Planet Fitness — Local services in Tulare

The gym itself is okay. Easy layout and everything you could want or need to get in shape, bodybuild, or almost anything in between. The staff is also generally friendly and welcoming.

But this place also has a lot of problems. Among them, in no particular order:

The hours are all honked up. They used to be 24/7. Now, they've been pared back and aren't consistent. I believe they are only open 24 for three days. The other two, they open at 5AM. Weekends, they don't open until 7AM. Why this is, no idea.

Crowding is getting bad. Almost to the point that unless you plan to stick to just one machine, it's almost impossible to do a varied workout. There are a few reasons for this.

2A: Tulares population has really exploded in size over the last few years. Amenities have not kept up. I realize this isn't PF's fault, but....

2B: Whoever designed the layout badly misjudged the clientele expectations. By eyeball estimate, they have some 40 treadmills. Yet I've never seen more than a third, maybe a half in use at a time. They have far more than they need. But woefully not enough weight machines, which most DO go to use. If they took out at least half of the cardio machines and replaced with more of the weight machines, getting a routine in would be much easier.

2C: Too many people come here and then sit on machines, which are already in short supply and decide that's a good time and place to just scroll on their phones instead of actually exercising. I have repeatedly voiced this concern to the manager, who despite pretending to care and listen, has not addressed it. And it's not hard to know why: because this rude behavior is both so common and normalized, the one who calls it out is seen as the rude one, not the people actually being rude. Plus, if they were to enact and equally important-enforce a no phones while on machines policy, two-thirds of their members would cancel.

Something is ALWAYS broken. One of the abs crunch machines has been OOS for 8 weeks and counting as of 9/9/2025.

The clientele...well....the less said, the better. The vibe is starting to look and feel like it's one step above a prison gym. I guess you get what you pay for.

I've been coming here for quite some time now and have given it a more than honest chance. But will probably just cancel and join Evolutions instead. Pricier, yes. But hopefully none of the problems that PF...

The bag issue!!!! I could write my thesis on this. New rule not found in most other gyms, no bags on the gym floor, now at all of the PF the owner franchises from PF. Staff said it comes from the GM who worked in Visalia. PF. This is terrible, not sure if the owner works out, appears that most of the workers and GM don't very much. If they did, they would have a better understanding of the reason for a bag. Not just to have your keys handy but to have the tools you need for different exercises with you,to include taking them in/out of your bag, towel, gloves,straps, back support belt, water/BCAA/protein jug, etc., the list goes on to include medical needs.

There are hooks on the machines for bags etc., only small water bottles are allowed, told we cant have a large water bottle but they couldn't give me a dimension or ounce size.

I learned something in law school, everyone wants to sue the person with deep pockets, so I was told its a trip hazard by PF staff, and of course people steal equipment (unfortunate cost of doing business). Now that we cannot use bags during workouts or have them on our back(?????), the floor is littered with cells, keys, sweatshirts, again the list is long. My family will be terminating our black card membership after our contract is up and going back to Evolutions, as are some of the other people I spoke with. If you want to keep people, listen to them. Get rid of the bag rule and when staff see a bag on the floor tell the customer (who should be #1) to make sure its out of the walkway so nobody trips on it etc. Lets use common sense here, you have gone overboard. You wont get referrals for new members and...

Realized I had not written a review. So I come here, and it is Austin Austin Austin . Yeah, there is a reason. Because he is freaking AWESOME! I hate exercise, but could not afford PT, so I thought I would try this gym out for a few weeks. Cant hurt for $10, right? I started coming here because I could not afford PT, and needed to work my left leg that atrophied. Now I am working on grandma guns, lol. I am addicted. Try to come every day now. Staff is so nice, place is so clean, and my chronic back pain from scoliosis has even gone away , I noticed today. Love how everyone is so friendly and knows me by name now. But lets get back to Austin, he is an absolute GEM and a delight. He knows what what I can handle and somehow always remembers the weights and tests me harder. DO NOT LOOSE HIM. He knows exactly what I am working for and I take advantage of personal classes with him as often as I can. A+++++++++ Wanted to do a new review, only option was to edit this one. OK! January 19th, 2025, I understand Austin has been ill , but BRING HIM BACK ASAP!!!!! He is seriously the sole reason that keeps me returning. These last few months without him have...