I have only visited about 6 different branches of 18 gym. Sure, most gyms don’t have six different branches but when you are reviewing a name, you are reviewing the entire network.
The quickest way to describe 18 Gym is to say that it is like Basic Fit in Romania. There are differences, of course, but serves the same market (lower cost gym subscriptions), and has the same subscription model (it is easier to sign up for a year or a month than a day, you subscribe to all gyms at once, entry is with a card or QR code, and so on.)
Now, I only tried six so far, so I might have another review when I’ve tried more.
Subscription model
When you subscribe to basic fit, you get entry into their gyms. This does not include personal training, and it may not include classes.
Usage times
Usage times are available on their apps. While there used to be 24 hour gyms in Cluj, these no longer exist, the earliest seem to open at 6 am.
Also, they closed for a few days for the Easter weekend. This is a Romanian thing, of course, just be aware that gyms are closed on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and I think Monday of Easter. We expect them to be closed Christmas (maybe Boxing Day) and perhaps New Year’s Day, but we didn’t try them or check the app at those times.
The app tells you when a gym is reaching capacity and the opening times.
The gym spaces
The gym spaces vary in size and scope. Most include a dip/pull-up bar, some kind of pulley, squat racks, benches for doing dumbbell exercises, and a large variety of fixed-motion weight equipment.
We read one review complaining of a lack of pulley machines. There are pulley machines, and sometimes you might have to wait a bit if another body-builder is using them.
Free weights
Whenever I went, there were dumbbells available, but it was not always easy to find a set of 12s. It really depends. If your strength level is popular, then you might have to wait.
Squat racks always seemed to be available.
Dumbbell benches, with adjustable inclines, were always available.
Bench presses were available most of the time, but once in the afternoon it seemed like a wait.
Free weights were generally easy to find, and if a machines
Free machine fixed movement machines
Something I didn’t see much in other gyms that are common at 18 gym are machines that move your seat up and down, and use freeweights in addition to your body weight for resistance. These actually seem more common at 18 gym than pully-operated weight machines, and they are probably safer in some ways.
Aerobics
Aerobics machines vary; most have some kind of treadmill and a stairmill. You can walk all the way up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Whenever I went, there were always those kinds of machines available. The stair machines are easy to set to variable intensity for those interested in HIIT training. Other machines might have those settings, but I didn’t find them.
Aerobics classes are only available in certain locations, and might not take place in the locations near you.
Mats
There are also moveable mats for doing exercises like planks and push-ups without touching the floor.
Use rules
The primary usage rules include bringing a towel, bringing indoor shoes (if you need to walk around in outdoor shoes, there are blue disposable shoe gloves), and putting weights back after you use them.
Music
The music is similar to what you would find at Basic Fit. If English is your first language, you might blush at the lyrics and the amount of innuendo. Expect rap rather than classical, and there isn’t a lot of heavy metal, although we heard Nirvana once. And no, you probably won’t hear any Manele or Petrecere, or Frank Sinatra, but who knows?
I would like to see Rick Beato review the music at 18 Gym and Basic Fit; maybe he can tell the difference.
Locker rooms
Lockers
There are usually enough lockers available. However, be advised to bring a lock with you when trying a new branch.
While some gyms have lockers fitted with their own combination locks, others require you to bring your own lock. One even has fitted key locks, and they issue you with a key when you enter.
Locker space is adequate at most times, but in the busiest it is hard to find places to change. The lockers are cleaned regularly, so do not be surprised if the cleaner is in there when you enter the locker room. It seems all the cleaners so far are female.
Showers
The showers at all 18 gyms we tried are in good working order, clean, and adequate. The water temperature is relatively easy to control, and the water pressure is adjustable.
The showers are probably the most consistent thing about the locker rooms; while the lockers vary in size and format, the showers appear to be the same across all the branches we tried.
Variability
Not all 18 gyms are the same. Everyone we tried had enough equipment to get an adequate workout, but some are larger than others.
As we already mentioned, the locks are different in the changing rooms. Some lockers have a fitted dial to put in your own code; others require you to bring your own lock.
Some branches have boxing equipment, one had a rowing station, one had a strong looking decline bench press, and at least half had dip machines (seated machines that simulate the dip movement with weights that you push down.)
Most had some kind of “booty builder” designed to build the muscles in the gluteus maximus. And they also had machines to develop abs, leg extensions, leg curls, lat pull downs and lat rows, all the basic movements you expect from weight machines. But due to size variations, some had more options than others.
None had anything designed to build neck muscles, but that is expected for Europe.
Because of this, it is advisable to check your local branch to see whether it fits your needs.