Fitness 4 Less

I’ve been a member for a year now and have mixed feelings about this gym. To summarize, if you’re looking for a small, family-​style gym and don’t care about new or innovative equipment, this gym is for you. The classes are excellent and the staff is pretty good, which is the main thing that keeps me there. But the equipment is always broken, it’s overcrowded and usually way too hot (especially in summer months or beginning of spring).
Considering all the competition in the area, like the brand spanking new LA Fitness on Route 1, I’d really like to see improvements here but that is doubtful since they can barely afford a decent sign out front. Your best bet is to go in mornings and afternoons on the weekdays, and evenings on weekends or else it’s way too crowded.
Pros:
–Location is great, right off of 197 by 2915/​BW Parkway.
–Staff is friendly and usually pretty helpful.
–Classes are phenomenal. Especially Lisa’s spin class, Marie’s Butt & Gut/​Cut classes (step aerobics and weights) and Monife’s yoga class. You will get a great workout and good motivation!
–Feels like a family environment. Kinda like Cheers, where everyone knows your name.
–They do events and have reggae DJ’s sometimes, which is really cool.
–Low monthly price.
–You can visit their other locations in Bowie and Crofton with the $ 19.95/month membership.
Cons:
–It is often unbearably hot. The weather just broke early in March and the temperature inside was warmer than the 80 degrees outside, and all they offer is a couple fans here and there. Everyone was complaining about how unacceptable this is!
–The same 2 elliptical and treadmill have been broken for several months. They rarely make repairs or fix machines and equipment, they just stick a sign on there saying «out of order».
–Way too crowded in such a small space for you to enjoy your workout. During peak hours and Saturday mornings, every single treadmill and elliptical is taken, and it’s a fight to use the weight machines. Yet they are still constantly accepting new members and not adding more equipment or even fixing broken equipment.
–Classes fill up very quickly and often there is no room or equipment for everyone, especially in spin class where 4 bikes are currently out so only 6 – 7 people can participate. Make sure to come 30 minutes early and grab a card (especially on a Saturday).
–Not very clean. They may mop daily but you can tell there is no deep cleaning done or attention to detail, which I believe is only hygienic in an unsanitary place like a gym where people are sweating profusely.
–Membership joining cost is a little high plus they charge a semiannual maintenance fee (yet don’t use it to improve the gym). Plus they make you sign a contract. Other gyms like Bally’s have way better plans and lack contracts.