Why There Is More To A Desirable Piece Of Home Gym Equipment Than Fancy Features?
We often tell ourselves that we are going to be good, finally, and buy a piece of home gym equipment but what do we want and, perhaps more importantly, what will we use?
Best Home Gym Equipment 2016
| Picture | Name | Weight Stack | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | BodyCraft Xpress Pro Home Gym | 200 pound 400 pound when combined with the leg press | $$$ | 4.8 |
 | Marcy Diamond MD2109 Stack Gym | 100 pound | $$ | 4.1 |
 | Body Solid SBL460P4 Freeweight Leverage Gym | Freeweight | $$$ | 4.0 |
 | BodyCraft Galena Pro Home Gym | 200 pound | $$$ | 4.9 |
 | Powerline P1X Single Stack Home Gym | Single Stack | $$$ | 4.1 |
The question of how to choose your home gym equipment brings up a lot of interesting considerations; you could tell yourself that you simply want a no-thrills treadmill or weight bench in the middle of the range but there are still lots of products and brands to choose from and the obvious choice from a well-known name may not be the best option.
The first aspect to consider has to be the type of exercise you want to do
Do you want to focus on one element, like running, rowing, spinning etc. or do you want a machine with wider appeal like some of the 3-in-1 models that combine elliptical and stepping movements for greater variety in a workout? If you are more about tone and muscle building and like free weights, a bench might be better but again it is about the purpose, the accessories and abilities that come with it.
Resistance based cables provide a different approach again and multifunctional gym apparatus with a range of options and motions can provide a full experience where a treadmill may simply target one area. It is the choice between the simple approach and the intense and multifunctional workout.
It could all depend on your aims with your workout
Understanding personal aims and goals is a must for anyone working out and this leads to the ability to track data on a performance. Most pieces of home gym equipment have some form of electronic console within them for setting up the programmes and relaying the data and this is important to consider when choosing your ideal product.
Some consoles are incredibly basic while others have dual-screens and multiple feeds to be more informative; some are criticised by buyers for inaccuracies while other are high-tech with connectivity to top fitness website and progress tracking.
It all depends upon how much you want to know and how you want it to be presented and with this in mind, there are lots of little details in the console to look into like the ease of use, back lighting and touchscreen. Also, is there a heart rate option and if so how is that determined? Is it through hand grips, an additional chest strap or something that the buyer has to supply themselves?
Your personal aims are important but is the machine you are looking at suitable for more than one user and for your space?
Home gym equipment might not just be used by you alone if it is that beneficial and appealing and some are set up so that user profiles and preferences can also be added to these consoles. This is a good start but the adjustability of the machine is also important. Can smaller or taller users easily adapt the set-up to their needs through features like adjustable handlebars, seats and pedals.
Different users can also have different needs regarding the speed and intensity of a machine so it is worth looking into whether it is a low impact machine suitable for more delicate joints and at the cushioning, speed settings, inclines etc. to see if it has more than one gear.
As for the suitability of the machine for the home, home gyms are often about replicating gym quality and the experience seen there but those big powerful machines are not always ideal in a smaller home gym. Space saving designs with small workout footprints, foldable frames and transport wheels can be more appealing for home use. This said, the weight allowance, strength of the frame and the ease of assembly are also important.
There is a lot to consider when looking at home gym equipment and some of the best machines can do it all
The factors above should help with the problem of how to choose your home gym equipment. Once you have a strong idea of what you want the product to do you can take a look at the finer details of the mechanics, electronics and other features to see which one best suits your personal needs, all within your budget of course.