IRON VAULT - Norwalk, Connecticut

Andre V.

Great place. I am probably the only person doing Olympic weightlifting there and it can be a struggle sometimes since the gym isn’t setup for it. However, the fact that I can still do snatches/clean and jerk there is a testament to how good the place is. The equipment is great, barbell, dumbbell,and plates are 10/10. I wish they had squat stands, jerk blocks, and a bigger platform but I understand I’m not the targeted audience for the place. I’m still giving a 5/5 because everything else is near perfect, clean and good vibes all around it.

Carmen O.

I had a disappointing experience at this gym. The front desk staff was rude and unprofessional — the employee was on her phone with an AirPod in her ear while speaking to me, which was incredibly off-putting. I’ve worked out all around the world and have visited many gyms, but this is the first one where I wasn’t allowed to try the facilities before paying. I was charged $30 upfront with no option to tour or even speak to a manager about membership options. The policies are very inflexible, with a rigid 7-day pass and no real flexibility on membership choices. It’s clear they lack proper customer service and sales skills. Unfortunately, I won’t be returning. I hope the staff learns how to treat potential customers better in the future.

PS: this is not worth $30 day pass

C C.

Best gym for in the area if focused on just lifting (or cardio). Top tier equipment, friendly staff, good culture, and chill environment. I’ve been to every gym in Norwalk and nothing compares. A lot of people like to film here, but that’s pretty common in the gym nowadays.

David J.

This is the best gym in the area if you’re into lifting weights. In the four months I was there I never had to wait for a bench press, squat rack or deadlift. Only giving it four stars since a lack of a proper locker room / showers might be a deal breaker for a lot of people.

Josh A.

The gym is solid. Probably the best in the area in terms of equipment. However, the staff are incredibly rude and beyond unprofessional. I’ve had multiple aggressive confrontations from employees and witnessed other similar interactions between staff and other members. I ended up leaving the place because I did not feel comfortable around the staff and felt an immense lack of respect as a paying customer. Really a shame because I liked the gym itself a lot.

Sean L.

Very big Pros, and very Big Cons at this gym.

PROS: Equipment
CONS: Price, management, and policies

There's an amazing selection of quality equipment, all from Arsenal Strength. Not many other gyms will make the investment into actually having such high quality machines, although Iron Vault's cardio selection is lacking (but then again, cardio is not really a draw for Iron Vault's ideal customer).

Iron Vault also has a great sense of community, although it feels very clique-y during certain hours wherein the majority of regulars come in.

It feels like IV also chooses to hire from within the community it's established, which is a great concept in theory, and very important to building a strong community. However, this unfortunately means the majority of staff comes across as having no customer-facing experience whatsoever working in such positions. Sometimes it feels as if the staff is simply putting in the bare minimum to get what I assume to be a employee-priced discount on membership.

On any given day during the staffed hours, I wouldn't be surprised to see the staff on duty getting a workout in rather than being present at the desk.

The television selection is great, as it mostly has either CrossFit, Strongman, or any other strength-focused sports on all of the many screens, yet for some reason there were times when it was also kept on a channel that solely played Fear Factor. I don't mind the show, but it's a little off-putting when trying to get a workout in.

The $100 per month price tag isn't too off-putting, but I would expect either more attentive staff, more bathroom space, or even locker-rooms to justify it. You'd get more amenities at literally any other gym in the area (even the budget gyms), or you could get an entirely better experience at an Equinox for just $200 total.

I recently moved away from South Norwalk, and could no longer maintain my membership at IV. If you cancel your membership at any time during the month, your membership is terminated immediately, despite paying for the full month in advance. They do not prorate your membership in this situation, nor do they just revoke access at the end of the month.

Overall, if you like a gym with quality equipment and machines, a decently sized turf/stretching/plyo area, and prefer to workout in the early mornings, this is a great choice. However, if you plan on coming in any time after 2:00pm, be prepared to have long wait times on equipment and to be inundated with high-schoolers, with staff either sitting at the front desk scrolling on their phones, or working out themselves and taking up equipment during the busiest time of day.

tyler D.

I went to Iron Vault today for the first time with my friend and got a day pass. This is hands down the nicest gym I have ever been to. Do I think it’s worth $100 a month no but I am a student and I think the discounted $75 a month rate is fair for what you get. I was very impressed with the staff they are super friendly and know how to run a gym the right way. I definitely will be getting a membership when I come back from college. I would recommend to anyone that they buy a day pass to check out the gym and you will fall in love.

Jack G.

Is it overpriced yes but its the only true gym in Connecticut. Everything from the powerlifters ready to tell you how to perfect your form to the highschoolers trying to max out for the 3rd time this week. The music is good the lighting is amazing but the culture is what make Iron Vault a great gym.