42, Dutugemunu Street, Pamankada
Open 5 AM to 10 PM, Sundays - 8 AM to 1 PM, Poya - 8 AM to 5 PM
High Octane Fitness is found in Pamankada, pretty close to The Dutch Burger and Shiraz on Stratford Avenue. It is the best gym in Sri Lanka, need I say more?
The word around town is High Octane Fitness (HOF) is really good, oh my god, it’s so cool, you should totally check it out, blah di blah, so I decided to finally go there, only to have my mind blown. This is not a gym, it’s a massive warehouse with enough weights and machinery for the entire soviet army.
The floor space is roughly about the size of a rugby field, no exaggeration, maybe even more. The cardio section is upstairs, housing treadmills, cross trainers, cycling and rowing machines. Downstairs they have all the machine and free weights and a couple more treadmills and rowing machines. Check out the photos, I saw some machines I’ve never seen before, and one of the trainers kindly obliged in giving me some demonstrations.
They have a separate room for special workshops like zumba and taebo and spin classes. Have a look at their website or facebook page for some more information. Personal trainers charge the pretty standard rate of Rs. 1,000 per session.
Apart from the enormous size of the place, there are loads of things that set HOF apart from the rest of the competition. But the first thing I should mention I think is the sheer class of the entire place - all the machines have their logo embossed into the cushions, they’ve got some great workout supplements and members have free access to a DVD library – pretty sweet.
They’ve also got something I haven’t seen in other gyms before - a shake shack. They basically just make you a protein shake or pre workout for about 400 rupees. It’s good for someone who has never tried it before, or if you forgot your shaker at home you could make do by spending some money.
By the entrance there’s also a Roots stand and a Laundromat– pretty brilliant place for the smoothie bar and I guess there’s some convenience there in having your clothes dry cleaned while you sweat out inside.
This gym screams out royalty, for Rs. 60,000 for an individual annual member, it doesn’t seem too bad considering everything. It is a bit out of the way from Colombo and that’s really disappointing, but if making the trip there isn’t a problem then this is the best gym membership you can get.
Address
42, Dutugemunu Street, Pamankada
Directions
From Stratford avenue turn left and keep going, you will see High Octane on the right.
Contacts
Report InaccuracyOpen 5 AM to 10 PM, Sundays - 8 AM to 1 PM, Poya - 8 AM to 5 PM
Ratings Breakdown
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3/5
Pros: Good selection of free weights and exercise machines, Good trainers, Supplement store with shake shack and cleaned changing rooms
Cons: Sufficient air conditioning is not present which the management will always ignore.
Conclusion: One of the best gyms in Sri Lanka. Avoid if you are a very sweaty person during your workout as it could cause dehydration due to poor air conditioning.
I go here and absolutely love it! Especially the fact that there is free water (believe it or not!)
The WiFi is super fast and the trainers are really friendly and nice! The trainers help whenever they are available and that too is a big plus. Oh and girls the washroom is clean as ever! Hope it stays the same cuz everywhere else washrooms are almost always dodgy and smelly.
Although High Octane is on the pricey side the place is totally worth the money!
Looks very cool. May be time for a switch. Although, distance is a factor only because traffic is so bad in cmb.
While HOF is awesome, this review is a bit gormless. Gyms might be better reviewed by people a tad more knowledgeable about those fancy machines and a tad less googly eyed about embossed cushions, 'royalty', and posh changing rooms. Or maybe you know your audience better than I do.
HOF is great for a good workout… well equipped, spacious, parking is convenient (at most times), clean, well maintained and managed by great chaps… but…
1) they promised the world before they opened and havent delivered. where is the car wash guys?
2) closing early on sundays is quite a buzz kill. 6pm is a reasonable time to close but 1pm is way too early to close on a Sunday (especially with all of the weekend membership packages on offer)
3) reception staff in particular are not at all friendly
4) private training costs 1000 per session. trainers aren't keen on helping out (even when asked) if you don't go for private training.
5) certain high profile members (including their security) take up a lot of work out area at times. makes it inconvenient if you're looking to get through your routine with limited time.
With a membership like that why do you have to pay extra on trainers? Isnt it their duty to help out the members? Absurd!!!
Avoid personal trainers at all expense waste of money. Do you reading and try. If it works stick to it.
To be fair… Most gyms nowadays have almost all their staff acting as personal trainers (whether certified or not). However, I do agree that there should be at least someone set aside to help with a spot occasionally. Just for safety's sake.
And if I am paying 60k a year, I'd want it open 24/7… BTW, I used to go to Body by Kris, which is fairly close by, and the traffic up to about 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. is unbearable.
How can we take a review of a gym seriously if no one tried it out for a continuous period of time, it reads more like a paid advertisement. A gym is partly about ambiance and the machines but mostly about the customer service, it should be continuously good and they must be unbiased no matter who the patrons are, otherwise no one would be comfortable going there, proof of that would be comforting to potential customers who are trying to lose weight or get stronger not how the place looks like or smells like.
