2026-08-02T18:19:36.479Z

I was doing most of my research online before coming in, so I walked in with a decent idea of what I wanted. Ended up buying a bench and kettlebell here anyway. Even though I’d already narrowed down some options myself, the advice and selection actually beat what I’d found researching online. Staff knew the equipment beyond spec sheets, talked through frame stability, incline and decline and how the bench would hold up under heavier lifts. Selection was more commercial-grade than the usual big-box stuff. No pressure, just useful help picking the right gear. Will certainly be back.

2026-06-18T19:22:19.158Z

I highly recommend Balance Fitness. I just purchased a beautiful new treadmill. They have a large selection of excellent products, and the owner Jim is extremely helpful and accommodating. I don't think there is anywhere else in this area where I could have just walked in, found exactly the machine I needed, and had it delivered within a few days. I am very happy with my experience with Balance Fitness, and I will use them again for my home gym needs. By the way, I was lucky enough to get there for their Memorial Day sale. Prices and service can't be beat.

2025-10-04T23:04:42.834Z

Very professional and efficient purchase. I knew the make and model of The specific piece of equipment that I wanted, The free motion dual cable cross. I reached out to the manufacturer and they referred me to Jim G. at Balance Fitness.Pricing was fair, custom color led to a few weeks prior to delivery.The delivery experience was extraordinary. Two person team delivered a 1250 pound piece of equipment Exactly when they said they would, and the install was well engineered with no damage to anything. They managed to install the equipment in the corner of my home gym without even punching the rubber flooring underneath.This is definitely a high-end equipment shop and I look forward to taking them up on some in-store training and I will look at other pieces of equipment as well.

2025-04-09T00:11:10.821Z

I had tried to find a good store to buy a new treadmill. Google gave me little in the way of options. I started by going to Dick's Sporting Goods. The service wasn't great and the selection was poor. I had recalled buying a treadmill years ago at a place in San Mateo and managed to find Balance Fitness (again). They were TERRIFIC. Great selection of sturdy, well made equipment. And fantastic service. I couldn't recommend them more highly!

2025-03-22T23:23:30.634Z

Jim at Balance Fitness was very helpful when designing and purchasing our new home gym. He helped us pick out a power rack that met our needs without being overkill, and made sure we had the accessories we needed, without trying to upsell us on things that we didn't. He was very patient with our questions, and continued to support us after the installation was complete, as well. We'll definitely be back for any future gym equipment purchases.

2024-11-11T17:26:08.990Z

Great place to find items for you to make a home gym. They offer a wide selection and even high end equipment that our own 49ers use . They will work with you on pricing and price match for the best price.

2024-11-10T17:44:15.062Z

Jim is a great personal trainer. He customized my routine based on what I wanted to accomplish.He is extremely knowledgeable as he has been doing this for 30+ years. He also knows everything there is to know about fitness equipment.I would highly recommend going by his store to check out the equipment and meet Jim. This will be the best life investment you ever make!

2024-11-09T07:29:10.841Z

After visiting several stores in search of a treadmill, I chose Balance Fitness because Jim is knowledgeable, experienced and didn't try to sell me more than I need. I needed additional help after the machine arrived and he was quick to respond, provided input and proactively followed up. I would definitely purchase from him again.

2024-11-09T05:37:38.323Z

I have purchased my gym equipment from Jim at Balance Fitness. He helped me design my home gym and now is my personal trainer. He has over 30+ years of experience and has helped design a fantastic training program. If you are interested in purchasing equipment, you should go see Jim. He's honest, knowledgeable and provides awesome customer service!

2024-03-06T22:18:51.689Z

Our old exercise bike started failing and needed either to be repaired or replaced. After getting a few repair quotes, we decided it was time to buy a new exercise bike. One of the repair technicians suggested we check out Balance Fitness in San Mateo.Prior to visiting Balance Fitness, we were planning to buy from [fitness store chain] which is where we purchased our prior exercise bike. But we decided to comparison shop.Jim at Balance Fitness was there to greet us on a weekend. He is knowledgable about all brands and the selection at Balance Fitness was diverse and generally higher quality equipment than what I've seen at other stores. We tried out several brands we had never seen in-person before, and ended up buying one of them on the spot! Jim's pricing is fair — he matched the lowest price that he could find online. Jim also was very flexible, helping us schedule delivery around the stormy weather.Great selection, fair prices, honest opinions. I'm glad we found Balance Fitness and highly recommend them over any [fitness store chain]!

