Lloyd Athletic Club — Attraction in Portland

At the risk of my AWESOME fitness club getting overrun as a result of positive reviews, I can no longer gatekeep such a hidden treasure. I've been a member of every little hole-in-the-wall local or big box club, always looking for a solid place to lift weights and occasionally taking small group classes or using cardio machines (I'm looking at you, Portland winters...). Finally fed up with never being able to get to the machines or weights that I wanted when I needed to work out, I decided to try the Lloyd Athletic Club on my way home from work one day. Wow! I consider myself a pretty smart person, so let me save you the wasted time that I spent - THIS is where you want to workout. Why? Everyone here is friendly. Everyone to everybody. I am hyper aware of this because as a woman working out in a gym, it isn't always that way. The vibe here is chill and safe. There are TONS of different workout spaces. If there is only one place to squat and that is taken and you hoped to do squats that day, you're out of luck. Here, there are two rooms downstairs that have what I refer to as functional lifting equipment - ropes, suspension trainers, squat racks, benches, deadlift platforms, sleds, hanging bags, cable machines, etc. Additionally, there is a cardio room upstairs that has multiples of every cardio machine (and lots of TV's), a studio that has balance balls, bars, free weights, mats, sliders, bands - you get it. I've never come up here and NOT found what I was looking for. There is a large room that has machines and free weights - benches, cables, squat racks, etc, with ANOTHER large room adjacent that has MORE machines, foam rollers, mats, etc. I know that no matter what I'm planning to do that day in my workout, I will be able to find a space to do whatever I want. Period. That's gold as far as I'm concerned. If you play racket sports - you're covered. Pickleball, Wallyball (?), Racketball - all of it is here, plus indoor basketball courts. Don't play? That seems to be fine too, as I've seen several message board postings looking for people who want to learn and someone is willing to teach you! For free! What?! Did I mention that the people are nice here? The locker room is clean and spacious and there is a LADIES ONLY SAUNA AND STEAM ROOM. That is worth repeating. It was one of the factors that brought me here because I hated sitting in a mixed gender sauna and feeling like I was on display. Enough said. (Oh, and because it fits well here - the management trusts that everyone here can act like the adults that they are and decide which restroom and locker room works best for them. It's all good. No one makes a big deal out of anything and everyone seems to be very respectful. While I am not a person who might typically think about needing to use a different restroom or locker room, I want everyone to feel safe doing so and this is that place as far as I've been able to tell.) There are free towels and LOTS of cleaning equipment, which I ACTUALLY see people using. Regularly. (Yeah, I don't want ringworm either...) Lastly, the rates here are as good or better than most places I've been and are DEFINITELY better than some places that have far bigger advertising budgets but fall WAY short in delivering a good product. Join here. Workout and be happy. You won't regret it. Write a nice review afterward. If you see me working...

Really surprised by all the good reviews. I checked out this gym with a free day pass and was disappointed. TLDR: cramped, outdated, dirty, bad culture, expensive, non-transparent pricing.

This gym is extremely cramped (both crowded with people and jam-packed with equipment) and I had a hard time finding space to do many of my exercises. There are a lot of machines but not much space for free weights or squat racks. Most of the squat racks are in a room that was off-limits because it was being used for small group training, leaving just one rack available that was constantly in use by others.

I also did not like the general culture of the gym. In the 1.5 hours i was there, i experienced a lot of unwanted/creepy staring by other gym-goers (plural), which made me feel uncomfortable and was probably the worst part of the whole experience. And a lot of loud, obnoxious grunting (also from multiple people).

A lot of the comments describe the gym as “retro” or “old school” but it is straight-up outdated. I felt like i was back in my middle school from 2005… if they just left it as-is and hadn’t done any updates in 20 years. It felt dirty overall, especially the locker room. Normally i sauna and shower at the gym but definitely not something i was comfortable doing here. I also saw someone sit their bare a** on one of the locker room benches.

Lastly, the prices. Online it says you can get a membership for $29/month if you pay for 12 months in advance. When i got there, they said it’s actually $59/month if you pay 12 months in advance. I was confused and showed them the prices listed on their website and they said the prices on their website are outdated. It’s probably time to update the website now that the prices have doubled!

The only part i liked was the group fitness room. It was the only part of the gym that felt clean, fresh, and spacious. The staff were also kind to me, so i’ll give them that! Though i recommend reading some of the owner’s responses to bad reviews because they are very telling (a lot of defensiveness, passive-aggressiveness, childish mockery, and straight up denying their experiences… then asking them to change their review).

Anyway, the next day i tried a guest pass at LA fitness. It was a way, way better experience in every sense (clean, updated, spacious, more free weights and equipment, more amenities, better/more respectful culture - no creepy staring or loud grunting). Plus LA fitness is $29/month (for month to month!) and transparent about their pricing. The only downside is they play bad music lol. Normally I’d rather support a local gym but I cannot fathom paying $59/month for a dirty, outdated, cramped gym with a gross/creepy culture and i’m surprised so...

Update: I would have to agree with another reviewer that the new gym layout is less than ideal having effectively eliminated the area for stretching on the second floor.

Lloyd Athletic Club is my second favorite gym in Portland. The staff are welcoming, towel service is included, and the facilities have seen recent upgrades such as new carpet and rubber flooring in the main weight area.

Cleanliness is a standout. Members are provided with sanitizer bottles and reusable cloths. The equipment selection is extensive, with minimal wait times. Cardio options are are good with treadmills, ellipticals, Jacob’s Ladder, and stair steppers (note: the basketball hoop is currently out of order).

That said, there are a few areas where LAC could elevate the member experience. The biggest drawback is the lighting—there’s little natural light, and current choices make some spaces feel less energetic. More uniform lighting (ensuring tones are the same for each bulb), brighter tones in the cardio area (including painting ceiling white), adding a wellness-focused system like SkyView circadian tiles or skylight installations could transform the atmosphere. Red led rope baseboard accent lighting would also add a modern touch.

In the spa, adding background music (e.g. via a licensed service such as sound machine) would create a more relaxing experience. Weightless by Marconi Union has been studied and shown to be one of the most relaxing songs. Small touches like red light therapy in the sauna, forest/nature wallpaper in the spa/ stretching area, greenery/fake plants throughout, or inspiring artwork would also add a sense of calm and energy throughout the gym.

Other functional upgrades could include: • Step-and-pull handles on locker room doors and solutions for entry-locker congestion. • Hex dumbbells (up to 30 lbs) near the stretching area for functional training. • Step risers, mini bands, and additional mat hooks for drying in stretching area • A Woodway or 15+ mph treadmill in the Max Room near the turf for cross-training • Dance classes later in the evening. • Adding air purifiers

For a fun twist, it’d be cool if LAC experimented with themed hours weekly. High-energy louder EDM/house/hip-hop throughout with LED lighting to create a club-like workout vibe, similar to Gymbox in London. They could even trial making mocktails/ NA options/ vegan protein shakes and hosting events to attract new members.

Overall, LAC is one of Portland’s best gym options. The consistent upgrades show ownership is invested in modernizing the space, and with a few thoughtful improvements, it could become an example for gyms around...