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29 reviews for Ray Meyer Fitness Center
I love this gym - everyone is great, the machines and facilities are wonderful, and the price is right (for us alumni, that is!).
The classes are awesome - spinning, crunch, and muscle work are my favorites. They also offer swimming lessons for adults which my husband is going to be trying. They have pilates and yoga for an extra fee.
Being a university gym, the hours change when school is in/out of session. And it closes for a few days in August and again in December. Really, though, it doesn't bother me one bit.
The pool is great, too. The classes are wonderful.
This place has everything. A track with an amazing view, a large pool, an ample locker room, racquetball courts, basketball courts and enough equipment, machines and freeweights to keep a lot of people busy for a long time. The whole setup looks new, clean, bright and sleek.
I agree that the cafe is a waste, but since I don't go there to eat or drink, I didnt dock the Ray a star because of it. I went here as a student, so I cant comment on price (although the fee was an inseparable part of the tuition bill), but I would say it's worth it!
this place is awesome... 25-yard six lane indoor lap pool that is very lightly used, nice locker rooms and an amazing work-out facility that sunny and bright. They also had some nice raquetball courts and a gym. We were there when school wasn't in session so it was very quiet.
They let community members join for $70 a month - that's a total deal!
Pros: Equipment is cutting edge, updated constantly. Other than rush hour, I'm rarely every paused by waiting for anyone else in the gym.
Cons: customer service here has been awful. Membership services takes more than a month to get me contacted with a nutritionist and personal trainer, many times. The 'healthy cafe' doesn't supply one wholesome, post or pre workout meal therefore rendering it useless. Actually, I'm mostly disappointed by the cafe than anything else in the gym. Not a single whole grain for sale, fresh veggies are rare or iceberg, and the service is terrible. Expect to wait at least a half hour just for a smoothie.
One more annoying feature, at least for me, is the crazy abundance of weekend families that invade my college space. There's nothing better than screaming kids running around while your trying to work off that hang over.
The Ray Meyer was my second home for about six years while I attended DePaul and lived in the city for a few years afterward. I also worked there for a stint during my time as a student, so I've seen both sides of the coin.
It's extremely clean, and modern being that it was built very recently. The TVs are nice, though many of them are set up in a group setting, where there are about eight TVs interspersed amongst three or four rows of cardio machines. One gripe (I guess if we're nitpicking) was that it doesn't have personal TVs for every cardio machine like many other modern gyms I've seen.
I always knew it was great, but one thing I don't think I really appreciated until I left was the quality of the equipment. It has a good range of cardio machines that are kept in good working order and updated and swapped out for newer models occasionally, but the real difference I realized after leaving had to do with its other equipment -- Bosu, stability balls, resistance balls, resistance bands, free weights, etc. All of this stuff looks like new and is kept very clean and replaced with some frequency, which I later discovered is not all that common after visiting several gyms with dirty and scuffed up equipment.
The group fitness classes are really what won my heart and helped maintain my loyalty to the Ray all six years. The gym offers a good selection that can be fit into the workout regime of people at any fitness level, and the instructors are very nice and upbeat and rarely annoying, like some tend to be.
The crowdedness of the gym ebbs and flows. God forbid you want to get a machine around 6 p.m. on a weekday in January (post-New Year's Resolutions) or in September (the beginning of the school year), because that place will be crawling with freshman. The high student population of the gym, actually, was something I became increasingly conscious of during my three years working out at the Ray after I graduated. It's to be expected, given that it's a college gym, but is something I could see getting annoying to members over the age of say 30 or 40.
For its quality and size, it was freakishly cheap for me as a student/alum (free as a student, and $42 a month as an alum), and I was ecstatic to have it. For non-alum, it's significantly more expensive, but still I believe somewhat cheaper than other comparable gyms in the area.
I spy.. an indoor running track in Chicago?!! Yeah, it's probably one of the few tracks in the city, which is what almost persuaded me to renew my membership at this gym. Let's work from the top down.
Level 4: running track and a couple of rowing and eliptical machines.
Level 3: basketball/volleyball courts, dance/martial arts/misc. studio.
Level 2: treadmills, eliptical, free weights and weight machines, stretching area, and 1 or 2 studios.
Level 1: racketball, swimming pool, locker rooms, cafe, lounge area, member services desk, foozball, etc.
Yeah, even though it's a university gym, it's super nice. It's almost comparable to Lifetime Fitness.
