There is plenty of home gym equipment to choose from these days, but all gym equipment is not created equal. As with most home fitness equipment, there are pluses and minuses for almost every model you want to name. But when you read all of the consumer reviews that are available, certain models do rise to the top of the ratings. And here are the results of those findings now.
First of all, we have to divide the reviews into two parts, the first having to do with the most popular home gym equipment that uses bars and rods to create the resistance needed for each exercise. These type of home gyms often fold up and take up very little floor space. They tend to be very convenient and easy to use. The second type of home gym equipment still uses a weight system of some type instead. Because of that, they are often much more bulky, large machines that take up more space.
The two most popular home gyms that feature rods and bars for resistance are the Bowflex made by Nautilus, and the Crossbar made by Weider. Each machine has it's own strengths and weaknesses. The Bowflex is much easier to assemble, and it comes with excellent instructions on how to use it. The Crossbar on the other hand, takes more time to put together, but it costs and awful lot less than the Bowflex. All things considered, most reviewers and consumers seem to feel that the Crossbar gets the overall nod mainly based on price. Both machines seem to do almost equally as well as each other when actually performing exercises. Expect to pay between $1500 and $2000 for a Bowflex, and around $500 for a Crossbar.
If you are really serious about home strength training then you will probably opt for one of the more traditional weight stack machines instead. There are several of them on the market that do a fine job, but one that seems to get very good reviews and reports from consumers is the Hoist V5. It's certainly not cheap, costing well over $3000. But according to all sources it is a very high quality, strong and sturdy, strength trainer that will do just about everything that you need. It includes a 200 lb. weight stack, a chest press, a lat pulldown, and a leg extension/curl feature. It functions smoothly and easily with near gym quality motion.
One very important point to keep in mind is that no strength training machine will help you reach your goals if you don't remain consistent in using it. So having the best equipment and training inconsistently will never match the performance of a lesser quality home gym that is used on a regular basis.
It's also important to enlist the help of your doctor to make sure that the strength training program you are engaged in will be beneficial and not cause you injury.
There is plenty of other home gym equipment to consider when shopping in this field, but hopefully the information we have provided above will help you decide on equipment that will best fit your needs.
Home Gym Equipment Review
More and more, we are reminded to exercise to get in shape and maintain good health. Unfortunately, many of the exercise options that are offered to help us can hurt us at the same time. High impact exercises burn a lot of calories and offer good cardiovascular benefits. At the same time, they can damage joints and bones. There are now options available that have the same benefits as high impact exercises but also minimize the chance of injury.
There are several great low impact pieces of exercise equipment. Three of these are:
Exercise bikes
Rowing Machines
Elliptical Trainer
Let's examine each of these exercise machines.
Exercise Bikes
Exercise bikes come in two main forms, upright and recumbent. The upright bike is like regular bikes in that you are sitting upright when using it. The benefit of an upright bike is that you can use it sitting down or standing up. Alternating sitting and standing will burn more calories by increasing exertion.
The recumbent bike leans back and your feet are positioned in front of you. These bikes offer more comfort and back support, but burn fewer calories since you have to remain in a seated position. Both styles of bike offer good exercise benefits, but mainly just exercise your legs. The prices range from $300-$600.
Rowing Machines
Rowing machines are built to simulate rowing a boat. They provide a good workout, not just for rowers but also for anyone seeking a good overall form of exercise. They range in price from $100 all the way up to $1500, depending on the quality of the machine and the options available. They offer four forms of resistance:
Air-This works by using a fan. As you pull on the bike, the fan spins and simulates the feel of rowing an actual boat.
Hydraulics-This works through hydraulic cylinders or pistons. While less expensive, they don't work as smoothly as others.
Water-This works by pulling bars through a small water tank and comes closest to simulating actual boat rowing.
Magnetism-As the title suggests these models use magnets. They offer a smooth, quiet ride and are more expensive.
Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers also offer a good workout. The movement of the pedals combines the benefits of both a treadmill and an exercise bike. This works by standing upright on the pedals, which move around a large wheel. Since many have cross training bars that move back and forth, you get both an upper and lower body workout. The prices range from $200 up to $2500 for elliptical machines. Choose one with the following attributes:
Large wheel in front for sturdiness
Magnetic breaks for longer wear
Articulating footpads to keep circulation in your feet.
A stride length between 18 and 21 inches.
When determining which piece of equipment is best for you, consider all the facts presented here. This way you can decide which machine is the right one for you.
Both Jim Johnson & Gregg Hall are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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