9 Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying Home Workout Equipment

Last updated on March 18th, 2024

Has COVID-19 and a work-from-home lifestyle added some extra pounds to your weight or made you lethargic? Don’t worry; you can still choose to stay fit amidst the constant fear of Coronavirus. With the gyms being shut, you can install your gym. It would be the wisest investment of 2020 to buy home workout equipment to exercise at home.

Investing in exercise tools and items enables you to do the workout from your home’s comfort. Also having the workout equipment at home provides you with the leverage to do workouts at any time without any downtime between machines.

With the right fitness exercise equipment, you can create a gym that can offer an affordable and safe workout environment.

The possibilities are endless for someone who has never engaged in something like this before. But I’ll help you choose wisely to buy the right home workout equipment tailored exactly according to your requirements.

So if you are confused about where to start, what to do, and what equipment to buy, don’t stress out!

As I have listed down some tips. They’ll assist you in buying the best home workout equipment and assembling your miniature exercise hub right in your home.

1. What is your “home gym” budget?

Before starting a new venture, it’s always wise to do some money talk. With people investing more in fitness, the exercise equipment market boasts high profits.

However, there is always something for everyone here. Ranging from top-notch workout equipment to comparatively basic and budget-friendly models, home gyms can offer you all.

You need to plan your budget to balance features and functionality with the price. Invest in machines that could meet your both present and future needs.

The home gym also saves you the gym membership fee. It adds a few cents more to your home gym budget.

Shelling out more can offer you home workout equipment. You can get better build quality, smoother resistance, quieter, better tracking and monitors, and better entertainment integration.

Here is the fitness exercise equipment listed from cheapest to most expensive:

Free weights, abs trainers, and accessories like hula hoops.
Treadmills, exercise bikes, ellipticals, and rowers, with some of them having LCD screens and other extras.
Basic weights gyms and many mid-range exercise machines.
Robust multi-gyms and mainly branded equipment laced with features like app compatibility, built-in entertainment options, and automatic resistance changes or incline.
Equipment and characteristics are similar to the machines in a professional gym.
Stair mills—which are like mini-escalators installed in your home.

2. How much space is available to dedicate to home workout equipment?

decide space while buying fitness exercise equipment — Image source: Needpix

The enthusiasm for getting fit often tempts people into buying excessive and large fitness exercise equipment. They overlook the space available in their homes.

So ensure to look for space and other logistical matters like noise levels. Whether you want an indoor or outdoor gym, dedicate an area to move around the equipment.

Many models can fold, have wheels to move around easily, have a corner-fitting design, or have a smaller footprint. All these features can help resolve space issues.

However, some machines like non-folding treadmills, bikes, elliptical cross trainers, or multi-gyms require a dedicated space. Hence you should grant to them.

Since people are actively investing in home workout equipment, companies are coming up with customizable models to suit the needs of the “home gymers.”

You can now easily find foldable treadmills, foldable rowing machines, and other equipment like free weights, steppers, abs rollers and, many more. These are space-effective.

As far as noisy equipment is concerned, you should spare some extra money for quieter machines which offer low resistance. Particularly if your home gym is in a flat or if you have kids around.

3. What are your fitness goals?

Why are you investing in home gym equipment? Do you want to improve your overall health? Are you aiming to lose extra pounds gained during quarantine? Or do you want to add some cardio?

Answer these questions to yourself before purchasing any new exercise equipment. You must know what you intend to achieve from your home workout station beforehand.

If you want to strengthen your heart, or if you want to experience all your running while you were allowed to go out, the best option would be the treadmill.

However, if you want to include cardio and also want to get that perfect butt, make an elliptical machine your best friend.

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4. Who would all be sharing the home workout equipment?

Do you have to compete with your partner or your cat to have access to your home gym? If yes, then invest in multi-station machines. They allow more than one person to work out simultaneously, which is the best choice for you.

Although these machines tend to be a bit more expensive, investing a single time will cause long-term benefits!

Also, if you have kids who are trying to be fitness freaks too, you should consider installing separate children-friendly machines depending on your needs.

It is not hard to find these machines in the markets nowadays!

