Best Outdoor Fitness Classes In San Francisco

It's not like traditional training for military recruits but this fitness company is also described as "not your basic bootcamp." Led by founder Jennifer Pattee and Alex Ho, Basic Training has earned local "Best of the Bay" awards, including Best Bootcamp and Best Personal Trainer. Late last year, Basic Training successfully launched an Indiegogo campaign, raising funds for a new pop-up fitness hub at PROXY, in Hayes Valley, with support from Lieutenant Governor and former Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsome. Basic Training courses taught outdoors at the Palace of Fine Arts and PROXY combine elements of strength, cardio and speed and power while guiding participants through a safe and effective workout.

BootcampSF offers six-week sessions at seven inspirational outdoor locations in the city, like Golden Gate Park, Crissy Field and the challenging Lyon Street Steps, on the eastern border of the Presidio of San Francisco. BootcampSF is led by former Division II All-American athlete Keith Wohlwend, who holds undergraduate and masters degrees from San Francisco State University (SFSU). His talented team of instructors all hold nationally recognized certifications from fitness organizations such as NCSA, ACSM and NASM. No Excuses Week, consisting of 90-minute training sessions for returning members, begins June 30 and the first Summer Session, consisting of 60-minute motivating bootcamp classes four times a week with an optional Saturday class, begins July 7.

As the name suggests, Hiking Yoga is a fusion between traditional yoga movements and hiking. Participants meet in front of the Ferry Building and then head out for a scenic 90-minute hike covering many of the city's landmarks, interspersed with a handful of yoga sessions lasting up to 10 minutes. Founded five years ago in San Francisco by lifelong athlete Eric Kipp, Hiking Yoga has enjoyed enormous growth and now has 15 locations nationwide, including Los Angeles, Portland, Dallas and New York. Hiking Yoga also offers advanced training for experienced instructors with a special focus on business and marketing a yoga business.

With a perfect rating on Yelp and a team of highly talented trainers, Koi Fitness definitely ranks among the best for outdoor fitness in San Francisco. Led by former All-American athlete Stevan Krstic, Koi Fitness offers bootcamp classes at Golden Gate Park, Baker Beach and the newest location – San Francisco State University. Members have the option to train up to four days a week during a six-week session, which incorporates speed and agility training, strength and endurance training and more for a total body workout. In addition to Krstic, whose credentials also include a physiology and kinesiology degree from SFSU, other trainers have a wealth of education and national credentials, such as USA Boxing and USA Track and Field and holistic health counseling, NCSA and ACSM.

Featuring a top-notch team of talented instructors, it doesn't get much better than Start Fitness. True to its statement of "larger than life," the fitness organization was founded by Ken Weichert (a.k.a. SGT Ken), an Army Master Fitness and Master Resilience Trainer, Iraq War veteran, six-time Soldier of Year and award-winning presenter who unquestionably knows what the real Army boot camp is all about. START Fitness offers five indoor/outdoor boot camp classes per week, in addition to outdoor distance runs and indoor/outdoor strength and conditioning classes. All classes begin at San Francisco Aikikai, a non-competitive Aikido dojo just off Van Ness Avenue in Lower Pacific Heights.