I'm a new member but I honestly have had a much better experience working out here than any other commercial gyms. The atmosphere is different and helps motivate you. I like it here because of the anytime access (except 5-7pm) since I have an inconsistent schedule being able to come in super late or super early into the day is a good benefit. read more

I've started a month ago and my experience has been good so far! Tim has been very helpful giving me feedback on my form and it's been very nice already seeing progress on my lifts. read more

Great gym, amazing people. Just an overall fun environment to be in! Would def recommend for anyone looking to make the switch! read more

Visited SoCal Powerlifting for the USAPL Thanksgiving Throwdown meet and was immediately impressed by how welcoming and organized everything was. From the moment you walk in, you can tell this gym has a strong community and culture built around support and respect. The staff and volunteers were super friendly and kept the event running smoothly from start to finish -- everything felt professional and efficient. The gym itself is really well equipped with high-grade IPF-standard racks, benches, and platforms, plus plenty of free weights for training. What stood out most to me was the energy. Everyone was cheering each other on, whether you were a first-time lifter or a seasoned competitor. It's clear the team here genuinely cares about the sport and its community. Highly recommend SoCal Powerlifting if you're serious about strength training or looking to compete -- this place sets the bar high. read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

I've been here for a few weeks so far, and gym-wise, the experience is great. It's fairly small but has all the equipment you'd need for a fulfilling workout. As another member mentioned, they do get pushy on selling coaching but I understand it's business. However, I can say that my husband is getting coaching here and he has a a great experience with it. I was also impressed by how thorough their policies were to accommodate clients. Great gym! read more

I never in my MIND would have thought I would ever join a powerlifting gym. After doing extensive research in looking for a gym I felt I would "fit in", I finally found SoCal Powerlifting. Since day one when I was ready to quit, I had a supportive coach who helped me go at my pace. I never felt pressured to sign up. I am very appreciative of the patience John had with me. I'm still a newbie, and it's still scary going in to workout. But the coaches and other gym-goers are so nice and supportive. I have definitely found a gym that I feel I belong to. 10/10 recommended if you have no previous experience or have anxiety when it comes to gyms. read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Deadlift - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

I've had such a positive experience with SoCal Powerlifting. The environment has been so welcoming and motivating. The thing I love most is that everyone wants to see each other win. That kind of energy makes you want to show up and give your best every session. From the first day with John and working with my coach Megan, I have felt welcomed and taken seriously. No ego, just intentional coaching and real support. As someone completely new to powerlifting, I can say it's truly a place where anyone, from brand new lifters to seasoned competitors, can train, grow, and feel confident in the process. Megan's feedback is clear, technical, and immediately actionable. She pays attention to the small details that make a big difference, and she genuinely cares about your progress. If you're looking for a great gym and a place that pushes you while still feeling supportive and professional, this is it! Truly grateful I found them. read more

I've been powerlifting since 2021 and truly love the process of getting stronger. After some major life changes causing me to move cities, finding a new gym with proper equipment turned out to be much harder than expected -- if you've gone through it yourself, you know the struggle. Thankfully, my coach referred me here, and I couldn't be happier. The quality of equipment is top-notch -- absolutely nothing like your typical commercial gym. There's no waiting around; there are plenty of combo racks, deadlift platforms, and squat racks to get your workout done. The community is fantastic too -- people here are open-minded, respectful, and genuinely helpful. One of the biggest highlights for me is the gym culture: everyone cleans up after themselves. Weights are re-racked, benches and bars are wiped down -- and it's not the staff doing it! That level of respect goes a long way and makes it enjoyable for everyone else. If I had to point out one drawback, it would be the cost. This gym is definitely an investment -- not priced like your $20/month box gyms. But honestly, you get what you pay for; otherwise, you'd be better off at your local Crunch Fitness. That said, they do offer referral discounts for training programs, and it would be awesome if they extended that to open-gym memberships too. *ahem, cough* All in all, this is an incredible gym. I almost don't want to post this because I'd love to keep it a secret so it never gets too crowded! 1:1 coaching is available, and they even host monthly hangouts to build community outside of training. read more

The kindest and most welcoming lifting gym I've ever visited! The folks here are really invested in creating a kind and welcoming community for lifters. The facilities are extremely clean and have quite a variety-- pretty much anything you would want, you will find here. The location is very convenient for folks living in Irvine/Tustin/Santa Ana. I really want to acknowledge John for welcoming me and doing a great job onboarding me, as well as Coach Mike for being such a great trainer. Loved working with him and really looking forward to continuing! read more

