Are you looking to work out at home?
Because of lockdown restrictions, home gyms soared in popularity. People started buying equipment to continue their exercises. Sales of treadmills alone went up by 135% from March to October last year.
Still, at-home workouts are here to stay even with relaxed restrictions.
Regardless, you need help in choosing exercise equipment. Read our tips below to get the right one for your home.
Table of Contents
1. List Your Fitness Goals
Ask yourself what you want to achieve with your home gym. Do you need equipment for strength training, cardio, or belly fat loss?
Your goal determines the type of equipment to buy. For example, some weights are a must if you’re strengthening your muscles. On the other hand, treadmills and bike machines are optimal for cardio.
Learning what you want helps filter out unnecessary equipment. For instance, buying cardio machines is a bad idea when your main goal is to tone your biceps.
Sure, a cardio machine will still help your overall fitness. However, prioritize the most necessary equipment. It’s especially if you have limited space at home.
2. Consider Your Current Fitness Level
Of course, consider your current abilities when choosing exercise equipment. There’s no sense in buying machines or tools you can’t use right away. It’s also a safety matter since you might get injured when using a machine beyond your skill level.
Many exercise machines can adapt to a variety of skill sets. These are great for beginners. When you improve and opt for a more intense weekly workout schedule, you’ll still be able to use them.
Some other machines have more fancy features. They might have software that assesses your needs based on the information input into the machine. It’s a good option, but it might be beyond your price range.
If you’re worried about what you can buy, ask your fitness trainer or machine seller. They can recommend the right machines for you.
3. Research the Different Types of Gym Equipment
Once you have determined your goals, it’s time to research different types of home gym equipment. It has two categories to keep in mind: cardio and strength.
Cardio machines are great for weight loss and overall fitness. Examples are the treadmill, indoor cycling bike, and indoor rowing machine. A simpler yet not less effective example is the jumping rope.
Strength equipment highly varies in type, depending on your targeted muscle group. Weights are a classic and simple tool for your home. If you want to level up your workouts, buy battle ropes, leg press, and so on.
Visit the Gym
A good way to learn more about gym equipment is to visit your local gym. While there, take the time to learn about the different machines. You may also ask around for home versions of some equipment.
4. Consider the Available Space
Don’t forget to consider your available home space when choosing the right machines. A treadmill, for instance, might not fit if you only have the corner of your room for your workouts.
Not everyone has the space for a whole room of gym equipment. Even then, the average room has limited space. It means you might not be able to fit ten machines in there.
When considering this factor, take note of all equipment types necessary for your workouts. See which one you can opt not to buy and where you can compromise. If running is a big deal to you, you can buy a treadmill and scale down for your strength training.
5. Buy From a Reputable Store
Where you buy matters, too. Buying from a reputable store helps you get peace of mind about safety and warranty. Visit the store and ask about their policies.
To get the best deals, visit as many stores as you can.
When buying equipment online, practice extra vigilance. You’re at risk of getting scammed and having your information stolen.
Only transact with trusted websites. If the website starts with “HTTP” instead of “HTTPS,” consider it unsafe. The latter means the website has a secure connection.
6. Read Reviews
It’s best to read reviews about the product first before buying anything. Find legitimate reviews from actual buyers on blogs and YouTube.
Doing so helps you learn more about the product’s advantages and disadvantages. If it has any flaws, you’ll know without committing to it. You learn about an actual user’s experience and see if it might be right for you as well.
Is the machine as easy to use as it claims to be? Does it need fitness equipment repair in a short time? Is it worth the price?
These are some of the questions that user reviews might answer. While you’re at it, read some reviews about online stores too. It’s especially if you’re planning to buy some equipment online.
7. Find Out Your Gym Equipment Budget
The most limiting factor, however, might be your budget. However, you don’t need to worry as there are many affordable home gym equipment out there.
If you have a small budget, stick to jumping ropes, weights, and other cheaper equipment. If you must have a machine, consider buying old exercise equipment. Be careful in choosing and ensure it must still be safe to use.
The best way to stick to your budget is to widen your options. Look for alternatives and other types. Shop around for the best deals to maximize your investment returns.
Be Smart in Choosing Exercise Equipment
If you want to get the most value out of your money, consider all the things above when choosing exercise equipment. You won’t only get the best deal, but you’ll get the most of your machines.
You need the right machines for your fitness journey. If you want to learn more, visit our website today for buying guides and other topics.