YONKERS, NY — Some national health-club chains that can cost up to $95 a month didn’t fare as well as private studios for yoga, dance or Pilates, and gyms at local community centers, schools, work, and nonprofit Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) and YMCAs in Consumer Reports National Research Center’s first-ever health club survey.

Among commercial chains, Bally Total Fitness scored among the lowest. Bally was criticized for wait times for machines, problems with contracts or fees, poorer cleanliness, and less adequate locker rooms than others; while Life Time Fitness was the only chain toward the top of ratings, with high marks for equipment, locker rooms, classes, and hours (all locations are open 24 hours a day.)

More than 10,000 subscribers to www.ConsumerReports.org who used a gym in the past six months reported on staff, equipment, classes, crowds, cleanliness, and billing issues. The 3,400 respondents who had canceled a membership in another gym during the past three years reported on why they left and whether it was easy to cancel (often, it wasn’t).

To investigate the sometimes tricky experience of joining a health club, CR also sent 12 of its “Mystery Shoppers” to ask about joining branches of the major chains in nine states.

“Consumers can pay up to $95 a month to join a health club and get certain extras like personal training sessions and spa services, but CR’s survey indicated that they might be happier spending a lot less,” said Jamie Kopf Hirsh, associate editor, Consumer Reports. “There are some great values to be found at the gyms at Y’s, community centers, and JCCs.”

The report on health clubs is part of a fitness package in the February issue—just in time for people to get in shape following the holiday season. The package includes tests of 10 exercise machines sold on TV infomercials that tout amazing fitness claims, and ratings of more than 30 treadmills and elliptical machines.

The full report on health clubs is available in the February 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, which is available wherever magazines are sold. Portions of the story are available for free online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

The survey also found that among respondents with paid memberships, 16 percent had a problem with contracts or fees, such as an unexpected dues hike or inability  to  freeze  a  membership  temporarily  
during an expected absence. Thirty-eight percent of respondents who had canceled a membership to a big gym had at least one problem, such as receiving bills after cancellation and excessive time and effort to cancel.

How to get the most out of a gym membership

CR experts recommend the following tips for people who are thinking of joining a gym:

1. Know the options. 
   • Big chains can be pricey but often offer extras including personal training, child care, spa services, and electronic tracking systems that allow consumers to log in with a PIN and monitor their workout progress towards fitness goals. Life Time Fitness got top marks in CR's ratings for everything except crowds and value, for which it earned average scores. At the women-only Curves, customers were generally satisfied, but cited limited workout options and substandard locker rooms. Gold’s has better than average variety of equipment but otherwise didn’t stand out.
   • JCCs and YMCAs often offer classes and are most likely to tailor them to specific groups, including kids, women, and seniors. College and university gyms provide greater access to large-scale athletic facilities such as basketball courts,  racquet courts, and even climbing walls (32 percent of school gyms in the survey had them vs. 10 percent of commercial clubs).
   • Gyms in apartment buildings or housing complexes are convenient but tend to have limited equipment.
2. Make the most of the visit.
   • Ask for a free trial. Every chain CR visited offers these, for periods of one day to one week. Assess the crowds, equipment, class schedule, and locker rooms. If the pass lasts longer than a day, come back at different times to see how conditions change.
   • Ask about different membership options. Most clubs have several options, with varying levels of access or amenities. Seniors or students should ask about special discounts.
3. Be smart after joining.
   • Work out during off hours. Peak times at most gyms are from opening to 11 a.m and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and early morning to noon on weekends.
   • Take precautions. The antibiotic-resistant MRSA infections mentioned in recent headlines can spread through shared gym equipment, mats, and towels. Use the alcohol spray or wipes most gyms provide to wipe off equipment before and after use.