Haven't been here a month yet, but I've been enjoying my time here so far. Its exactly what I needed after a change in lifestyle, the atmosphere and camaraderie from others have been wonderful. If you're looking for a new gym I highly recommend. read more

appreciate your follow-up, but I want to clarify a few things. My review was 100% factual and reflected my personal experience. Reviews are meant to provide honest feedback to help both businesses and potential clients make informed decisions. It's unfortunate that someone chose not to join based on my review, but that isn't my responsibility as a reviewer. It's the company's responsibility to find improvement. I understand the reasoning behind your restricted hours, but as I mentioned in my original review, those limitations weren't ideal for me--and they might not work for others as well. Sharing that perspective isn't unfair; it's honest. What's disappointing is how you responded to my review initially. Instead of addressing my concerns professionally, you deleted your original comment to say, "not true, delete this." That approach felt dismissive and unprofessional. Trying to silence honest feedback rather than engaging in constructive dialogue doesn't reflect well on your business. For the record, I wasn't a member in 2017-2019 or during any period where the rules you mentioned may have changed. I joined last year and shared my experience from that time. While I had a mostly good experience, the restricted hours were a dealbreaker for me. It's okay for people to share constructive feedback--even if it's not glowing--and your reaction to it has been the bigger issue here. Lastly, I've noticed several former members of your gym have moved on to other facilities like Omni Strength in Fullerton. I hope you can take this as an opportunity to reflect on how to better address feedback moving forward. read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Great gym! It's fairly expensive and a small gym, but the way everything is set up, I never have to wait for any equipment. The equipment is up-kept well. My coaching with John has also been great so far. They are fairly persistent on the sales side of things, but I'd say that's okay because they are selling a good service. They also are very upfront about costs and policies, and if you have any questions or worries about starting they are happy to answer. I only gave it 4-stars due to how expensive it is, but you get what you pay for, so I'd highly recommend them. read more

Great experience so far. Very responsive staff that made onboarding and training enjoyable. Getting back into powerlifting after 25+ years and SoCal Powerlifting is a great community for people of all levels. Great use of Discord for chat on various topics (more than just lifting) and TrueCoach for training. This helps keep me accountable and makes workouts fun. read more

So cal powerlifting has been the best decision I've made in a while concerning gyms. I've tried a bunch and nothing felt quite right. So cal powerlifting gives you a coach and a few sessions a month to focus on your goals. The coach I was provided with immediately gave me great lifting advice and I was able to improve my form and strength. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys powerlifting as a hobby. read more

Very clean powerlifting gym with all the equipment anyone would need! The staff and members are friendly and the gym is never overcrowded. Highly recommend this gym for anyone in the OC area who is serious about training. read more

Wish I had made the decision to join a powerlifting gym a lot sooner. I absolutely love the specialized equipment and the huge variety of barbells I've never had access too. I usually work out in the early mornings, and the atmospheres members have is very welcoming and motivating. The switch from a commercial gym is unmatched. If you're looking for a gym to get stronger in, this is the one. read more

I've been to a number of gyms in the area, LifeTime, Equinox, LA Fitness, and others during my time here in Irvine: None of them hold a candle to SoCal. Firstly, it's 24/7, and that's been instrumental for my training regimen, I like training at night after studying/work, and pulling up to the location each night is the perfect way to round off the day. Aside from the timing, the equipment in here really is top-notch, and you'll be able to put on some mass in here with some of the other folks. That's a good segue to my next point, the people. Man, I've met some real duds at some other facilities, but here, everyone seems to be compassionate & welcoming as we all share a converging goal - to throw some weight around. Get in here for a day and check it out for yourself, you'll love it as much as I do. read more

This is a wonderful gym with great staff and equipment. I've been to several gyms and this one stands out for having a huge amount of combo racks, an awesome bodybuilding spot for accessories, and responsive staff. There have been a few times I needed help navigating something and even the gym goers have been super helpful. Coming off a big injury, I've started back at ground zero. A lot of people new to gyms are normally somewhat apprehensive about getting back into for fear of being judged for lifting lower weight, including me. Socal Powerlifting is definitely the place for you. No judgment from anyone and everyone is willing to help you achieve your goals, regardless of where you start All around, outstanding experience and I'm glad to be here. I'll probably never go anywhere else. read more

