Okay, let's get the basics out of the way up front, and acknowledge that your choices of gyms may be somewhat limited. Depending on where you live, you may not have that many choices.

Thus, location may be the biggest factor, since something close will be more efficient during a busy week/schedule than something more distant. If you do have more options, however, here are the things any serious lifter and bodybuilder should really check out...

Equipment
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This is really what it's all about. You and your bodybuilding goals are only as good as the equipment you have at your disposal. The right equipment will be more effective, and safer, than the wrong equipment or worn, malfunctioning equipment. When you're working with heavy weights, this is especially true and especially important.

When scouting out a new gym (or re-evaluating your current gym), I suggest you look past the exterior beauty and focus on the core quality of the equipment you'll be using. Here are some basic issues to check:

- Does the equipment have a solid feel?

- Do the bars feel straight and stiff?

- Are plates tight, or loose and free to spin? (This will tell something about the maintenance policies of the gym.)

- How is the knurling (the rough gripping area) on the bars? Is it deep and effective, or worn and prone to slippage?

- What about bar styles - tried-and-true, or newer tapered bars and handles? (While this is largely a matter of personal preference, it can still give you some insight into a gym's philosophies and operating procedures.)

- Is the equipment bent or damaged in any way?

- Are bars and plates all matching sets?

- Are there visible load ratings?

- Is the equipment organized and orderly, or strewn about and in disarray?

- If anyone is working out, how are they treating the equipment? (The answer will tell you something about the management and policies of the gym.)

- Can you see a name brand on the equipment? Is it one that you trust? I'll discuss this more in a moment, but the issue here is not only quality, but being able to rely on the poundage, which can really vary when it comes to lesser-quality plates.

- Is there other equipment available that serious lifters might want (such as the body-fat callipers I discussed last week)?

Quality Name Brands
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If you polled bodybuilders, these are some of the name brands that would probably come up most often:

- Eleiko has been called the "gold standard" for weightlifting equipment. You'll probably find competitive lifters using this brand and not much else. Is it necessary that your gym have it? No, but if it does, that's a bonus, even if only a few pieces. But, unless you're planning on being an Olympic weightlifter, it's not necessary.

- York has been around a long time, and their equipment is considered the standard for most gyms. Their equipment has been described as "built to last and tough." A solid choice and a good sign if your gym has this brand.

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