So now you guys are expert at gyms too??? Seriously. Stick to one thing. You need to know exactly what to look for in a gym to be able to say if its good or not. Do you even know the type of machines? Do thy have kettle bells? Kinesis machine? You can't just walk into a gym and just cos its massive and have a whole load of equipment just jump to the conclusion that its the best gym in the country. And I thought you guys were experts on food? Not working out?
Know your stuff before you jump to the conclusion that one is the best just cos its a massive warehouse filled with equipment.
And Ajitha your right, it is their duty to help and not to rip ppl off!!
I m a current member at High Octane, and I can definitely say its without doubt the best gym in Sri Lanka in terms of equipment , facility and space. And I have trained pretty much at every single gym in Sri Lanka and unlike most people who sit on their pc and think they are fitness experts I have national level colours in weightlifting to back it up.
DJ you seem to act like your an expert in fitness and weights, Let me tell you that they have kettle bells, Kinesis machine, ab solo, Jacobs ladders, prowler push sleds, 95 % of all hammer strength machines, every single life fitness machine, power racks, squat racks, cross core training system, rope training machines, jungle gym, trap bars,tread mills, striders, water rowers, stretch cages,cross trainers, dumbells upto 125 Lbs. If you know your fitness you would know what hammer strength machines are like they are the most expensive and best in the industry. Before you go shooting your mouth about your knowledge on fitness without even seeing the equipment you should think before you speak because the world is sick of internet jockeys who lift 5 lb weights and think they know everything.
Personal training is only recommended for new comers to get used to the machines and techniques because most of the machines are new to the average fitness person who has been working out in Sri Lanka, however there are always trainers on standby to help when you need it. I train on my own but when ever I need a spot the trainers would help me. The trainers unlike in most gyms in SL are all very competent in there knowledge and they all have a passion for training. One of the female trainers who I got my introductory session was the gold medallist in power lifting and she taught me things that even I didnt know after training for so long.
The 60 000 I paid for my membership is the best thing I ve done for myself this year and I truly enjoy working out at High Octane. The typical Sri Lankan mentality is to diss a person or a place without having any facts to justify it. If your just going to come and kill time I would say its better to go to a normal gym, but if you want to make the change and make a commitment high octane is the place for you. In the evenings when I walk in for my session I feel like I m in a Golds gym in USA the atmosphere, the fitness addicts and the music is just unbelievable. And when u see the best athletes in Sri Lanka training there I know I have come to the right place.
Hahahahahahahahah!!!! Are you serious? Dude the only thing original in that gym is the Jacobs ladder!!! Everything else the machines are off!!! It would me nice if the hammer strength machines were original though :) it's like owning a fake Rolex! You can have the name on the outside but the insides are all fake! Just cos your have colors doesn't make you an authority on any thing! Your seriously insulting golds gym if your comparing this warehouse to them ! Have some respect to golds man! In this country you can easily rip ppl off by just making a place look fancy and big! Tell me just cos you see athletes there makes it the best in the country does it ? Ppl who joined your gym including myself stopped! Let me tell you one thing my friend just cos you have "national colors" doesn't make you an expert on jack! If you did you would know the hammer strength machines are faulty and not right. One work out and I knew that! So now come back saying how much you know shit and bla bla bla! Good luck lifting whatever your lifting! Just Make sure you don't get injured using fake machines :)
DJ just shows your just a clown who has achieved nothing but talks crap. Fake hammer strength. I have lived in the USA for 5 years and I was a member of golds gym myself. unlike you who probarly hasn't been there and thinks USA is what you see on tv like Baywatch. I know the equipment is original because I have worked out on them plenty of times. Just because you quit after joining doesn't make anything right it Just proves your intimidated by people who train . Yeah I do have national colours and that makes me know something more than your skinny frame. And if there is someone here wearing a fake rolex its you because the last time I checked mine it was original. If you have respect for an athlete you would know it takes much more than an internet jockey like you to get some sort of recognition in a sport. You are definitely an expert on quitting and talking BS without any valid justifiable proof. And hammer strength should employ you cause by working out on a machine you know whats inside.You have some sort of great vision that can see through metal WOW. You probably cant train at High Octane that's why you have to diss and hate the place. Go back to training your 13in arms 7 times a week and talking nonsensical crap trying to be a hero. Your posts prove one thing your just an idler going through forums trying to pick an argument because face to face your just a skinny lad with a fake rolex who know one respects and has achieved nothing. You probably saved and joined a gym and then realised your just too week and scared to train.
Dj i feel sorry for u mate! I've seen clowns like u in SL ur not the only one! and so glad u quit! because we don't want clowns like u in our gym :D what r u trying to prove man?? ur testicles are bigger than ur biceps ? I have a feeling that u can't even afford a fake Rolex!
BTW we like to get injured by using the fake machines that's y we don't QUIT :)
on behalf of HOF members i thank u for quitting! Looser!!!
Well as far as I have heard this gym is great and the equipments are new and original. My brother goes there and he suggests that it's great and people should go there if you are looking for a good workout! So I feel it's a great place! Nothing is wrong with the gym! Keep it up guys!
Please tell me you didn't send a food reviewer to review a gym. It's patently obvious from the way this is written that the writer has neither the knowledge nor the experience to recommend (or not recommend) a gym.
