, personal training, nutrition coaching, and physical therapy. Members receive a customized plan to help them reach their goals.

Urban Athlete in Ravenswood specializes in group fitness classes. It houses a variety of hard-to-find equipment such as kettlebells, weighted sleds, giant tires, and climbing ropes. Memberships are sold on a weekly basis, and even the lowest membership tiers can attend group training classes. Higher priced memberships include semi-private and private training. All the trainers are certified, and some have over 10 years of experience.

USA Gym in Bridgeview is recognized as one of the best hardcore gyms in North America. Their personal trainers specialize in bodybuilding contest preparation. Students and firefighters receive discounts on their membership. The owner, a professional bodybuilder and gym owner for over 25 years, offers consulting services to people who want to start their own gym. Members can use the gym’s tanning bed and receive nutritional counseling.

V-Tone Fitness is a family owned and operated gym in Roger’s Park. It has cardio equipment, strength machines, free weights, and core training equipment available to its members. Certified personal trainers are available for an additional fee. V-Tone has a bike shop to repair and upgrade bicycles at the gym. Some group classes are available to members.

Wicker Park Fitness is a Chicago gym that has cardio and free weight workout equipment for its members. The gym holds classes daily which include yoga, pilates, boxing, high-intensity interval training, and barre. The gym offers personal training for an additional fee. Customer reviews featured in Time Out Chicago and Yahoo! Sports state that the gym is consistently clean and affordable.