5. What is the level of workout you plan to do?

A beautiful woman wearing black t-shirt and black shorts working out in gym — Source – “Woman” by Brandon Binkwilder- under creative commons licence

Your level of workout should determine your choice of buying home workout equipment, like:

5.1. Cardio Workout

People who are fitness freaks and want to remain fit and healthy by strengthening their hearts should consider high-intensity interval training (ref). For that matter, ideal home workout equipment would be treadmills, bikes, steppers, jumping rope and skiing machines.

5.2. Toning-Up

People who are fit but want to get that perfect beach body should invest in something like an elliptical trainer. It would work great for a full-body tune-up. An elliptical trainer can provide mixes of arms and leg workouts.

If you are going to tone up your belly area, you might have to choose from a wide range of options that are designed for abs.

Also, to tone calf- muscles, and butt, steppers are an excellent choice.

5.3. Weight training

If you have to increase the strength or increase endurance of muscles, you need resistance training. Then your go-to machines are the multi-gyms and free weights, or related accessories.

5.4. Burning fat

If you aim to shed some weight, you need something that actively engages you in burning calories regularly.

These people have the option to choose from a sea of required home workout equipment. It includes but is not limited to bikes, elliptical cross trainers, and rowing machines.

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6. What are your home workout equipment preferences?

Don’t invest in a treadmill if you dread running, under peer pressure. List down all the equipment preferences which satisfy your fitness needs and which are comfortable.

It is more important than showing off your big, expensive machines.

Some are equipped with professional features to challenge hard-core fitness enthusiasts. While others are more basic and built for those who are casual about working out or have just started working out recently.

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7. All-in-one gym system or different machines?

A home gym can comprise multiple exercise stations or a single multi-purpose machine. It all depends on your requirements and goals.

However, you should build an inclusive home gym containing at least one machine of each type. This will help to address all the needs, including cardio equipment, weight equipment, and bodyweight resistance equipment.

But if you just want to improve your overall health, a multi-station home gym might be the best fit for you instead of saving for separate fitness equipment.

8. Second-hand or safe home workout equipment?

8.1. Second-Hand Equipment

It is common to look for second-hand equipment if you do not prefer long-term commitment from your home gym. But while opting for second-hand machines, you need to be extremely careful.

According to regulations, you might have to check with the local consumer authorities or the agents or distributors for further information.

8.2. Safe home workout equipment

If you have ever accidentally dropped dumbbells or barbells and cracked your floor tiles, you must have become extra careful while handling the equipment from then onwards. And you should start using steel-capped boots.

So it’s not just the equipment that you need to invest in; getting appropriate safety gear is equally important, which many tend to ignore.

Therefore, before purchasing any new gym exercise equipment, check if it complies with the set regulations. Newer models are said to be more reliable than older ones.

You must look for safety ratings on any equipment before buying and note what all it has to offer, like ergonomic-friendly features, safety features related to the toughness of the machine, and other safety controls.

Don’t hesitate to ask for additional related information from the manufacturer—it is your right as a consumer.

9. What about the delivery and installation of home workout equipment?

Another important and often overlooked factor that determines your equipment preferences is the delivery and assembly of the machines.

Some machines have wheels, are foldable or equipped with features like an inclined platform, and are virtually single-piece that as soon as they get delivered, you can just ‘start them up. You can assemble them yourself.

While other machines can take hours to assemble or even require expert assistance, like fully assembled multi-gyms that do not fit through a doorway. And they need an expert to set them up.

So it’s essential to give a thought to handling and assembling equipment before you plan to buy home workout equipment.

Also, you might have to shell out some extra money for expert charges (if applicable).

Conclusion

It is easy to get confused owing to the numerous home workout equipment options available today. However, following the above tips will help you narrow down your choices for a personalized and affordable home gym.

Also, only working out on a gym machine is efficient when done along with a fitness program.

So you should follow a fitness program first that is achievable. And then indulge in buying the gym equipment which complements your program. and popular in your country for the quality of the workout provided.

Congratulations! You are now just one step away from starting your workout—delivery of home gym fitness equipment.

Comments

Ritu Bindra says

September 12, 2020 at 5:32 pm

As always, an in-depth post loaded with information. So good to see you back, Srishti.

- Srishti says
  
  September 12, 2020 at 6:03 pm
  
  Thanks dear 🙂
  
Gymsportz.sg says

February 24, 2021 at 2:31 pm

The blog is informative with useful factors and tips before choosing the right home workout equipment. Thanks for sharing such valuable content.