Dowd YMCA
Sable
I have a few gym memberships just to keep things interesting and it helps keep me motivated. They have a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and indoor pool which really make it stand out from other gyms. The Y is pretty much always busy when I go which is early morning but its also busy at night after 6pm. If you workout during the middle of the day you wont have to wait on equipment to be free to use. Just a heads up on that. I dont mind the wait because I like the equipment and the options. It is 4 stories, with racquetball courts, plenty of cardio equipment, group fitness classes, I stay in the weight area mainly and they have a turf area which I like. Plenty of barbells and chalk there too. Theres a womens only center too so its good for women if they dont feel comfortable around a large crowd of if yours first starting out. They have a coffee shop in there now and community work space if you want to work remotely there. Theres a pro shop that has sports drinks, snacks max pool accessories, and much more. The top floor is my favorite for outdoor workouts, the view is the best early mornings and during sunset. Those are the pictures youre seeing.
Cindy Jean
This gym reminds me of Equinox in NYC so much. I feel at peace here because they have a cleaning crew that is on top of their maintenance like no other. Super clean especially during times like this however I agree with the reviews below that the mask requirement is pointless. When I first moved to CLT, my home gym was Gateway where I was a part of their CrossFit tribe however since Gateway is no longer - I decided to rejoin the Dowd last month. I have been to a ton of boxes and I really appreciate the conservatve approach amongst the coaches. As with many boxes, coaches will always vary however here they are super attentive, never on their phone at all and really care that you get better. Outside the gym rate, the membership price is relatively lower compared to other gyms yet, you definiitely get more bang for your buck at the Dowd. At boutique gyms, you are very limited however at the Dowd, I have a variety of choices from swimming, Barre, Pliates, Cycle to Functioning Training. Participating in Cardio Dance class after work reminded me how much I missed options. I totally forgot that I was in class as the playlist was filled my favorite Soca and Caribbean tunes - I felt like I was at a party. If you are like me and you dont want to do the same routine everyday when it comes to fitness, join the Dowd - they truly have some thing for everyone. For me, this is the best workout facility in Charlotte in terms of value, variety as well as networking. Plenty of equipment, cleaning stations, comfortable locker room's and friendly staff. While I miss my cozy spot, Gateway, I am also a huge fun of this YMCA location.
Tyler Wallace
This YMCA has a lot to offer. It is very large with many amenities including swimming, a rooftop workout area and track, racquetball, workout classes, and more. I came as a visitor and was treated very well! I will come here again when I visit Charlotte. Shoutout to Dana at member services, thank you!
Alexis Spencer
I've been loving this gym. It's got tons of equipment and several different areas to go to to workout in. Pretty much serves all styles of training. The only downside is the overcrowding. If you go any time outside of the dead zone it's totally slammed. Furthermore I love the included yoga classes with membership. It's really nice to combine strength training with yoga. A yoga membership to regular classes at a studio can be wildly expensive especially paired with a gym membership. The price is nice for all the amenities. I am in love with the dry sauna. So thankful for that.
Chris L
Its.a gym. No towels, always very crowded, and the hours are ridiculously narrow, especially on the weekends. If they lengthened hours, itd help reduce the crowds and clearly allow for more revenue since demand is there, but alas, if youre looking for a gym along the light rail line thats easy to bike/run too, this is about all youve got
