The Barbell Compound

Great gym for weightlifting. I’m coming from the experience of big box gyms with a hundred treadmills and a few benches at most. There are plenty of benches, squat cages, kettle balls etc and knowledgeable people around. The only complaint that one could make is that it’s slightly disorganized, but it’s partially on the honor system to clean up (So pick your… Stuff up)

Cancelled my membership back in August. Don’t really get why they still have me on the auto payroll. Will be contacting my credit card company to report them as fraudulent transactions.

Best gym in the Chicagoland area, and then some. Its a hardcore gym with members who all have the same idea, Get shit done. It has literally every kind of old school machine or every body part you could imagine and some you probably couldn’t imagine. Tons upon tons of cold iron plates, bars, and dumbbells for those who aren’t fans of machines too. If you come to this gym odds are you will fall in love with it right away, Its the opposite of all other gyms, and that’s what makes it better then other gyms. The owner (Matt) Is a knowledgeable guy who knows every single aspect of the gym, because he hand made the gym. He also has supplements he has created as part of the Gym’s brand. I currently take his T gains and #1080p and they both give you that nice kick in the ass we all hope to get when we shell out cash. If your in need of a Great gym, great supplements, and a competitive atmosphere. You are selling yourself short by keeping whatever garbage gym membership you have now and not exchanging it for a barbell compound membership. This is the spot where boys become men.

My previous gym closed and I was left to find a new gym. I was referred to Barbell Compound, i reached out to the owner and he provided me with a tour. I fell in love with this gym. This is a real gym. If you are looking for a place took take selfies and bullshit, please do not come here. This is a real gym with real athletes that come here to get the job done and train. Each room is broken up by muscle group which I love. Its huge space and super clean and Matt goes above and beyond to make sure each client is taken care of. Let me be clear this is for the experienced member who trains and knows what they are doing. Matt thank you for bringing a real gym to Chicago! The membership is month to month bases and no contracts or BS to deal with.

This has to be the best gym in Chicago that I’ve ever experienced. Right as you walk through the door they have generation iron playing. And when I fill up my water bottle they have pumping iron playing above the water fountain. The walls are covered in famous quotes and motivational phrases that made me want to work harder and harder during my workout. Definitely getting a membership here.

I worked out here once. The owner told me that I get 3 days to try the gym. I was unsatisfied. After sending an email he told me he would take care of it. It’s been 3 weeks and haven’t had a return. He is being difficult and passive. Not happy

This gym is outfitted with everything you need to be a successful powerlifter. Experienced members, the right equipment, and the no-​BS atmosphere. Platforms, safety squat bars, a prowler, plenty of cages — the list goes on. I’ve been here only twice as I live quite far away, but I will be making frequent trips in the future. A lot of hard iron gyms can be somewhat intimidating but I’ve never felt that here.
A lot of hard iron gyms also don’t have necessary warm-​up equipment, physical therapy tools, and cable machines — this place literally has everything. Although I won’t be using them much, there are heavy bags and huge tires for flipping.
If I move to the Chicago area after I graduate (very likely) this will be my full-​time gym. I cannot recommend it enough. Outstanding and extremely affordable.

Great place to train clients. Tons of machines and space to work with your clients. Great location

