Purchasing the Right Home Exercise Equipment that You Will Use

Purchasing exercise equipment for the home is a luxury for some and a clothes rack for others. Whether it’s an attempt to stay inside during the winter holiday or just a personal preference of an individual workout, the International, Dance, and Exercise Association (IDEA) recommends the following.

1. Select a piece of equipment based on your goals.

Do you want to strengthen, stretch, lose weight, or train aerobically? Beware of the seller who says that their machine can do all things.

2. Choose a machine that mimics an activity that you enjoy.

If you enjoy climbing stairs, consider a stairclimber. If you enjoy walking or jogging and need something indoors, consider a treadmill.

3. Determine how much you are willing to spend prior to making your purchase.

Quality exercise equipment in a club setting can run anywhere from $800 to $8,000. Yes, that treadmill you enjoy so much at the gym probably set them back around $7,000 to $8,000. When looking for the home you may have to scale your budget down.

“Very often, you get what you pay for. The key is to buy at least one quality piece of equipment, which you can supplement with less expensive items if your budget is limited. Investing in quality exercise equipment that meets your goals protects your most important investment: your health,” said Gregory Florez, IDEA Presenter and chief executive office of First Fitness, Inc.

4. An infomercial or brochure may make a product sound great, but nothing takes the place of a personal, hands-on “test drive.”

Wear appropriate clothing and shoes when shopping for a piece of home exercise equipment. Evaluate how it is built; how well it functions; is it natural and comfortable.

5. Decide if timers, heart rate monitors, calories burned displays and the like will motivate you.

Technology is great, but the added features can also add up in cost. Make sure that you decide what is important and works for you.

6. Ask about warranties, return policies, satisfaction guarantees, frequency and cost of repairs.

In most cases, a reputable dealer will let you try out your new equipment at home for a specified time period like 30 days, and allow you to return it for a full refund or credit. The dealer should take care of pick-up and set-up.

7. Check what space you have available prior to purchasing the equipment.

All too often you may bring it home only to realize it won’t fit where you wanted it to go. Also, consider purchasing a rubber mat to go beneath it to collect grease and sweat.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic