When purchasing strength training equipment for your home or fitness facility, you may wonder how to choose between professional or residential equipment. The main difference between the two types of equipment is the intended use, according to Denis Bruntmyer, a fitness maintenance technician in Salem, Oregon. Equipment designed for a professional fitness facility is intended to be used by a large number of patrons and must be able to handle a fair amount of abuse.
Purpose
Professional fitness facilities can expect to see hundreds or even thousands of patrons over the course of a single day. Professional grade strength training equipment is built with quality materials that can withstand the amount of use that occurs in a large fitness facility. Manufacturers build professional weightlifting equipment with sturdy frames, a wide range of weights and numerous settings that allow people of all different heights to comfortably use the equipment.
Types
Gyms and fitness facilities cater to all types of exercisers --- the elderly adult who wants to learn to lift weights for the first time, the young athlete who has been lifting for years, and the middle-aged worker who wants a do a quick circuit on a lunch break. To meet the needs of all types of exercisers, professional strength training equipment comes in a variety of styles, and most gyms offer some of each kind. These types include free weights, selectorized machines, pulley machines and plate-loaded machines. Free weights include everything from dumbbells, barbells, benches and squat racks. Selectorized machines allow the user to choose a weight amount from a stack of weights, then perform a specific exercise while being guided by the machine's predetermined movement. When using a pulley machine, you choose a weight amount from a stack, but when you perform the movement you're pressing against a cable pulley, which gives you more freedom to adjust your movement and range of motion. Plate-loaded machines require you to add plate weights to empty loading bars, then you can perform a specific exercise while being guided by the machine's movement. Plate-loaded machines often separate the movement between your right and left sides, so that each arm or leg can move independently while performing the exercise.
Cost
The purchase price of professional-grade strength training equipment will be steeper than that of residential-grade equipment because of the materials used to make the equipment more durable. According to sports and fitness coordinator Amy Loomis of Salem, Oregon, you can expect to pay roughly $2,000 to $3,000 for each piece of selectorized equipment, between $1,500 to $2,500 for each free-weight rack or plate-loaded machine, and between $500 to $1,000 for each free-weight bench. Pulley machines are often built-to-order with multiple stations, so you could pay anywhere from $3,000 to more than $10,000 for such a machine. Free weights such as dumbbells and plate weights are sold based on their weight, and you can expect to pay between $2 and $5 for each pound of weight, depending on the style and materials used to make or cover the weight.
Companies
Walk through a professional gym or fitness facility and you'll see a number of equipment manufacturers advertised on the sides of fitness equipment. Some of the most commonly purchased equipment is made by manufacturers including Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, Cybex, Free Motion, Nautilus, Iron Grip, Hampton and Precor. Most reputable commercial fitness companies sell equipment through a regional sales associate who can work with you to make sure that you're purchasing the right equipment for your purposes and facility.
References
- Amy Loomis; Kroc Center Sport and Fitness Coordinator; Salem, Oregon
- Denis Bruntmyer; Kroc Center Maintenance Technician; Salem, Oregon
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