24 Hour Fitness iPhone App Review
(Previously review late 2009)
With the most clubs across the country, it was only a matter of time before 24 Hour Fitness had an app for that (iPhone at least). Before we get into a full review, I need to disclose that my wife works for 24 Hour Fitness, yet the review will be as fair and impartial as I can make it.
With such a large number of clubs nationwide, the primary focus if this app is the club locator. The locator works in three possible ways: You can use your GPS to do a search for the club nearest to you in increments of 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 5, 10 and 20 miles. You can search by city or lastly, search by “advanced search”. Advanced search allows you to search for the club via amenities such as executive lockers, circuit training, pool, kids club, juice bar and much, much more. All of this works great, however, we’d prefer that when searching by city, we’d like to be able to type rather than scroll through so many cities available. We’d also like to be able to hit a “back” button during some of the search options like “City”, just in case we change our minds and want to perform a club search on different criteria. Both minor concerns and neither get in the way of finding a club that fits your needs nearest to your vicinity.
Once you pick the club nearest you, a click brings you to the main club page. This is where the app really starts to shine. Club hours are listed along with Kids Club hours (day care for those in the know), as well as a full list of the club’s amenities such as lap pool, volleyball, basketball, group exercises and so forth.
Scrolling down further you can click on the class schedules for the group exercise classes. You can find the best class for you in one of three different ways; “See the full schedule”, “search by class”, or even “search by instructor”. All nice touches, and I like the ability to search by instructor as it’s often the instructor that makes or breaks any class. All of this is great and a surprisingly large undertaking when you think of it. With as many clubs as 24 Hour Fitness has, this data needs to be regularly updated in a single repository for access via the iPhone app. Congrats. As you can see, class schedules change daily, however you can define your search by day. In addition, each class has a descriptive link to help you better understand what you’re getting yourself into.
In addition to group exercise classes, you can define a club as your default club for quick access. Clearly this is a nice feature as it allows you to pinpoint your regular club easily without a lot of clicks. It’s nice to know however that for all you traveling business types, finding the nearest 24 Hour Fitness is only a click away. We recently found ourselves in Hawaii and we were able to visit their newest club in Oahu via a quick GPS search.
There are 5 icons along the bottom of each screen that act as navigation for the app. Club Finder which we’ve already discussed is the first icon. Next up, Schedules, as discussed above provides for exercise class info for each club. Tools is the third icon, and once clicked, provides for Body Mass Index, Calorie Burner, Resting Metabolic Rate, and Daily Calorie Counter.
Body Mass Index uses sliders to enter your weight and height to mathematically determine your BMI. Nothing groundbreaking here, but straight forward recording and graphing of your data as time progresses. I’d personally prefer to enter my data via a keypad as sliders are touchy, and I’d really like to be able to edit or add historical data. I couldn’t see how to add historical data here.
Calorie Burner tracks your exercise calories. What’s nice here is that the info you just entered about your weight in BMI, is carried over here for Calorie Burner. Unfortunately, the choices for activities are very limited. Even the equipment in 24 Hour Fitness isn’t included. Where’s the elliptical or treadmill options? The time is entered via scroll wheel and uses 5 min increments. This clearly won’t replace your other exercise tracking apps like LiveStrong, iFitness or other such app until more exercises are included, or there’s a way to add your own exercises. Both of which are missing at this version 1.0 of the app.
What’s painfully missing for me, is integration with the 24 Hour Fitness wonderful BodyBugg armband and watch. If you’re not familiar with the BodyBugg, in short it’s a small device worn on the arm that calculates your calorie expenditure throughout the day. At days end, or week end, you download to your PC or Mac to the web-based software that will calculate your calorie burn. Combine that with their BodyBugg calorie intake counter, and you have a great snapshot of your calorie intake and expenditure. To really lose weight effectively, it’s calories in, and calories out. Ideally, and I hope it’ coming, I’d like to be able to enter my BodyBugg food calories right into my 24 Hour Fitness iPhone app, as well as quickly look at the screen to determine my calorie expenditure as relayed from the armband. Already BodyBugg has a watch you can wear that will relay the BodyBugg data. That means, at a glance you can see where you stand with total steps walked, calories, burned etc. No need to download to your computer to get an update.
Daily Calorie Counter is somewhat misnamed as I was expecting this to be a place where I can count my caloric intake from my foods with a food database such as CalorieKing. However, this simply uses your weight, your height and age, as well as your approximate activity level for the day to determine your caloric intake needs for the day.
Lastly in tools, there’s a button for resting metabolic rate. This is a simple formula mathematically calculated also using your weight, age and height to determine the number.
The next icon button is Videos. Under videos, there are numerous YouTube videos covering everything from the 24 Hour Fitness sponsored Biggest Loser show on NBC (not full episodes mind you, excerpts), to success stories, group exercise classes, and a few how-to videos. Overall it’s interesting, but we’d like to see a little more training focused videos. How to get the most from using a trainer, how to use equipment properly, etc.
The last icon, and last part of the app is “more”. Currently this only houses a button to refer a friend. While that may not sound like much on the surface, if you enter your and your friend’s info, you’ll receive a free 50 minute personal training session. I can tell you from personal experience that it’s not a 50 minute sales presentation. Rather, it’s really a personal trainer hooking you up with excellent info.
I am a regular at 24 Hour Fitness and use a trainer 2x a week. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I love my trainer and tried a few different trainers before getting one that fits my particular needs. Having had a few back surgeries under my belt, finding the right trainer was key, and she’s awesome. (Thanks Jen!)
What’s great!
- The ability to locate the closest gym is perfect for travelers
- Access to the group exercise classes, times, dates and instructors
- User interface is clean and easy to navigate
- Lots of opportunity for app growth with new features
What’s not so great
- No BodyBugg interface
- I’d prefer inputs to be manual not all scrolling input
- No ability to enter food (yet) and track calorie expenditures
- Tools section needs some work to be a real replacement for LiveStrong or LoseIt
Overall conclusion is that for what it’s worth, the app works well. If you need to find the gym nearest your location, keep updated on the group exercise class information, including teachers, etc, this app is awesome. If you are a 24 Hour Fitness member, or thinking of becoming one, get the app! Seriously for what it is, and the fact that it’s free, it’s well worth the space on your app screen. That said, it almost seems that if 24 Hour Fitness left off some of the “Tools” the app would have scored better as it seems to be trying to be more than it’s currently capable of just yet. I’m hopeful that the BodyBugg interface is coming, as well as a robust food calorie database (my favorite so far is LiveStrong). I’d also like to see more trainer info. “Ask a trainer”, review a trainer and read user reviews of trainers and clubs. With a little more social aspect, this app could rock. Add better exercise recording like iFitness, add a social aspect and this is the app to beat in all of health and fitness. Frankly, if anyone can do it, 24 Hour Fitness can because of their brand, their scope and the vast number of clubs. The good news in my opinion is that adding a lot of these things is easier than what they’ve already accomplished with their club integration and group exercise class information.
Filed under: Health & Fitness •Apple Health & Fitness •
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iPad AccessoriesPosted by everyday on 12/19 at 10:32 PM
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App Info
Score (1-5)
3.5
Get App
Release Date
November 12, 2009
Developer
24 Hour Fitness, Inc.
Version
1.0
File Size
.7 MB
Price
Free
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24 Hour Fitness iPhone App Review
(Previously review late 2009)
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