Overall, I think this is a great gym! I only had the chance to take one class before breaking my wrist (outside of the gym), so unfortunately I couldn't dive in too much. As someone new to CrossFit, I found James to be a great coach -- patient, attentive, and focused on proper form. He gave helpful adjustments and kept the class moving at a good pace. I'd definitely consider coming back once my wrist heals. I did have a small billing issue that took a little time to sort out, but James ultimately took care of it. It's clear they're a small business doing their best, and I appreciate that. I'm glad to support a local gym that offers solid coaching and a welcoming community. read more

Pacific Strength is truly something special. I am not a lifter and walked in feeling genuinely intimidated by a functional fitness gym environment. That fear disappeared almost immediately. The instructors (Jessica, Zach, Makenna, James, and others!) are kind, attentive, and incredibly good at meeting you exactly where you are -- no ego, no pressure, just thoughtful coaching and encouragement. James, the owner, is a wonderful human. He sets the tone for the entire space: supportive, inclusive, and deeply invested in people's progress and well-being. The community reflects that -- the patrons are welcoming and encouraging, and there's absolutely no judgment. I'm more of a yoga and Pilates person, but I knew I needed to incorporate strength training for long-term health. Since coming here, I've gotten noticeably stronger, improved my range of motion, developed better form, and -- most importantly -- gained confidence with weightlifting. No one cares that I lift a fraction of the weight others do. Everyone is focused on their own progress, and there's always a way to scale or modify. This is an ideal gym even if you're not looking to become an Olympic weightlifter but are looking to maintain muscle, protect bone density, move better, and feel strong -- especially for women who want functional strength without intimidation. Pacific Strength proves that strength training can be empowering, accessible, and genuinely enjoyable. I can't recommend it enough. read more

Pacific Strength (PS) is as much a space for high-quality and skillfully led classes, as it is an exceptional opportunity to build a sense of community. PS has been established and operated based on inclusivity of people of all races, sizes, genders, sexual orientations and nationalities. This is vital for anyone who has ever struggled to have a sense of safety, belonging or basic human respect among their community--either within or outside of a wellness space. The coaches at PS, including James who is the owner, are a team of athletes who have each been on their individual journey of fitness and teach from that experience to reach as many class participants as possible. In each class, they offer positive reinforcement, motivating music for inspiration, variations to meet the fitness level of all participants and individualized attention to ensure safety. A membership at PS can become an investment that begins and/or sustains a healthy lifestyle that can go beyond the doors of PS. This is especially important for those of us who may feel a bit intimidated by going to the gym, unsure of where or how to start working out, need a "refresher" or want a cost-effective way to receive an almost daily well-rounded fitness program and coaching! read more

This place is life changing. I had never done CrossFit and now I'm hooked. James has created an incredible space. The coaches are super helpful and the community is super welcoming. Previously I never looked forward to working out, but now I can't wait to hit the gym. Highly recommended. read more

I LOVE THIS GYM. Overall, I've been a crossfitter for 14 years & have been at this gym for the past 5 years. Here's the breakdown in order of importance to me. The owner, James K is amazing. He's professional, supportive, and kind & has become a friend. The other coaches, Zach, Demitrus, James M are the best. The community is inclusive & I found two of my closest girlfriends there. The space is a good size including restrooms (Dyson hand dryers) & showers. This is great for us to get ready & go to work quickly. The programming is fun & you can do what works for you. Another important aspect is that when I'm running late, I don't feel judged or an added layer of stress. The coaches just get it. Life can sometimes be a lot :). Come check out the gym! read more

I've never been athletic and was always self conscious at gyms but after two years I've gained a lot of confidence and strength. My observation is that the coaches make an effort to help everyone with their form and how to scale the workout if it is necessary. No regrets except when I don't go. read more

I worked out here twice and I thought this was a great gym. Got a really good workout out both times. James is a really great coach and just super nice all around. My first class was a trial and then I bought the 10 pack deal. Unfortunately I was only able to train once more before hurting my knee (not at all related to training here). James even extended the due date on that package by 6 months which was so generous of him. I did end up moving away from Oakland so never made use of the package. But overall, I would definitely recommend this gym and would have trained here more if I could have! read more

