Reviews of Afterburn Fitness (Gym)

Sangah Han

Afterburn is a great gym for both the newbie gym-goer and the elite athlete. The gym's specialized paddle pool is EXTREMELY useful for dragon boat teams looking to improve technique, and the gym offers equipment that caters to a variety of sports. Using the facilities offered by Afterburn and guidance from Khanh Vy has not only helped me become a better paddler, but an overall better athlete.

Neeki Mota

Great facility, staff, equipment, and community.

Isaac Solieman

Great facility, great staff and amazing sunglasses ????

Gordon Su

Great facility, team, and very positive environment. I would highly recommend this to anyone!

Kevin Noel

Our team practices here every year before we got on the water for the season and it is amazing. Helps you get a good workout and flush out some technical work so you’re ready to get started, would recommend!

Adrian Lau

Afterburn is a great facility with a variety of equipment ranging from bumper plates, prowler & turf, rings, kettle bells, rowing and paddling ergs, and a one-of-a-kind paddle pool. The staff are very approachable and accommodating. Looking forward to training here year-round!

Minh Q. To

Anne is great.

Peilu Gan

I've been training here since 2014, and while the facility has changed, the general atmosphere hasn't. It's still a great place to train, regardless of your goals.

Justin Chow

Serious top-notch, high-quality equipment for serious athletes. Afterburn Fitness has just about every piece of equipment you would want in a gym. They have a comprehensive stash of workout toys and gadgets that cater to dragonboaters and non-dragonboaters alike. When you factor in the rowing/paddle ergs, climbing ropes, olympic rings, paddle pool and NOT TO MENTION THE FRIENDLIEST STAFF AROUND, you know you've stumbled upon a local success story. Afterburn fitness is the only facility of it's kind in Toronto, period. Furthermore, their competitive membership pricing is beyond reasonable. So what are you waiting for?

Anne Z.

With their indoor pool facility, Afterburn is truly a gym like none other. Their open gym with a variety of equipment caters to all kinds of athletes and the indoor pool facility makes it the best training facility for dragon boat athletes. The staff is always quite friendly and rounds out of all the reasons why it's one of the top gyms to work out in.

A. Darrah

Awesome, one-of-a-kind facility with top notch equipment. Hosted a powerlifting meet here with my school's powerlifting club, had a great experience. The owner, Andrew, is one of the nicest, most accommodating people I've had the pleasure of meeting. Definitely the place to be for any strength or dragon boat athlete in Scarborough.

Jason Au

A great alternative from typical commercial gyms, for those who need the space and tools to develop functional strength and achieve athletic goals. I have experience as both an individual member, and as someone who has rented out the paddle pool for group instruction. The freedom to move from the paddle pool, ergometers, to free weights brings essential elements of dryland training for paddle-sport athletes under one roof. But definitely not just for paddlers - other athletes will appreciate the concept2 rowing machines, prowlers, hurdles, boxes, and huge amounts of open space to get creative with your workouts. Friendly and accommodating owners and members, and a convenient east-end location (close to the Scarborough RT and the GO Train) makes this place a wiiner.

Gordon Hui

The atmosphere that Afterburn provides, from the equipment to the facilities, is there to increase the level of any type of athlete and it definitely has increased mine. However, regardless of the athlete's experience - beginner or advanced - the staff is very knowledgeable and is there to help anyone achieve their fitness goals.

Nirojan Kalaimannan

Very old school gym that has garage vibe to it. It's really good for those compound workouts like deadlifts, squats, bench press etc.... The gym was nearly empty when I went, and staff were respectful, helpful, and kind.

Dennis Bardetsky

Great facilities! Everything you need for Dragon boat training

Abraham Wong

As a fat donut still felt welcome and in the friendly environment made new friends that motivated me to live a healthier lifestyle.

Valerie Ng

Friendly and genuine staff. Facility has all the equipment I needed to train as a competitive dragon boat paddler. Rates are very reasonable also.

Anson He

Great gym with unique dragon boat paddling pool.

M C

I did the spring training paddling clinic with my boyfriend. Andrew was awesome. Very approachable and patient and good motivator. He gave really great feedback. Our team had our first practice this past Tuesday and our dragon boat coach said that my boyfriend and I nailed the paddling technique and improved since last year. I would definitely say this course was the reason we have improved since last season!!!!!

Elena Wang

As someone who had never lifted weights before, Afterburn was a positive, non-intimidating gym environment to begin. They have equipment suitable for all levels of experience & for an array of fitness goals. Andrew and Lisa are always super encouraging and accommodating. Everyone from the trainers to the members are really friendly as well, making it a great place to exercise.

Stephen Yee

Lots of equipment available for paddle training and weightlifting

Julian Lai

The search is over! AB Fitness is the best place to train whether you're into power lifting or paddle sports. The equipment is always kept in great condition and there's a huge variety of machines such as lifting cages, prowlers (and turf), paddle ergs, etc. Additionally, AB features a paddle pool which emulates the feeling of paddling in a dragon boat to a T! The paddle area is clad with mirrors and is spacious enough for 20 paddlers with enough walking space for your coaches to teach. There's even a flat screen installed by the paddle pool for presentations and video review. While the gym is on the smaller size, it feels much cozier than cramped which can be directly attributed to the awesome member community and the welcoming owners/staff, Lisa and Andrew! If you live near Scarborough, or have access to the TTC Rocket from anywhere in Toronto, Afterburn Fitness is a quality gym that's well worth the commute.

Hrishikesh Balaji

Great, heavy workouts! Awesome sauce

Ellis Tieu

Afterburn is my person gym and I love every part of it. The equipment is great and the staff are all really helpful.

Chris

The best, one and only dedicated Dragon boat training gym in town.

Bagasama

As the popularity of dragonboat increases year after year, athletes are not looking for just another gym, but one that develops every aspect of their boating performance. Afterburn Fitness combines technique with strength with their well-designed paddling pool, training equipment, and lifting apparatus. Afterburn also employs friendly and knowledgeable trainers who are always helping out and considering how to elevate their athletes’ to the next level. As I am a coach for the Iron Dragons and a paddler on Humber, Afterburn is able to accommodate all dragonboat activities.

Ahu B

Great Facility!

Chris Yyz

Community oriented gym, best and only dedicated Dragon training facility. Home of champions. No sale/signup pressure.

Jeffrey Kwok

Afterburn is one of the best gyms and home to an amazing community of lifters and dragon boaters.

Karen Chow

I'll be completely honest when I say I look forward to going to Afterburn Fitness every weekend! Not only is it a topnotch training facility with all the barbells, Olympic rings, ropes that you can find (may I add a really nice prowler too!), the best part about Afterburn Fitness is its community and members. You're bound to see a familiar face or meet new friends! :) The owners Andrew and Lisa are not only knowledgeable but are very dedicated and passionate about establishing a fitness culture that is approachable but also effective and challenging, to people of all fitness levels. I highly recommend this gym (conveniently located in Scarborough) to those looking for unconventional training options.

Jackie Liang

Been a member for multiple years and I have to say the gym is the most ideal if you’re looking for a powerlifting/dragon boat/weightlifting gym that has the necessities for those sports and has a great community. Staff is very nice and always willing to help a member if needed. Would definitely recommend!

Philip Berlin

Afterburn Fitness is a fantastic place to train and workout at. The facility has a variety of high quality equipment to train with. The gym itself is kept clean which allows for ground work. The owner, Andrew Liew, is very passionate and enthusiastic when it comes to fitness. He's always willing to show you how to best use the equipment, offer advice, and answer questions.

Clark Huang

Perfect facility and very bodybuidling/powerlifting/olympic weightlifting friendly! Friendly and caring owners who constantly listen to member opinions and meets their needs! There are always racks open and chalk friendly facility! Members are all friendly, and all driven in their fitness journey. Perfect environment to lift in. Definitely my choice of gym when I'm not in school!

psp togo

Best gym in Toronto.

