Hone Fitness is the antidote to the rise of boutique gyms in the city. The appeal of Hone lies in the $20 per month, no contract membership.

They want to make it simple and reduce the cost and anxiety of signing a gym membership by removing annual contracts, fees, and mandatory personal training sessions. Instead, it focuses on simply being a gym.

The $20 monthly membership can be cancelled at any time. Sign-up comes with a free assessment with a trainer, consultation on your health goals, and tips on diet and exercise.

After that, trainer sessions are $30 for 30 minutes, or a 5-pack for $145. With $20 you get access to all Hone fitness gym locations and unlimited guest privileges.

Going off the success of the first location on Isabella, owner Jim Solomon knew the concept of the budget gym worked. 

The growth of Hone Fitness comes from its ability to be a low cost operator.

Removing the need for group exercise classes, and so-called frills like towel service, eucalyptus-infused wet towels and spa services, it can focus on three things: excellent gym quality (its cleanliness and order is pristine), upscale workout machines, and affordable trainers.

Hone Carlaw has two floors. The entrance is an open space that contains the main features of the gym. The top floor has the stretching and training area, two rows of TechnoGym cardio machines, free weights and weight machines.

In the back is the fun zone, where you do your own exercise with equipment like kettle bells, BoSu balls and the Axle, brought in from New York as an oversized roller that works your abs and glutes.

The Olympic-sized weights are downstairs, along with change rooms, two standup tanning beds, and a boxing machine tucked in the back where you can freestyle box or work with your trainer.

More focus was placed on heavy weights and weight machines at the Carlaw location as the popularity of cardio decreases and muscle fitness gets the spotlight.

So the gym is equipped with seven squat racks. “It has become vogue to do squats,” says Solomon. “Cardio is significantly less popular since Instagram made it cool to show off your muscles.”