I started going to gyms at the age of 14, as Fitness First offered free guest passes to members on Sundays. Every Sunday, I’d tag along with my parents and they taught me very basic workouts to do with them. At the time, I was the youngest gym-goer I know. But as time goes by, I realise the gym population is getting younger and younger in Hong Kong and everywhere else! This article can help teenagers find out what gym options they have if they wish to join one!
LCSD Gyms (government-run)
- Parental consent needed
- Price: $180 (half price for full-time students)
- Requirements: Everyone who applies for LCSD month pass should complete the “Fitness (Multi-gym) Training Courses” (with 80% attendance rate) or “Briefing on Proper Ways to Use Fitness Equipment” (just a one time workshop).
- Website: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/fitness/procedure.html
LCSD gyms are a popular choice for those who are still studying as their monthly fee is only $90! Even university students are eligible for applying for the discount. Expect to see quite a few university students at the gym! LCSD does get a bad reputation as people complain about visitors going there to read newspapers, or about the old machines never getting fixed. However, I do think the government-run gyms are enough for a good workout as you do get your cardio, isolation machines and barbells.
For those who need finer equipment to compete in powerlifting, strongman or other sports, I do not recommend going to LCSD. If you’re starting out and want little interruption, LCSD is enough!
Go24
- 16 or above
- No contract!
- Open 24/7
- Price: $550 – 638
Go24 is recognized as a top commercial gym in Hong Kong! they do have great equipment (machines, free-weights and cardio) as well as classes such as yoga, hiit and muay thai! Their gyms are usually bigger than an average 24/7 gym chain such as Snap Fitness and Anytime Fitness, with a pretty aesthetically pleasing design. A lot of people that used to go to California Fitness, Goji, and Physical Fitness transferred to Go24 because of the gym’s all-rounded competitiveness in the market. Go24 is regularly recommended by powerlifters if one must join a commercial gym.
For teenagers, I think Go24 will be a great gym. But if you are just starting out, you might feel lost with the abundance of exercises to do. Go24 doesn’t have trainers who preys on members, so it would be a great gym for teenagers!
Anytime Fitness
- 15 or above
- At least 1-year contract
- Open 24/7
- Parental consent needed
- Need a master/visa credit card
- Price: 550
Anytime Fitness as a gym franchise has the most basic facilities, but if you are looking for classes, be aware that not every branch offers them. I’d say Anytime Fitness is not bad but their gyms tend to be quite small and packed during peak hours. You would also need a master/visa credit card for the rolling monthly payment as it is necessary to sign a one-year contract and your contract will be automatically renewed. (Of course, you can tell them about ending it a month ahead and they will do so).
24/7 Fitness
- Parental consent needed and staff will approve the application case by case
- No contract, but pricey if you just get a month pass
- Price: $520 a month (if you join for a year); $720 (if you commit to 6 months); $1020 for one month’s pass (no commitment)
- Hours: 24/7
As one of the most popular gyms in Hong Kong, 24/7 does have an impressive number of locations and members are allowed to visit other branches if they want to. I would say 24/7 is not very consistent when it comes to gym sizes. You can find the branch at Sai Ying Pun being tiny, while the K11 branch is almost double their size. Members of 24/7 often complain about how crowded it gets. With such an overwhelming amount of people, I think beginners may find it intimidating to navigate or have fun as everyone is waiting to use the next equipment.
Personally I’d recommend Anytime Fitness over 24/7 Fitness for those who are okay with contracts. But go take a look before you decide to commit!
Independent gyms:
Independent gyms may provide their services to teenagers on a case by case basis! I suggest checking out independent gyms as well if you do not like commercial gyms or can’t join LCSD. Powerlifting gyms are welcoming even if you start at 14, but you will need supervision to keep you lifting safe. Independent gyms have varying quality but most of them offer free trials. So, make sure you seize the opportunity to check it out before committing!
You can read more about the differences between commercial gyms and independent ones here!
Conclusion:
Almost every gym would require parental consent for those who are younger than 18, this is simply because of the restriction of the “legal validity” when an adult makes a teenager give legal consent. For gyms with contracts, there might be a need for you to put down a credit card. However, I’ve seen Anytime Fitness give leniency and allow members to settle their payments with other means, such as fps!
Good luck gyming!