Everyone knows Planet Fitness. Maybe you saw an ad on Facebook or Instagram advertising their standard low prices. Perhaps there’s one in town next to that pizza place you love. Or maybe you saw the star-studded Super Bowl commercial featuring Lindsey Lohan, Dennis Rodman, Danny Trejo, and William Shatner. Everyone knows Planet Fitness, but not everyone knows what’s inside. What kinds of fitness stuff do they even have in there? Do they even have free weights?
Planet Fitness has free weights in the form of dumbbells up to 50 lbs. available. However, Planet Fitness does not have barbells or kettlebells. Instead, Planet Fitness uses various machines to engage the same muscles, including arm curl and assisted pull-up. Overall, you can still get a great workout at Planet Fitness, but it will be mostly free weight free.
Let’s dive into how you can get a great workout using what is featured at Planet Fitness.
Can You Lift Heavy Weights at Planet Fitness?
You can lift heavy weights at Planet Fitness, with limits.
Planet Fitness is popular because of their low prices and brand identity that promotes accessibility and inclusivity to average people. Because of this, they purposely leave out stigmatized meathead or “lunk” equipment that attracts bodybuilders.
What Free Weights Does Planet Fitness Have?
Planet Fitness has dumbbells up to 50 lbs. available.
For most people, 50 lb. dumbbells are more than enough to get a great burn. They can be used for numerous dumbbell exercises including curls, rows, presses, and even deadlifts. They can be held during squats and lunges for additional challenge.
Dumbbells are one of the best tools for building great functional strength, and Planet Fitness has plenty of them!
What Free Weights Are Not Available at Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness has no barbells or kettlebells available at their locations.
This plays right into that brand identity, as many casual gym goers are uninterested or intimidated by barbells. Since this approach has been incredibly successful, we don’t expect Planet Fitness to change it anytime soon.
How Heavy Are the Free Weights at Planet Fitness?
Dumbbells at most Planet Fitness locations max out at 50 lbs.
50 lbs. are more than enough for most people and exercises. A 50 lb. bicep curl requires incredible strength, and most people will never attempt or complete one rep at this weight. A 50 lb. goblet squat also will be challenging. Even a 50 lb. overhead press requires substantial strength to execute with good form.
Other exercises don’t translate as well, or 50 lbs. is generally not enough.
- Deadlifts, for instance, can be done using dumbbells, but 100 lbs. are considered very light.
- A standard barbell with two 45 lb. plates weighs in at 135 lbs.
- Once you’re familiar with deadlifts, you’ll advance past this starting point, but you can’t at Planet Fitness.
In this regard, dumbbells are often a good substitute but have distinct disadvantages too.
Does Planet Fitness Have Benches for Free Weights?
Planet Fitness has benches, but no bench press.
If you are looking for a bench to do seated or lying exercises, you will find them at Planet Fitness. There are usually plenty of benches for seated curls, lying presses, or simply catching your breath between sets. They have flat benches and adjustable benches that allow for a straight back position or an incline.
What they don’t have are benches for a barbell bench press. You can still bench, but you’ll have to use dumbbells or the Smith machine. Smith machines are great, but have various pros and cons compared to the traditional bench.
Why Doesn’t Planet Fitness Have a Bench?
Planet Fitness’ brand identity revolves around two main principles: accessibility and affordability. Their marketing targets casual or would-be gym goers that want a great workout without feeling out of place.
It can be daunting going to a gym filled with jock stereotypes and bodybuilders when you’re new to fitness. They look mean, drop weights, and take off their shirts. They’re loud and intimidating. Casual and would-be fitness enthusiasts may be scared off by this behavior.
The bench is often the main attraction for bodybuilders and powerlifters, so Planet Fitness leaves it out. They want to be less appealing to “lunks,” and more appealing to the average gym-goer.
You will still find “lunk” stereotypes in gyms no matter where you are. The vibe at Planet Fitness, however, is considerably different from true bodybuilder or powerlifter gyms.
Benefits of Free Weights
Free weights offer numerous benefits:
- Build accessory and stability muscles
- Build balance and coordination
- Engage more muscles simultaneously
- Greater range of motion
Think about it. You’re out in the real world and you need to pick up a heavy object by yourself. You reach down and get a grip on it. No one is going to stabilize it for you. There’s no invisible track that forces you to move it up and down exclusively with no side-to-side movement at all.
