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Boston Sports Club
Category: Active Life Fitness & Instruction Gyms Gyms [Edit]
695 Atlantic Ave(between Essex St & East St)
Boston, MA 02111
Neighborhoods: Waterfront, Leather District, South Boston
(617) 428-3622
- Nearest Transit:
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Essex St @ Atlantic Ave (SL4)
So Station Silver Line (outbound) (SL1, SL2, Silver Line)
So Station Silver Line (inbound) (SL1, SL2, Silver Line)
- Good for Kids:
- No
17 reviews for Boston Sports Club
17 reviews in English
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Review from Brindey W.
Boston, MA
1/20/2012
I joined BSC just because I heard such AMAZING things about Jessica's spin classes - and they are even better than I expected. She teaches mostly at the South Station location, but I jump around to Davis as well to catch her classes over there, too. They are upbeat, fun, have great music, and a great workout. I highly, highly recommend this gym for spinners.
Aside from that, the staff is friendly, there are plenty of machines, and the bathrooms are clean and well stocked.
One tip - always call ahead to get on the class list. -
Review from Mike O.
1/9/2012 82 Check-ins Here
This BSC is conveniently located for those working in the Downtown/Financial District area that is in close proximity to South Station's commuter rail as well. Whether it suits your needs for that quick break from your desk or a pit stop before you catch your ride home, it provides the essentials. The equipment is sufficient given the size crowds that patron this BSC at any given time, but I feel as though if there were a day were you'd see a spike in attendance (during resolution season), you might be waiting around at some stations while others finish their sets. Free weights are limited so you'd be better off going during off peak hours so that if you tend to be a person that just wants to get in a get out, you won't have to spend a lot of idle time here.
Some of the highlights of this location, however, are the pool and the classes. They do have some very good instructors and a good variety of classes being taught by those good instructors, but beware of some others that are simply not up to par and they will undoubtedly make you feel less than pleased about your class experience.
Danielle (easily one of THE BEST instructors of any gym in Boston) - teaches Spin on Fridays @ 12:15, then Total Body Conditioning @ 1:15. She also teaches Total Body on Mondays and Thursdays as well. Simply put, she is amazing! There are no words to adequately describe how well she does her job. Just focus on what she says and you will have the body you so desire in no time. Real strength, sustained strength, high cardio, and a fun time. What more could you ask for? She also teaches at the Allston location on the weekends.
Gary - teaches Spin on Tuesdays @ 12:15, and Pilates on Thursday @ 12:15. This man really knows his stuff, working you in the most appropriate ways, safely and productively. Gary is more laid back than the other instructors, not as rigorous in his intensity, but is more of a slow and steady type of progression toward fitness. Let's call him our Long Term Relationship instructor. He also teaches classes at the South End location and I believe Wellesley as well.
Jessica - teaches Spin on Wednesdays @ 12:15. Avoid this class at all costs! There a Spin class at DTX at the same time; go there! Nothing against her at all, she does go high intensity and really makes you sweat, but you need to warm up for at least ten minutes and she doesn't do this at the beginning of her routine. If you can get there early to do this, then maybe her class wouldn't be so bad, but if you can't warm up, DO NOT GO. The danger for injury is so high without a warm up, even knowing this I have attended and am now fighting an ongoing Achilles injury. From an instructor's point of view, she should know the hazards of this sort of routine.
Ed - teaches Spin on Mondays; he is also great at what he does. High energy and sure to burn those weekend calories, he adequately gets you prepared for the class ahead.
Other good classes include Barry's Spin class in the evenings. Barry also often substitutes for Jessica so you may want to call ahead to double check. IMO he should be given the Wednesday afternoon slot permanently. The 12:15 Yoga classes taught by Victoria are fantastic as well; she's been in the game for over ten years and really knows he stuff.
All in all, this is a good spot for classes; take advantage of different ones throughout the week, put in an honest effort, and I guarantee that you'll see results! -
Review from Mindy A.
9/9/2011
I work between this BSC location and the Downtown Crossing location. I like the spin classes after or during work, and I'll take whatever class happens to have the most convenient timing. On Wednesdays, that happens to be the South Station location. The girl who currently teaches the class is OK - I get a workout but her classes aren't well timed with music which is half the point. Last time she also didn't use a microphone so half the people in the room had confused looks on their faces trying to figure out what was going on next. Oh well, that's what you get - some instructors are excellent, some are just good, and others not so much.
Other than that, this location seems pretty par for the course for BSC. I like the lockerrooms here a little more than the DTX location, maybe cause this one's newer. I also like that they have a pool here.Listed in: Feel the Burn
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Review from David F.
Boston, MA
7/13/2011
This is what I call the ghetto gym. The place reaks something weird depending on what area you are in. It is just not clean.
The staff has no idea what is going on. For example, the woman at the front desk didn't know where the weight room was. Considering she works at a gym and the weight room takes up about two thirds of the entire floor space I'm amazed she wouldn't know something that basic. Another guy was insistent that I didn't check in when I came in when I did. On several other occasions the people at the front desk gave me mind bogglingly incorrect information. This is only after being a member for ten days too. For $75 a month the only good thing about this place is that there are so many locations and you can go to any of them plus there's a pool. -
Review from Corey B.
