Buying Guide
Proper exercise is one of the best ways to keep your body in tip-top shape. Not only will you have the energy and stamina to be productive throughout the day, but you’ll also build stronger bones and decrease your risk for heart disease. If you’re like many busy Americans, you may find it difficult to travel back and forth to the nearest gym. A home gym is much more practical, as it allows you to squeeze in exercise as you have time.
“Take into account your budget, workout habits and motivation,” Stephanie Mansour, a certified personal trainer and the founder of fitness brandStep It Up Steph, says. “Don’t look at a piece of workout equipment as a shiny new penny that will cure your lack of exercise. If time is an issue, prove to yourself that you can schedule in workouts at home first before purchasing a bunch of equipment.”
Home gyms allow moms and dads to work out while their children are napping, fitness enthusiasts to blast their music and grunt if they need to without the worry of bothering anyone else, and teenagers to learn the proper way to use gym equipment under the supervision of their parents. Since there are a wide range of models on the market, it is important to know what features are available and how much space the units will take up in your home.
When shopping for your home gym, you’ll first need to measure the room or designated space within your house where the equipment will go. Then check the product dimensions under the home gym that you’re interested in to see if it will fit. The Marcy Smith Cage Workout Machine Home Gym is on the larger side with the following dimensions: 70″L x 83″W x 86″H. Individuals who have less space to work with would do better with a model that has dimensions that are around 46.5″L x 35″W x 84.5”H.
Now, it’s time to review your workout goals and which parts of your body you’d like to exercise. Some home gyms are designed to concentrate more on your arms, legs or core muscle strength, while others are made to work out the entire body. For example, if you’re feeling a little weak in the arms, look for multi-functional press arms. This feature will help you get your biceps and triceps in shape. If it’s your thighs and calves that need strengthening, find a gym that has a sliding seat rail. With this component, you’ll be able to perform both leg presses and rowing exercises that will even get the heart rate going.
Another important factor in selecting the perfect home gym is how many exercises you will be able to do with the unit, and whether or not the company sends an exercise chart along with the instruction manual. Beginners may find a simpler option that only includes 40 exercises is best. That keeps the beginner from becoming overwhelmed and gives him or her the opportunity to master the provided exercises. Moderate to advanced workout enthusiasts would do better with a unit that offered more variety, such as 70 to 100 exercises.
Comfort is key in staying motivated when using a home gym. There are two things you’re going to want to look for where comfort is concerned. First, check that the seat or workout bench is padded. You don’t want your bottom or your back pressing up against a hard flat surface. The unit may even offer additional pads, like barbell pads, for a fee. Secondly, check that you can adjust the seat to fit your height. You need to be able to properly reach the resistance bars and other attachments.
In addition to the seat adjustments, the home gym should allow for adjusting other attachments, as exercisers come in all shapes and body sizes. Some models offer multiple cable and pulley positions. Other units also allow you to adjust the bench to workout at an incline of up to 90 degrees, while others let you move the foot levers.
Having a customized home gym may also include removable attachments. Perhaps you’d like to take the leg hold-down attachment off or maybe you’d like to replace the high pulley bar with a press down tricep rope bar. It’s nice to have options.
“Remember that sets of equipment can often be purchased at a discount, so if you’re serious about a full home gym then buying multiple pieces at once is more cost-effective,” Mansour says. She also encourages people to be sure to read through home gym reviews before you buy.
You’ll want to consider any add-ons that may be important to you. You may wish to have a free weight rack attached to your unit, for example. This keeps your workout room organized by giving you space to safely store your weights.