I hear the general membership is pricey, but alumni get the $42 a month rate.
Great views on the indoor track. Looking east you can see the el trains. Looking south the distant downtown cityscape.
The pool, track, and free weights are selling points.
The creepy older men gaping at the college students are among the minuses.
At times, the place can feel overrun with nannies and kids, or frazzled mothers and kids. But if you have kids, come on down, they have swim lessons, dance classes, and more.
In house physical therapy.
Locker room hand dryers give the best and fastest blowout I have ever had.
This is a pretty nice gym, if you're a student or an alumni. I had a membership as a community member and I ended up finding a better deal at a different gym.
However, for what it is - it is a great gym. Good machines, good classes, and a lot of variability if you're trying to mix it up exercise wise. It just wasn't for me.
The Ray is my second home.
Since I'm a student, I am already paying for the membership in my tuition and I take fulll advantage!
I've tried pretty much every free class and love some of the instructors (and hate some as well.. won't name any names in public, but feel free to ask me!)
The indoor track is pretty good and only gets busy during peak time (right after work.)
All the equipment is new and nice.
I've never checked out the pool, but have heard decent things.
The only annoyance is the Depaul girls that get dolled up to run on the treadmills or read magazines on the elliptical. (And yes, I am a Depaul girl but definitely don't apply make-up to exercise.)
I'm a student at DePaul, and although all of my classes this quarter are at the Loop campus, I hop the train over to Fullerton and work out at this gym. I'll be very sad when I no longer qualify for the grad student rate ($78/quarter) because that is just wicked cheap for ANY gym in Chicago, and Ray Meyer happens to be a really nice gym.
I'm training for a triathlon, and this is like a one-stop-shop for wintertime training:
Run - there are plenty of treadmills, as well as an indoor running track. Fabulous alternative to running on icy sidewalks and risking injury!
Bike - Group fitness classes are free, which is excellent - I don't have to pay extra for a spin class! Until it warms up enough for me to get back on the roads, I'm on the stationary bikes here.
Swim - It's too cold to swim in Lake Michigan? There's a pool, and towel service. Also, if you forgot your goggles or need a new swim cap, the info desk has a small equipment store, and you can buy a replacement.
I'd recommend going as early in the day as you can. Between 4pm and 9pm, it's busy, but early in the morning you have your pick of equipment.
The juice bar is pretty awesome. Try the All Green juice - it sounds scary (celery, cucumber, parsley, and spinach) but it's amazing, and super refreshing. Also, the cafe staff are very nice, and will make you as big of a salad as they can squeeze into the little plastic containers.
I like this gym a whole lot. It is conveniently located on campus and has decent hours. While not a big gym by any means, it does manage to have a little bit of everything. Upstairs you'll find the indoor running track (with great views of the city) and the basketball courts. Strength and conditioning is on Level 2 as well as several studios where all the classes take place. Level 1 has three racquetball courts, a juice bar, and an indoor pool. I haven't tried the pool yet but will soon. If you are a full-time undergraduate DePaul student then your membership is included in your tuition.
Here is a poem I composed while running last night. It's not Shakespeare, but hey, it kind of rhymes!
The Ray Meyer is my gym
It's usually filled to the brim
With girls with DePaul written on their butts,
And old alumni like me working on their guts
The first floor has racquetball courts
And a pool I think is a little bit short
The second floor has machines and weights galore
And aerobics studios with shining floors
The third floor has courts for basketball
Where college boys act like Neanderthals
There's a track on the top floor
I used to like it a lot more
Then they banked the outer two lanes
And now in my ass it is a pain.
Great gym, I spent much time there in college. Not as nice as Life Time Fitness, but still a great gym.
i go on Saturdays to play Racquetball and haven't had much of a problem reserving a court, but I certainly wouldn't go there to play without a reservation.
The price went up $1 for law students since last year, but $6 is still pretty affordable for a work out and r-ball game.
Street parking is always available, just bring quarters and some savvy.
There's always a few too many screaming children in the morning, but they tend to be gone by noon.
A sauna. steamroom or whirl pool would be nice, but what you gonna do
Oh yeah, my favorite part is the running track on the 4th floor. Look to your left and check out the great cityscape or look to your right and watch the basketball or volley ball games.
