Ford's Gym — Attraction in Madison

If you want to get a gym membership to go to the gym, go to any place in town. Princeton Club, Anytime Fitness, they'll work just fine as places to throw your New Year's resolution money. But if you want to get a membership to a gym that will make you feel welcome, that will make you excited not only to make progress physically, but also socially and mentally, this is the place for you. Ford's is a community like no other, filled with all types of characters with all different workouts, advice, and goals. But what binds everyone that goes here is a seemingly unending desire to constantly push and uplift both themselves and everyone else at the gym. Whether you're benching 45 pounds or 450 pounds, someone will always be happy to give you a spot, check your form, or leave you to do the hard work. And the longer you go here, the more you'll do just the same. I've learned so much in my years going here, but more than anything, Ford's Gym has taught me that so long as you're willing to put in everything you have while you're there, reaching (and more often surpassing) your goals...

Like most weight lifting/ boxing gyms, this gym is no frills and has some awesome space and equipment for serious lifting. They have a few deadlifting platforms,😍 plenty of squat racks and the usual minimal cardio equipment. Not everything is perfect (some older equipment) but that almost makes me like this place better. The staff is friendly and chill.

I tried the 1 week trial membership just before the pandemic and eventually bought an annual membership. They offer personal training (you will get a single session with membership purchase), a couple of group class-type workouts (also avail to tryout) and they have boxing classes as well. I feel welcome and at home, which is really nice. I really enjoy working out here. They've managed the pandemic really well and I'm happy to continue...

I exclusively train for powerlifting, so I was skeptical of the gym at first because on the surface it looks like a retro boxing gym. Spending just 5 minutes in that gym I felt silly about my initial judgement.

Pros: Cheap compared to large commercial gyms, niche equipment (such as different types of bars, banded deadlifting platform, turf area of the gym), many power racks, heavy dumbbells upwards of 140 pounds. They also have a little shop to buy equipment, merchandise, or protein bars/drinks after your workout. Anything you want to train, they got it.

Cons: Can be busy and crowded at times, some of the equipment placement is kinda awkward, not enough adjustable benches in my opinion.

The pros vastly outweigh the cons. This is what I think of when I imagine...