This gym is my second home. I have been a member since October and have never been more motivated or inspired to keep coming back. If you are debating on whether or not to check it out, you should stop thinking about it and just come in. Membership is on a monthly basis and you can cancel anytime (though you won’t want to).
Matt, the owner, is also one of the personal trainers in the gym. I’ve been training with him ever since I joined, and I’ve even increased the amount of sessions I have with him per week. He has me doing a variety of different exercises: bodyweight, bands, kettlebells, sledgehammers, tires, yokes, sleds. You name it, he’s had me try it or it hasn’t been warm enough outside for me to do it. I keep track of every session, and it’s so hard to recreate my calorie burn and general bad-​assery feeling because Matt’s energy is just awesome every time. I think he has a computer for a brain because I can’t fathom how he remembers all the weights I can lift (as well as everybody else he trains). As I get fitter, I’m actually starting to burn more calories per session. I hit 550 calories in 45 minutes today — and this is a consistent kind of calorie burn that I can only get when training with Matt.
He’s also a great gym owner — the gym is constantly evolving to make its members happy. He knows everyone by name, he’s in the gym more often than he’s not, and he’s just a very welcoming person. He adapts to everyone’s personality and I have yet to see one person unhappy in this gym.
As for other people in this gym, I haven’t met them all, but I know the regulars who come in while I’m training. You might think they’re meatheads — but I know for a fact that they are not. They are just people who come to lift big and work hard and sometimes they’ll grunt while they’re doing it. It’s not a problem (Planet Fitness) and not everyone does it.
As for the gym itself, you can’t understand it until you see it (and you SHOULD). There are machines for every body part, squat racks, power racks, benches, dumbbells, kettlebells, boxing bags, and pretty much anything else you may need. The only caveat is that you need to remember that this is a TRAINING gym — there is a small amount of cardio machines (no treadmills — one of the recent upgrades. Yes, upgrades) and a heavy emphasis on weights. There are great motivational quotes spray painted all over the gym, including my favorite «don’t hate on my success like we don’t have the same 24 hours». There are photos of bodybuilders through the years, as well as some Marilyn Monroe. Matt works hard to make sure that motivation is available in all kinds of ways. «Pumping Iron» plays on the TV 24/​7, and how can you go wrong with Arnie?
However, it’s understandable that it might be intimidating to some people. I assure you, though, that we are all nice people who look out for each other. If you’re confused, asking for help isn’t a big deal. In fact, if our favorite Russian powerlifter is in the gym, he’ll just come over and help you anyway, also asking if you’ve deadlifted before and then he’ll want to introduce you to it immediately. He’s one of my favorite people in the gym, and pretty much a staple. My powerlifting buddies are pretty amazing as well.
I’ve run out of adjectives for «amazing», so I’ll end as concisely as possible. Chicago Style Fitness cannot compare to other gyms because it offers what they don’t — a place to do real training, with a real free-​of-​judgment zone. That’s why this is my second home and why I always have a gym bag packed in my car. There is a lot of respect that goes around in this gym, and to cheer on a complete stranger deadlifting 600 something pounds is normal. It’s who we are.

Recently moved back home for the summer and had my first workout here the other day. Have to say I was impressed. A full stocked gym with free weights, pulleys, punching bags, standard benches and machines, cardio equipment, crossFit equipment, card access, 24hrs AND HALF THE PRICE OF FFC??! Coupled with an eclectic mix of neighborhood patrons, this gym is a true winner in my book. A+

Great place to workout if you’re serious about health and fitness. Before CSF I went to a franchise gym. Cheap price but limited equipment for weightlifting. I actually didn’t lose much weight or gained muscle. After a year I ran into this place and contacted Matt. He let me try it out for a day and this place was real gym. Couple cardio stuff, dumbbells up to 150lbs., couple benches and squat racks, not to mention other the other machines and the big boy room. Matt is an awesome owner who actually does the PT and talks to everyone. He gives great advise and listens to your ideas. So if you’re looking for a ²⁴⁄₇ gym that’s not overpriced, not full of distractions, people who respects each other, and an owner that doesn’t just sit around not caring for who’s in the gym, then this place is for you. Don’t take my word for it, get out and try it. You won’t be disappointed

My old gym was one of those corporate, sign off the highway types. It had lots of men with gelled up hair and tribal tattoos and trainers that only bothered with you if you paid a hefty sum to hear about protein shakes. This gym was not for me especially since it only had 1 squat rack and a red-​headed man would always be there doing curls while the rest of us waited patiently to do squats. My flat Mexican butt will never get anywhere if I can’t do squats in the squat rack.
After some searching, I found CSF. This is one of those gyms where if you just want to go in and actually work out, you can. In fact, they recommend that you work out instead of stand by the mirrors and flex while 20 friends around you comment on your awesomeness.
Instead, CSF has all the weight lifting materials and squat racks a girl could dream of. There’s tubs of chalk to make my hands happy, a giant tire that I will one day be able to flip over, and a mysterious Russian man who can deadlift a million pounds while conducting a symphony of kittens. There are bench presses and rows of weights just waiting to be picked up.
I like CSF because as a girl that does not look like Kristin Clever, I can go there and still feel welcomed. There’s enough writing on the wall to make a thousand tumblr gif’s for motivation and now they’ve added yoga. It does not have a fancy sauna or girls in midriff tops but the owner isn’t bad looking so I guess if you want eye-​candy, go during the day.
And finally, CSF does not play Nickelback. If I never have to listen to another gym play terrible music, I’d rent the space under the monolift as an apartment and live there.

