The Green Microgym-Belmont

I enjoy this gym a lot. Although it is small for a gym, it does not feel cramped at all. The gym has dumbbells up to 80 pounds, 4 Olympic barbells and many weight plates; various strength and cardio machines; a squat rack; bands; and a few other exercise equipment.

I have eleventy-​million check-​ins here, about time I wrote a review!
I joined this gym originally because my personal trainer works out of it, but I’ve become a fan and work out there 3x a week now. It’s definitely «micro», and doesn’t have any of the pool, sauna, jacuzzi, or other fancy gym amenities. And because of its size, it does get pretty full some evenings.
BUT, they only charge $ 39/​month, and the place is stocked with a full range of high-​quality, well-​maintained free weights, kettlebells, plyo boxes, a heavy squat rack, cardio bikes (including recumbents), a rowing machine, ellipticals, all the usual gear. Plus there’s a laptop with Pandora set up so that you can (somewhat) control the music playing.
The location is very convenient off Belmont, and there’s decent street parking on the side streets. My one complaint is that I usually have to breathe secondhand smoke from the people hanging outside the Side Street Tavern next door, but that’s hardly the gym’s fault.

I like that this place is casual and small and CLEAN. It’s an interesting space where people use every inch of the place to exercise. There are no classes, no pool, no shower, and no BS. You can plug your headphones into the TV receiver at your elliptical or bike, and also tune into the radio. Also you can use the gym wi-​fi or tune the lap top that is hooked up to the speakers to whatever Pandora station you want. There are also 2 tvs.
The equipment always works, is easy to understand, and people seem generally pretty friendly. It has been more crowded recently, but it comes and goes. I do wish there were more lockers for your stuff, but overall it’s a great local gym.

I think this gym is great for a certain type of person who just wants to do some free weights or cardio and doesn’t mind a tiny, very basic gym. But my experience was that I walked out after being there for about 15 minutes and cancelled my membership. I probably should have done a tour before signing up online but I expected it to be like the gyms I had gone to in the past. I used to work out a lot in gyms and like the Nautilus type machines and circuit training. There’s none of that here. What I faced instead were about five weight machines that were very strange, no real charts on them and difficult to figure out. I finally asked another member if he knew how to use them and he showed me, but I was still confused. A trainer who was working with a client was nice and showed me how to use one machine, but apparently something was off because I wasn’t getting any resistance even when I set it at the highest weight and I am not in that good of shape. By that time, they had wandered off, so no idea.
Also, there’s only one bathroom per gender that is the only place you can change clothes. They have a locker room off to the side, but it’s in full view of everyone on the lower floor of the gym. Great for locking up your stuff, but unless you’re a major exhibitionist…
It is tiny, tiny, with an upper floor with some cardio machines.
The owner is very, very nice and was super kind about both signing me up for a door code and then cancelling my membership (you have five days). One qualm I had was that they are also more expensive than a lot of gyms in town for less equipment, tiny facilities and fewer services.
That said, I really don’t want to cost the owner any business. If you are a fan of the neighborhood and just looking for a very simple, quiet place to do some no frills working out on free weights and cardio, I would urge you to give it a try. The owner is awesome.
But if you are more like me and looking for circuit training, closed off locker rooms, etc, this is not the place for you.

This is the best gym I’ve found in Portland. Not necessarily for the equipment, because it does lack a few things, but because of the people and the non-​crowded nature of it.
It’s really nice to be able to do a circuit-​based workout without feeling like I’m preventing other people from working out or being forced to bird-​dog the dumbbells so no one walks away with them
The only things I’d like to see that aren’t there are resistance bands, tennis/​lacrosse balls (for soft tissue work), and maybe some bonus stuff like Fat Gripz or Valslides.
Then again, I suppose I could also just purchase all of those things myself.

Ok, so this gym is pretty awesome. It’s not huge, or open 24 hours, but it has what you mostly need when you need it. Big beefy meat head gym rats might be a little let down here, but it’s prefect for someone who wants to get in or stay in shape. And you gotta love the fact that it’s eco-​friendly. Most of the cardio machines are low energy or create energy with your own body power. You’ve heard of horse power? What till to you a load of Jimbo Power! GRRRRRRR!
Great neighborhood, and a really friendly owner. I’m glad I’m a member and looking forward to dropping some more lbs.

Up until a couple years ago, I had never been to a gym. It never really even occurred to me to try. I had been physically active back in high school after all… so I was still good… right?
Well, then it struck me that moving my body might actually be a good idea. It might help me sleep. Or burn off a few of the extra calories that I, no doubt, eat because I love food.
So off to the search for a gym I went! Luckily for me, I found the Green Microgym a mere 3 blocks from my home. I spoke with Dan and set up a tour for myself and my BF; later that night I signed us both up to be members there.
For $ 66/​mo. (for 2 people) we have a kickass gym we can walk to! There are no hidden monthly fees and no added costs when (or if) we chose to leave.
This gym really is meant for the neighborhood as there are no showers and there is access to one bathroom that other businesses in the building share. There are, however, lockers to use. This gym is so small that people rarely even lock the lockers. Its nice to belong to a gym where members trust each other.
You will likely not run into an employee there. Access the the gym is controlled by door codes. Each person is responsible for wiping down equipment used (a cleaning crew comes through once a week) and controlling the music and lights.
One of the best things about this gym is that I have never visited when there were more than 5 people there. This means no waiting for machines. And it sure alleviates some of my anxiety about my unfamiliarity at the gym.
The facilities are split into two levels with free weights and machines on both levels and cardio equipment upstairs. There are a couple side rooms that you are welcome to use (for yoga or stretching or whatever you need) and one of the rooms has spin bikes.
The cardio equipment is all «green» which means it helps to power the building. How cool is that? The gym has also set up a program where you can earn gift cards to local businesses for clocking hours in on the green machines. I was sold on this place when I learned I could earn a Grilled Cheese Grill gift certificate for working out. Calories for calories, baby! Now that is speaking my language.