2023-08-18T20:49:29.521Z

Balance Fitness is great! I worked with Jim G. to upgrade some fitness equipment in an outdated gym at an apartment complex.We started out with only wanting a treadmill and then decided to add a bike and a functional trainer to make the gym feel more complete.Jim was great to work with. Very friendly! Super helpful! The equipment looks great for being pre-owned and the prices were fantastic! Thank you Jim!

2023-02-12T22:33:41.039Z

Great local shop with well informed staff.

2022-07-10T01:43:45.569Z

Balance Fitness is the epitome of why buying local from small businesses is the way to go. Jim was incredibly helpful, with a focus on finding the right gear for me vs trying to make a sale. He's clearly an expert in the field, cares about customer service, and is very passionate about what he does.Balance Fitness also has far more innovative and high quality products then any of the other fitness stores I've been to. He even gives advice on exercise routines you can use with the equipment you buy. I'll be back soon and highly recommend.

2022-07-03T03:33:03.532Z

Jim was amazing! He is extremely knowledgeable and they supply some really well known companies and organizations. He was able to find me a good product within my budget. On top of that, my pickup guy fell through and was unable to make it and he physically helped deliver the item to my house that day. He also helped me install it and set it up! Exceptional service! I recommended him to several of my friends and family members already!

2022-04-28T11:00:40.953Z

Great place to shop, lots of equipment to choose from and knowledgeable staff. Training, too.

2022-03-31T16:18:15.487Z

Great selection, we bought an Octane Q47 elliptical and a Tuff Stuff six pack trainer which are incredible. We highly recommend this store.Jim is one of the owners and gave us invaluable guidance from his over 30 years of experience in fitness education.

2022-03-20T06:19:08.000Z

After searching for an elliptical machine for months and exploring many options to purchase one, we fortuitously found this place, Balance Fitness. We decided upon the Octane Q47xi for its ergonomic construction and natural stride and arm motion. We also purchased a Tough Stuff exerciser that uses cable, weights and a sit-up bench. The amazing thing about the store and the whole experience is Jim who has more than 30 years of experience in fitness training and education. He helped us to understand how to use the equipment properly and taught us how to develop a routine with expertise psychology and kindness. We really appreciate this place and highly recommend this to other people.

2022-02-11T22:33:26.714Z

I have designed and purchased both a personal and a commercial gym from Jim and his team at Balance Fitness. Super professional, great customer service and terrific pricing. Their gym design/layout skills are elite. My highest recommendation.

2022-02-02T20:28:15.945Z

This is a fantastic business owned and run by very knowledgeable and friendly people who take the time to get to know you and your needs. Jim spent a lot of time with us, understanding our needs and ultimately suggesting a great set of equipment for our home. The products they carry all are super high quality, and most of what we bought is made in the USA. The prices are are also very fair. We're very happy and grateful and would recommend Jim and Balance Fitness without hesitation!

2021-12-13T00:00:38.442Z

[ FIVE STAR and more ] Jim at Balance Fitness is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. His priority was to understand our fitness goals and he spent quality time with us in selecting the optimal equipment for our new home gym. He also provided valuable gym set-up suggestions.The overall transaction was amazing - the in-store experience, the purchase, the home delivery and set up (true professionals).Jim is the kindest person and he truly cares about the customer. You can ask endless questions and not feel rushed - he's so patient. With his background, it's wonderful how he incorporates fitness tips too!Balance Fitness is THE place if you're looking for quality home fitness equipment - highly recommended. Thank you very much, Jim and we'll be back!

2021-10-13T15:00:25.598Z

Jim is super knowledgable and great to work with!! HIGHLY recommend them.

2021-08-25T07:10:29.198Z

Our family was very fortunate to meet Jim and Balance Fitness in 2009 -- and we have been very happy, loyal patrons ever since. We have purchased three major pieces of equipment and various smaller items over the years -- all still working great. The reason we would go no where else is because we always feel like Jim is looking out for our best interest. He takes time to understand our needs (and help us to understand our own needs), and makes great recommendations. Especially given that so much now is online and big box stores -- the greater Burlingame/San Mateo area is hugely fortunate to have this local hidden gem. Forget internet. Forget big box. For whatever you need fitness, big or small, our family recommends you go see Jim!

