When deciding which exercise equipment to purchase, the first thing to determine is what your goals are. Are you looking to tone up, build strength, lose weight, or all of thee above? Some varieties of equipment can meet all of these goals, while others are more specialized. With the right equipment and proper, consistent training, you can achieve improvements in your appearance and health.
Versatility
Versatility is a big factor when choosing exercise equipment because versatility equates to value. Why spend the same amount of money on a piece of equipment that you can't perform as many exercises on as another? A pair of dumbbells can be used for almost any lift, except for those involving a pulling motion from above. Combine those dumbbells with a weight bench and the possibilities grow even more. Some gym machines, such as the Total Gym and Bowflex, are versatile to the point that you can perform most major lifts on them as well as cardiovascular rowing machine exercises.
Ease of Use
There's no sense in buying a piece of equipment that is too complicated to use. Working out should be enjoyable, not a chore. Most cardiovascular equipment, such as treadmills and elliptical machines, have simple controls and digital readouts that make them user friendly. Freeweights might be easy to use for people familiar with strength training, but many home gyms, like the Bowflex and Soloflex, offer simple weight adding technologies that keep workouts moving briskly.
Build Quality
Will your exercise equipment stand the test of time? This is where build quality comes into play. Many big box stores offer inexpensive equipment that may be sufficient on an entry level but won't last through years of vigorous training. Look for warranties on your equipment before making a purchase. Heavy-duty strength building equipment from companies like Powertec offer lifetime warranties on the frames of their products, as does treadmill manufacture Smooth. Comparatively, equipment with shorter warranties or no warranties at all should indicate lower build quality and lower durability.
Cost
The price tag is a major consideration when choosing exercise equipment for most people. Although it is not an absolute, cheaper equipment often equates to lower quality equipment that may not operate as well or for as long as more expensive models. Home gyms and treadmills can cost as little as $200 and as much as $5,000 and up. While the quality of a $200 home gym could be suspect, spending the same amount on freeweights or equipment for running outdoors is probably a better investment. You might also want to consider elastic exercise bands for strength training if cost is an issue because they are generally much cheaper than weights and provide a host of their own benefits.
Size
Owning a hulking home gym or a huge elliptical machine is fine if you have the space, but many homes don't have the floorspace or headspace to support larger equipment. Home gyms with a lat pulldown attachment are often near 7 feet tall, which may be too high for many ceilings. The highest end home gyms have such a large footprint that they require dozens of square feet to accommodate them. If you have very little space to work with, the Bowflex XL is critically-acclaimed and small enough to fit in the corner of a room. Elastic exercise bands are probably the biggest space saver in strength training, while unmotorized cardiovascular equipment like The Gazelle and air steppers can help burn calories in close quarters.
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