Tone House

1

Tone House

New York City, USA

four

The Tone House Story

Alonzo Wilson, with a successful career as a professional athlete, developed a strong belief that everyone should regularly challenge their physical and mental toughness. He observed that only 10% of young people were completing any kind of effective training program and, seeing the epidemic of obesity and disease, decided something had to change. From this vision, Alonzo founded Tone House in 2014.

Operating out of their standalone studio in NoMad, Tone House makes elite strength and conditioning training techniques available to everyone. The brand’s group classes are team-oriented and focus on creating a competitive but friendly environment to help you “unleash your inner athlete”.

How Did Tone House Score Overall?

The full client experience at Tone House was very good, achieving The Fit Guide Award Of Excellence.

The class was also excellent, winning our Class Experience Award of Excellence.

The Highlights

There was a real sense of community and connection between the members and the coach.

Another standout was how the class was challenging but held in a supportive environment.

What Our Evaluator Had To Say

“The class was very challenging, but we had a very supportive coach to help us get through it.”

“The atmosphere created in the club made me feel like I’d left New York and entered a whole new world.”

“The cold plunge was a very cool addition to the experience.”

What To Expect From A Tone House Session

You don’t need to be an elite athlete to train at Tone House, but you have to want to train like one. Their coaching team will tailor the workout and exercises to every individual, but be prepared to push yourself. Strength sessions focus on either upper, lower, or total body, with a traditional compound lift included such as deadlifts or bench press. Their Conditioning program changes daily and will give you an intense and well designed full-body and cardio workout.

In a typical Tone House session you can expect to use tools such as sleds, bands, barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells. And get ready for their famous warm ups, which some call the toughest part of the session!

The Reception Service

The phone inquiry experience was positive, with the receptionist providing clear, detailed information about the studio’s amenities and class offerings. The conversation felt professional, and the receptionist confidently explained the differences between classes and recommended options for beginners. The receptionist demonstrated a strong understanding of the club’s offerings and made us feel prepared for our visit.

On arrival, the receptionist was friendly and greeted our evaluator promptly, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Registration was efficient, and we appreciated the clear orientation provided, which included directions to the studio, lounge, and locker rooms. The staff confirmed the booked class and offered practical guidance, such as where to stretch while waiting, ensuring we felt at ease before the session.

After class, while the receptionist was informative about the club’s programming and shared valuable insights, there was no unprompted follow-up to ask about our evaluator's experience or encourage future bookings. The conversation, initiated from our side lacked personalization and engagement, and no attempt was made to recommend classes. Despite these grumbles, the professional demeanor and knowledge shared during the interaction left us with a generally positive impression.

The Class Experience

Tone House received The Fit Guide’s Class Experience Award of Excellence, making it one of New York’s stand-out offerings.

The class was highly motivating and challenging, with a strong emphasis on proper form and technique, which left a lasting impression on our evaluator. The coach demonstrated excellent knowledge of the program, engaging with participants throughout and providing individual guidance, particularly to first-timers. The energy in the studio was uplifting, with a clear sense of camaraderie among regular attendees, fostering a positive and encouraging atmosphere.

The session began with a detailed explanation of the class structure and its focus on strength training, specifically hang cleans. Individual adjustments and regressions were offered to ensure accessibility for all fitness levels, and the coach consistently moved around the room to provide personalized feedback. Despite a fast-paced warmup that could have been more gradual, the workout maintained a smooth flow with clear instructions and a motivating playlist.

The class started late, and there was no defined cooldown at the end, which detracted from the overall experience. Additionally, while the coach engaged with participants throughout the session, the timer from the previous class was left running and not utilized for the current session, leaving some of us feeling unclear about timings.

Overall, the session was a positive and engaging experience, driven by the coach’s enthusiasm and the supportive community within the class.

The Equipment And Studio

The training room was both well-equipped and visually captivating, offering an extensive variety of tools to support diverse class programs. The abundance of branded elements, such as logos on mirrors, weights, and a prominent logo across the turf floor, created an immersive and motivational environment. This cohesive branding reinforced a sense of focus and athleticism, making the space feel distinct and separate from the outside world.

The room was spacious, brightly lit, and maintained a fresh, clean atmosphere conducive to a productive workout. While some wear was noted on the seams of the sandbags, all other equipment appeared to be in good condition and well-organized. The turf flooring added a unique, high-performance aesthetic that aligned seamlessly with the brand's identity.

Overall, the impressive design, branding integration, and ample equipment options created an exceptional training environment.

The Facilities And Public Areas

The public areas were beautifully designed with a high-end, consistent feel. Branding was seamlessly integrated, from motivational wall phrases and logos to the sleek black leather lounge area and boutique near the reception. The combination of red lighting, turf flooring in the lounge, and energizing music enhanced the brand's intense and strength-focused vibe. Amenities such as foam rollers and recovery tools in the lounge area further underscored the studio's holistic approach to fitness and recovery.

Lockers with numerical locks were clean, in excellent condition, and conveniently sized, though they lacked hangers. Complimentary workout and shower towels were thoughtfully presented in stacks on shelves and disposed of discreetly in marked hampers. Three showers with hot water, strong pressure, and consistent temperature were available, along with shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner. A cold recovery tub added a premium touch, complementing the studio’s focus on recovery.

Complimentary water refill stations were located in both the lounge and training room. A wide selection of beverages, including Nocco flavored carbonated water, Corepower protein shakes, and tart cherry juice, was available, alongside food options like Honey Stinger protein bars and waffles.

The spacious changing area was well-laid-out, clean, and featured motivational phrases and sleek designs. Essential amenities, including hand wash, body lotion, razors, and cotton buds, were neatly stocked.

Digital And Technology

While the website effectively communicated the brand's training philosophy and offered detailed information on programs and coach bios, we found the class descriptions for conditioning to be unclear. Booking a class presented challenges, including being redirected back to the start of the process and confusion about whether the reservation had actually gone through. No confirmation or preparation emails were sent, leaving us feeling a bit unprepared for our visit.

The website’s professional design and consistent branding were great, as were clear call-to-action buttons and comprehensive class descriptions.

Social media channels were informative and consistent with the brand, with a direct booking link in the Instagram bio.

Pricing

Tone House offers a ‘2 for 1 Rookie Pass’ for first-time clients, giving clients two classes for $45 rather than the usual one.

If you’re looking for a longer-term commitment, memberships are available from $275 for 10 classes per month up to $500 for 25 classes.

Drop-in sessions are available at $45 per class, with smaller commitment packages also available, starting at a five-pack for $210.

Top Scoring Categories

Reception Services
four
Class Experience
four
Equipment & Studio
five
Public Areas
five

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