Rockwell Barbell

Fantastic experience: Amazing gym! Full of the best powerlifting equipment and good people. All of the staff are welcoming and helpful, and the coaches are welcoming to all.

Fantastic experience: Best gym in the city. It has the feel of an old school iron dungeon. Both the staff and the people who lift there are friendly, but focused on their work. No one will bother you if you just want to lift alone, but there is a rock solid community to support you, spot you, and help you grow.

Fantastic experience: We visited Chicago for our study for 3 weeks. We’ve made a good deal with Lawrence, the owner. To use his very cool, real American gym for 3 weeks. The vibe was great, people there were helping and caring with spotting and checking form. When you’re in Chicago and you want to go to a real powerlifting gym. Definitely consider to visit Rockwell Barbell. I think if you ask for Lawrence and tell him you’re there due to this review he will give y’all a good deal as well!

Fantastic experience: Traveling from out of state and stoped in to get a lift done. Great facility, friendly warm atmosphere. Like a home away from home

Fantastic experience: From the moment I stepped in Rockwell, I knew it would be the place I call home thanks to Lawrence and the principles in which he serves the gym. I appreciate the humility, respect, cleanliness and willingness to help of both staff and gym members.

Fantastic experience: One of the top gyms in the country - hands down! Whether you are just getting started or are on the pro circuit this gym is a great place to be! Everyone there drops the ego at the door! Lawrence does a great job and I highly suggest everyone to at least give this gym a try!

Fantastic experience: Did 3 drop ins while visiting from Denver, and I was more excited to go back each time. Awesome gym, all the equipment you could need- deadlift platforms, ghost combo racks, ghost/rogue calibrated comp plates, all the specialty bars you could ask for. Accesory equipment is not lacking at all, my favorite piece was the belt squat. Lawrence was awesome and welcomed us with open arms, as well as any of the other staff and members. Everyone was courteous to each other, and they take care of their gym. Can’t wait to be back, thanks again!

Fantastic experience: The first 40 years of my life I hated exercise and despised the idea of going to a gym. Then a surprise health issue rocked my life and some dear friends of mine put me in touch with Lawrence. (Trainer/Owner) I was intimidated at first, but Lawrence put me at ease. I’ll admit, it started as a slow burn for me. My schedule is hectic and unpredictable, but Lawrence worked around those obstacles and has applied the right amount of pressure to stay active and motivated. The gym is dope, has plenty of equipment and everyone is pleasant and easygoing. Highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Am I considering moving to Chicago for a gym? Yah, maybe. Rockwell is amazing. The members, staff and equipment are all top notch. I have never been to a gym with nicer humans and we do drop ins at a lot of gyms around the country. The members also clean up after themselves which makes Rockwell even better. $20 for a drop in may seem steep but you’re getting 4-6 combos, 5 deadlift platforms, a few squat racks, all the bars/speciality bars you could ask for and normal (non powerlifting) gym equipment.

Fantastic experience: Housed in a former laundromat near the river on Chicago's Northwest side, finding this gym after my move to Chicago was a huge blessing. Rockwell Barbell has ample equipment for powerlifters and bodybuilders alike--you don't even need to bring your own belt! The owners and trainers are knowledgable and friendly, the price is reasonable, and membership gets you 24-hour access to the space. Unlike other powerlifting gyms that look like dungeons, Rockwell is artfully decorated and has plenty of sunlight--meaning I don't mind that I spend half my waking hours here. Can't recommend this spot highly enough.

Fantastic experience: I joined Rockwell in July of 2018 after doing the CrossFit thing for about 6 years- I was a masters athlete so they paired me with Coach Matt Blankenberger and started competing in Powerlifting in 2019. A great supportive atmosphere with every level of lifter from novice to elite. If you are a competitive powerlifting they've got it all- even a mono-lift. I've moved since but always recall the 3 years I spent there fondly. Check it out!!!!!

Fantastic experience: Awesome atmosphere for a gym. Old style Chicago brick and aesthetics, solid variety of equipment, old school feel, and friendly staff. Definitely stopping through again when I’m in the Windy City.

