Ballston CrossFit — Attraction in Arlington

Bottom line: BCF is awesome.

From the coaches to the facilities to the members, I couldn't have asked for a better experience being new to the CrossFit world. Sadly, I am moving to Boston and have to leave BCF behind. While I have liked BCF from day one, I don't think I knew how great BCF was until I started researching and visiting other CrossFit boxes in Boston (and others while traveling). Here's what BCF has to offer:

Staff: Tucker, the owner, is the best. From the very first day that I went to a free class when BCF first opened, his goal was focused on teaching and explaining CrossFit in general, as well as every specific move and the reason behind it. No regular gym can provide this kind of instruction in such a fun environment and not everyone is a natural teacher, but Tucker and his staff definitely are dedicated to teaching.

Facilities: The location is perfect; walking distance from the Ballston metro, and convenient for those of us who live and/or work in Ballston. Additionally, there is plenty of free on-street parking within a few blocks. The box itself is incredibly clean and the equipment is always put away in the correct location so the next group can find exactly what they are looking for. There are bathrooms and showers if you need them for changing and plenty of space to stretch and socialize with other members before and after workouts. We also have access to the trails to do some running for warm-ups or in the WODs.

Members: The demographic of Ballston is primarily young professionals and the atomosphere of BCF naturally resembles this demographic, which makes it a great place to meet friends, especially if you are new to the area. You will quickly be introduced to the other members, who make it a point to get to know you and who are always friendly. This is also the most supportive environment I've been in. While having run several marathons before joining BCF, I thought the running community was the most supportive. However, I quickly learned that WODs at BCF are even better - no one cares if you scale a lot or if you are impressing people by Rx-ing; BCFs top athletes are always supportive and encouraging to all members.

Classes: Daily WODs are the best. They are always posted on the website and Facebook the night before, so you know what you are in for the next day (or you can choose not to look!). Tucker plans to add additional classes as the gym membership grows, but right now classes range from 5-15 people usually. It's small enough that you get individualized coaching/training, but large enough to keep you motivated through tough WODs. And you don't have to sign up for classes in advance - just show up whenever it fits in your schedule for the day so there are no excuses for not making it (and trust me, you will want to go because it's fun!). Also, free yoga on Sunday mornings!

Extras: Tucker is always arranging outside programming and clinics that take place at the gym. These include running seminars, mobility workshops, skills seminars, etc., and he is open to including other activites if there is enough interest from the members. Oh, and how could I forget the happy hours and BBQs that members host at their houses. Like I said before, the members are great and it's a very social environment where you can also get in a great workout in 60 minutes. I'll definitely miss this place when I move to Boston and can only hope that I find a box that is equally as...

I’ve been a member at Ballston CrossFit for the past 5 years. During that time, I’ve met countless friends and had a number of great experiences through the gym and the members that go there. Many people are intimidated about going to a “CrossFit” gym. They think the norm is rhabdo and a cult like atmosphere every time they walk in the door due to the fact that the coaches are not properly trained and members are attempting heavy lifts with zero guidance or attention to form. To that I would say, check out BCF. Coaches are not just attending a one weekend class and then leading instruction in front of a group. The owner, Tucker, puts a huge emphasis on each coach obtaining at least 1, if not 2-3+ certifications per individual (in addition to the required Level 1) and routinely has “coaches only” sessions where coaches coach coaches and perfect form through repetition and peer reviews. On top of the great coaching, BCF is hands down the best place to meet new people and socialize outside of work. As much as I love CrossFit, half of the reason I’ve stuck around that long is because of the friends and experiences I’ve had during my time there. Ask any member there on a given day and you’ll be told the same thing. There are a number of couples who have met at the gym (myself included) and gotten married which speaks to the community that Tucker and the coaches have fostered over the years. Having started out in college on a classic big gym muscle group split, several years of grappling, mountain biking and triathlon, I was worried that the aesthetics gained from CrossFit wouldn’t be able to compare to the isolation exercises that I was familiar with. I can happily report that sticking with the extreme technical and compound movements that are at the foundation of CrossFit, continuously keep me at a low bodyfat percentage year round and allow me to eat a diet that is more casual vs a strict macros based approach. All in all, you get what you pay for and this is certainly no exception.

On a side note, I don’t normally write reviews, but I felt this one was necessary. This past Veterans Day, I let the owner know that I would need to cancel my membership later this month due to my military leave obligation. Rather than ask for additional documentation for proof of leave, the owner emailed me back right away letting me know that my military Service was appreciated and he would be giving me a membership free of charge for the remainder of my time left in the area. This is the aspect of small business that I value and appreciate. I encourage anyone who wants to get in better shape, look better, feel better, make new friends, perform better in sports or the military, to try out a session at BCF. Support a small business in the Arlington area and know that you’re joining a great community that will provide...

Coming out of COVID, my wife and I were in the worst shape of our lives. We experienced back pain, gained weight, slept poorly (probably from drinking more than we normally did), and experienced elevated stress levels. After the first free "test" class we knew we had to make a decision. We could either commit to getting through a real class, which we could barely do at that point due to lack of endurance, and get in shape, or we could continue down the path we were on.

We made the decision to sign up for Ballston CrossFit 3x days/week and it changed our lives forever. Our back pain dissipated entirely, we slept better, quit social smoking, drastically cut back on drinking, and felt more confident in every aspect of our lives. We became more flexible, increased our physical endurance, agility, made friends, and even improved our relationship. We had a fun, challenging, and healthy activity that we were excited to participate in together several times a week and we are now in the best shape of our lives in our mid-30s.

Don't get me wrong some of the classes sucked, but in the BEST way, haha! Every single one of the coaches was attentive to our needs and helping us ramp on the more unfamiliar exercises. No one judged anyone and it was nothing, but good vibes. At most specialty gyms, you might like 1 or 2 of the coaches and avoid classes the others are coaching. Not as BCF. All of the coaches are super 'lax, experienced, and professional. We never once checked to see who would be coaching b/c everyone delivered quality classes.

When we signed up we faltered on whether to do 2x or more classes b/c it felt expensive compared to other gyms. However, we realized that there is no better 'thing' to INVEST in than your own health and happiness. We ended up doing the 3x/week which was perfect for us, and if we were not moving away, we were ready to up that number! The people that go range from having never participated in athletics to the more advanced college athletes who live and breathe the sport. We probably fell in middle of that spectrum, but everyone is friends or friendly with everyone. It really is a great, no pressure, judgement free culture. Take it as serious as you want, guilt free.

Finally, I will say that once you get in a rhythm of going to the classes consistently, the notion of remaining health conscious will spill over into other areas of your life such as eating healthier and/or drinking less. We really do not have one bad thing to say about this gym. I was in Arlington for 10 years and it is truly shame we did not...