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XSport Fitness

Part 5 of Health Club Review Series

XSport Fitness clubs are full-service centers. They’re open 24 hours and provide free parking. A spa is attached with tanning, massages, nail care, and other options. Day care is also available.

There are rows upon rows of cardio equipment, and each machine has a TV. In addition to the standard free weights, circuit training machines, personal training area with stability equipment, and group exercise rooms, XSport also has rock climbing, a basketball court, and a pool. You can also check your email at the free Internet stations, and purchase supplements and attire after drinking a protein shake at the juice bar.

Currently the only downtown-area location is at North & Wells. This club is busy busy busy, and the clientelle seemed to be mainly in their 20s and 30s and are pretty serious about their fitness. It’s a high-energy environment.

Allow about 45 minutes for your first visit. You’ll get a tour, and then they’ll sit down with you to go over your health status and your fitness goals. If you have a “Get Fit Pack“, they’ll measure your fat and tell you your BMI. Like most clubs, they push personal training. XSport goes beyond the “muscle burns more than fat” speech and offers a brief explanation of the different levels of physical fitness, and the science behind personal training.

I’ll admit I walked in a bit biased towards XSport because I have several friends who are members and they rave about it. After using the facilities for a week I can understand why, because they offer pretty much everything you can think of for $49/month with no contract. That being said, the environment itself could be a little intimidating for someone just getting started. And they do something I absolutely abhor when it comes to gyms: they don’t give pricing over the phone, even though the rates were printed and laminated in the sales binder used during my initial visit. They also don’t have printed rates for their personal trainers.

Is that enough to keep me from joining? Maybe. I felt like I was shopping for a used car. If I can get beyond the high pressure sales tactics XSport definitely offers a lot of bang for the buck.

Fees:
Initiation: ???
$49 Month to Month, good at all locations
Parking: Free (2 hours with validation)

Piper’s Alley
230 W North Ave
(312)932-9100

South Loop (coming soon)
9th and State St
(877)417-1450

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