Sunset Gym

There is nothing like a local neighborhood gym, where everybody knows your name (just kidding, but you all start to recognize each other if you are a morning, midday or evening gym-goer for sure), with friendly staff and equipment that may not be the latest and greatest, but it's familiar, it works, people take care of the machines and weights and wipe them down with the many spray bottles and paper towel stations, and there seems to be one of everything you could ever want.

Definitely a transit-first or walk-from-your-home-type gym, 9th and Irving is not known for its parking (though it IS known for it's ever-present MTA carts zipping around).

Love the towels, the multiple bathrooms and showers, the fans everywhere, and the small outdoor area on the second floor.

I've been going to Sunset Gym for a few months now and would recommend it for those who know what they are doing in the gym and focusing on weight training or are frequent users of cardio machines. I like a simple work out: pick up a heavy thing, put it down, repeat, so this gym is perfect for me. I love the outdoor area upstairs and for the most part don't have issues with access to the weights and machines I need for my workout. I have some issues with the gym etiquette of other members, but that's not the gym's fault (well maybe they could crack down on folks hogging machines while staring at their phones).

My issues:
- while I can usually get my workout done, I often have to switch up the order and occasionally change weights or exercises from my plan because there is only one of most machines and limited weights (upstairs which is where I spend most of my time). Despite that, people will do 3+ exercises on the same machine and/or spend excessive time on their phones between sets. That's not unique to this gym, but because of the limited machines it causes issues.
- I've run into some issues with machine maintenance. I don't need the newest, prettiest machines/weights, but I don't want to feel like a cable is on its last legs or have glitchy electronics
- while sunset gym is still much more affordable than other gyms in the city, it's clear from reading other comments that the price has jumped a lot in the last few years. Given that the gym clearly hasn't been updated in that time and there are no bells and whistles, that rubs me the wrong way

At the end of the day, the gym fills my needs and is more affordable than other options around the city where I'd be paying for extras I don't need.

I've been going here since October, and it's one of the best value gyms in the city (by far!). Where else can you find a sub $50/month gym with a bunch of squat racks, machines, weights, etc? I'd definitely consider it the quintessential neighborhood gym. Quite literally has all of the equipment needed for a new comer, yet also satiates the seasoned gym-goer with its 10+ bench and squat racks. Dumbbells go pretty high in weight too. The equipment itself is a bit old/dated, but still entirely functional (remember the price you're paying). There are two floors, the bottom/main one with a bunch of machines, 5 treadmills, bikes, bench/squat racks, etc and the top floor with more cardio machines, a stretching area, punching bag, 4 more bench/squat racks, pull up bars outside, rowing machines, etc.

People are truly super nice and approachable. They normally wipe down equipment after using it, and can help you with a spot if needed

Highly recommend this gym!

So this is my new elliptical, pictured; I got it in my home because I realized I only used Sunset Gym for theirs. I couldn't justify $50 monthly when I could pick up one of these used for $200, or 4 months of gym membership.

This is a nice facility but it's mostly noisy hetbro-type students around age 25 throwing weights around downstairs. This is the sort of gym that could very much use a lunk alarm. I went upstairs for quiet time many nights for some cardio and TV watching on my tablet. That was great except that most of us competed for the two machines closest to the door. They are the ones with the steepest incline, and I gather also the most generous with calorie burn numbers.

I also LOVED the bathrooms here. Wow, a 30-minute time limit for a single occupancy bathroom? What a place to have the longest poop, let me tell you.

So why my blah rating? I canceled my gym membership nearly 2 weeks before my next payment had come due. And yesterday I received a voicemail that I had eclipsed some completely made-up cutoff, so it's another $50 and my membership is good through May. Funny, I don't remember having to wait for my membership to become active the day I began working out.

I had given them three stars to be nice but honestly it's robbery. I think I'll stop payment on that one through May. And BTW Sunset I actually did get quite a lot of use out of your gym, so you got about $5 or less a day out of me through the run of my membership.

I have been coming here since 2017 with the only stoppage happening due to the Covid LOCKDOWN. PRE-COVID this place wasn't too crowded. You could get a workout in without having to wait too long for equipment to free up.
Post-COVID, it's busy, people sit there on equipment playing on their phones. You have personal trainers who try to get you to finish quickly so their clients can get their reps in. To make matters worse, they keep signing up more and more customers for a tiny gym.
If you must go, it is best to go early in the morning so you don't have to deal with a lot of people.
I have talked to employees there about people hogging equipment but it did no good. My favorite is the female trainer who takes up 2 and 3 pieces of equipment during her workouts as well as client sessions.
I will continue to come here because it's what I can afford given my current budget. If you can afford more I strongly recommend you do so.
If you are not big on white nationalists, stay away. There is a numb nuts at the gym who wears (look it up) a t-shirt that says "tactical bowl cut" which is in reference to Dylann Roof who is a racist mass shooter as if its a good thing. Plus they wear a shirt referencing mein kampf, being "red pilled"and a few other neo-fascist/nazi references. It seems the people here either don't know or don't care. I will be out of here as soon as I move. I will be canceling my membership in couple months.
Another reason to think long and hard before joining is that equipment such as treadmills and weight machines are CONSTANTLY broken. This is a major issue due to overcrowding at this gym.
I would give Sunset Gym 5 stars if it wasn't for the often broken equipment, disinterested employees, tolerance of white nationalist apparel and overcrowding. Other than that, this place is great!

While staying SF for a week I purchased a short term pass to this gym. I really liked that this was an option, and much more affordable than many local gyms for day/week passes. The process was super easy and the staff very helpful, no hard sell with the short term pass. The gym itself was great. It is not fancy or pretty, but has all the equipment you would want as a serious fitness enthusiast. Plenty of squat racks and free weights, good quality cardio equipment (including a ladder/climber) and room upstairs for stretching and floor exercise. It remined me of the old-school independent gyms that used to be more available before the rise of the big-box gyms. There was a really friendly neighborhood vibe, and it seemed like if you worked out there regularly it would be the kind of place where you would get to know everyone. I loved it there and would highly recommend it for those who like a good quality gym without too many extras.

Amazing, Ultra-Friendly Staff. Experienced, Credible, Knowledgeable Personal Trainers who teach and motivate beyond expectations. The vibe is always positive and upbeat.
One of the Best Gyms Around!

Sunset Gym is one of my favorite gyms I have been to. The gym is a neighborhood institution and offers a no-frills, inexpensive experience. The staff is always friendly and attentive. The gym can be crowded with a wait to use some of the equipment and much of the equipment is old.

Great gym, affordable price. Surprisingly rarely feels packed even during busy hours. And when it came time for me to cancel (not related to the gym) they were polite and didn't try to finesse me or argue like other gyms. Overall a great family business in our neighborhood

For many years that I lived in San Francisco, this was my DIY gym of choice. A+ all around.

You will not find a better selection of equipment: amazing amount of squat racks, GHR machine, heavy bag, good selections of KBs, Jacobs Ladder, and more.

Everyone that works here is warm, welcoming, and professional. The pricing is straightforward, honest, and very fair.

It can get crowded at peak hours, but parking is relatively easy with the park a block away.