Fantastic experience: Awesome staff. The culture inside the gym is insanely helpful. I have crazy gym anxiety, and this place is the gym where I feel the most welcome and able to develop my routines and get good at lifting

Fantastic experience: I have been at Rockwell for about a year, and it is by far the best gym I’ve been to. This is the first barbell gym I’ve been a part of. As someone that lifted a while on my own, without a coach, I knew this was the place to go to get some guidance and work with real equipment (barbell selection, etc is incredible coming from someone that previously worked out exclusively in commercial gyms). I can never go back to lifting in a commercial gym after training here. Besides coaches/equipment, people respect each other and the equipment, which doesn’t happen in commercial gyms. As other reviewers said, there is a community and you can socialize if you want or just do your own thing. The sound system also slaps which is a huge plus. I have worked with two coaches at Rockwell, Anthony and Lawrence, and can’t say enough good things about both of them. Marie is also great from the one session I did with her. For those who are passionate about lifting, this is the place to be.

Fantastic experience: Owner is very friendly and helpful & gym has all the equipment you would need. This will be my regular gym any time I’m in Chicago

Fantastic experience: This is hands down the best gym I have ever been to. Super great, knowledgeable staff who are really there to support you and create an amazing atmospheric vibe. Plus my coach, Kelli Coleman, is pure gold. If you need someone to push you in getting stronger, or have an injury that you want to work around - Kelli is your trainer! Can't recommend this place enough!

Fantastic experience: Great gym filled with great trainers. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: Greeted at the gym by coach Matt Blankenberger who was a great host for the session. I bought a day pass to try it out and would return again when back in Chicago. Definitely a real sense of work ethic in this facility that resonated with me, happy with the layout and excellent powerlifting equipment. Recommended.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been a member and one of Lawrence’s clients for 3 months now and I have scene more progress in my lifts than the 8 months before. The environment is super supportive and focused. It is the best powerlifting gym in Chicago hands down and joining was the best decision I could have made for my powerlifting progress.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell is not only the coolest gym community in the city of Chicago but has the best trainers that actually know how to make you into the strongest version of yourself!

Fantastic experience: I’ve been a member at Rockwell since 2019 after growing tired of going through the motions at bigger commercial gyms and it was easily one of the best decisions I’ve made. There is a great sense of community here that supports all fitness goals and trainers are incredibly knowledgeable and can help any level of lifter learn something new. I’ll be lifting at this gym as long as I’m living in this area.

Fantastic experience: To lift at Rockwell is to be part of something special. There is a tangible feeling in the air when you lift at Rockwell that’s hard to come by these days. You have to stop and think about it - but it’s rare to have a place like Rockwell that is there for you any day you need it. Lawrence and Matt work tirelessly to create that place and it’s easy to see how selfless and passionate they are about enabling all walks of life to be the best version of themselves through strength. Truly feels like a family at Rockwell. “We” is a word used often here. To my way of thinking, this is the Pinnacle lifting experience in Chicago today, and it’s not close. Honored to be a part of it and lift with this community.

Fantastic experience: From top to bottom, Rockwell Barbell is a community unlike any other in Chicago. It's a gritty, supportive, and collaborative gym that allows you to reach your goals - powerlifting, strength, conditioning, bodybuilding; whatever they may be - through the path of your own choosing. Whether a trainer or a member, you're a part of something at Rockwell.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been training at Rockwell for about 6 months, and it’s been an amazing experience!! I have tried and failed to get myself into a fitness routine for many years, never really knowing where to begin. I’ve tried many commercial gyms and fitness classes but always felt lost, intimidated, or like I was paying a lot for extraneous amenities I was not using. At Rockwell I’ve been able to find my stride and learn to enjoy working out and getting strong!! While Rockwell attracts really serious and experienced lifters, I, as a total novice, have felt welcome and supported from the outset. Lawrence was super helpful and insightful in matching me with a trainer, and made sure I would be working with someone who could best help me meet my goals. My trainer Patrick has been incredible!! He is supportive and knowledgeable and has been able to push me beyond what I thought possible! I never thought I would say this before training at Rockwell, but I really look forward to every workout and love going to the gym!!