This gym is exactly what I needed! After an exhaustive search and research of local gyms I came to tour here (shout out to John!) and signed up right away. The space is clean, the equipment is clean, there's a lot of space, racks, and most importantly of all... the members take pride in the space! Weights and dumbbells are re-racked where they belong! (What a concept!) everyone's been friendly, I usually run into the same people and look forward to coming to the gym. read more

Coming back around for another review as I enter my 4th year here, and I only have more good things to say. I've been working out in a gym since I was 14 years old (im 30 now)- I've lived in multiple states, trained as a coach and member at multiple gyms, was a division 1 athlete, got my pro card in bodybuilding, and I'm about to compete in my second powerlifting meet. And still after all that, I've never been to a gym as good as this one. I'm the strongest I've ever been.. this gym is the first place I come to every morning I wake up... The coaches have become friends They continue to grow in their craft and expertise They care about your progress like they do their own It's not like a commercial gym where you walk in to a sea of people- some want to be there, some think they "have to" be there, some go for social hour, some are following the latest influencer workout.... But not here. Here, you will probably not* be the best or strongest because there will always be someone stronger than you. And THAT IS WHY I COME HERE! I am inspired daily by those around me to train harder, learn more, recover smarter, and the community here is one where the members cheer you on- on your best days and your worst ones. Literally, people will stop their workout to watch you hit a PR or offer you a spot. It's become my family, this place. I'll never leave. Zack, the owner, has been a business coach of mine and become a great friend. His work ethic and vision are unmatched by anyone I've ever met.... He is always working to make this place better for everyone. And shoutout to my strength coach of now 4 years, Sebastian. We've grown in our relationship to where he knows me extremely well. He knows when to push me and when to pull back. He always empowers me but also calms me down when I'm having a hard day or session. I can't say enough good things about this place, and I can't wait to come back here in another year and leave an even better review than this one. Cheers to growth and strength my friends. Best gym in California read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Amazing gym with world class equipment. Very well maintained with great facilities for athletes who want to compete in sports.

An exceptional gym! I've trained at SCPL for seven months now and couldn't imagine going anywhere else. I arrived with a knee injury and could barely hit depth without pain, but Sebastian helped me and gave me an exceptional program and recovery plan. I'm the strongest I've ever been and can't wait to do my first meet later this year. SCPL makes a conscious effort to upgrade their facility and equipment and it's only going to get better from here. Whether you're an experienced lifter or brand new, you'll find a welcome home at SCPL! read more

So Cal Powerlifting has been a great experience for me. I moved over to this Gym a few months ago to improve my technique and get stronger by working with a Coach. I've been working with Coach John. He's helped me improve my technique and the weight is going up every week. Definitely ask for John if you want an awesome Coach. Zack, the owner is building a great community and sets the tone for his team. Facility is always clean and welcoming. 24 hour facility so it works great for my extremely early morning sessions! One big plus is that they are continuing to add more equipment. I'm looking forward to the pendulum squat that is on order and should be there any time. Give this Gym strong consideration if you are serious about your training. read more

**Update to previous 5-Star review: Yeah the gym and coaching with John has been worth every penny. I literally PR every week either in weight or volume, and the quality of the training environment and instruction has been top-drawer. I can't imagine working out anywhere else anymore. No pun intended, but the bar has been set wayyyy too high here. For anyone concerned about pricing: If you hired a personal trainer elsewhere, you'd find the pricing at SoCal PL to be competitive. It would shock you to see how affordable it is if you took the time to break down the cost per workout. read more

Great gym. Equipment is high quality and well maintained. There is 24/7 access and it is usually not very crowded so it is easy to focus while lifting. People are friendly and occasionally there is free food too. Pricing is very reasonable for open gym use, and there is an option to commit to a year and get a discount. read more

I absolutely love John who has guided me through the beginning of my process at SoCal. He's definitely a great listener. Coach Mike who is my coach is a great listener. He's very great at communicating and listening to what my needs are as an athlete. Very happy with my experience here at SoCal. read more

I came to SCPL with a decade of powerlifting under my belt, but I've been working out alone without any help and I knew I needed guidance. Mike and John have been incredibly helpful and patient in my goals. I also work with Alyssa to dial in my diet and with all three helping me, I've been seeing my goals quickly realized. Seriously a great group of people and well worth the time and effort read more

Clean, well-equipped gym with friendly staff and great atmosphere for workouts!!!! Easy parking

I was fed up with the crowds and waiting for equipment at my local commercial gym. One day, after looking for parking for 20 minutes, I got so fed up and immediately reached out to get a gym tour here the next day. At SoCal powerlifting, you not only get a gym. You get a community that supports you and encourages you to be stronger than you thought you could be. Shoutout to my coach John. Two months ago, I physically could not squat without tipping over. With his constant advice/coaching, I'm able to confidently squat with great depth and get stronger every week. read more

