“I cruise a lot,” CJ Delco says. “Like, almost every time that I go to the gym.” He’s not alone—locker rooms, saunas, and steam rooms are classic cruising destinations. If you’ve never encountered a lingering glance in the changing rooms, or some suspiciously frequent adjusting in the sauna it’s time to find a new gym. If you’re just starting to dip a toe into cruising at the gym CJ has a few tips, tricks, and general etiquette suggestions that can help ensure you’re set up for success.
First, he says, understand that cruising isn’t the same in every city. At a gym sauna in a major city, for instance, things might move a bit more quickly. Prolonged eye contact might evolve into messing around in a matter of minutes. But outside of big cities, things aren’t quite as straightforward. “There’s a little bit more mystery and surprise,” CJ says. Wherever you’re cruising make sure you’re reading the room. Go at the pace of the guys around you—no one wants to feel rushed.
As a gym cruising expert, CJ knows how to maximize cruising potential. Half the battle, he explains, is letting guys know you’re available and horny. “When I get to the gym, I open the apps—me and my boyfriend call it pissing on the fire hydrant. I'm like, marking my territory,” he says. “I'm letting everyone know that I’m here. I’m checking in.”
But cruising isn’t about staying stuck to your phone, it’s about meeting up in the real world. To that end, CJ says, don’t get too bogged down in chatting on the apps. “I usually try not to engage too much with people that are also at the gym on the apps,” he says, “because it gets it weird.” Overplanning, double-messaging, and oversharing—these are the death knell of gym cruising. Let them know you’re there, and follow up in real life—ideally while you’re both wearing nothing but towels.
Find the right spot—each gym is built differently. “My gym has eight showers, four and four across from each other, and then they all have curtains,” CJ says. “I usually leave it halfway open.” Understanding where in your gym is just private enough is critical. Maybe it’s a dark corner of your sauna where you can show off a bit. Maybe it’s a steam room where you can make some lasting eye contact. Explore and experiment, but always stay safe.
Gym cruising is as fun as it is hot, but it’s important to catch the vibe. “It’s not a bath house,” CJ warns. “There's a fine line between the two.” Don’t disrupt workouts and be discreet. Just as importantly: don’t kill the vibe. One surefire way to make things weird, CJ says, is to start getting chatty. Don't talk. There is nothing worse than like, someone who doesn't understand cruising,” he says. “People will come into cruising situations, and just not understand the vibe, and try to chat.”
There’s no single perfect way to cruise at the gym—and, yes, you may strike out some days. But spend enough time in a steam room, a sauna, or a locker room and you’re bound to find yourself in a sexy situation. And who knows? You might get a good work out in too.