Fantastic experience: I’ve been lifting with Lawrence for many years. When I first started training with him, I had a lot of injuries that were aggravated by poor lifting technique and muscle imbalances. Lawrence has taught me the fundamentals of barbell training and improved my life. As for the gym, it has pretty much everything you could want from a gym, not everything is shiny and new, but if you’re interested in strength training, there is everything you need.

Fantastic experience: Everyone at Rockwell is super friendly and incredibly helpful. You can tell the trainers really care about their clients, and they help create a positive and inclusive environment. It’s a great place to relieve stress and get stronger!

Fantastic experience: Can’t say enough great things about this place! Coming here from a commercial gym was initially intimidating because of the vast number of incredibly strong people but everyone is extremely kind and professional. Rockwell has an environment unlike any other that will help keep you from getting complacent with your training no matter what your goals are. I’ve been training with Marie Christophell for 8 months now and I can’t recommend her enough. Marie has been not only a ton of fun to work with but also very knowledgeable about anatomy, training, programming, recovery etc. I’m fairly new to training powerlifting seriously and she has been an asset for helping me get back to pre-COVID numbers and beyond.

Fantastic experience: I started going here almost 3 years ago after doing a few ladies who lift classes with Rae. I really liked the range of equipment available and the small gym feel. I love that the patrons range from people that are walking into a gym for the very first time to people that have been competitive powerlifters for 10+ years. There is just as many women as men and they are actually lifting-lifting not just on cardio machines the whole time. Rockwell gave me the knowledge for how to most effectively spend my time at the gym, set measurable and attainable goals, and how to incrementally improve and not just burn out as fast as possible. Solid vibes all around.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Quality In Chicago for a weekend getaway! Needed a powerlifting gym as I am 3 weeks out from my first comp & Rockwell Barbell had everything I needed + the cutest company with PaulieThePig! Gym was clean, staff was friendly & a newly expanded side opened the week prior. If I travel back to Chicago I will be returning to this gym.

Fantastic experience: Lawrence runs the best damn gym in Chicago! Been working with Katie for a couple months after emerging from a hiatus. Couldn’t have asked for a better environment to get back into it. Great positive energy all around and trainers to help you with any goals you may have.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell Barbell is an extremely welcoming gym. Everyone is friendly and the vibe is great. I recommend getting sessions with their trainers. They push you to your full potential to fufill your fitness goals.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell is an absolute gem—the trainers, space, equipment and community are all second to none! I started training here almost a year and a half ago, and with hard work and Rockwell’s training, have far exceeded my personal goals. This is a great space for everyone—whether you’re a beginner, or a seasoned lifter who wants to be surrounded by people with similar passions, this is the place for you!

Fantastic experience: This is an awesome place to lift weights. If I had to explain why in just one word, that word would be... Respect. Respect for your time: training here focuses heavily on the "Big 3" compound exercises, with a variety of other styles in support of that. Although the gym isn't huge, its layout is efficient and it has all the right equipment. Most important, the atmosphere is positive and high-energy. Respect for your health: trainers emphasize proper technique, meeting you at your current skill level, but without cheats or shortcuts. Safety is the #1 priority. Respect for your intelligence: no fads, gimmicks or klueless pseudoscience are on offer. Respect for your money: no hidden fees, no marketing tricks, no aggressive sales pitches. It's the exact opposite of a corporate gym that thinks of you as a number instead of a person. Respect for who you are: no matter what your age, skill level, strength, race, gender identity and so on, the vibe at this gym is that you're welcome... period. 100% recommend.

Fantastic experience: My first time to Rockwell was amazing. The old school classic Chicago exposed architecture gives off a vibe like no other gym has. Their facilities are easy work in and get a great training session in. Although more specific in regards to strength training they do have a enough equipment to accommodate your everyday general fitness accessories training. Can’t wait to Vito again. Definitely making it my gym when I come and visit home. Looking forward to the expansion and what that’ll look like for them.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality Rockwell is not only a great facility with access to any bar you would need as a power lifter, it also is a tight knit community for people that are trying to get better at any level. It’s the best part of my week and highly recommended for anyone looking for something more than a big box gym.