Samson Li

Afterburn Fitness is a gym located in Scarborough easily accessible via the RT transit system. The gym is fully equipped with tons of equipment and weights including bars / weights you don't find at your average gyms. (i.e Kettlebells) The gym is also equipped with a fully functional indoor paddling pool for dragonboat teams which is perfect for the off season training. As a paddler for many years now, I find the environment here perfect for any level of fitness. The veterans who train here are extremely nice and give the gym a great vibe. If you are new to fitness, this gym also offers training sessions that are not your typical boot camp style classes where they make you do tons of burpees. Afterburn focuses on strength conditioning at any level which is definitely what separates them apart from many other gyms.

James Vlahogiannakos

Very welcoming gym, tonnes of equipment and plates to go around, well-maintained, and owned by an athlete that understands athlete's needs! Highly recommend for anyone in the area! Just make sure to email for a drop-in/appointment ahead of time.

Christian Santos

I've been going to Afterburn since September 2019, and since then Andrew and the rest of the staff, have made it feel more of a family rather than just a gym. The people and the atmosphere are very motivating and encouraging. During this time of Quarantine Andrew, the owner, was very accommodating and lent weights for me to use to continue my training. !00% recommend this gym.

Sophia

If you're looking for some more unique and different from the standard gym, then Afterburn is for you. It's got a whole lot of fun equipment that you can play with, ranging from ropes to the prowler, rings to paddle ergs, all allowing you to get the gains you want. =) What's even more unique about this facility is the indoor dragon boat paddling pool - the one and only in Toronto. Designed to IDBF standards, it really simulates what it's like paddling out on water. I've paddled at other indoor pools before and this one, by far, has the most accurate feel of a boat. There's also the option to capture your team (or even individuals) on video paddling in the pool and do an immediate post-practice video review. This really allows you the opportunity to critically assess one's stroke and strive for improvements right away. Lastly, I want to speak to the people aspect of Afterburn. You can have the most amazing facility in the world, but what makes this facility work are the people there. Andrew truly has put everything he's got into this gym. He's knowledgeable and passionate about fitness. He's constantly educating himself and carefully crafts specialized workouts for teams and individuals. There's a reason for each thing he tells us to do (from the exercise to the number of reps to the duration). The staff there are always there to answer your questions and help you achieve your goals. Plus the gym is always kept immaculately clean. =P I highly recommend you checking out Afterburn! It's a great facility with equipment you can't find in an average gym, has an actual indoor dragon boat paddle pool, and to top it off, staff that are passionate and will go the extra mile to help you achieve your goals! Thanks for everything, Afterburn!!! =)

Patrick Kyu Min

Strongly recommend Afterburn Basics. It's the best economical way to purchase quality gym equipments. Afterburn Basics products are apparently directly imported from the manufacturer overseas, and therefore with no frills. Equipments come in surprisingly good quality. I verified it by purchasing light rack, bench, olympic barbell, adjusted dumbells, 20kg bumper plates, 20kg plates, and some more weights through afterburn basics batch 2. However, as it gets shipped from overseas, you have to anticipate some delays. Understand that overseas logistics has became really hectic during Covid-19, and suppliers have no control over it once its in transit. So, be sure to anticipate some delay, and wait patiently for guaranteed happy ending. At this price level especially during Covid-19, it is safe to assume that Afterburn is doing us a BIG FAVOUR.

Saleh Cheema

Awesome gym for Dragon Boat and Powerlifting! Great equipment and facility!

Sergiu Onisoru

Great facilities for weightlifting, powerlifting, dragon boat, and athletic development. Management is willing to listen to suggestions as well as cater to their clients. Community is inclusive and fun. Definitely recommend this gym as your main gym or as a drop in if passing by.