2021-08-01T01:36:08.560Z

I ended up at BALANCEFITNESS, recently when trying to find elliptical for home use in my garage. I finally found Jim at BALANCEFITNESS in San Mateo. I formed my opinion when he asked questions and I asked questions too. There was no pressure from Jim. He pointed out differences of various types and that helped me choose the equipment that would fit my needs. I did not need to go to any other store!I fully recommend Jim and the other staff, especially if one needs help in selecting gym equipment. They have a vast selection of exercise equipment.I have stopped going to my gym when Covid-19 struck. I have been working out over 25 years. About a year ago I did Zoom training with my trainer So an elliptical fits my needs! Maybe I may go back and buy another piece of equipment!

2021-05-19T18:52:58.544Z

The team at Balance Fitness were great. Jim, Scott and Mike each spent time with me, describing the equipment and offering hands on opportunities. Their product line is top notch and quite impressive. I landed on an Octane Q37 Elliptical and couldn’t be happier. Check these guys out in San Mateo as their service is great.

2020-12-18T02:06:22.600Z

Jim and his team provided excellent customer service and were very knowledgeable about the quality equipment they sell. Let them know what your fitness goals are and they will work with you on suggesting equipment and getting you started on a plan to help you reach your goals. We are happy with the elliptical we purchased and would return for future equipment.

2020-12-10T15:32:37.467Z

After almost forty years of writing about fitness and health and working out at health clubs all across the U.S., I’ve finally found my expert source for fitness equipment and—most importantly, how best to use it—Balance Fitness!I ended up working mostly with Jim and Scott, but all of their few and carefully chosen crew are expert in the best equipment and how to use it to achieve your health goals and solve health issues. Better than physical therapists, think of them as fitness therapists!Underlying this is the way they identify and source the best fitness equipment, and provide it at competitive prices with great service. The equipment they set me up with for my home gym is better than at any gym I’ve worked out at, even the ones with amenities from spa towels to valet parking! The pleasure of working out with great equipment at my home gym has greatly helped my fitness progress.I’m so glad I found Balance Fitness, and can wholeheartedly recommend them for all your fitness and fitness equipment needs.

2020-11-30T22:52:43.012Z

I highly recommend Balance Fitness because they do far more than sell equipment. I went in to get an elliptical and learned that all elliptical are designed differently. Due to my back issues Jim was able to recommend one that fit my needs. The one I bought is an octane and I have to say it really offers a more natural motion than the one I’d been using in the gym. It has really helped my back. I was also taught the importance of ever weight distribution through my toes and feet which has really made a difference. Great recommendation!! I was pleased to experience someone who was super knowledgeable, cared and is not just selling equipment. Thank you.

2020-09-17T18:36:55.549Z

I had a really great experience with Jim @Balance Fitness. He patiently helped me to select equipment for my garage gym (rack, barbell, bumper plates and bench) and gave solid advice. I'm extremely happy with my setup! Do yourself a favor, don't get cheap junk benches or racks from Amazon. Drop into Balance Fitness with an appt and you'll experience service second to none. The installation was also done in a very diligent way. Glad to support this local shop, highly recommend and will return for future purchases.

2020-09-03T17:59:52.278Z

I worked with Jim and Mike at Balance Fitness. Since I have back problems, I wanted a recumbent bike for my cardio workouts at home during the Covid 19 pandemic. They helped me find the perfect bike. Both are knowledgeable and customer focused. There was no pressure and they actually found me a bike that met my needs that was lower priced than the one I was looking at. They deserve 5 stars in my book.

2020-06-21T18:14:19.736Z

In building a home gym, I wanted a rack with a weight stack for cable use. Jim showed me the TFI rack with weight stack. It was perfect! Excellent quality, small footprint, and best of all, designed, manufactured, and built in California by Americans. The price was also below the MSRP. I bought the rack with optional bar dip attachment and could not be happier. Thank you for getting me exactly what I needed at the right price! This is a great place with a great selection of equipment!