Fantastic experience: tl;dr: 11/10 recommend this place if you're looking for gym to work on strength training. More details below. I joined Rockwell about 2 years at the recommendation of a friend. It's a no-frills gym with lots of character and is full of people dedicated to being their best selves. I've gotten to know the owner, Lawrence, as well as some of the staff and regulars and everyone has been pretty solid. They're friendly, helpful and are there to work. You can tell the gym tries really hard to curate and maintain an atmosphere where people come in to get some good work done and not be pretentious about it. What you won't get is cardio equipment. There is only one treadmill and stationary bike so if you're looking for a place to run indoors this is probably not the gym for you.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell has a great atmosphere and is filled with everything from high level competitive powerlifters to novices, and everything in between. You can be social if you're in the mood or stay in the zone and grind away. The equipment is great, with plenty of the essentials plus every specialty bar and accessory you could want. Check them out!

Fantastic experience: I've been lucky enough to train at some really excellent gyms across the country, and Rockwell Barbell is definitely in the upper echelon. I won't reiterate the normal "this isn't your typical globo gym!" stuff since you probably know what you're looking for if you're reading this. There's lots of good equipment that ranges from typical powerlifting fare (safety squat bars, GHR, reverse hyper, etc) to more specialized things like sleds and strongman-leaning stuff like yokes and farmers walk handles. It's a tremendously inclusive environment as well, which may be Rockwell's biggest draw since unfortunately this isn't always a guarantee at strength gyms. Easily a top-tier strength gym in the Chicagoland area.

Fantastic experience: I love this gym. That’s not hyperbole. I look forward to coming in and seeing familiar faces and training hard! Lawrence is friendly, passionate, knowledgable and he certainly make you feel like you belong. There’s a reason this place feels like a community. I’ve been training with Matt for a few years now and I wouldn’t go with anyone else. Love that dude! Easy to say he’s become a friend. And that’s indicative of all the trainers here. Don’t sleep on this gym. You’ll love it.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell Barbell is probably one of my favorite powerlifting gyms. It's a super inclusive space where everyone co-exists with nothing but motivation and support for one another. I was here for 1 month, and the gym treated me very well. It felt like everyone went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable, and welcomed by friendly faces! The environment was amazing...from the vibe, to the equipment, to the music, all set a motivating space. 10/10 would recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area!

Fantastic experience: Rockwell Barbell is nothing short of awesome. I came to this gym looking for a personal trainer who would help me reach my fitness goals. Looking back, I'm glad I chose Rockwell. I got in touch with one of the owners named Lawrence who understood my fitness background and goals. He paired me with one of their many great personal trainers. I've been working with my trainer Katie for around 4 months now and with her guidance, have hit and surpassed my personal goal of weighing 180lb. Past gym experiences have brought me little to no progress- with Rockwell's guidance and putting in the work, I've never been as strong. They don't care what shape you're in, what your background or beliefs are nor where you're from -Rockwell doesn't judge. They're about working hard. If you're willing to put in the work- look no further.

Fantastic experience: Wish I could give this place more stars. I've been a member of a couple other power lifting/bodybuilding gyms, but this one stands out amongst the rest. The vibe is welcoming, friendly, but high octane with a healthy level of competitive atmosphere. It's one of the smallest gyms I've been to, but speaking from a utility standpoint, I feel it has everything I need and the setup is very functional. I prefer my non-traditional old school training, and the kettlebell collection is better than any I've seen. Lawrence also allowed me to bring in and share my own equipment, which was very helpful. All in all I'd say to anyone who wants to step away from commercial gym culture and try out a place where fitness is a way of life as opposed to a life accessory, give Rockwell a shot!

