If meeting somebody ‘just like you’ is a requirement for a successful relationship, then US dating app ‘Lunge’ is on the right track with its gym matching service. Dating apps have long used algorithms to match users based on shared interests, personal preferences, and location. Marketing itself as ‘The dating app for meeting people only at your gym’, Lunge claims to be the first dating app to match people at the same gym OR exercise classes.
A previous US app in the fitness space was launched in 2015 called ‘SWEATT’. It was supposed to be the ‘all-new dating app for the fitness community’ but 8 years later it is no longer available to download. Another UK gym dating app ‘FITFCK’ arrived on the scene in 2017 and was back in the press in late 2022 with an announcement that it had secured backing from OnlyFans’ founder Tim Stokely who invested at a £3m+ valuation. FITFCK didn’t get great Appstore reviews the first time around due to a low user base, time will tell if those issues are resolved.
How does Lunge work?
‘Say goodbye to those intrusive and uncomfortable gym interactions, while also saying hello to that cute person on the treadmill’ suggest the folks at Lunge. Users of the App simply select their gym then choose to match with fellow members at just that gym or with other likeminded individuals at ‘gyms nearby’.
“Our research shows that individuals who attend the same gym or exercise class are very compatible,” says founder Steve Cole. “They have similar lifestyles, they both care about their health, they live nearby, and much more.”
Though these individuals are constantly passing by each other, they rarely connect because of the cardinal rule to never approach someone during their workout. Lunge reinforces those boundaries while also creating more relationships. Its motto is “workout now, match later”.
Find gym friends too?
Perhaps you’re looking for friends to work out with and not a date? Lunge also has a Workout Buddy Mode to meet friends at the same gym/exercise classes or in the nearby area.