For the price that grad students and alumni (and spouses!) pay, this is a jaw-dropping dream of a gym. I did my undergrad at DePaul and the Ray Meyer was brand spankin' new--and I hated it. Although very small in stature, I was NOT one of the girls who put on make-up in the locker room prior to a workout and bouncing around in tiny shorts and matching tank top. This place was a meat market gym and all the ookey older men from the neighborhood would come and check out the young girls. Blech. Based on one of the other posters, I guess that still happens, but I didn't notice it when I went this evening.
I now have a new perspective, some years later, after having attended a few other gyms. I'm now in grad school and decided to rejoin and whip myself back into shape. There were a few unpleasantries, but overall a good experience. I overheard some snarky-ass comment from one girl to another about what she was wearing to work out (I believe it was "Wow you look manly in that.."). So I had to remember that I was at a college gym and not all of them keep to themselves like other gyms. But the place was still pretty great machine-wise and they had added some other stuff since I had last been there (the TV's were very nice). Still kind of a meat market, but not nearly as bad as before. Most folks kept to themselves and the experience was surprisingly pleasant.
Side note: I had a deep tissue massage here a few years back, and it was pretty phenomenal. For the cost to get a massage, you can't beat it.
Lots of machines! The indoor track is convenient in the rare instance that you can't get a treadmill. Oh yeah, and I love the TVs attached to the treadmills, so you can get your fix while working out. There's a pool, which is nice when I remember to bring my bathing suit. The juice bar is pretty good too, but a little overpriced.
This is an excellent place for young people to work out. I go there about 4-5 times a week and I always enjoy myself. I like it because it has people my age working out, and fortunately lacks the plethora of old people that other Chicago gyms have. it's not massive, but it is sized just right. Another plus is that it has racketball courts, which are not common in Chicago gyms. Yes, the indoor running track is great. I love the view. The only negatives about the ray meyer, are that it get really crowded around peak hours. The staff there are all students, and therefore the service often is lacking. If you're a DePaul Alumni (like me) I would suggest going to this gym.
Don't get me wrong, there are probably "nicer" gyms out there. You won't find silly perks like Bumble & Bumble hair products in the locker rooms or complimentary Smart Water at Ray Meyer. But this place is pretty freaking sweet given the deals it offers to students and alumni. I love the unique availability of an indoor track and racquetball courts, the free daily locker rental, the great variety and amount of new, clean equipment, and the general prettiness of this place. The student employees are always friendly and the hours are long. You will find mostly undergraduate students and 20-somethings at Ray Meyer, with a smattering of families and older adults. I haven't explored the plethora of free group fitness classes, but I plan to soon!
A little pricey for community members but well worth it if you can swing it. The gym is huge with great new equipment. A well maintained pool and track. Tons of great workout classes and nice locker rooms.
I never have a problem getting a great workout at DePaul.
I like to switch it up on a regular basis.
Between spin class, yoga (core stretch), elliptical, treadmill, running on the track, weight machines... I can always have whatever I want.
They also offer a LOT of different programs, both fee-based and free.
The facilities are always clean and look great, and I like that it's open to the community as well.
It's a really really nice gym. Large weights area, lots of cardio equipment, lots of TVs to help you forget how long you've been working out, lots of classes to take for FREE(I'd recommend boxing- it kicks your ass in a good way), lots of room for basketball, and a nice running track with more cardio stuff around it.
If I don't move ridiculously far away, I'll probably join up with this place again. It gets very packed during the winter, but it's a college gym- so what do you expect?
I looked all over Chicago to find a gym to play basketball at and found that DePaul is pretty much the only option. It's a decent place to play, there're four courts to choose from and there are usually a couple of pick-up games going on. The membership is a little high ($75/month), but it's just to keep community members, like myself, to a relative minimum. I don't use too many other aspects of the gym, but the place is clean and the indoor track has a nice view of the city skyline. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a place to play basketball.
I just started working out here and am very happy with the facilities. The students who work at the front desk are very nice and helpful, and so far I have never had a problem getting a machine. Everything is clean, the views are gorgeous (especially on the 3rd floor), and the people (obviously students) are all normal and keep to themselves. I really like it here!
I became a member of De Paul's gym when I became a graduate student at De Paul last year. It's not as luxurious as my previous gyms, but it has all the equipment and classes I could possibly need. I've taken a few of their classes as well and they were much better than I expected.
Great equipment, plenty of room, cheap for alumni. I've been going there for almost seven years. Still love it.
I started going to the gym here when I started my MS. 6 years later, I am still going (but the MS is complete). It is one of the best in the area, and for the alumni price, it is far and away the best deal.