This is the place to go if you want to set your self up for success. I have been looking at getting back into the gym (for a while) and was frustrated trying to figure out my own routines and technique etc. Found SoCal powerlifting and got introduced to John one of the trainers we went over goals, strengths and weakness and started to develop "a plan"/program. The accelerator sessions are where it's at if you need one on one sessions to get an idea of form and a better understanding of where your body is at. read more

I recently got interested in getting serious about powerlifting and Socal Powerlifting has been fantastic! I am working with John who is very knowledgeable and helpful and has been incredibly patient with drilling down on the details to improve my form. The gym community is very welcoming and everyone is always looking out for each other. Definitely recommend! read more

I'm only a month in since I started training at SCPL but everyone here is so helpful and very knowledgeable. I ended up getting the year membership+coaching with Coach Tim and he's amazing! The equipment is great too, gym is clean, and environment is top tier! read more

Stopped by here for the first time today and wow! Great space, tons of racks. Didn't have to wait on a Saturday morning. Great place if you're tired of going to commercial gym. 10/10! read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

So let me preface this by saying I was a monthly member of this gym for about two years in total. I've seen the gym go from having 10 combo racks with only four being "usable" so to speak to having all 10 combo racks being adequate. This gym suffers from several issues, but I'll discuss some positives first. The first positive is the location. This is basically the only Powerlifting Gym in Irvine, so if you reside in South OC, this will be your only option in a small radius. The second positive is the abundance of equipment. Particularly, there is absolutely no issue with plates as there is more than enough for even a full house. The third is the 24/7 access, though I will later get into why it's not exactly "24/7" for those trying to use it exclusively as a training facility. Lastly, the parking lot is great. It's quite large, stretches far, and has no restrictions set on it. However, it'd be remiss of me to not mention the glaring faults I've experienced. The first is much of the equipment is not in great condition. The platforms the combo racks are on all use mats to support you/the rack/bench. The issue is these mats are all in poor condition. Walking out a heavy squat, you will feel your feet sink into the mat and it will be a terrifying experience. The second issue is the bars, with perhaps one exception, have very little knurling. Definitely far better than any Commercial gym barbells, but not what you'd expect from a Powerlifting gym. Third, there isn't really anywhere left to Deadlift that hasn't been worn down (due to the high foot traffic over the years). While there are two dedicated Deadlift platforms, the mats are incredibly bouncy and so it makes any Deadlift past a single rep incredibly awkward. Beyond that, you could Deadlift in front of the Cage racks. Issue there is they've seen so much wear & tear that they're incredibly uneven and Deadlifting there is a challenge. Fourth is the "24/7" access. For those like me who already have a coach and just need a training facility, good luck training here around your school/work schedule. Hours of 4-8PM on Weekdays are closed off to you, and before 12PM on Weekends is also prohibited. Possibly most important of all grievances on this list, the gym - and Zack in particular - is not very well receptive to criticism. I've always been quite vocal about my issues with the gym and I've been reprimanded for voicing said grievances time and time again. To expand on that, just this weekend I was informed by Zack that I was banned for, "making others uncomfortable". Though I was polite and acquiesced to his request of never training at SoCal again (mind you, I have trained at most once a month there in the past six months now), I was inquisitive as to what exactly I did to make others uncomfortable. Unfortunately, Zack did not seem keen on informing me of what it was I did which forced me to assume several options, none of which being positive. After waiting 24 hours for a response from Zack, I reached out with a quick follow up message in case he'd forgotten. The response I received was that he'd respectfully like to move on. When I told him there was nothing respectful about his handling of the situation and that all I wanted was a simple answer as to how I'd made others uncomfortable (an accusation I take very seriously), he decided to block me. I decided to reach out to the General Manager instead. He was able to inform me of what I did. According to him, verbatim, the issue was as such: "Unfortunately we had a few members who have overheard some pretty negative comments from you while training here that made them uncomfortable, and one who said they would not be continuing their membership due to this." Due to the fact that I have no desire to infringe on the privacy of these "members", I cannot say with any certainty exactly if it was me training at the gym, or my criticisms (all of which are factually true) of the gym that caused them to reconsider their membership(s) at the gym. Be advised if considering a membership. read more

