I look for three things in a CrossFit box: (1) a challenging WOD, (2) coaches who care, and (3) good community of athletes . It is for those three reasons I whole heartedly recommend Iron Oak. The coaches will take the time to help you understand the movement, and the objective of the movement. Better still, they will provide mobility tips to ensure you can perform the movement correctly. If you live in Houston, this is your box! If you are visiting, do not waste your time shopping around, there is no better box in Houston! read more

For years I've been a CrossFit skeptic, but the great folks at Iron Oak have won me over. I signed up about 6 weeks ago. The coaches are very welcoming, knowledgeable about the movements, and create an atmosphere of camaraderie that makes everyone feel accepted no matter their level of fitness. I'd even feel good about bringing my own mother to this gym. Now how many CroffFit-ers can say that? Also, they are intentional about their training methodology. I am a very analytical athlete, coming from an endurance background of triathlons and running, and knowing where we are headed with our training and why we're going there is important to me. In my first conversation with Colin (even before signing up) he was able to explain to me what was coming down the training pipeline in the next several weeks and what the next phases of training were going to be. They actually put some thought into where their athletes are going rather than just randomly throwing together workouts for the sake of variety. Iron Oak takes the correct approach, knowing that in order to get good at something you need to do it with some amount of frequency. But there's plenty of variety in our workouts to keep the boredom away. A few other things: - The longer class (1 hour 15 minutes) means there's plenty of time to do the workout rather than rush through everything. - I feel very safe under the coach's supervision. - They have a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE facility! That means there's room to push sleds around, run, do farmer carries, etc., all without going outside. And they have a fridge should you need some mid WOD snackage. I'd highly recommend this CrossFit for anyone. read more

This is the best crossfit gym in town, and I have tried them all. I have never been athletic so when looking for a gym all I wanted was one that made me feel COMFORTABLE. I tried several others closer to me that were intimidating and where the coaches did not pay nearly enough attention to a struggling beginner. There were other gyms where coaches would be texting and chatting with their friends during the metcon. When I arrived at Iron Oak I could tell it was different. The coaches truly care about your form and push you to accomplish things you never thought possible. The programming is difficult without being impossible. The facilities are ENORMOUS, clean, and well stocked. The owners truly care about your opinion and send a yearly survey to find ways to improve the experience. They are constantly reinvesting into the gym instead of just pocketing the money. I moved farther away and drive 20 minutes to this gym to work out and it's worth every minute. Stop reading this and try it out immediately! read more

Every time I come to Houston to visit family I always drop in to Iron Oak. Their facility and equipment are top notch and the coaches are knowledgeable and professional. I recently spent an extended period of time in Houston to tend to some family matters and Iron Oak quickly welcomed me into their community making me feel right at home. I so appreciated having such a great Crossfit box to go to while away from my home in Louisiana. I've enjoyed every class I've attended and been very pleased with their programming. Classes are run efficiently and I can't stress enough how great the coaches are. As a Crossfit coach myself I appreciate coming to a box where I can benefit from quality coaching and feedback. If you're in the Houston area and interested in trying Crossfit or looking for more out of your box, I highly recommend Iron Oak. read more