Cambridge, MA
7/21/2011 65 Check-ins Here
I like this gym, it is very close to my office. It's pretty clean... for a gym and the staff is pretty friendly. They have lots of equipment, a big pool and some excellent classes. I for one, love spinning and come twice a week almost every week. Heck, I like my Tuesday and Wednesday spin classes so much that I schedule meetings around them.
It gets crowded around lunch, but that is when my favorite spin classes are.
Call ahead to reserve a bike. -
Review from Chris M.
5/2/2011 47 Check-ins Here
There's an ultimate conditioning class that is taught on Tuesday nights, it's pretty much the only reason I go to this gym. It's awesome, intense, and worth every minute.
It's the kind of class that draws inspiration from football practice drills, and military pt. You'll get your whole body worked.
I've also been known to venture in on the weekends, because since this place is located in a more business district than residential, you're only sharing equipment with tumbleweeds.
It's a gym, it's gonna smell, if it's crowded, you are going to be in the way, The people that work out here, seem to all know that and are fairly respectful of everyone's space.
It'd be helpful if they had a swim suit dryer in the lockerroom, but they don't... so be prepared if you go there to swim. -
Review from Louise A.
Boston, MA
Great location and right next door to work. I tend to go at lunch or at 1pm and I have never had a problem getting on a machine I like. The machines are well kept aside from the StepMills - these are loud, creaky, and shaky.
The layout is a bit strange, and I do prefer the Allston location - but it is well lit, and has tons of windows.Listed in: GTL
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Review from Heather O.
Melrose, MA
8/24/2010
I like BSC - alot. All of the other locations are great. But why is this club fairly new and I COMPLETELY LOSE ALL WATER PRESSURE IN THE SHOWER WHENEVER SOMEONE FLUSHES THE TOILET?!?
Really? Seriously?
They could figure out how to put a pool in the basement but they couldn't figure out the correct size of the water pipes needed for the plumbing? -
Review from Bridget M.
Santa Monica, CA
12/4/2007
I joined this gym when it opened last year and was duly impressed. The equipment is all brand new and in great condition, and any time I've seen a machine break down, the next day it was either repaired or replaced. The cardio machines have little TV screens in them which is really nice, because I've found watching "My Super Sweet 16" fills me with so much anger that I improve my running time exponentially.
They have a good selection of free weights, cardio machines, and circuit training options. They also have what appears to be a very nice, clean pool.
This gym was great for me, as I'd typically snatch up a coworker and go work out on our lunchbreak. Best times for finding an empty gym seem to be after 2pm, though from what I've heard it doesn't get as crowded as the nearby Downtown Crossing location
The staff is nice, offering to help you if they notice your technique is off on a machine without pushing the whole "Well, I could show you even more if you signed up for PT time with me" hard sell.
They offer free towel service, and the showers and locker rooms are clean.Listed in: Getting Your Health On
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Review from Geoffrey R.
Cambridge, MA
11/11/2007
Yes it is a bit expensive at 69 a month, but... it is clean and they have towel service and it is convenient. The machines are well maintained and never are to badly aged since they are constantly rotating in newer equipment. I have checked out many gyms from the Fitcorp owned Boston Racquet Club (300 a quarter or 450 if i remember correctly for squash access) to Bally's (not as expensive, but i think things were growing on the floor and in the locker room)
The ability to hit more local locations with your Gold membership on weekends allows flexibility many gyms don't have, and if you consider that is like getting 2 memberships in one (a home and a work gym) the price isn't that bad. -
Review from Jenn S.
1/27/2009
I joined this gym over 2 years ago - the day before it opened. At the time, it was obviously brand new, clean, sleek & state-of-the-art.
The gym itself is still fairly clean and they often get new machines. The locker rooms tend to get pretty messy though - people tend not to pick up after themselves, which can get gross.
I love that they have a pool, although my skin has had some reactions to the chemicals, which disappoints me. I had to switch my swimming days because of it.
There are only 5 arc trainers - 2 of which NEED to get TVs - and only 1 of which I really like because of the placement of the arms and the fact that it doesn't have movable arms.
I wish they had a Pilates class at a time that works for me - I think there's only one and it's at night.
Since I've been coming in the mornings, I've noticed that the hair dryers tend to burn out - they need to get more and replace the broken ones more often - and several times (like today), there has been no hot water. Maybe they weren't prepared for the rush of people, but for a 2-year-old gym, these things probably shouldn't happen.
Still, it's cleaner than many other gyms I've been to, it's in a great location and they have a good variety of machines. Just more arc trainers please! -
Review from Meredith P.
Belmont, MA
10/23/2009
I've been to almost every Boston Sports Club in the region, but unfortunately this is the club closest to my work. I've grown to loath going to this gym and avoid it when possible.
The class offerings are paltry. Spinning is the most popular option, but you must sign up well in advance if you want a bike. Most of the other classes are poorly attended and the studio is cramped. Not enough yoga, either.