Did my 3 onboarding training sessions with Tim. He was rad, super down to earth and non judgmental at all. Gave me great tweaks to improve my lifts and I signed up immediately upon finishing my last session with him. The place is great, the people seem nice and I'm excited to be joining read more

I have had a great experience with SoCal Powerlifting! When I joined with them almost 6 months ago I was looking to increase my strength and correct my form. I have since benefited SO much from professional coaching. I only wish I would have sought it out sooner in my fitness journey! I have seen a consistent improvement in my strength and technique, and I don't experience pain when lifting anymore. read more

I'm going to start by saying, I don't really have anything against this gym anymore, just a place to train and get better. I've spoken to the GM and owner about the issue I've had and things seemed to get better, but overall the initial problem has left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope whoever reads this whether it's staff or the owner of this gym genuinely takes this to heart. Knowing certain individuals on the staff most likely will read this and either laugh about this or "shit" talk my genuine opinion that I've thought about for a while and/or disregard this review as a whole and not take ownership. This review is not meant to slander your gym, just hoping it helps a bit to realize why you guys had a decent amount of members leave. I'm grateful to SoCal, I started my powerlifting journey here and I've made a lot of memories here. The community was something that I really felt apart of and the people at this gym are genuinely nice and like minded individuals. As soon as I reached almost a year (11 months) I decided that I no longer wanted to be coached under the SoCal staff due to my personal frustrations. I'm not saying that the coaches here aren't qualified, I just wanted something different and wanted to experience a new coach that I believed would help me develop into a better lifter. I fully understand that I may have been able to handle things differently and not decided very abruptly that I didn't want to continue my contract, but regardless I made the choice to. The gym should be professional and understand that I am free and willing to use the money I earn to pay for a service I would want. I left with no bad intention and I had no problems. I noticed right away that I was being treated very differently. Things were genuinely not the same. Staff definitely had this awkward cold shoulder towards me and I felt really uncomfortable training there at times. I didn't understand why and I was frustrated that deciding to become an open gym member would elicit that kind of response. I would understand if I was disrespectful to your staff and members or I was a problem in your community. I've been nothing but respectful to your space. I've never disrespected your rules. I respect every individual that walks through those doors and yet you've decided that since I am not a coached member, that I am no longer apart of that. Wasn't the only time that certain staff members had a quick change up on how they treated me. Couldn't think of a reason why, but I was always willing to own up to whatever it was. I have recommended others to the gym and have had the people I've recommended sign up. I don't think y'all understand the guilt I feel when they've texted me about the issues they've had, saying they want to leave. After all of that, I felt like a dollar amount not a member. Anyone who decides to train here just keep that in mind, the culture here can be very "cliquey". Overall it's just a gym. I am just a bit sad that a place I really enjoyed had a shift out of the blue. Blocked hours are really inconvenient, 4-8 are blocked off weekdays and weekends are blocked 9-12. Trust me I get it, SoCal prioritizes coaching it's your business, make your money. Just sucks having to train that late lol. Overall equipment worked fine for me, not particularly picky they have bars and racks, bodybuilding room has everything you would need, and they are upgrading things as time goes by. Thank you SoCal for the memories and providing a space to train. Not that other staff is a problem, but I really appreciate Sebastian, Mike, and Alyssa for always staying the same since the day I've met them. I know your staff is the heart of your business, and you all work super hard, but I know for a fact you have seen or heard things that you have may not agreed with regarding how staff may treat people, sometimes people need to be told and put in check. Best of luck to your gym. read more

Wanted to try powerlifting to change up my workout routine. Signed up for 3 months of programming with 3 in-person sessions. Sebastian was my coach and immediately got to work on improving the big 3 lifts. The programming was custom to my needs and the feedback Sebastian provided was awesome. Was able to solidify my squat and deadlift (even broke my PR during my time with SCPL) while also improving my bench (which was my worst lift before training with them). Highly recommend this gym, their coaches, and the community they built! read more

The gym is well taken care of a great environment for powerlifters and people who are looking to step into lifting. The staff is friendly, the facility is clean, and the coaches are great. Kyle and Alex are super friendly and knowledgeable people along with the rest of the coaches. 10/10 would recommend read more

I came into SoCal looking for a place to train powerlifting by myself after finding work in Irvine. Kyle, Johnny, Tim and Zack were all super welcoming and understanding with my situation with joining. They're all incredibly knowledgeable about powerlifting as well as incredibly friendly and competent gym owners. The gym is well kept, organized and focused for lifting and there's no other place I'd recommend to lift out of in Irvine! read more