Not sure Seattle has any of these, but sure hoping that they’re on their way!
My daughter is a member here, and showed me around last week. I would love to be a member at a place like this! No pressure to have a personal trainer, no bright, warehouse-​like lights, no glass walls so that passers-​by can watch you like you’re on TV, and no closing hours.
Can’t sleep? Go workout! What’s not to love? It’s exactly what I’d love to have within walking distance from my house.
Seattle: I’ll be waiting!

I’ve always seen the gym as a necessary evil in my life, but an evil none the less. For year prior to coming over to the light i slummed it through countless workouts at 24 hour fitness. Really, I had no qualms with the place but coming over to Green Microgym made the world of difference.
I’d love to say I’ve got a banging hot body now all thanks to the green gym but I’m reviewing a gym not a magician. The green gym has however taken the «evil» out of the gym. I no longer dread workouts. You’re not bombarded with bright lights, blaring music or crazed workout fiends strung out on protein powder. There is no parking lot which means this gym caters to the neighborhood, and I will say this neighborhood has some lovely folks. There are no staff members, you let yourself in via key code. If you need assistance you can email the owner who is always friendly and quick to respond. Members are expected to turn on lights and fans as they see fit. You can also play your own pandora station over the sound system throughout the gym. Normally I’m one of a handful of people there which is nice, I’ve never seen the place to crowded nor have I had to wait for a machine.
The gym has quite a bit of free weights and more then enough room to get down to biz. Free weights are still very intimidating to me but I’ve learned a lot by watching, and the owner was kind enough to demo the basics for me.
A membership will run you 33 dollars a month which is very competitive and well worth the money. If your reading this because your in search of a gym to call home… stop and sign up. You will not find a better gym, I love this place.

The boyfriend and I were looking for a gym in SE and this place fit the bill. Great space – has all you need and the owner is really great.

Love that this gym actually makes energy instead of just using it. So cool! Bring one to Chicago!

I absolutely LOVE this gym! I’m so glad it opened up right here in my neighborhood, because I can walk to it, but if I had to drive or bike to it I absolutely would.
First of all, it’s attractive. It sits on two levels, and while I’m on the treadmill or bikes or elliptical I’m looking out over a balcony, with lots of skylights above me and glass-​brick windows in front of me, letting in lots of natural light. There is Pandora radio, and if I’m the only one there (which I often am) I get to pick the music, which is fun. Do I want The Decemberists or Black Eyed Peas today?
The tiny staff has been super-​friendly when they’re here, but often there is no staff at all, and oddly enough that’s part of why I like this place. We members let ourselves in with our own individualized key codes, work out, wipe down the equipment, and go. There are security cameras, and the other gym-​goers are nice, so I feel completely safe, but without feeling supervised or judged.
The gym members here seem to run the gamut from «REALLY gotta get in shape» (like me) to people who have obviously been working out forever. I feel like anyone of any shape or size or fitness level can be comfortable here in this little neighborhood gym. I also like that it’s all brand-​new and spotlessly clean.
I go in when I feel like it, work out however feels good to me today, and leave when I’ve had enough. The simplicity of the place makes me more likely to just walk in and work out, instead of over-​thinking it and staying home.
LOVE the place! Wish I could give it more stars! Going there right now…

I love this gym. I’m glad it came to my neighborhood.

I am not the kind of girl who motivates to get up early to surround herself with overly made-​up women who barely sweat and care more about their cute workout outfits than actually using the equipment. In fact, I didn’t think that I was the kind of girl who motivated to get up early to get to a gym period.
But, drunkenly on Thanksgiving part II night, my upstairs neighbor, David, told me about a new gym opening two blocks from our apartment. Drunkenly, I signed up immediately and took advantage of a charter membership price. Drunkenly, I hadn’t even noticed that it hadn’t even opened yet and had to wait a few days before checking it out for the first time.
I now believe that I have finally found my gym soul mate. First of all, it’s a green gym meaning that the cardio equipment actually powers the space, the treadmills use less energy than ones you’d find at traditional facilities, and (best of all to me) there are only two TVs that in the 5 weeks I’ve been working out have been on a handful of times.
Another thing that makes me so happy is that it’s pretty quiet at all times. Not just from the lack of blaring TVs but it’s not a huge place like a Ballys or a 24 Hour that stuffs people in to its gills (is that the right expression?). Instead, there is an upstairs that has cardio and there is a downstairs that has weights. That’s it. It’s less than intimidating and makes someone like me feel really comfortable about working out first thing in the morning or after work.
The owner, Dan, emails out reminders and updates and will call you by name once he meets you. He’s always around to answer questions or to help you with a machine but he’s not there to pressure you or to intimidate you. He’s just a friendly guy who wants you to enjoy the space (heck, he even encourages you to make new playlists on the Pandora station on his laptop). He’s never hovered over me telling me how I could be more efficient but he has let me know that he’s there to answer any questions I may have. Definitely not the experience I’ve had at other big gyms where the trainers and sales reps are trying to make you feel bad about yourself and upsell every membership.
Currently, there is one yoga class on Wednesday mornings that I’ve been able to get to twice. Word on the street is that there may be more classes soon due to the popularity of it. Melissa, who runs the class, is encouraging and patient but has a sense of humor as well.
This place doesn’t have a pool or a shower or a huge staff trying to sell you workout clothes or smoothies. And that I like. I just want to walk in, say hi to the owner, work out, and go home. And I do.