This facility was recommended to me by a private trainer I used to work with. No fluff. Just serious workout equipment. And the owner, Matt, is always on hand to offer advice and listen to suggestions. Great to feel part of a new endeavor.

Not your typical gym.
Planet Fitness says they don’t judge you. They will probably give you a checklist of exercises to do and may have an unqualified person show you how to use a machine. You will end up walking on a treadmill not even exerting yourself and soon you will be depressed and quit because of lack of results. You won’t cancel your membership because you would feel guilty.
The owner lists several qualifications, certifications and licenses he holds as a personal trainer. He will not walk next to you on a treadmill telling you things you want to hear. He will asses you on a personal basis and give quality guidance.
They will have you doing things you didn’t think were possible. Ever see a lady flip over a tractor tire? I am not talking some elite athlete, just a run of the mill NW side housewife. Neither did I until I joined CSF.
The other day I saw a young guy with arms the size of my head get pushed to utter exhaustion by a trainer. This is not one size fits all training.
Gyms love new years resolutioners because they come and pay the bills. You sign up and they toss you in the deep end where most will sink to the bottom.
CSF will put you on the road to success. I am pretty sure they offer a free training session so you can try it on for size. They have a private studio for one on one training too.
The weight area is a masterpiece in progress. The equipment is laid out in a logical order. There are more squat racks than curl bars if that helps paint a picture on how serious this place is.
Now that gyms are becoming rooms full of treadmills the serious lifters are being displaced, lucky for them CSF is a welcome new home.
Legitimate world class lifters train at CSF. Ever see a 61 year old man deadlift 600 pounds? You will at CSF.
Not only that but they are quick to offer tips even for a novice like myself. No pushy trainers trying to make a quick buck, if you want to get trained great if not then that’s fine too.
They offer classes like Yoga and martial arts if you are looking for those sort of things.
It is definitely worth stopping in and checking out. There is no joining fee (at the moment at least) and no contracts.

If you are serious about your fitness goals, this is the gym for you! I quit my LA fitness membership since I found out that Matt (the owner) was opening his gym. It has been the kind of gym that meets my expectations. It has boxing bags, kettle bells, free weight, squat machines, Olympic Rings… you name it! I love the the boxing area and the wide range of kettle bells. Where can you find that in any fitness gym in Chicago!??
I’ve been training with Matt for eight months. He’s great! He usually introduce diff kinds of workout routine each time we train and I like about that in a trainer. He knows what he does and great about his craft! I’ve been very happy about him.
Sign up at this gym! If you care about your health and your fitness, this gym and Matt can help you! This is not your typical LA fitness or meathead gyms. The people who come into this gym really do train and work out. No ego maniac members. In fact, a very friendly gym. Try it and you’ll see the difference!

If you’re looking for a serious gym NO BS come check this place out. All steel weights, dumbbells up to 150 just everything needed that someone who’s focus is weight training. Enough cardio machines, punching bags, and more stuff comes in every other week its great! There’s always something to do that will challenge any persons fitness level. For any powerlifters/​bodybuilders or true fitness fanatics, QUIT YOUR X SPORT, LA FITNESS, PLANET FITNESS, WHATEVER AND JOIN HERE!

They have the kind of equipment you don’t find at most gyms. Always able to change up a new creative workout routine here. Just a great atmosphere!

This is a QUALITY gym.
The place is welcoming and just the right size. The staff is friendly and the price is great. The easy parking is a nice plus. I definitely encourage you to come and see for yourself!

A gym that meets everyone’s style, whether you like to use cardio machines and free weights, or you’re a body builder who likes challenging strength training equipment… Or anywhere in between, this gym has it all! My personal favorite is the kickboxing room where I can let off some steam ;). It’s well-​maintained– clean and very organized. And let’s not forget PARKING… it’s so convenient, which is a must for me. The owner himself works hard to keep things running smoothly and you can tell he truly cares about helping his members reach their fitness goals. It’s definitely worth joining this gym, or at least checking it out!

Great new gym for people who actually want to work out. There’s a lot of equipment for all of your needs. The space is clean and well organized with plenty of room to do your own thing. My favorite part is the room set up especially for Personal Training.
I would recommend this gym to any of my friends.