Leaving a CrossFit box that you didn't realize was *that* terrible until you join a great CrossFit box is like finally getting in a happy, healthy relationship and thinking, "Oooooh, this is how it is supposed to be!" That has been my experience at Iron Oak. I have been a member for about a year and continue to wonder how I was ever anywhere else. In fairness, Iron Oak may not be for everyone. Some people want to go to their gyms/boxes, work out uninterrupted, and leave. Some people are concerned only with impressive whiteboard scores. Some people don't really think they have room for improvement. If this is you (be honest), then Iron Oak isn't for you. Rather, Iron Oak is the epitome of what CrossFit zealots cherish. Starting with the box and how it is managed: It is quite clear the owners (Phil, Colin, Jeehuon, and Jeesoung) continue to invest and commit to IO because they are invested in people and the value of encouraging health and fitness. The equipment is respected and well-cared for (and replaced when necessary). Colin, the programming king, diligently creates our program weeks (if not months) ahead to ensure comprehensive and complementary WODs and strength/skill sections (my performance and body barely changed after a year at a different box; at IO, it didn't take long to see and feel improvements). Safety is priority: as classes grow, coaches are added (and classes-Sunday too!); we review movements each class. The coaches watch you and will not let you execute a movement if you are at risk of injuring yourself (a dominating criticism of CF) and provide continuous feedback. IO holds its own clinics for members, and the coaches are consistently continuing their own CF education at seminars. Iron Oak is perfect on paper, but that's not what really makes it special. Being a part of Iron Oak is truly like having another family. The environment is forever positive, even when a coach is correcting you, even when you aren't Rxing a WOD, even when you are frustrated or fear being last. None of that matters at Iron Oak. There are no pissing contests. While we are all expected to push ourselves, we are never made to feel ashamed of our performances (another criticism of CF). What's more, because the owners are clearly invested in us, we become-in essence-Iron Oak. When you are a member for a year, you are asked to sign a brick on the building. When there are anniversary parties, the coaches hand out member awards. We contribute to the IO Spotify playlist. We are asked to help design shirts. We celebrate coach anniversaries. And we are all friends. We care about each other beyond our scores and performances. During our 45 Day Challenge, we earn lifestyle points with weekly challenges such as meditating, random acts of kindness, and reach out initiatives. These won't help our muscle-ups or handstand walks, but they help us as individuals. Obviously, IO is about a healthier, happier, balanced life. You don't find that in many places. Just a warning though: If you come for a drop-in, you probably won't leave. read more

I recently joined Iron Oak after leaving my previous box. I visited several boxes before settled with this one. I am constantly blown away by the knowledge of the coaches and the Iron Oak programming. I have been doing CrossFit for over a year now, but I have learned more (technique, safety, mobility, flexibility, etc.) in the very short time I have been at Iron Oak, than at my previous box. The facility is HUGE and there is plenty of equipment to go around. The staff works hard to ensure that the box is clean and that equipment is in proper, working condition (you definitely won't find that at every box). There's also a kitchen area with a fridge and microwave! The 75 minute classes really allow for a proper warm up, stretching, strength training and the WOD without having to rush through everything. As a previous reviewer mentioned, the WODs aren't just random workouts that are thrown together that morning. The programming is carefully planned and thought out. The coaches are also very knowledgeable and encouraging. Each class is capped to limit the number of students to ensure there is proper coaching and supervision available (you won't find a ratio of 20+ students to 1 coach ratio here). This allows for individual attention to help with form, technique and ensure the safety of the students. I would highly recommend Iron Oak to anyone who is looking to start CrossFit or to someone who is looking for an awesome box. read more

I came from what is widely considered the worst crossfit gym in Houston, to what I think is the best crossfit gym in Houston, Iron Oak crossfit. This place is amazing. In the 9 months I've been here, this place has purchased new plates twice, made two separate purchases of additional rowers, additional sleds, and built an additional line of rigs in the back of the gym. The 4 founders continue to invest their profits back into the gym. They offer regular anonymous surveys asking how they can improve, and then they follow through on the suggestions. I just received a new email that on the slate this year they're building an additional girls restroom because the gym has grown. Also with gym growth, they've expanded their class sizes while adding additional coaches to ensure proper coaching. They've actually IMPROVED the coach/student ratio. Since I've been here they've also added 3 additional coaches to their roster. The coaches here are second to none, and since arriving I've PR'd in just about every weight and metric based solely upon proper coaching and technique, about which all of the coaches are sticklers. I've never heard of anyone being seriously injured at the gym since I've been here, which is also a far cry from my last gym. The programming is amazing, with the scheduling being prepared weeks and weeks in advance to ensure that all the muscle groups are properly worked with enough rest and towards a long term strength goal. Currently we're doing a tiered pullup progression several times a week. If you've never done a single strict pullup, you work up to that with exercises to help you achieve that goal, with the far end being 60 or so unbroken butterfly or kipping pullups, scaled to each individual students current strength and skill level. It's amazingly thought out. Each class is also an hour and fifteen minutes long with built in mobility and stretching to ensure students are properly warmed up and ready for each day's workout. They also provide special competition classes for superior athletes interested in competing in local and national competitions, as well as novice classes for new crossfit athletes (note: this is different from On Ramp classes). In short, there's something here for every level of athlete. If community is important to you, that is also something that is paramount at Iron Oak. They have multiple voluntary parties every year, from anniversary to holiday parties, river trips and more. They also do other health related activities, such as a 45 day dietary challenge twice a year. They also are involved in local charities and offer their members the opportunity to participate if they desire. In short, this place is awesome. The coaches are all approachable, kind, and truly passionate about fitness and a healthy lifestyle. A testament to this is that the membership seems to have doubled since I signed up myself. I now have to sign up for classes 2 days in advance, but the classes aren't so big that people don't get proper coaching. I couldn't be more amazed and even in awe of this gym and the people who run it. read more

