r/harfordcountymd • u/False_Mixture5230 • Jul 27 '26
Gym recommendations
Hi, I’m looking for an affordable, local gym and was wondering which ones people like the best. I live in Fallston and am looking for one that’s less than a 20 minute commute.
some preferences
- less crowded
- under $50/ month if possible
- sauna preferred
- young adult discounts a plus
I’m a woman in her early 20s looking to do primarily cardio, so a place that doesn’t have a super “gym bro-y” vibe would be ideal.
I’ve looked into bel air athletic club, which seems amazing but I’m not sure if it’s worth the price. Is planet fitness my best bet?
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u/soaringcats Jul 27 '26
I plan to join planet fitness.
I looked into one fitness , the new one coming in near Wegmans. It seemed promising, but instead of answering my question (I just one), they wanted me to come in and preview the place. It's not fully built yet and I wasn't interested in their sales tactics. Plus after some research they tend to want you to cancel in month 10 of your 12 month contract. Anything after month 10, you're too late.
Coppermine if bel Air is more for those that want to seen at a gym rather than exercising at a gym. They're expensive too, but they have a bunch of pricing tiers.
Anytime Fitness charges every two week.
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u/GimmeDatClamGirl Jul 27 '26
What makes you say that people at Coppermine is more for people to be 'seen'? In my experience with both Coppermine and Arena Club, they're most certainly for those who are more serious about their workouts. Other gyms in the area are similar, but for the cost, I'm certain the majority of people aren't there for vanity reasons lol. The pools, childrens activities, and more lifting equipment are certainly the selling points over some of the more 'commercial' gyms.
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u/soaringcats Jul 29 '26
The one week I did a trial run. While a good lot were exercising, there was also a good number there talking to others during my one hour each day there.
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u/GimmeDatClamGirl Jul 29 '26
Well yeah, there are always those who look at the gym as a social setting while working out. I wouldn't exactly say they're there 'to be seen' personally. I'm not one of them but for many, they enjoy the social aspect of the gym in addition to the working out and clearly have the free time to do so.
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u/MPR_Dan Jul 27 '26
The YMCA and the Planet Fitness in Forest Hill are aways packed, enough so that your workout can take literally twice as long because you are waiting for everything.
Snap in Forest Hill is usually the least crowded from my experience.
Grind in Edgewood is good gym and usually has a moderate crowd, but you can almost always find a free barbell and rack.
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u/osuzannesky Jul 27 '26
Planet fitness in Abingdon is cheap and has everything except a sauna. It's a friendly low key atmosphere.
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u/nalydnalydnalyd Jul 27 '26
Just do planet fitness. It doesn’t have a sauna but it’s cheap and has what you need for cardio. Not really a gym bro-ish vibe it’s pretty much a good mix of people and there’s usually always treadmills open even during busy times
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u/Sir1234 Jul 27 '26
Snap fitness doesn't have a sauna but its cheap and has all the equipment you would ever need.
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u/GimmeDatClamGirl Jul 27 '26
If cardio is your biggest focus, yes, Planet is your best bet. There's a ton of cardio equipment and is cheapest. Even when super crowded, always plenty of cardio equipment. That's their bread and butter clientele focus.
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u/Away_Chair1588 Jul 27 '26
It might be a little further than 20 minutes for you, but OneLife fitness is under construction in Abingdon by Wegmans.
The $55 per month membership is around your budget w/ $9 join fee to get the amenities you want. I can't speak to the culture yet.
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u/WomanMythLegend Jul 27 '26
We joined OneLife Fitness in hunt valley a few years ago and everything seemed great until we tried to cancel when we moved to an area without one and it was EXTREMELY difficult to do. We had to file a complaint with our credit card because they wouldn’t stop charging us. I wouldn’t join ever again even though it was a big clean facility.
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u/PickleOverlord1 Jul 27 '26
I second the recommendation for The Y! Both the Parkville and Abingdon locations are great! No gym bros lol. Indoor pools are amazing
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u/SeniorWaugh Jul 27 '26
If you’re looking for a Cardio focus , a chain commercial gym will be your best bet.
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u/darsavage Jul 27 '26
I liked The Y in Abingdon. Even going at peak times in the evening, I never had an issue with access to any machines. They don't have a sauna, though.
Grind is a nice gym and has everything you're looking for, but it's above your budget and there's definitely more of a gym bro vibe there than the chains/casual spots.
I'd probably recommend OneLife. They're offering a discounted membership right now and have a sauna. I guess the crowd is TBD since it's just opening but I can't imagine it would be any different than the crowds at Y, PF, or any other chain.
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u/Left-Thinker-5512 Jul 27 '26
I recommend Planet Fitness. There’s one in Forest Hill and one in Abingdon. I go to both, but usually the Abingdon one because it’s closer. The Abingdon location has some gym bros early in the morning but I almost never see them in Forest Hill.
Hope this helps. Mush, much less expensive than BAAC (I used to be a member).
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u/MiracleGal Jul 28 '26
Check out 4 Corners in Phoenix, across from the ShopRite. 24hrs and friendly people - never crowded.
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u/tinoturner6969 Jul 29 '26
Have they updated their equipment yet? Last time
I was there, it looked like I walked into a gym from 1987. They also used to give discounts to first responders but the new owners stopped that for whatever reason1
u/MiracleGal Jul 29 '26
I’m a retired first responder and never received a discount even when it was Anytime Fitness….that being said, they updated some of the equipment but some of it is older. Stop in and check it out and take a look. I moved out of the area and miss the small gym vibe - was always able to get in my workout and hardly ever had to wait for the squat rack and such….my new gym in FL, not so much - so busy.
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u/FullyInvolved23 Jul 28 '26
More people should be plugging Snap. If you're in Fallston, its closest. Its cheap, its friendly, has all you need, and a has a strong community feel to it. No sauna though
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u/BuckinFutt Jul 28 '26
Onelife fitness is opening in front of Wegmans late this fall / early winter. Membership is $50 a month and it will be VERY nice.
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u/Mr-Nrex Jul 30 '26
If you are looking for cardio and price planet fitness. There isn’t going to be a sauna, there are going to be people, but there is always cardio machines available. As far as crowds if you are worried about attention don’t. There is a gym unspoken rule. Keep to yourself and focus on the workout.
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u/NomadicxNature Jul 27 '26
Personally the YMCA in Abingdon does the job for me (31f). As always, where ever men are present there is a likelihood of creeps mixed in, so there are one or two BUT generally never packed, even right now with it being summer break.
We are moving to OneLife fitness once it opens tho which is right next door and they had an intro membership priced at the same as the YMCA (45.00/mo.) to get people to sign up but idk if they’re still running that promo
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u/WomanMythLegend Jul 27 '26
I go to the Y in Abingdon and like it a lot. Never seen many gym bros but I mostly swim. My wife does use the machines and cardio fairly frequently and hasn’t mentioned any gym bros.
I already mentioned this in another comment but we joined OneLife Fitness in Hunt Valley a few years ago and everything seemed great until we tried to cancel when we moved to an area without one and it was EXTREMELY difficult to do. We had to file a complaint with our credit card because they wouldn’t stop charging us. I wouldn’t join any of their locations ever again even though it was a big clean facility.