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| - I typically workout at Tempe YMCA, but while they had their parking lot redone, I tried out the Ahwatukee YMCA, since it is almost the same distance for me.
The facility itself is considerably larger and more modern than Tempe and the staff will certainly mention it to you with no hidden pride. If you like to do cardio, they seem to have enough treadmills, ellipticals and bikes for you and a battalion of other cardio bunnies. All are new and in good condition. There also numerous weight machines, although none are duplicated. The free weights area is rather spacious. The squat rack is not adjustable, so people that are too short, too tall or want to use it for deadlifts or bent over rows are out of luck. Next to free weights area is a small space where 3-4 people can do stretching, yoga or whatever.
There are two types of lockers. The ones in the changing area require you to bring your own lock or hope that no one gets into them. There are also very (VERY) small lockers outside where you can put your keys/wallet and the keys are provided. I found the setup a bit inconvenient, as Tempe YMCA provides keys to the lockers in change room.
I've only worked out here in the evenings and the results have been quite varying. Overall, the most popular area is the cardio, of course. There are some people in the weight machine area and even less people in free weights area. Tempe Y has considerably more people battling for the bench press, squat rack, etc. Weights are usually decently organized, but at a recent Friday evening workout they were all thrown around at random or stacked in reverse order. Just getting the necessary weights was a workout in itself. Barbell on squat rack frequently disappear and none of the staff so far have been able to help me find it, so I resorted to stealing one from the bench press. Granted, the staff did not know what a barbell is anyway.
In the evenings you get a wide range of people working out, from old to high schoolers. Most are polite. Some old perverts (as noted by another poster) are also around, so beware. As expected, they are cowards and getting them to stop is not an issue if you catch them. Weight machines are frequently occupied by women that spend more time talking to each other than actually doing anything. I've seen two women spending 15 minutes between two of them to do 20 reps on one machine.
I'd give more stars if the weights were better organized and if some of the people were more aware of the fact that other people use machines as well. Tempe YMCA has considerably more people using weights, yet it is not any worse in being organized. Still, I will be coming back to Ahwatukee from time to time just to enjoy working out among the native Ahwatukeans.
Addition: Recently noticed that a bunch of 19-23 year olds have a tendency to wear t-shirts with "cut-off" sleeves. And by "cut-off" I mean missing entirely all the way to their trunks. None of them ever use towels either, so you get to enjoy their sweat on the benches while admiring their baby fat tires that betray their overdeveloped arms. YMCA does have a dress code, but I am pretty sure that no one gives a rats tail. So bring your own towel, may be even two and be ready to see more exposed nipples in the gym than in the pool.
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