5 STARS for Pacific Strength. My husband and I have been going to PacStrength since 2019 and have been doing CF since 2015. We joined the gym shortly after moving to the East Bay. James, the owner, is down-to-earth and very personable. He is very thoughtful in his programming and takes pride in his work. The coaches are all great - knowledgeable and supportive wherever you are in your fitness journey. People often question the parking situation at the gym, but we have never run into parking issues. There is usually plenty free parking across the street from the gym on Harrison, and if that is full on very rare occasions, there is an abundance of metered parking. The members are awesome too! We've met some good friends through the community. James also regularly invests in the gym - buying and upgrading equipment. They have a full locker room too with showers which is super convenient. Before joining PacStrength, we did check out several of the gyms in the area and hopped around. None of them stuck. PacStrength is definitely the box to workout at! read more

Really nice & friendly CrossFit gym. I did a drop in workout as I was only in town a short time. They have all the pull up bars, kettlebells, free weights that I want. It was one of the few gyms in the area that I could find that does not make you join & buy a big pack of group classes etc. They have an app that made it very easy for me to sign up for a single open gym workout. read more

Classes were over packed to the point of being unsafe. Gym was dirty/ dusty and staff was blatantly rude. I mean, as a new member I did not receive a welcoming energy. I guess you have to be a certain "type" of person to like this place and I am not that type. Then again, I don't enjoy running through crowds of Whole Foods shoppers or lake Merritt tourists as part of my workout. Programming was good but that's about the only positive of my experience. read more

Let me start off by saying that I absolutely love Pacific Strength! It's been a journey for me to get here, and boy am I happy that I found my way to Pacific Strength and its fantastic coaching, as well as growing and supportive community. I'm a sucker when it comes to a great community and even better coaching. In my opinion, these are the two things that make or break a gym experience. I spent two years at an amazing gym, which exemplified great coaching and a cohesive community, so it's hard for a gym to live up to those expectations, as I've found out. I only left that gym because I really wanted to lift all the heavy things and found that my best option was crossfit. Now of course, crossfit has a certain reputation, but what I've found is that the crossfit experience is fully dependent on the quality of the coaching. Simply said, James and the rest of the coaching staff are fantastic! Every single day, I get cues on my movement - sometimes it's small reminders when I'm getting tired (which are so important to stay injury free) to bigger things like working on my pulls for cleans or snatches. The coaches do a full warm up and demonstrate the moves prior to the start of a workout, reminding everyone of the movement basics and adjusting for any necessary modifications. I've had the pleasure of also taking the Olympic class at Pacific Strength, and I already see a huge improvement in my clean and snatch technique after two sessions. I've also come in for open gym, during which I got some fantastic one on one coaching. Overall, the coaches are fantastic and very knowledgeable about proper movement, the community is growing and fully supportive of each other, and the space is large and has some really fun toys like a yoke, a peg board (one day I shall conquer you!), rope climbs and a jerk box, as well as standard fare like practice bars, kettlebells, air bikes, ergs and ski ergs. It's a great box and worth checking out for anyone interested in crossfit or fitness (beginners as well as advanced athletes)! Hands down, the best crossfit gym in Oakland! read more

Very nice gym and great programming. I did a drop in class when visiting Oakland and felt very welcome and had a good workout.

I've been a member here since 2019 and really love this gym. James and all the coaches are fantastic, and very supportive of all the members here. It's way easier to get good results at the gym when the gym does the workout programming for you and you're surrounded by other people working hard. read more

Owner James is a very friendly guy! Great vibe in this place. As a trainer I was very thankful to hear that he was open to new trainers joining their environment. read more

I've been wanting to try Crossfit for awhile but it just seemed too intimidating...especially for someone overweight like me. So it was a pleasant surprise when I walked by Pacific Strength one night and the owner James came over to welcome us in while we were curiously peeking in the windows. Despite being in the midst of boxes, he and his wife Miranda were extremely friendly. Their gym hadn't even opened yet (it's now open for business) and nothing was really set up but I just felt a good vibe and at home. Tonight I went to an "On Ramp" class for beginners. Basically you learn proper technique before diving into a full on Crossfit class. I highly recommend this...especially if you are like me and are curious about Crossfit but also slightly scared. James makes it seem doable and even fun! He is also great about making modifications. I left sweating, happy and high on endorphins. Both James and his lovely coach Kimarie are so encouraging and invested in making their clients feel good about their abilities. The gym itself is good sized, has cardio machines like bikes and rowers and most importantly a very nice bathroom with plenty of amenities, towels and showers. I like that they keep the door open so there is also plenty of fresh air. Also worth noting are the free community classes the first Saturdays each month. I hear they will also have Remedy Juice and Equator Coffee kiosks set up in the parking lot in the near future. Of course, Whole Foods is conveniently located across the street and the lake is nearby for a walk or run after your workout. read more

