Many people like the idea of having a home gym. You can exercise whenever you want. Don’t take time to get to and from the gym. Also, during cold and flu season, exercising at home is much more hygienic. However, you need to think about where you will place your home gym fitness equipment and whether you can allocate enough space area to exercise comfortably. Next, you need to consider what to buy. Buying individual treadmills, rowers, benches and weights can be expensive.
A space-saving alternative is a total home gym. Many people are choosing this option. You’ve probably seen them on TV, especially the Bowflex which retails for between $750 and $2,000, depending on accessories and model. Another is the Weider Max, which used to be sold under the name Advantage Crossbow. It starts considerably less at $400.
Both offer a variety of levels so you don’t get bored and can set goals for your exercise routines. These machines also have weight cable systems so you can increase your strength and muscle development, as well as flexible bars for an upper body workout. So what is the difference and why buy one over the other?
Reviewing reviews, consumers reported that the Bowflex was easier to assemble and also had a longer warranty period. Other than that, it seems to depend on which model of Bowflex or Weider Max you buy. While many people liked the smoothness of the Max Ultra, not as many were satisfied with the more expensive Platinum Plus. The digital monitor was not durable and often broke quickly.
Bowflex has a newer model called the Revolution. It is also one of the prince models. But what makes it unique is that it replaces resistance bands with what are called Spiraflex™ plates. The good thing is that it fits in a smaller circumference of room space than its older models.
If you want a more traditional bench and weight stack home gym fitness equipment, check out the Hoist V5. For just over $3,000, this machine stays high in the rankings, especially on consumerearch.com. You can request an optional leg press, but the standard is a chest press, side pull, and leg extension. It weighs more than 200 pounds.
Are there more than one or two home gym enthusiasts in your household? If so, consider getting the BodyCraft X2 Family Xpress. It’s about the same price but has an adjustable wiring system. It also features a 200-pound weight stack, which is what many trainers recommend. There’s also a sit-up station, and for a little more you can buy the leg press. Keep in mind that you’ll need about 105 square inches of floor space to accommodate it. Any lesser amount will hamper your workout.
Two other brands also ranked fairly high for customer satisfaction, although they are not as well advertised. The first is Solid Body. They offer various models ranging from around $600 to $3K. The other is called Body Craft. Their Galena model ranges from $1,300 to $1,600 depending on what accessories you buy.
Before you rush out and buy your home gym fitness equipment, consider this. Make sure you have the space to accommodate him and you. If you’re looking for a weight stack, make sure it’s 200 pounds. Try on the models first to make sure they fit you comfortably, like the padding on the bench. Check if it can be adjusted to different heights and body sizes. You want your body size to change, right? Finally, check the robustness of the parts. Steel is better than plastic and cables should be coated for safety. Keep all this in mind when purchasing your home gym fitness equipment and it will provide you with a good workout for many years to come.