I joined Iron Oak Crossfit a few months ago and could not be more grateful to have found this wonderful place. Working out is an integral part of my life, so I dropped into several gyms before committing to an Iron Oak membership. My expectations are continually exceeded with frequent facility and equipment enhancements, bi-weekly professional cleaning, an impressive coach to athlete ratio and thoughtful, effective programming. Classes are also 75 minutes long to allow for ample warm-up and mobility work to prevent injury. Brief overview: huge, clean facilities filled with pristine equipment, qualified and caring coaches, family-oriented members and safe practices. I truly couldn't ask for more. Iron Oak is more than a gym, its a supportive community that has a value I cannot quantify. I would highly recommend Iron Oak to Crossfitters at any level. read more

I was hesitant to join CrossFit after seeing pictures from other gyms where all the guys have their shirts off (gross) and all the girls wear sports bras (intimidating). How pleasantly surprised I was to visit Iron Oak and see that everyone was not only friendly and smart and safe, but clothed! I've been with Iron Oak for 6 weeks now, and here is what I've observed (for perspective purposes, I am a female in my early thirties in pretty good shape): -The classes are 1 hour and 15 minutes, giving us lots of stretching and mobility work before we ever pick up a weight. I really enjoy the pace. I feel like the instructors really care about our bodies (not in a creepy way, but in a "Let's warm up our calves because we're about to jump rope" way) -I was nervous about having to write my performance (speed or weight lifted) for everyone to see like I've seen pictures of at other gyms. That doesn't happen here though. There is no white board with how slow and weak I am splashed across it. Instead, after workouts, we enter our time/weight lifted, etc. into a computer And it's totally optional to enter our time on workouts. Sometimes because I know I go really slowly, I don't enter it, and it's a-okay. -On that note, none of the other members at this gym have ever asked me about my performance ("What did you lift?" nor "What was your time?") This is very nice, especially because I'm still slow and puny. The lack of asking about performance makes me feel comfortable in my workouts because it helps me focus on my own workout instead of comparing myself to others. -Concerning entering weight lifting numbers in the computer, it is so helpful. For instance, last night we were doing dead lifts. My coach, Jeesoung, had already checked the computer before class so he knew what I'd done in the past on this exercise and was able to tell me what range of weight I should be shooting for. So helpful. -There is, in general, a very safety-minded atmosphere at this gym. I definitely feel taken care of, and I never feel the urge to go up in weight when I'm not comfortable. The coaches are very concerned about FORM, and not amount of weight lifted. -After classes we are always welcome to stay as long as we'd like to cool down. -They have really cool shirts (I know, silly, but still...) -There are four coaches at the gym. I have been in classes with all of them by now, but only once with Colin and once with Phil. With that, I feel like I can only accurately speak of being coached by Jeesoung and Jeehoun since I've taken lots of classes with them. They seem to really know what they're doing and they explain the workouts very clearly and always watch us very closely to make sure form and technique are correct. Overall, I would highly recommend this gym to anyone, regardless of age or shape (but not to guys who want to take their shirts off - just sayin'). read more

After doing CrossFit for a couple of years, I saw myself in need for a new box. After visiting 6 different boxes in the area, Iron Oak stood out as the top choice. I've now been a member for a few months and have nothing but wonderful things to say about it. The coaches are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated, the equipment and facility are top notch, and the people are awesome. I couldn't be happier with my choice! read more

Been to a couple of crossfits but this one is the one for me. The others just made up crazy WOD's. These guys here at IronOak really put an emphasis on longevity and overall health. I have never felt healthier and stronger!! Not to mention these are some of the coolest and nicest guys Ive met. read more

