Charging lockers vs portable batteries: The complete comparison for fitness clubs

Today, offering a recharge service is no longer a “bonus”. It has become an expected service. The real subject is: What technology is best suited to the reality of a gym?

Two approaches dominate today:

• The charging lockers : The phone is stored in a closed compartment while charging.
• Portable battery stations : the member borrows a battery and keeps his phone with him during the session.
  

And in a room, the reality is:

• members in motion,
• a rhythmic session (music, timer, program),
• sensitive changing rooms,
• an already busy welcome,
• and an expectation of a “modern”, fluid experience.

1) User experience: “immobilized” phone vs “usable” phone

This is the number one criterion, because it is he who decides whether the service will be utilized... or ignored.

Option A: Load lockers (fixed)

The principle is simple: the user Leave your phone in a locker. Problem: he is separated from his device. In a room, that often means:

• impossible to listen to his music,
• impossible to follow his program,
• An urgent message or an important call cannot be answered.
  

👉 In other words, the user must choose: reload or continue to use your phone, which can be frustrating just when he needs it the most.

Option B: Portable batteries (nomadic)

With a portable battery, the user Charge on the move : he keeps his phone with him (pocket, armband, machine holder) and continues his session normally.

Result: charging becomes a service unseen (so perfect), because it doesn't break the flow.

According to a study cited in our research work, 95% of room users prefer a portable battery solution over lockers, mainly for this reason: they want to charge without immobilizing their phone.

✅ Experience verdict: in an environment where mobility is king, the nomadic approach is often more consistent with real uses.

2) Adoption and perception: a “used” service vs a “tolerated” service

Many rooms install a charging service... and realize that it is not used very often. Why? Because a useful service should be:

• simple,
• fast,
• compatible with training.
  

According to a study cited in our sources:

• 70% of users prefer a portable solution rather than a fixed system,
• 90% prefer to charge “away from home” (so in everyday places),
• 95% believe that a portable battery service is modernist.
  

This “modernity” point is important: beyond utility, charging is also a signal. A club that offers a fluid and current service reinforces its perceived value.

3) Installation & space: wall + groupings vs compact station

Lockers: more rigid layout

Charging lockers often require:

• a fixed location (often wall-mounted),
• a dedicated area (with a risk of crowds),
• a visual integration that is sometimes complicated in a very designer club.
  

In other words: once installed, they “define” an area, and it is more difficult to move/adjust.

Portable batteries: plug & play “service” format

Portable battery stations are generally more compact and plug into a standard outlet. They can be placed:

• at the reception,
• in a lounge,
• in a strategic crossing area.
  

✅ Verdict installation: advantage of the mobile solution when you want Plug & play, without major work or modifications.

4) Operational management: “It sounds at the reception” vs autonomy

This is often the point that weighs the most on franchisees: does that add work?

Lockers: frequent sources of staff requests

The usual irritants:

• forgotten code/locked locker,
• damaged cable,
• door that doesn't close properly,
• unhappy user because he can't keep his phone.
  

These small incidents increase the number of requests at the reception.

Portable batteries: automation of use

On modern mobile solutions, borrowing and returning is generally automated via an app/QR. And if the battery is not returned, a deposit or billing mechanism can be activated automatically.

✅ Operations verdict: advantage of the autonomous solution if you want to reduce the reception load and avoid micro-management on a daily basis.

5) Security: the hidden subject (thefts, responsibility, anxiety)

In the gym, property safety is a sensitive subject. Locker rooms are often perceived as a risk zone, and the smartphone is the object that crystallizes the most anxiety (value + dependence).

Two situations are particularly problematic:

1. Leave your phone in the cloakroom “far away from you.”
2. Plug your phone into an outlet at the back of a room (forgotten, stolen, cable on the ground).
   

Portable batteries meet a simple need: Charge while maintaining control, because the member keeps his phone with him while charging.

✅ Safety verdict: a clear advantage to portable batteries, especially for clubs where the experience must remain “stress-free”.

6) Image, hygiene, premium: the detail that makes the difference

Since 2020, members have become much more sensitive to:

• cleanliness,
• the perception of hygiene,
• the quality of shared services.
  

Well-integrated, clean and easy to clean stations reinforce the “premium” effect. Conversely, lying around cables or a “tinkered” charging area can degrade the image of a club, even if it is very well equipped.

✅ Image verdict: a “service” solution (design + maintenance + cleanliness) reinforces perceived value.

7) Case study: when the choice really changes daily life (example On Air Fitness)

In a brand with a young and demanding clientele (style + tech), a problem often comes up: the reception is constantly requested for charging requests (cable loan, charging behind the counter, etc.). This creates:

• the staff load,
• liability risks in the event of loss/theft,
• and a not very “premium” experience.
  

After the transition to a self-service portable battery solution, the results observed can be very concrete: in one case mentioned, we observe up to 90% fewer requests at reception related to the load, and a more “modern/tech” perception of the club.

Find out how the club ON AIR Fitness in Clichy improves the members' experience.