F45 Training makes strength training adaptable, safe and fun for fitness consumers of all kinds with one of its latest innovations
Respecting tradition while adapting to change is a tightrope many industries try to walk. F45 Training, the renowned boutique fitness franchise, does just that with its new functional training racks.
Balancing a weighted structure in your hands may be a challenge in the literal sense, but in this case, it’s a fitting metaphor.
“We want to make sure we are evolving the studio and programming in a way that’s consistent with our ‘Power Up’ strategy,” said F45 Training COO Ryan Mayes. “That means not losing sight of what F45 is and what’s got us here but thinking about how we take the experience to the next level. In partnering with REP Fitness, we designed a functional rack that is compact, efficient and accommodable to studios while also making sure that the introduction of them doesn’t compromise any other aspect of the studio.”
Launched in Q4 of 2024, the functional racks remain a hot commodity months later, continuing to earn high praise. The equipment is helping F45 reimagine its already distinctive fitness offerings and environment — while paving the way for others to do the same.
Beyond Bards, Bolts & Weights
Most weight racks are clunky, have a singular function and congest gym floors with their spatial requirements. That’s why F45 and REP Fitness created something adjustable, smart and efficient.
“Most of our studios are relatively compact so spatial efficiency was a key objective from the get-go,” Mayes explained. “We worked closely with REP in designing a silhouette or a footprint that’s smaller than your traditional rack. We wanted to make sure they weren’t viewed as a source of intimidation either.
Each functional rack is equipped with a cable system, pull-up bar and ample space for squats, deadlifts and bench presses. They also feature landmines, along with bars, ropes and handles, enabling a wide range of strength training formats. This versatility has led to the integration of over 400 new exercises into F45 Training workout routines.
“The racks open the doors to hundreds of new movements,” said Mayes. “It’s not just a squat rack or power rack. It’s a dual-cable system that provides a host of benefits, including constant tension through range of motion, versatility in angles and more joint-friendly mechanics. The weight options have also increased if someone wants to go heavier or lighter.”
Bringing this innovation to gym floors was a team effort between F45 Training and its members — and that’s good for the latter. Mayes reports that in F45’s research, the brand concluded that strength training remains a widespread priority for individuals, no matter their demographic.
“A big piece of what F45 is all about, is listening to members and franchisees to drive continual improvement,” said Mayes. “Feedback from the network gave us the confidence that introducing the functional racks is something that our members very much want, and something that our franchisees will benefit from.”
The Trickle Down
But optimizing space wasn’t the only focus here. As part of its commitment to innovation, F45 Training took things a step further — rolling out a refreshed studio design that not only modernizes the look and feel of each location but also elevates the member experience. From reinforcing brand identity to creating a more energizing and shareable space, the new design reflects F45’s forward thinking.
“We’ve been very intentional about creating these premium, welcoming spaces that appeal to all members,” Mayes added. “We purposely decided to not go in the direction of black walls and dramatic, dimly lit rooms. We want to embrace our open space and natural lighting. This new contemporary design feels absolutely new, but it also feels much like an F45 studio.”
But the largest shockwave from the retrofit is felt around the brand’s floor-panning agenda. F45 is known for changing its gym floor and workout plans daily to add variety and energy to exercise — and implementing immovable racks naturally hinders that in certain areas.
“Functional racks have been a real game changer,” Mayes acknowledged. “When we went into this, we knew we were effectively backing into, or retrofitting into, a permanent piece of equipment.”
But while these racks indeed take a small bite out of gym floors, they also serve as an omnipresent greeter for new members, which F45 views as addition by subtraction for operators.
“When we introduce new types of programming like the beginner-style course, one of the issues we had historically is how it requires a new reset and the floor plan to deliver that programming,” said Mayes. “Now, since we have some degree of permanent equipment in the studio, we can deliver that more easily without going through the hassle of having trainers change the floor plan twice in a single day.”
Further Evolution
This all coincides with F45’s larger plans to establish itself as a more robust fitness facilitator in the future. While the brand has no intentions of abandoning the modalities which helped it grow to become one of the industry’s most popular names — it knows there’s more on the fitness and wellness cutting board — and has an appetite for it.
“Strategically, we are moving away from just being seen as a HIIT gym,” said Mayes. “We’re a real pioneer in HIIT and we will continue to do that — but we’re evolving the product, the brand and the studio to embrace a more holistic experience that prioritizes functional training, strength and longevity.”
F45 is taking other major steps toward holistic health with wearables, specifically the brand’s LionHeart tech, which allows members to track and analyze progress. The brand recently launched LionHeart 2.0, which features a new heart rate scoring system leveraging resting heart rate and max heart rate. This permits members to better gauge their effort and workout intensity to establish a more refined understanding of their overall fitness. It also aligns with F45’s science-backed approach structured around its base, build and peak phases, which guide users in progressing safely in the gym.
“It’s a more bespoke, relative metric to the individual,” said Mayes. “As we look ahead, we think there’s a big opportunity to use LionHeart and our other resources to integrate the latest in sports science research into our programming with more consumer-facing education. Members learn the foundational movements, build intensity and then push performance limits.”
F45 also plans to double down on strength training by launching its ‘Lift Club’ in the coming months.
“This will be a new initiative that caters specifically to members who are focused on elevating their core foundational compound movements,” said Mayes. “The new tier of programming will really center around the new functional racks and help members – whether they are experienced lifters or new ones – achieve new foundations with respect to these movements and deliver new personal records.”
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