Choosing A Strength Gym

When you’re not working out at the best strength gym in Tucson, (the Beast Strong Powerhouse), you may need some guidance on how to pick a gym for strength.

There are a lot of gyms out there, and if you’re serious about maintaining your training schedule, you will want to find a gym that will have the equipment you need to stay on track. Gyms are becoming increasingly specialized to cater to different needs and interests, so look for the following clues if you want a serious gym to build strength.

Full rack of 95+ pound dumbbells located at Beast Strong Powerhouse East.

1. Check Out the Rack (the Dumbbell Rack)

Here, size matters, and we’re not looking for quantity, we are looking for girth. A serious strength gym will have dumbbells that will exceed the 150-pound level. If you are scoping out a gym in an area you’re traveling to, shoot off an email or an Instagram message and ask them how heavy their largest dumbbell is, and that will give you a clue. If it’s 50 lbs? Keep looking.

I spy with my little eye, barbells aplenty

2. Specialty Equipment

If your programming requires buffalo bars, cambered bars, or (gasp) an actual deadlift bar for deadlifting, you're going to want to make sure that those specialty pieces are there at the gym you're visiting. (Yes, for some gyms, a deadlift bar is a specialty piece.) The quality of the bars is important. You want good brands like Texas, Westside, Kabuki, etc. Not cheap chrome-plated stuff that can't handle the weights you're moving.

Take a look around at the photos of their gyms. If they do happen to have those bars, do they have space to use them? How many platforms do they have? How many racks and benches? What about actual competition-style racks? Some smaller garage gyms will only have one or two, but if there are none? Keep looking.

Finally, do they have kilo plates available? It's not a necessity, but kilo plates are a clue that indicates they likely have competition-level lifters using that facility and it's worth taking a look at.

Chains, chalk, collars, clips, deadlift bar jack, belts. All things that make lifting better and easier, available for use

3. Chalk, Bands, Chains

If you're traveling light, you're just using a carry-on, you may not be able to bring your own belt, bands, Slingshot, and chalk. Maybe you check a bag just for that stuff, in which case, kudos to you.

But if not, ask around. Does the gym have chalk available? Are there belts for patrons to use? What about chains? How can you get that accommodating resistance action going if you don't have some good heavy chains to get. those. gains?

If you see this stuff running around the social media photos of the gym you’re looking into, then you may have hit the mother lode of strength training gyms.

4. Check the Schedule

If you're traveling, you're probably going to have to fit training in around the original reasons for your travel, so a gym that's available when you are is essential. Some gyms have limited hours, and others are open to classes only even if they are well-appointed with quality equipment.

We understand this struggle which is why Beast Strong Powerhouse is a 24/7 gym, that is ready when you are. If you do find a 24/7 gym like us though, reach out in advance and make sure you can gain access to the facility. A little planning will go a long way here, so reach out and ask the hard questions.

Of course, if you’re visiting from out of town or you’re looking to upgrade to a real strength-building gym, call or text us at 520-833-8045, and we will get you set up! You can also learn more about our training and membership options here.