Dumbbells Direct · Independent gym guide
Explore strength gyms in Los Angeles.
A researched guide to independent gyms, lifting equipment and visitor access.
Los Angeles spreads its serious lifting across a lot of ground, so the right gym usually depends on which side of the city you live on. Downtown, a powerlifting room on Gibbons Street packs racks and deadlift platforms into a small footprint. Across the San Fernando Valley, Van Nuys has a coach-run weightlifting gym and Encino has a bodybuilding gym founded by a YouTube personality. Harbor City, down in the South Bay, has a dumbbell rack that goes to 220 lb, and the Sunset Strip has a 24/7 club full of specialty machines. Every gym here sells access to the public, through memberships, day passes or drop-ins.
South Bay Strength Company
The dumbbells at South Bay Strength Company run all the way to 220 lb. The powerlifting side is stocked with specialty bars, bands, blocks and chains, and a run of vintage bodybuilding machines handles the accessory work.
Memberships and day passes are both available, but day passes have to be bought in advance. There are no walk-ins.
Website: southbaystrengthco.com
Barbell Brigade Gym
Barbell Brigade fits 16 squat racks, 11 benches and six deadlift platforms into 5,500 sq ft in Downtown Los Angeles, which tells you exactly who the room was built for. Reviewers on its Google listing describe one-day and multi-day passes as well as monthly membership.
Website: barbellbrigade.com
The Lab Athletic Club
Come to The Lab for the unusual machines. Exxentric flywheel trainers, Keiser pneumatic equipment and pendulum squats sit alongside Swiss bars and safety squat bars.
It is a coaching-led club with recovery amenities on site, and members get 24/7 access.
Website: thelabathleticclub.com
Barbarian Barbell
Barbarian Barbell is a 24/7 weightlifting gym in Van Nuys with a floor given over to platforms. Head coach Emmy Vargas has close to 30 years in the sport, and the gym takes drop-ins as well as members.
Website: barbarianbarbell.com
Zoo Culture Gym
Bradley Martyn, the YouTube personality and professional bodybuilder, founded Zoo Culture on Ventura Boulevard in 2015, and the training floor is built around rows of red power racks and a long turf lane. If you are visiting rather than joining, the day pass covers a full day with re-entry, and monthly and annual memberships are there for locals.
Website: thezooculture.com
Prefer to train at home?
Traffic is the hidden cost of a great gym in this city. With weights at home, a missed drive doesn't have to mean a missed session: pick up a matched set and train at home, then add dumbbell storage so it isn't living on the floor. If you are kitting out a facility, our wholesale team handles larger orders.
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