After Fitbit’s (FIT) successful IPO last month and the recent release of the Apple Watch, wearables seemed destined to become a mainstay in gyms across the country. In D.C., however, the wearable tech trend has yet to stick. Four of the five D.C.-area gyms interviewed by DC Inno estimated that fewer than 10 percent of their clients use wearables in their workouts.
Carmen Sturniolo, owner and founder of Ambitious Athletics in Foggy Bottom, thinks this has a lot to do with the hassle involved in learning how to make wearables a valuable workout companion. “That’s what I see most, people either not using the wearable or device to it’s fullest potential or not using it at all because it takes up more time in their day,” Sturniolo told DC Inno.
The low number of wearables users at D.C. gyms doesn’t necessarily mean that the devices are unpopular or have no place in fitness, but rather it may reflect the preferences of the clientele at these gyms.
“A lot of people here take training [courses],” said Gene Calvin, fitness director at Crunch Gym in Metro Center. Calvin estimates that only 10 percent of his clients rely on data from wearables, because “those details and customized plans are given by the trainers themselves.”
Graham King, owner and founder of Urban Athletic Clubs, which has two locations in northwest D.C., echoed Calvin’s opinion that wearables aren’t meant for serious gym-goers. “Wearables might be for newbies who need something to help them move. More experienced athletes might rely on a training journal, a regular routine, even paying attention to their body (being mindful) rather than relying on a wearable,” he added.
Sturniolo agreed that wearables are best for casual athletes, telling DC Inno “these devices can be … a source of motivation for people.” Though in his experience this inspiration “doesn’t seem to last very long,” for some, the feedback from wearables may provide a challenge to walk more steps or beat out friends.
“It adds an analytical aspect to the workout,” added a rep from Belin Sport and Fitness in northeast D.C., where an estimated 10 percent of clients use wearables.
Though most agree that wearables are best suited for those who don’t work with a trainer regularly, some fitness enthusiasts have embraced integrating wearables into training routines. A trainer at SolidCore in Shaw estimates that nearly 50% of their clients use wearables. “The clients we have tend to be pretty physically fit,” she said. “They use them to take their workouts to the next level.”
SolidCore’s data may indicate that wearables’ minimal presence in D.C. gyms is a product of how new they are to the market. As time goes on, wearables may become more and more prevalent at local gyms.
On the other hand, the absence of wearable tech in some D.C. gyms may in fact reflect their limited marketability among regular gym-goers, who already get feedback from trainers, work out for extended periods without time to tinker with technology and may already pay as much as $2,500 per year for a gym membership. This might explain Fitbit’s “Find Your Fit” campaign, which preaches, “Fitness doesn’t follow a formula. It’s the sum of your life.”
At the moment, wearable tech companies seem to be targeting a more mainstream audience, eschewing programmatic routines in favor of everyday fitness.
