I love health and fitness – I love working out and moving my body. Twice now, I’ve gone to Burn Boot Camp for a few months each rotation to give it a go, and I am here to share my honest review.
If we haven’t met before, I am a mid-40s mom to two teenage boys, a former group fitness trainer/group fitness gym manager, a certified yoga teacher, a former ballet dancer, and someone who genuinely believes movement can cure much. While I am not actively teaching anymore, I have, for over 20 years now, had regular exercise as part of my routine pretty much nonstop.
Am I thin? Nope. Am I buff? Nope. (Again, mid-40s mom to two, with a Scottish-Polish body constitution from my genetics.) But I know I am healthy. And, for the most part, I am a happy person. So that’s saying something.
I have done 70 lifetime camps with the Burn gym in my hometown. So let’s dig into what you might want to know and what my experiences are.
*Hi readers! By way of full disclosure, I used ChatGPT to help with some of this post (particularly the parts on the history of Burn Boot Camp).
About Burn Boot camp
What Is Burn Boot Camp / How It Started
Burn Boot Camp was founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife duo Devan and Morgan Kline in Huntersville, North Carolina. The origin is pretty grassroots: it started as a group workout in the parking lot of a gymnastics studio. The classes gained traction, and in 2013 they opened their first brick-and-mortar gym.
They began franchising in 2015, which scaled up fast.
Ownership, Reach & Business Facts
It’s still privately held by the founders (Devan & Morgan Kline).
As of early 2025, the brand has awarded its 600th franchise location and operates (or has agreements to operate) in 44 states.
Member base is large: they serve hundreds of thousands of members.
They’ve been recognized in franchise‐ranking lists repeatedly (Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, Franchise Times, etc.), showing rapid growth among fitness franchises.
The Science / Behind-The-Scenes Mechanisms
Burn doesn’t publish a detailed “peer-reviewed scientific study” per se (at least none that are obvious in my research), but there are several features and designs that are grounded in generally accepted exercise science and best practices. Some are:
45-minute “Camps”: Each workout includes warm-ups, strength + cardio combination, and a “finisher.” The mix is typical of high-intensity training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which is well known to improve cardiovascular health, strength, and metabolic rate.
Floating floor: This is a signature design piece. The floating floor helps absorb impact, reducing stress on joints during jumps, high-impact movements, etc. That makes the workouts slightly easier on the body (though still intense), especially for people worried about knees, hips, and back (although see my note below that I still had a bit of joint pain after very intense workouts that included exercises like box jumps).
Modifications offered & scalability: The programs are designed to be adaptable — trainers frequently give “mod downs” or “mod ups” depending on fitness level, injuries, etc.
Workouts spread across days & type variety: The week is organized so you get strength work, cardio work, and conditioning / metabolic days, so it’s not always the same stimulus. Variation is key in fitness science to prevent plateaus, overuse injuries, and keep motivation up.
Community + behavioral psychology: The “community” aspect, accountability (via focus meetings), group setting, frequent class offerings — these are all supported by behavioral science as critical for adherence. The more you feel supported, and the more flexible your options, the likelier you are to stick with a fitness routine. Burn seems to lean heavily into that. (This aligns with what many class-based gyms/studios have found.)
My review of Burn Boot Camp (what to know)
So, I’ve been going to Burn Boot Camp for a while now, and let me just say—it’s been an experience. The tl;dr version? I actually really like it. But I quit. The long version? Well, let’s get into it.
First off, the community is what hooked me. I’d been doing a lot of working out in my basement and was ready to mix it up again, to be with people.
Everyone at the Burn near me is so encouraging. It doesn’t feel like one of those gyms where you’re side-eyeing the person next to you or worried you don’t “fit in.” People are friendly, and the trainers are genuinely passionate. They’re not just shouting instructions—they’re right there, correcting form, giving modifications, and hyping the class up when it feels like you can’t do another push-up (spoiler: you usually can).
While I don’t need it anymore (sad!), Burn has free childcare. Not every single class has it, but most do, and I know from my days as a mom to young kids that it is a total game-changer. I met some of my dearest friends to this day at the gym while we moms worked out and the kids played in the gym childcare.
Their schedule is great overall. They run the same workout six or seven times a day, so you don’t have to stress if you miss your morning slot—you can just catch it later. Honestly, this flexibility kept me way more consistent.
I also like that Burn offers little extras, like focus meetings with trainers (basically 15-minute one-on-ones where you can set goals or ask for advice), and their app is great for days when I can’t make it in (they offer a limited library of at-home Burn workouts). They throw in monthly or quarterly challenges to keep things interesting. And yes, I’ve become one of those people who loves the Burn gear—the clothes are actually really cute (alothough you do pay for those separetly, nothing included).
There are definitely some cons. The biggest one? It’s expensive. No way around it. This is not a cheap fitness option. I opted for the month-to-month since I knew my schedule would be changing, and that was even more money for that flexibility. The cost is eventually what led me to cancel my membership.
And the workouts themselves? They’re tough. You will sweat, you will be sore, and sometimes you’ll wonder why you signed up for this. They can also feel a little repetitive, too—but honestly, that consistency does lead to results.
The other thing I noticed is form. With so many people in class, it’s easy for bad habits to slide, and as a former fitness instructor/dancer/yogi, it sometimes made me nervous.
Also, some of the conditioning days are very high impact, and my joints don’t always thank me afterward. Oh, and the only other thing I wasn’t crazy about was how much they push supplements. I know we’re all on a protein kick but I still have some reservations about supplements and long-term health outcomes.
Does Burn Boot Camp "Work"?
This is the thing that everyone really wants to know: if I go to Burn, will I < lose weight > < get buff > < be skinny > etc.? They want to know if it “works?” And I think it depends on what goals you are looking to hit.
Here’s the thing: I went into Burn Boot Camp already pretty active. I was lifting, working out regularly, and generally staying consistent. So, for me, the results weren’t dramatic — no major weight loss, and maybe just a half inch off my waistline. But honestly, I didn’t expect Burn to be some magic fix. There are transformation stories plastered all over the walls and people do lose tens of pounds doing the program. That just wasn’t me (even though I was desperately trying to get rid of a lingering five pounds I decided I didn’t want.)
The truth is, Burn Boot Camp works if you work it. It’s not about getting “skinny” — it’s about getting stronger, healthier, and more consistent. If you’ve never had a solid workout routine before, Burn could be a game-changer. With the variety, structure, and accountability it offers, someone starting fresh would probably see amazing results. For me, it was more about the community, the push, and knowing that showing up consistently will always beat doing nothing.
Burn doesn’t hand you results. You have to show up, put in the work, and trust the process. If you do that, the results (whether physical, mental, or both) will follow.
Because the truth is, our bodies are at their best when they move. Whether you’re chasing results, building confidence, or simply showing up for yourself, Burn Boot Camp creates space for that kind of growth. And for me, it was worth more than any before-and-after photo.