If you’re going to lift it, you need to lift the weight and stabilize it too.
Free weights are your best training for that real world application. You’ll build a better foundation for functional strength using free weights compared to using machines. Plus, you’ll do it more efficiently since you’re engaging more muscles simultaneously.
Overall, you will get stronger faster by using free weights.
Free Weights vs. Machines at Planet Fitness
Just because free weights offer significant upside doesn’t mean you should never touch a machine ever. Here are some advantages to using machines:
- Beginner friendly
- Isolates target muscles
- Less risk of injury
- Quick weight changes
Machines restrict your motion, so you don’t wobble around, reducing your risk of injury when you’re just starting out. Most machines show pictures and diagrams showing you how to use it and what it targets. If you’re a beginner, this is a great way to learn and practice new fitness concepts before diving deeper.
Planet Fitness often offers a plethora of machines, including:
- Ab crunch machine
- Arm curl
- Arm extension
- Assisted pull-up
- Chest fly
- Chest press
- Leg extension
- Shoulder press
- Leg curl
- Smith machine
- Leg press
- Torso rotation
What’s more is they often place machines that target the same muscle groups next to one another. This is great for supersets, circuit training, or simply moving through your workout efficiently.
Machines can’t offer as much upside as free weights. They’re great for beginners though and can supplement your free weight workouts for faster results.
How Much Does a Planet Fitness Membership Cost?
Membership cost to Planet Fitness varies depending on where you live, but it’s usually something like this:
[table id=147 responsive=scroll/]The Classic and No Commitment memberships allow for unlimited access to your home club, free training, and free Wi-Fi. The Black Card membership allows all this and the following:
- Unlimited guest passes
- Use of any club worldwide
- Tanning
- HydroMassage
- Massage chairs
- Total Body Enhancement
- 50% off select drinks
- 20% off at Reebok.com
Overall, this makes all membership types a great value.
Benefits of Planet Fitness Membership
To some, Planet Fitness is missing a few crucial components. There is no bench. There is no squat rack, unless you count the Smith machine. The free weights are limited as compared to other gyms.
To these people, Planet Fitness is inadequate.
For the rest of us, there’s a lot to love about Planet Fitness, for a few good reasons:
- It’s inexpensive
- Planet Fitness has essentials including cardio and strength machines
- It does have free weights, albeit lighter than some gyms
- Planet Fitness is globally ubiquitous– I mean, these gyms are literally everywhere!
A Black Card membership provides you access to a gym anywhere in the world. You will also pay much less than you would pay at almost any other gym.
You just can’t beat value like that.
Is Planet Fitness Membership Right for Me?
Planet Fitness is a great option for most people, especially if you:
- Mostly use treadmills, ellipticals, or stationary bikes
- Do light to moderate strength training to accompany your cardio
- Like perks at the gym
- If your budget is tight but you need to exercise
Planet Fitness is not for you if you:
- Need to train aggressively or lift heavy
- Like premium classes like yoga, Pilates, or cycling
- Want amenities like saunas or steam rooms
- Want premium extras like tennis, racquetball, rock climbing, indoor lap pools
Basically, if you want an inexpensive but straightforward fitness experience at a beginner or novice level, Planet Fitness is for you.
Best Alternatives to Planet Fitness with Free Weights
If you aren’t quite sold on Planet Fitness but are in need of a great fitness experience, consider these alternatives.
Blink Fitness
Blink Fitness offers similar gym essentials at a similar price point, costing only $10 for the basic membership. They have 90 locations, exclusively in the Northeast and California at the moment. You will find similar value, but their presence pales in comparison to the global giant that is Planet Fitness.
LA Fitness
Although Planet Fitness reigns supreme in the market, LA Fitness is fierce competition to them. With more than 700 locations in the US and Canada, you can find LA Fitness in most places. Plus, they offer equipment and classes that Planet Fitness does not, including Zumba, Pilates, yoga, and spin.
Basic memberships at LA Fitness cost more than P Fit, starting at $29.49/month.
24 Hour Fitness
With almost 300 locations and a starting membership cost of $29.99/month, there’s a lot to love about 24 Hour Fitness. The fitness floor offers the same or more options as Planet Fitness. The facilities are open, as the name indicates, 24 hours a day.
Plus, many 24-Hour Fitness locations have a pool!