I worked with Coach James one-on-one for almost two years and freaking love him & his workouts. He was able to work with me from an overweight, injured beginning (example: you know how normal people can do box jumps? I started out *almost* being able to jump up as high as a ten-pound-plate, most of the time) and we took this amazing journey where he kicked my ass every week into good, safe form and now I am lifting way more than pre-injury, healthier than ever, and helping other people out in Oly or just normal Crossfit. I love the attitude he brings to group classes and you'll never find anyone funnier or more supportive whether you're already a champion or you're just starting out. So many stars. read more

To be honest, I've only been attending this place for a week, but it's been so great. The teachers are really helpful especially for me as a newbie and helpful with advising on what a good starting weight would be for certain movements as I tend to be unsure since a certain weight might feel lighter in the beginning, but after a lot of reps, you definitely feel it. Definitely recommended! read more

Great gym! I've dropped in twice here, once about 2 years ago and once today. Both times I had a great all-around experience. The programming, space, and coaching were all phenomenal. James, the head coach, was totally welcoming and very attentive to everyone throughout each class, including me. I'll definitely try to drop in again next time I'm visiting friends in the Bay. read more

This place is LEGIT AF! I finally stopped by to say hello to coach James (he used to coach at my current gym) and get in a quick workout. The facility itself is super nice and the double rig set up is on point. I just did a quick drop in for open gym and had plenty of space to to myself, it never feels too crowded because of the layout. They also have showers and towel service which is very rare for Crossfit gyms. Whether you're looking for a new community to join or just need to drop in, this is your spot in Oakland! read more

After a 3 year hiatus I decided to get back into Crossfit. Was a bit anxious about finding a new Crossfit home after moving away from my previous one. I selected Pacific Strength because it's within walking distance of my place. Met with James for a 1:1 session, and was really pleased with his warmth, positivity and guidance. I was embarrassingly sore for days afterward, but really proud of my accomplishment and the fact that I had not forgotten everything from my previous Crossfit workouts ages ago. Really appreciate the culture here - other members came over to introduce themselves, and welcomed me. Very pleased with Pacific Strength! read more

Wonderful community of people to workout with. The Box owner, James, cares about all of the people who go to this gym. Workouts are tough and programmed so well. Coaches also make sure that everyone feels comfortable approaching each workout as to scale certain movements when necessary. It's located close to Wholefoods and and great coffee shop. There's showers and the weight equipment and cardio equipment is great. I love this box so much and definitely feel my strength and endurance improving tremendously. read more

Incredible atmosphere and overall experience! Today was my 1st day, and I attended the Cross-fit class w/ Nina. Though the class was completely full, she was so attentive and personable as if it were a 1 on 1 session. The members were extremely helpful, and even offered assistance if one of my reps needed a little more refinement. I've had several cross-fit experiences throughout the years, but never one as great as this! Everyone was motivated and fit, the exact environment I need to get me back in the swing of things and the enthusiasm to shed these 30 unwanted pounds! James, kudos to you for the warm and welcoming atmosphere @ Pacific Strength! Sharon read more

James and his coaching crew are amazing! Love the classes and support that I get here. Great for beginners and advanced athletes alike.

Excellent gym! I've been doing CrossFit since 2005, so I've seen quite a few gyms across the country. Although I knew some people there, I didn't tell the person who greeted me when I walked in. She was extremely friendly and helpful, and her enthusiasm for the place was evident. James (the owner) had a great vibe going wit his classes, and the programming was well thought out and fun. The facility is nice, has high quality equipment and is CLEAN. Looking forward to visiting again. read more

Amazing group of people and great atmosphere!! Everyone is extremely welcoming, James is an awesome coach! The box looks so good and it feels great working out with all the top of the line brand new equipment! Proud founding member :)) read more

A very inclusive and positive place. Members of all different levels encourage each other, and the coaches are very knowledgeable and care so much. Noticed a review about not getting a response right away when trying to sign up -- I think this is because their staff is quite small and they're always coaching. I recommend stopping by in person if you can! read more

Excellent coaches, facilities and programming. People there seem genuinely interested in everyone getting stronger in a healthy, supportive way. read more

James is a great coach - no matter how full the class, you will always get his personal attention and his amount of knowledge is incredible. The box is great too - and, seriously, where else do you get towel service?!?! read more

Just had my first class today. Loved it! Great place. Nice equipment. Knowledgeable coaches.

one of the best CF gyms in East Bay. I've done classes with Coach James prior to him opening his own gym and he is awesome. He's dedicated and passionate about what he does. His classes are always a nice mix of strength and fun metcons. When there is a move that you can't do, he will def work with you to modify and to learn how to do it. Can't go wrong with Coach James or any of the coaches. read more