Although it's a fairly new club, the cardio machines are already aging from overuse. They may be functional, but some of them make noises or have malfunctioning audio. Also, not enough of the machines have TVs, and the channel selection is crappy.
The locker rooms are cramped. In the ladies room, there is not enough "primping" space. They are also not clean, however I will attribute this to the slovenly habits of the pampered clientele rather than the cleaning staff. I've seen women just drop towels on the floor rather than walk the five steps over to the towel receptacle.
Which brings me to my major issue with this club: It's filled with unsmiling, Type A business types who hog machines and seem determined to push their bodies to the brink. It's a tense, soulless atmosphere, made worse by the fact that half the gym is in a basement. Other BSCs don't have this grimness.
Also, the gym's layout is annoying. There are some very narrow hallways/doors/stairs that you must go through to get to one area of the club to another. Not very feng shui.
Some of the front desk staff are very friendly, but there seems to be a high turnover.
Also, what's up with the junk-food packed vending machine near the locker rooms? It doesn't offer a single healthy item. Gobbling down 40 grams of refined sugar and carbs before or after engaging in chronic cardio is not healthy. Better to skip the gym, skip the junk food, and take a walk along the Waterfront. -
Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
Updated - 11/3/2010 109 Check-ins Here
They just added another Zumba class during the week!!!!!! One more star for YOU!
Listed in: Let's Get Physical
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/15/2008
Being an (almost) college graduate (scary shit man!), the prospect of not having a gym to go to for… Read more »
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Review from Elle W.
Boston, MA
3/14/2011
Dear BSC,
I'm leaving you for Equinox. I really tried to stick out, but I've come to realize how much I really hate you.
First of all, your weight area is terrible. There's no good place to stand to use free weights without feeling like you're blocking traffic.
Second, the Precor machines that are both an elliptical and stairstepper must have been recalibrated at the beginning of the year and now they all move awkwardly. Your hands and legs feel like they are going at different speeds and faster than you want them to go.
Third, why do your classes start at 5:30? Most people in Boston work until at least 5. Even if I started shutting my computer down at 4:59, it would take me at LEAST 15 minutes to walk there, and especially in the winter, 15 minutes to change. I'm practically running. Can't you schedule some classes around 5:45/6pm so that normal working people don't have to run out of meetings at the end of the day just to get to cardio sculpt? Also you should note, your classes are a bore.
Lastly, this is not a deal-breaker but just one more thing that irks me. Why do you not have an ironing board in the locker room? You go to the gym in your work clothes, you have packed a bag with your post-gym dinner clothes but because they've been in a bag all day, they're a pile of wrinkles. Every gym I have ever belonged to has had an iron in the locker room.
Equinox...definitely more expensive but at least I'll like going. -
Review from Mandy H.
Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA
2/27/2008
I have had nothing but terrible experiences with this club. When I first started there, I purchased 3 personal training sessions. My trainer stood me up for my first two appointments and I was never refunded my money. Also when I moved to California, they refused to cancel my account. To this day, I recieve horrible customer service and they won't allow me to cancel my account. They do not return phone calls or emails. This gym is not worth the hassle. The trainers take your money and never show. The location is horrible with no parking. The machines are standard and okay...you could get the same from another club that will have better customer service. If you want to be treated well and if customer service matters to you, I highly suggest you go to another gym. They still are causing me grief!
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Review from Philip C.
Medford, MA
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm convinced there is no such thing as a gym that every person enjoys through and through. There's always something wrong, be it the cleanliness of the locker rooms, the selection and availability of machines, the cost per month, etc. That being said, I've been to many Towne Sports Clubs in both MA and NYC so I've seen their good clubs and their less than good clubs. This location of BSC is not bad and I happen to find it to be pretty comfortable and convenient. I usually go around 8:30-9 a.m. before heading to work during the weekdays and it is almost empty, especially in the weight room section. The men's locker room is pretty standard in comparison with other BSC locker rooms in terms of cleanliness and amenities, however, the showers at this location are pretty big. The staff that works at the front desk, I've now been greeted by two different girls, are super friendly which is welcoming early in the morning. My office is about 8 minutes from this gym so maybe I'm biased but knowing about the other gym options in this area I think that BSC is the best all-around deal.
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Review from Mark D.
Boston, MA
8/8/2011
I joined up for the one month trial. Immediately, the salesman was pressuring me to sign up for an annual membership so that I coulld save money "today only". Isn't the whole point of the trial membership to let me try the gym out before I join? But, they're telling me if I don't sign the annual membership before I've even gone once, I'll wind up paying alot more? The "today only" high pressure sales pitches kept coming about once a week throughout the trial period. This facility was ok but other BSC locations were better and made the membership worthwhile. At the end of the trial, I was considering joining but held off to think about it a bit more due to being turned off by the high pressure sales tactics. Then I got a call from the salesman that I had to come in to cancel the membership that I had never signed up for. After three months of dealing with lies from BSC, I finally had to go through my credit card company to get my money back. Worst treatment I've ever received from any company. Other than that, not a bad gym.