Fantastic experience: I arrived at Rockwell following a recommendation by my physical therapist after going through recovery for a shoulder injury and it's one of the best decisions I have made for my physical health. The atmosphere here can be described as a bunch of gentle spartans. Everyone here is very hard working, no-nonsense, mission-oriented and dedicated individuals. They all appear committed in fostering a community that is based on plurality, inclusivity and mutual support. My trainer Kelli Coleman is an extremely professional, knowledgeable and personable individual who has helped me navigate my shoulder recovery. Rockwell is mainly focused in strength training yet can fit all levels of skill and accommodate for other training modalities. As an amateur athlete I have benefited tremendously from training there and have a great time every time I go. My hope is to continue being a member for many years

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality Rockwell is one of the best gyms in the city. Great atmosphere and classic vibes. Owner and trainers are extremely welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and dedicated to making sure you progress and hit your goals. Awesome people and a tight knit community. 10/10 highly recommended.

Fantastic experience: Marie rocks as a trainer, she understands and helps reach my goals!

Fantastic experience: This is a great gym. Has all the equipment you need including multiple squat racks and an Olympic lifting platform. A great neighborhood barbell club with clientele from novices to serious lifters. I’ve found this a welcoming, unassuming place where folks can show up, be themselves, and lift. I’ve been doing some personal training with Lawrence (the owner) and in a few short weeks he’s made incredible changes to my form, strength and balance. Lawrence has an amazing ability to notice and explain tiny things about form that add up over time to massive improvements. He’s been really invested in my progress, and always comes into our sessions with a great plan for how we use our time together to achieve the goals we’ve set. I’d highly recommend this gym to anyone that wants to strength train and especially anyone that could use some help building good form on big compound lifts. Lawrence is a great trainer!

Fantastic experience: Rockwell is a huge upgrade from any commercial gym in the area and it is ideal for beginners and experts. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and the variety of equipment available makes any workout possible. As someone who walked in with some experience, I had reservations about how much I could improve, but thanks to Lawrence and Chris, my compound lifts have been more robust. All in all, possibly one of the best gyms in Chicago.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell Barbell is a weight lifters paradise. They have everything available: Chains at all different weights, all kinds of bands, recovery tools, lots of bar options, tons of squat racks, benches, deadlift platforms etc... The people who work out here are serious about their training, but they are also very inclusive. I can't lift nearly as heavy as many of the women who work out here, but I'm never made to feel 'less than' because of it. The trainers are all very friendly and knowledgeable. You know a gym's members are focused on good form when you see them regularly going through good warm up routines. Lawrence (the owner) in particular has been an incredible help on improving my form. He is a serious body wizard who is able to pick up on technical details with movement patterns during a lift. He provides excellent coaching. This is not really a negative, but rather something to note: If you're not a fan of metal, you won't love the music that's played 70-80% of the time. You can always wear your own headphones and rock out to whatever you want. I highly recommend this gym. I always look forward to my workouts here.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell is a great gym full of knowledgeable, friendly trainers that are ready to help you meet your goals. I have been training with Katie for almost half a year and she has pushed and encouraged me beyond what I thought I could do. The progress I have made with her guidance is much more than what I was able to do powerlifting on my own over a couple of years. I really appreciate the inclusive, hard-working environment! Not a pretentious or overwhelming place to train at all, just be ready for heavy music and some amazing feats of strength.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell is a great gym for powerlifting. The coaches are extremely knowledgeable and motivating and the owners have managed to cultivate a culture that both promotes a serious work ethic for lifting while also being inclusive to lifters of all backgrounds and experience levels. If you are in the Chicago area I can't recommend Rockwell enough.

Fantastic experience: Positive: Communication , Professionalism , Quality This is the best gym I've ever been a member of. The atmosphere is exactly what I want from a powerlifting gym. The staff is friendly and they actually know what they're talking about when it comes to training (good luck finding that at your run of the mill commercial gym). I really can't say enough good things about Rockwell.

Fantastic experience: Rockwell Barbell is an amazing place to train with an incredibly welcoming community of lifters to learn from. Great equipment selection and a truly old school feel without the pretension. If I cups move this place to my hometown I would.