There are several gyms in the United States, but few can compare in popularity to Planet Fitness. There are literally hundreds of outlets in every state. It’s true that some Planet Fitness centers may provide more amenities or have more exciting events than others, but on the whole, you can expect the same basic experience no matter where you go.
Therefore, you must know what to expect from your local Planet Fitness location before signing up. Most people only need a few pieces of adequate gym equipment to maintain their fitness level.
However, the specifics of the equipment that is accessible to use are quite important for people who are trying to lose weight or preparing for a competition. Let’s see if Planet Fitness offers free weights and go over everything else you need to know before signing up.
Does Planet Fitness Have Free Weights?
Planet Fitness does not have free weights. They do not offer a power rack, but they have a dumbbell rack that can be used in place of free weights. Their dumbbells typically go up to 50lbs or 75lbs, depending on the location.
Planet Fitness is not the right fitness center for individuals who enjoy lifting large weights for exercises such as squats and bench presses.
They do, however, have a Smith Machine available to use in place of the free weights.
While the Smith Machine may be a suitable alternative for some, others may find that they cannot exercise particular muscle groups fully. In general, the weight capacity of the dumbbells at the majority of Planet Fitness facilities will range up to 50 pounds.
With this weight capacity, you might not even need the barbell or the larger weights because you can get a pretty effective arm exercise with only your own body weight. Still, how important this issue is depends a lot on what you want to get out of exercising at the gym.
Planet Fitness worries somewhat about lawsuits and insurance premiums to stock bigger free weights. When compared to a person trying to chest press 300 pounds, the risk of injury for a person is far lower than the risk of injury for an individual trying to use a Smith Machine.
Since there is a significantly increased chance of making a mistake when using free weights of more than 50 pounds, the fitness center has made the decision not to make use of these weights.
You’ll find that many other gyms, particularly local lifting-type clubs, provide these options. However, you might also note that the prices at those gyms are a little bit higher.
It’s possible that the higher premiums directly result from the more expensive equipment they use and, therefore, the need for a more comprehensive insurance policy.
Insurance and liability costs make up a significant portion of the overhead expenses that proprietors of fitness centers need to keep under control.
Although this is undoubtedly one of the drawbacks of becoming a member of Planet Fitness, it is important to keep in mind that the facility does so for your own safety and offers plenty of positives.
Read: Can You Deadlift at Planet Fitness?
Why Doesn’t Planet Fitness Have Free Weights?
Planet Fitness does not allow free weights because it is against the company policy. They want their gym to be beginner-friendly, intimidation free, and they have a strict no ‘lunk-head’ rule.
Regardless of their lack of free weights, they offer many other additional services to their members. If you wish to improve your physique to the best, you also have the option to receive personal training.
Planet Fitness tries to be an ‘intimidation-free’ gym and for that reason, doesn’t have heavy weights. Another plausible explanation for why Planet Fitness does not provide access to these higher free weights is because of concerns over insurance and liability.
When free weights exceed 50 pounds, there is a considerably greater chance of error and injury; therefore, the gym chooses not to have them.
Read: What Age Can You Go To Planet Fitness?
Conclusion..
Several issues surround using free weights at Planet Fitness, and these worries are shared by some members as well. Planet Fitness is a low-cost fitness center based around individual training, and because private lessons are so popular, the gym doesn’t have a lot of free weights.
However, you can expect to discover numerous exercise bikes, treadmills, and weight equipment. Planet Fitness has a strict no-free-weights policy because of their ‘no lunk-head’ rules. Plus free weights are a pain to keep track of and clean.