Brennan Camaganacan

Easily the most lifter friendly gym in the area for powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting, After our recent expansion to a brand new facility we are now in possession of the following: 6 squat racks (4 with their own deadlift platform), 1 combo rack on the way within the new year, 1 band deadlift platform, Ohio power bars (1 competition reserved for our barbell club), competition spec powerlifting and weightlifting plates from rogue, a huge selection of steel plates (don’t worry you don’t have to lower deadlifts quietly here), a huge selection of bumper plates, 2 squat stands, 1 crossfit rig, a turf that is great to warm up on, and also multiple pieces of conditioning equipment including 2 prowlers, kettlebells, medicine balls, battle ropes, and multiple c2 rowers. As you can see this facility has just about everything you need whether you train for dragonboat, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, or just general fitness but the best part about this facility is definitely its welcoming community. UPDATE July 2018 Afterburn is now one of the few facilities in the city with a competition ER Rack meaning this place has every piece of equipment needed for powerlifters who compete under IPF rules, seriously now what other gym has 2 combo racks 4 squat racks, a 6 station rig, and 2 squat stands! couple this with a very knowledgeable community amd this place is a dream facility for powerlifting! We also have a new 20 kg Ohio power bar for the barbell club as well as a comp platform

Tony Zhou

Andrew is a great coach and the video reviews are super helpful in picking up improvements in technique. The gym is also quite comprehensive. Great overall experience.

Winston

Afterburn is a well maintained, clean, and well run facility with a lot of equipment that you will not find at a regular gym. On the dragon boat training side, the paddling pool is the closest you will get to simulating practice in a dragon boat on the lake. The seats, foot rests, side of the pool/ boat and water level are exactly the same as an actual dragon boat. Afterburn is a must for competitive teams to get that competitive edge in the off season. Afterburn is also good for more recreational teams as the layout of the the pool allows for coaches to easily move around and work on paddlers individually as well as having the ability to record your team paddling and review the video right away in house at Afterburn. On the gym and fitness side, Afterburn gives teams a smaller, tight knit type of workout atmosphere promoting team bonding and cohesion. For regular members just using the gym for fitness not dragon boat team related, Afterburn has a lot of equipment that is not available at regular gyms like Goodlife such as kettle balls, prowlers, ropes, and rings.

Ethan Miles

Great facility

Hind Lawrence

Love the gym environment here!! Very friendly people and staff! Would totally make it my home gym if I lived in the area!

Joe Chen

Great experience at this gym! It has everything you need in terms of "off season" preparation for paddlers. Rowing Erg's, Paddle Erg's, a PADDLE POOL! Even an indoor stretch of turf with prowlers, something you don't see at too many gym's. Lots of bumper plates and Fitness equipment for those just looking to work out. A great spot for cross-fit oriented individuals. Not to mention it's extremely clean! Andrew and Lisa are very accommodating and open minded about improving customer service and the overall athlete experience here. They've also added new boot camps for those looking to burn some calories, and a great spot for personal trainers looking for somewhere to train clients!

Justin Alfante

Awesome facility and great culture of athletes. Definitely a great place to train.

David Lin

Afterburn is a one-of-a-kind gym in Toronto. It's designed far beyond the training for rowers and paddlers, as the environment is optimal for people interested in strength training, powerlifting, weightlifting, cardiovascular conditioning, muscle rehabilitation, and general fitness. I personally enjoyed incorporating some of the equipment that were unavailable at commercial gyms into my training (kettle-bells, prowler, farmer's walk handles, resistance bands, bumper plates and massage balls). The gym is always kept well-ordered and clean, demonstrating that members take pride in being a part of the positive environment that began with the owners, Andrew and Lisa.

Sheri Yamasaki

I attended the Afterburn fall paddling clinic and would highly recommend this session. Andrew gave excellent feedback which helped me improve my strength training and paddling technique. The weekly videos captured our progress and the report card was very helpful in identifying areas for further improvement. The indoor pool and fitness equipment are ideally suited to dragon boat paddlers. I look forward to returning to Afterburn later this month.

Grace M

Afterburn Fitness is a fantastic gym to train in. They have equipment that goes beyond what's available at an average commercial gym (sleds, bumper plates for Olympic-style lifts) and, of course, a paddle pool and a pair of ergs for dragon boaters. Bonus: owners Andrew and Lisa are knowledgeable and friendly and they keep the facility in great shape.

Raymond Zhang

Can't wait to go back.

Cecilia Sun

Love working out here!