Mandrill Gym

After moving to Santa Fe last year, I checked out several gyms in town. By far the best was and is Mandrill Gym. Martin, the owner is a great role model and such a sweet guy! He gave me free training in using the machines and is always available for workout advice. Super friendly and supportive atmosphere and unlike a number of other gyms (especially in Los Angeles), women are treated equally and with respect.

Great gym everyone there knows what they are doing and are all there for the same reason, to get in amazing shape. Nobody there comes to socialize or just be a general annoyance. Could use a little more AC though on the hot Santa Fe days.

This is by far the best gym in Santa Fe. They have a great staff never busy, the equipment is always available. I’ve been to a lot of gems and this is by far the best gym that I’ve been too. If you’re going to join a gym join Mandrill’s.

Best gym in Santa Fe for weight training and I’ve tried most of them around here. Huge gym with loads of weight training equipment. Two sets of dumbbells on opposite sides of the gym so there is plenty of space to work out. Also there’s at least two of everything thing in here so you never have to wait for a machine or bench to open up. They have almost the full line of Hammer Strength machines which are great.
The best part has to be never waiting for anything. I go at lunch and after work and there are never more than 10 or 12 people in here. In such a huge space it basically feels empty and like you’ve got the place to yourself.
Now on to some negatives. This place is dark and feels like a dungeon plus the blue and yellow color scheme seems really dated. The locker room is rundown and dingy. Finally although the fees are decent when compared to other Santa Fe gyms, it is basically double what I paid in Phoenix for LA Fitness which has pretty much the same equipment in a bright clean cheerful place with spotless and comfortable locker rooms a sauna, a pool, and loads of hot ASU coeds and MILFs to look at while working out.
I can see chicks being scared of this place and going to Anytime Fitness about a block away which is like a poor man’s LA Fitness with no pool, no sauna, and not as much equipment but at twice the LA Fitness price. Anytime is brighter but the equipment selection is small for weights (great for cardio though) and the vibe is just a little pansy.
So for me Mandrill’s is tops. There is a lot of room for improvement but you can easily get a serious workout here without the dreaded waiting for some jabronis to finish their sets taking their time chatting away.
The city facilities at Ft. Marcy, Chavez, etc. are nice but have limited equipment are cramped and a 30 minute weight training workout could bloom into a 90 minute session with all the waiting if there are even just 3 or 4 others in their working out. Plus the city joints are expensive too almost costing as much as Mandrills with the multi-​month deal.
I didn’t realize how good I had it in Phoenix. With Bally’s, LA Fitness, 24Hour Fitness, Lifetime Fitness all with dozens of locations in the Valley and all the independent gyms, the competition was fierce and you could go to a fantastic gym for $ 25 a month.
Bottom line, I love Mandrill’s. The owner is a great guy and is always there to help out if needed and the place is growing on me. It has character.

This a great, no nonsense gym especially tuned for body builders. I prefer this gym to any gym in Santa Fe. Its not overpriced like others and the vibe is great!

If you want to get in shape, this is the only place to go. While it doesn’t offer some other features that other health clubs offer (sauna, pool, steam, etc), it doesn’t want to because, well, it’s a hardcore gym. By far the best selection of machines and the most extensive collection of freeweights in town (along with good cardio machines). If you want to join a gym to get in shape instead of talking with your friends, mandrills is it.