BEST CROSSFIT GYM IN HOUSTON! I have been a member here for about 18 months and love coming here. All the coaches are amazing and offer great advice, they provide a safe environment that also allows me to push myself to get the best workout I can get! The gym is HUGE and very clean, they have tons of equipment and are always getting new stuff. One of the best parts of this gym is the community they have created, everyone supports each other whether your trying to reach the games, or just there to have a good work out. I highly recommend Iron Oak to anyone who wants to try cross fit or is looking for a new box!! read more

Great workout this morning. People were friendly and class was fun. Instructor explained it well and kept everyone motivated. Good way to get very sweaty on a Saturday morning! It's hard work but we were in groups of 3 today so there were breaks and everyone encouraged each other. read more

I strongly recommend. Lost fat and gained muscle. I now have a six pack and feel great!

If you've been Crossfitting for a while, or even if you're new to the scene, you've probably heard that not all Crossfits are created equal. Some are big, some are small, some are competitive, some are laid back, etc... But really the best Crossfit gyms are the ones that pay attention to the small details and ensure their clients have the best overall experience they can possibly have. Iron Oak doesn't miss any of these details. These guys take serious pride in their gym, and it shows in every aspect. There's tons of well maintained, state of the art equipment to go around and the facility itself is extra clean. The members are friendly and seem genuinely happy to be there (even if they're dreading the workout). There's lots of thought put into the programming and coaching to ensure their members are constantly improving. Overall, as far as Crossfits go, this is a great one so if you're looking at either joining for the first time or switching boxes, drop by and check it out. read more

This is a great gym. Five stars for the workouts, the coaches, the members, and the gym. They have a huge gym with lots of equipment, awesome workouts with scaling options for every member, super friendly coaches that encourage everyone to do their best and lots of great friendly members. I have been a member for 3 years....I hope to be there for many more! If you are thinking about joining a gym, Iron Oak is the best. read more

When I was first introduced to the concept of CrossFit, I thought it was an interesting and innovate way to exercise. However, I never thought it was something I would be capable of doing, but i was convinced to try it out. The coaches at Iron Oak knew exactly what pace to work me into more challenging routines. I am still a beginner, but I have seen improvements in my ability to perform, improvements in my endurance level and my health. Every time I leave the gym, I feel more confident and excited that I am actually doing this. I have been to several gyms and had several personal trainers in the past, but the coaches at Iron Oak are by far the best. There is a ton of support here from everyone and health & safety is priority #1. read more

I just had my 1 year anniversary with Iron Oak with no previous Crossfit experience. I feel fortunate that I landed in this box. The programming is not designed to turn everyone into Rich Froning and pushing people in mediocre shape like me to the breaking point. Don't get me wrong, the programming is intense and you need to be in a functional physical shape to even do the scaled work outs but at the end of the day everything is focused on long term progressive healthy development. The other key point is dietary education which also helped but is not preached. I can only make it twice a week due to work scheduling but even with that commitment my physical health has completely changed. The pricing is reasonable but the true expense is having to buy a whole new wardrobe. If you want shirtless bros and sports bras telling you pain is weakness leaving the body go elsewhere. If you want positive long term physical development with a focused knowledgeable coaching staff that will shepherd you through the process this is the the place to be. read more

I love Iron Oak Crossfit. The coaches are all very friendly and encouraging. Safety and proper form is regarded as the most important aspect of your workout and each coach really cares about you as an individual. Everyone at the gym is very friendly and welcoming, you get an instant group of friends when you join. I think Iron Oak stands out from other gyms because the coaches are smart, college educated guys who genuinely care about fitness and health, not your stereotypical instructors who are looking to make a buck from the crossfit craze. It's truly a healthy lifestyle they promote, with clean eating advice and overall just a great culture they've created at their gym. During workouts everyone is very positive and encouraging and it's all about personal improvement, so don't feel intimidated or discouraged- come as you are. I could go on and on, I just love this gym. #asyouwere read more

The coaches at Iron Oak are very knowledgeable, patient, and super cool. They create fun and varied WODs that are challenging and engaging, whether it be individual or partner/team workouts. They emphasis form and spend adequate time training new comers and veterans alike. I would recommend them to anyone at any fitness level. They have created a fun and safe environment for anyone with the desire to improve their health, physique, and personal development. read more