Polo's Gym

Clean, spacious, and very well-stocked gym with a wide selection of equipment (they even have Persian "meel" or "Indian clubs" which look like big bowling pins and are used to train strength and mobility; like ancient kettlebells). They make good use of their space and you can always find a spot to lift safely. I mainly powerlift and appreciate the full cage, half cage with safeties, and deadlift platform. The benches also have safeties, which is lovely for trying for a personal record without a spotter.

Speaking of spotters, staff has always been friendly and helpful as well. They have actually spotted me before in the days before all of the benches had safety bars on them.

That also brings up another point. They are constantly striving to improve the gym, whether it's new equipment or more efficient arrangement of the space. It feels safe and efficient (door has a code). The other patrons are also considerate, wiping down equipment, making sure weights get put away, etc.

My only criticisms are that it can get a *bit* hot when it's hot out (though the fans do well to combat the heat generally), I wish the second treadmill didn't squeak as much as it does, and I wish they had a second elliptical, but other than those minor nitpicks, this is an excellent gym.

While part of me wishes it would stay a hidden gym, I also know that they need more members to survive and thrive, so you should all buy memberships.

Only show up a little bit though, haha.

Love this place!
Nice environment.
Nice establishment.
Uncrowded.
Fair pricing.
Nice owner.

Super friendly, great people!! Good range of equipment and people actually put their weights away.

I love this gym. The weight machines and cages are plentiful and in good repair. The other folks working out are friendly but focused on their own goals. The staff are helpful if you have questions and stay on top of keeping the pace clean and organized. It's also a good bargain compared to other places I have worked out at.

This is long, but for good reason....

Know this, any guy that thinks he can ILLEGALLY stay open during the pandemic and ILLEGALLY not have his gym staffed for hours on end is Sketchy enough to make a fake name to get people in.

I used to be a member and figured that since my passcode was valid, I was good.

I held my membership twice. The first time it was illegal for him to stay open but he did throughout the entire pandemic, refusing to ask people to mask up. The second time I put it on hold was the same reason, as I simply thought he would have changed and it did not.
Imagine my surprise when I see a Groupon for the address and sign up, thinking it was a good way to see about going back. I went in, trained for 3 hours, spoke with his employee who said he did not know about any Groupon but welcome back. I thought I'd come across the owner but my third visit back, no employees working for at least an hour, again, and a trainer that I do not know came in and introduced himself. Very kind guy who said Polo, the owner, did not have my number and he called him.
Polo goes on a tirade saying that I am trespassing, a thief, a liability and a ton of really cruel and mean things. There was no calming him down nor way to have him listen. I offered to pay, as I thought I already had but NBD, I only spent $30 on the fake Groupon. He said No. You are not allowed in my gym ever again. I tried for a few minutes to help him see I had no ill intentions but I thought the Groupon was a good way to ease back in without the contract.

He screamed what name is on the door!! I tried to remind him that for Months Oakland Strength Factory was on the front despite being Polo's and I did not know if he changed it/ sold it/ whatever. He just kept screaming.

Don't go anywhere near this place nor the owner, Polo Garcia as he is poor excuse for a business owner and a worse excuse as a person.

Polo's Gym is exceptional. Polo and Vilma are welcoming, kind owners. It is very difficult to find a gym that offers the massive array of free weights, barbells, kb's, and more for such a reasonable monthly fee. Most gyms in the area only offer group classes or require sessions with a personal trainer. Polo's Gym is a huge, open room with soaring ceilings and plenty of space to maintain social distancing. The place is immaculate and is open every day, even on holidays. For the independent-minded gym-goer, this gem in the Diamond District can't be beat. I've been a member on and off since 2019. Can't speak highly enough of the experience or the owners.

I've been a personal trainer/instructor in the East Bay Area for the last 4 years - experiencing many different facilities and interacting with the staff.
The first day I walked into Polos, I felt welcomed and was impressed by the quality of the equipment!
The owner, Polo is extremely kind and has created an environment that artfully balances good motivational energy, while also preserving the "non-corporate-chain"- nice local business feel.
Parking is always great, the members are kind, never over-crowded and stays clean!
No random yearly fees or minimum requirements - Polo makes things easy and simple!
If you're looking to support quality businesses and people in the Bay Area, Polo's is the perfect place!

This gym honestly one of the best gyms I've been to. The facilities are top-notch, with plenty of new equipment and a spacious workout area. The staff is super friendly. Plus, the gym is always clean and well-maintained. I highly recommend giving it a try! ‍

I was a member of Polo's (at the time, it was still known as OSF) from August-November 2020, and I can honestly say it was the best gym experience I've had in the Bay Area! It looks tough and hardcore on the outside, but it's SO warm and welcoming on the inside. It was awesome to see the same gymgoers every time I went, and the tight-knit community feel there is palpable. As a 21-year-old college senior at the time, I was worried I'd be viewed as an outcast and not taken seriously as a member, but my experience at Polo's was anything but. Additionally, the facility itself is awesome--it's small enough to where it doesn't feel overwhelming, but it's still big enough to fit all the gym equipment you'll need for your workout. I no longer live in the Bay Area, but if I ever move back, I'm definitely restarting my membership at Polo's!!

Fantastic neighborhood gym. Great mix of free weights and machines, large and airy space, busy but rarely crowded. I switched to Polo's after years at a chain gym and only wish I'd done it sooner.