I have NEVER had to wait in line for cardio, and rarely had to wait more than one or two sets for a weight machine. I mostly only use cardio and nautilus-type weight machines, but they have a ton of other stuff too: racquetball courts, basketball, a (possibly) full-length pool, a banked track, general classrooms, stretching mats, medicine balls, ping-pong etc. I like their hours during the school-year. The facility is also clean, well-lit, well-decorated, not loud, well-ventilated, and it has no offensive odors.
They offer:
free hand towels and shower towels
alcohol-based disposable equipment-cleaning towels
Keyed full-sized lockers for duration of your workout.
Many large flat-screens, and some personal flat-screens on the cardio machines.
Headphone jacks on most cardio machines.
Equipment loaning (Basketballs, etc.)
Some consumable equipment (racquetballs, ping-pong) for sale.
There is also a wellness/education/massage area that I may try someday.
A cafe that has some limited hours (never used).
Drink Machines.
Family locker rooms.
Various Classes.
I find that non-peak hours are the best times to go if you are a non-student. There are some serious adults there who work out "for real". Most patrons/students are very nice, not aloof, and are there to exercise rather than socialize. The employees are pretty decent too, but they are usually undergrad students so I wouldn't expect them to have "trainer" qualities. I do believe that you can have access to a private personal trainer if you wish. The music is not oppressive, most people bring their own mp3-player though. If you have kids, they offer limited babysitting service too.
Their equipment is kept in excellent condition and is very clean. As for cardio and weight machines, they have a great variety and selection of machines.
For cardio, they have at least two or three different brands/types of the following: treadmills, stationary bikes, recumbent bikes, stairsteppers, ellipticals, elliptical w/ upper body, various other leg/lower body cardio machines. They also have rowing machines, Nordic-skiers and upper-body bikes. Please note that the equipment is subject to change over time.
For weights, They have 3 different styles of nautilus-type machines from highly-isolated to bowflex-style no-isolation machines. They also have large universal-style set. I have not tried their free weights or the universal-style machines, but I am sure that they are similarly maintained.
I have a few small complaints:
They need a whirlpool.
You can only have water (no Gatorade) around the equipment, and you may not carry even a small baggie with you.
Their hours are shortened during non-quarter periods for DePaul.
Usually once a year (late summer)they do a full-shutdown for a week of cleaning.
Very feminine-smelling raspberry hand-soap in the mens' locker room.
Other caveats.. They are there primarily to serve DePaul, and therefore they do host some children and DePaul visitors (prospective students, summer camps) at times. I walk to the gym, but street parking is usually not available except for late hours. The membership "office" has shorter hours than the gym itself. It is $12 for a guest-visit.
Of all of the gyms I have belonged to over the years this is my favorite. Compact yet has everything I need and boasts an outstanding running track on the top level providing unobstructed views of the skyline - perfect for winter running.
Almost everyone that works out here is young, in shape and knows what they are doing. No dieters or weight losers here. Always very clean and able to use equipment when I want.
I love this gym. I am a grad student at DePaul, and have to pay a small fee, but it is amazing. I always get a treadmill - it is rarely ever TOO crowded (although I do try to avoid going during peak hours). The track upstairs is wonderful and has a great view of the city. It is consistently clean, and definitely worth my while.
I'm giving this gym 5 stars not because it's perfect but because I really don't think you can find a gym like this in the city for double what you pay here! I go everyday.
I love that it's 5 blocks away from me and I have to walk past it walking from the el so I feel guilty for not going. I am an alumni and for the first year it's 25 bucks a month, the second year 40 bucks... still completely reasonable for the area and what's there. Another block down there is a creepy gym that looks like a White Hen on Webster where my friend goes and pays double.
You cannot beat the equipment, facilities, locker room, pool, audio and tv hook ups for treadmills and elipticals. AND!!! AND!!!! the group fitness classes are free with a membership. Are you kidding? I go three times a week and can't believe anyone would find anything to complain about with this in mind. It should trump any other minor issues. And their diverse classes: cardiokickbozing, core strength, core stretch, aqua aerobics, and dance party cardio. So fun. So it's not just step and crunches.
Anyone who complains about this place doesn't realize how expensive gyms can be in the city. My friend belongs to Equinox and it's $240 a month! At DePaul, you can also sign up to get massages for $30, which is nutso.