Awkward for a review site like Yamu to be conducting Gym reviews, apart from that I have been to octane and it isn't worth the hype at all, Yes it is indeed big, but I barely see a difference from the standard best equipped gym compared to this one? This one's just too fancy and is catered to the upmarket.
Yes you definitely barely would see a difference because the whole hammer strength line up comprising of 60 stations, dumbells upto 125Lbs, state of the art studio, full range of cybex and life fitness cardio equipment probably meant nothing to you.
qpw owned DJ like a boss!
Will be signing up for high octane next week. Cant' wait as it sounds and looks amazing!
They certainly look well equipped yes, and according to the comment posted above, they certainly seem like a good place to work out but, a foodie website reviewing a gym, and one that has a logo stolen off the net as well?!!? Any of this seem strange to anybody else? That's an award winning PR start if I ever saw one.
They really screwed up with Ronnie. Less than 10 "fans". & in one photo all the instructors have changed cloths and try to act like crazy fans "dying" to get a photo of Ronnie when you can clearly see in the background there are less than 10 people in the whole room. Hilarious. I feel sorry for Ronnie. Even their own clients haven't come it seems. Who would when it cost 4000 for a photo. Funny thing is it's actually more than the seminar amount which was 3000. I feel sorry for these sorry-ass rich kids trying multiply their worth in one day by exploiting a bodybuilder.
Hi there! My name is K. Thilip and i am a gym instructor.If you have any vacancy as gym instructer,please let me know via this e-mail:thilipbatti@gmail.com
Some people here said as the best gym in sri lanka but I do not agree as a recently joined member. It's spacious, comprehensive equipments all that bla bla bla. But I found the trainers are less help full when you decided to do the session by your self. May be they do it deliberately so you have to have the P.T for the next session which cost extra 1000 LKR for one hour. It's dissapointing after paying lot of money and don't get the service you want. They should hire more non P.T staff to help the customers who don't wish to get P.T but to give much needed support ocationally specially for free weight sessions. Thanks.!
Can anyone please tell me whether someone can get the assistance of personal trainers based on sessions without being a member of the gym?
This gym is overated, If you have to pay 60k plus for personal trainers thats really disappointing. and GPW, I have lived in the US for more than 10 years and have been to Golds and Ballys, you cant even compare this to those and your so called 'expert' knowledge.
Not fussed about PT's, wifi or free water! Couple of things I do wanna know considering the last review for this joint was old azz.
1. Is it a serious lifters gym i.e more than two sets of 45kg - 55kg dumbbells?
2. More than one squat rack?
3. More than one smith machine?
4. Dedicated dead lift platforms (and no I'm not a power-lifter, being that fat doesn't interest me)
5. At least more than 5 work benches for something this size?
I'm under 18 and joining this gym, i went for one day which was 2500/= and it was totally worth while, there machines are so new and there bathrooms are so clean… The first thing I said when i walked in was "wow" i looked at the space. I asked around for a tour and the people are SO NICE! people may argue that the gym is very expensive, but THIS GYM, THE and i quote "best gym in Sri Lanka" for 55,000 is very, very good. and this gym isn't half as bad as places like waters edge and Lifestyle which is 170,000 and 80,000 rupees! 55,000 rupees for the best gym in SL is very good and I put my foot down and say that it's worth the money!
I like many other Sri Lankan gym goers joined this gym based on all the hype on Youtube and Instagram but was highly disappointed after the very first workout itself.
1) The gym smelled of sweat the first time we entered. Air conditioners are switched off although A/C units are present. Fans are turned off and the customers need to switch these on themselves. It is near impossible to do any form of cardio without overheating the body. If the A/C is ON in the cardio area, it is only in fan mode.
2) The water filters have no cold water although they are plugged in.
3) Locker rooms are acceptable but could see improvement given the high membership rates. There was one time where the tube light near the mirrors was broken into pieces and laying on the counter top and floor. Only one of the two soap dispensers are present. The shower stalls are small and does not meet standards of gyms which charge similar rates.
4) Gym equipment are in good condition but most of the weights have only 1 set of a given weight.
5) A towel is required to be laid out on machines because customers sweat so much without Air conditioning. Customers have no access to any disinfectant to wipe down machines like in any other country
6) The personal trainers I've seen do not train the client with proper form and only care about the glamour muscles like biceps and bench press. I noticed an older lady being asked to perform deadlifts, which is risky at that age. The clients squat only half way with weights which are too heavy for them but the trainers do not seem to mind at all. Youtube has better training than these trainers!
The marketing team has done a great job in promoting this gym as the best in Sri Lanka by posting media online including strong.lk but it does not live up to the standards as advertised. I would recommend to have a trial workout before committing to a long term membership.
3/5
DNW
Pros: Good selection of free weights and exercise machines, Good trainers, Supplement store with shake shack and cleaned changing rooms
Cons: Sufficient air conditioning is not present which the management will always ignore.
Conclusion: One of the best gyms in Sri Lanka. Avoid if you are a very sweaty person during your workout as it could cause dehydration due to poor air conditioning.