PDXFIT — Local services in Portland

This is the one review you need to read if you’re even thinking about signing up for PDXfit. If you’ve been searching for a gym that isn’t just a place to work out but a community that actually cares about you—your goals, your health, and your well-being—look no further.

PDXfit isn’t just a gym—it’s a vibeeee. It’s a place where you walk in and immediately feel like part of something bigger. It can be a little intimidating at first (like any new gym), but as soon as you meet the people—both the coaches and the members—you’ll feel like family. No toxic competitiveness, no cliques, just real, down-to-earth people who want to support each other. It’s a space where everyone is working toward their own personal goals, and you get to celebrate the wins together.

And that brings me to Marco—he is the man. This guy knows health and fitness. He’s not just a coach; he’s a game-changer. You can tell right away that Marco and Leslie (the power couple behind this operation) care so much about building a space that’s centered on feeling good—mentally, emotionally, and physically. This gym isn’t about losing weight to fit some unrealistic body standard. It’s about building strength, confidence, and a connection to your body. You’re not just another person in the door; Marco makes it his mission to know your name, your goals, and how to push you just the right amount to help you succeed. He provides personalized attention to all members, making sure you're not just going through the motions but are doing things correctly (to make sure you get results, and don't get hurt). He is also great at providing alternate options during team trainings if you have an injury or aren't yet ready to take any particular movement on. If you're ready to turn your mindset around regarding fitness, just...please...stop what you're doing and make him your personal trainer. He'll get you where you need to be, hold you accountable, and set you up to be the wind behind your own back after just a few months of working with him.

The team training sessions? Next-level. They’re tough (no doubt), but in the best way possible. They are always so well structured, with just the right balance of challenge and support. And yes, you WILL feel it tomorrow—but that’s the beauty of it. You’re building strength, stamina, and endurance, and Marco’s coaching style makes sure that you’re not just going through the motions—you’re growing and improving with every session. It’s a “no pain, no gain” situation—but the results? Absolutely worth it.

Let’s talk about the atmosphere—this gym is spotless and everyone pitches in to keep the space clean and welcoming. The equipment is top-notch, and the energy is always high. And if you love a good playlist, you’re in for a treat. The music is ALWAYS fire, pumping you up to push through that last set. The vibe here is infectious in the best possible way—it motivates you and lifts you up in ways you didn’t even know you needed.

But it’s not just about the workouts. The community aspect here is unmatched. Everyone is incredibly supportive, whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or you’re a seasoned pro. People celebrate each other’s progress, and there’s a genuine sense of camaraderie that makes you want to show up every day. Whether you're hitting PRs or just showing up after a rough day, there’s no judgment—only support and encouragement.

PDXfit isn’t your typical gym. It’s not about trendy fads or quick fixes. It’s about building lifelong strength, feeling amazing in your body, and finding a community that has your back. If you’re looking for a gym where you’ll get stronger—physically and mentally—and where you’ll actually enjoy showing up, then this is the place.

Marco and Leslie have created something truly special here, and I can’t recommend PDXfit enough. If you’re thinking about joining, stop thinking and do it. You won’t regret it. Trust me, this is the place that will change the way you view fitness—and maybe even...

I've been attending PDXFIT regularly for three weeks, and am genuinely thrilled to write a review for this wonderful neighborhood gym. I've passed it for over a year, but dismissed it as it seemed too expensive. However, it being a four minute walk from my house and feeling my body slowly loose all fitness from being sedentary, it felt worth it to try the one week pass. After a week, I immediately signed up as a member, and it feels completely worth the cost.

I've worked out at several gyms, ranging from 24 hour fitness types to similar boutique gyms like PDXFIT. PDXFIT has the ideal balance of friendliness, a relaxed environment, community orientation, with excellent and stringent teaching with a high level of focus on form and safety. It's also spotlessly clean, which is a pretty remarkable feat for a gym. Marco, the owner, and Holden, the other coach, are both wonderful, kind teachers who don't let you get away with poor form. Leslie, the co-owner, is also one of the friendliest and kindest people I've ever met. I particularly appreciate Marco's consistent focus on explaining the reasoning behind a particular exercise or way of doing something.

Here are some questions I had before I came in that have been answered and will hopefully help others:

1. What do you get for the money? The membership covers small-group workouts six days per week. Classes are capped at 10 people so there's always plenty of room as well as access to coaching when needed. M,W,F,S are a combination of coached classes and open gym, T,Th are just open gym. The intangibles are that I've been a member for three weeks and have already been invited to three gym events that are either parties or supplemental workouts that include a social hour.

2. What kind of workouts are there? There are 3 different "tracks" you can take (not sure if it's actually called that) - one that is cardio focused, one weights focused, and one that is a blend of both. The workouts include for all a blend of free weights, barbells, kettlebells, and cardio (rowing, ski machine, or a horrible horrible hands and legs bike that is the meanest workout machine I've ever met), in different percentages depending on the track. The workouts are modifiable but I find myself very well challenged here. I also appreciate that the focus isn't on speed workouts outside of sprinting, and that timed rest is built into every workout, so I feel more able to focus on keeping my form than in crossfit or similar metcon type workouts. Each workout includes a warm-up, cool-down is on your own.

3. What level of fitness or knowledge do you have to have to be comfortable? I would say I personally have a medium level of knowledge and a currently low level of fitness, and I feel very comfortable there. There are people working out who are more "beginner" in terms of knowledge/fitness, as well as badasses who can apparently do one armed pull-ups and similar nonsense :D Everyone across the board has been very welcoming.

4. Is it welcoming to queer folks? This was a personal question to me as one never knows when going into a fitness space and I've had bad experiences with microagressions and similar trash. The answer is absolutely yes. I am a visibly queer, non-binary person who can't shut up about my wife, and I have been completely welcomed by both the owners and other members, and have met several queer attendees. That might be my only suggestion to the gym - a sign indicating "all are welcome here" for folks with various identities would have likely gotten me to come by earlier!

This review is already far too long, but I am hopeful that it encourages folks to give PDXFIT a try. It's a great gym and I hope to be a member for a...

If all the stellar reviews make you curious, I just wanna say, don't hesitate to give PDXFIT a try. You'll have fun and you won't feel at all pressured. I just had two trial sessions and, while I decided I wasn't ready to join a gym yet (need to deal with an old running injury first), if I do, it will be this one.

Like everyone says, the space is amazing, clean, and well-equipped. Marco makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in the door. After my first session he took quite a bit of time to chat with me about my goals. But he never mentioned joining. I'm always on the alert for getting "sold" in these situations, but I never got that feeling. He just likes people and loves what he does. There's a genuine feeling of community.

He was also very gracious when I emailed him to say I wasn't ready to join yet.

Finally, as others have said, you'll see all kinds of people and bodies there. I didn't feel at all self-conscious about being a skinny runner with no upper-body strength, lifting featherweight barbells. 😅

Anyway, I thought sharing this experience might help people who are nervous about trying something...