Koko FitClub of Austin – Onion Creek

If I was less tech– and gym-​savvy, I might be more impressed with Koko FitClub.
The overall idea is good: an electronic personal trainer that hooks into Koko’s cardio and weight machines to direct you in what exercises to do and measures your pace, reps, etc. All this information is stored on your personal jump drive then backed up at the gym and presented to you on your account on the internet. It could totally be like «2001: Space Odyssey», but falls short in some ways. Or maybe it is like «2001,» there are all those parts of that movie that I don’t’ like and could be tweaked or shorted to make it better.
Overall, I have enjoyed being a member but the honeymoon phase is long gone. I do suggest going in for the free consult and considering a 30 day membership ($ 30 still I think) to see if it right for you or to at least jumpstart your fitness quest.
What’s missing at the Corporate Level:
Mobile app: Come on now, it’s not 2001. Yes, I can pull it up on my phone’s browser, but still.
Truly customized work-​outs: you choose from pre-​designed sessions that are around 8 weeks long. There might be exercises that you don’t like, or don’t want to do but all you can do is skip those in your work-​out. The system is not flexible enough to say «oh, you skipped Ab Crunches so I will give you a set of Lat Pull downs to make up for it.»
Individual sessions should take about 30 minutes to complete, but if you skip an exercise or two, now it is considerably shorter. You can start the next session after you finish that one, but it might be using similar or the same exercises since the program assumes you do one session every other day.
Cardio: oh where to begin here. It really seems like an afterthought. The jump drive goes in and measures but doesn’t control the machine for you or have pre-​programmed HIIT. You have to listen to the mp3 recordings to know what to do and then have someone blah-​blahing in your ear for 15 whole minutes. Often in a Boston accent. Cardio is already lame. Come on, now.
How Koko could improve:
1. make the programs truly customizable: I skip Ab Crunch a lot because I typically do Pilates on days I don’t lift so I have no need or desire to do any additional ab work. I would want to work on other areas though and I don’t want to drive all the way to the gym for a 15 minute workout
2. make each session customizable: I wish the machines would ask you how you feel when you start and adjust accordingly. «Hello Melissa, how do you feel today?
RAWR, I can take on the whole world;
good, I’m ready to work out;
ug, I barely got myself here, take it easy on me.»
And report how I feel in my little account area against what I actually did. If I see that I’m hating working out 90% of the time, I could surmise there are other habits I need to work on to improve my gym performance.
3. Cardio: preprogram the machines to the HIIT programs on the mp3s so that customers can decide whether they want to listen to the personal trainer session or to their own music while they work out. What would be even cooler, get rid of the mp3 players on the machines, develop your mobile app, then you have your cardio sessions on the mobile app that will play the PT session or sync with the customer’s music playlists and just gives alerts when the speed or intensity is about to change. If you must keep it «all PT all the time» get more than just three PTs on the records. Please.
What’s wrong at the club and how to fix:
1. Temperature: It is way too hot in here all the time. Personal cooling stations (i.e. fans!) at each machine. Hello, it’s Texas. That another reason I don’t cardio here. Two ceiling fans on low just ain’t cutting it.
2. The music: half the time I go in and it is not on, lame. Half the time it is on, but not loud enough. Half the time it’s on and too loud. The controls for this should be out so people can change when they come in.
3. The weight machines: there is way too much play in the seats on each machine, like they are not being tightened and maintained enough. Pulleys are often sticky from not being oiled. And then, other customers not properly cleaning or resetting the machines. It is really annoying and gross to walk in and every machine either feels like the seat is going to fall off, or was so obviously not cleaned or reset by the previous person. Fix: maintain the machines more; for new customers, educate them on how to clean and reset the machines.
4. Stock: often out of wipes at the front of the back, or the hand sanitizer is out or low. Or all three.
5. Set-​up: I don’t like that the machines are angled instead of being perpendicular to the wall. It is hard to line up your feet or body in line with a machine that is at a weird angle.
Am I seeing improvements in my fitness, health, and pants-​fittingness (?), yes. But it still feels like a lot to overcome at this gym and for the price, it should be a little bit better.

Love this program! In 3 months I have achieved a 33% strength gain, the biggest in my legs. Listening to the same guy, Michael, on the cardio programs every time gets a little tedious, he tends to talk down to you at if you know 0 about fitness and health, but the programs are as challenging as you want. I highly recommend the Koko Fit program. As with all programs, CONSISTENCY is key.
Update: after 5 months, 65% overall strength gain, I feel great!

I still have not worked out here, but the manager followed up with me after reading about my previous experience and promised to look into the issue I had. Although it doesn’t change the experience I had, it makes me think more highly of their customer service.

I have been a member of this location for 7 months and I LOVE IT! I have definitely felt and seen a difference! This is the first gym I have ever gone to where I actually enjoy working out and look forward to it. The programs are easy to follow and the staff is awesome! The staff is friendly, and always willing to help. I highly recommend Koko Fit to anyone who wants to enjoy working out, see results, and feel great!

I LOVE KOKO! I’ve only been working out there for 2 months and can already see a huge difference in my muscle tone! The Smartrainer is the BEST way for me to fit in frequent workouts and have fun doing it! I finally WANT to go to the gym. Thank you KoKo!

I love this place! I can definitely tell a difference in muscle tone and my clothes are fitting better. The fit coaches are awesome and will help you throughout your journey. It only takes 30 – 45 minutes out of my day and I feel I get an amazing workout. Join KOKO and see for yourself!
Thanks KOKO!
Stephanie Titus Boepple