Best Home Gym & Equipment Deals

Exercising at home can be hard, especially if you don't prepare your space or have the right equipment. Many people enjoy going to a fitness club to meet and interact with people, as well as to exercise with high-end machines. However, a great exercise is not about having cutting edge equipment or being subscribed to fabulous gyms with luxury facilities. You can exercise at home and get the same (or even better) results.

What kind of equipment do you need to exercise at home?

Yes, equipment is a key part of exercising and decisive when it comes to losing weight. You lose weight faster when you build muscle, and the most efficient way to do that is with the right equipment. However, there are several different types of exercise routines and depending on the kind of training you want, the machines you will need.

Don't just run out and purchase dumbbells, aerobic balls, bicycles and rowing machines. While it's nice to have a selection of equipment like a fitness club offers, realistically we don't have space to keep it or the time to dedicate time to each machine. 

A one-in-all home gym system can be a great solution if you want to exercise everything, but if you are into specific exercises such as pilates, the machines may need to be different. Before buying any machinery, ask yourself the following questions:
  1. Do you have any specific equipment in mind? Any machine you tried before at a gym?
  2. Can you take on any type of workout? Do you have any medical or physical condition you should consider when buying equipment? If so, do you have medical clearance to exercise this way?
  3. What do you want to obtain through your workouts? Do you have any specific fitness goals (weight loss, build muscle, become faster, etc)?
  4. Do you have enough space for the equipment?
Apart from these questions, we also recommend that you try the machinery before you buy it. There are different types of equipment, mainly:
  • Cardiovascular equipment (treadmills, elliptical or cross-trainers, stationary cycles, stair climbing machines)
  • Strength equipment (ankle weights, weight bench, power tower, dumbbells, hand weights, resistance bands, tubing)
  • Core training equipment (rowing machines, gym ball, ab trainer) 

    Best Home Equipment

    If you prefer putting together your own gym instead of having just one machine, these are some of the most popular machines in the market today:

    Treadmills or Elliptical Trainers

    While the first is great for warming up and do cardio, the second one helps develop muscle in your arms, shoulders and legs. Both have different programs you can use depending on what your goals are, so make sure you try them before buying. 

    Costs:
    • Basic treadmills cost up to $700, mid-range treadmills cost up to $1,800 and high-end treadmills can cost up to $3,500. 
    • Low-range elliptical trainers can cost up to $1,000 while mid-range cost up to $2,000 and top-of-the-line models sell for up to $4,500.

    Rowing machines

    This machine helps work out the back, arms and legs at the same time. At first, it may feel uncomfortable, especially if you have never done rowing before, and some find it hard on the back. If you have any type of back condition, this might not be the best choice.

    Cost:  Rowing machines can cost anywhere between $270 and $1,150, depending on the brand, quality and specific features.

    Home Gyms

    When it comes to weight equipment, home gyms are a crowd favorite. You can do several different strength-building exercises and strengthen both your core and your upper and lower body strength.

    Cost: Home gyms costs vary substantially depending on the model, brand, features and exercise programs you can complete. Home gyms can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $10,000.

    Stationary bicycles

    These are also very popular and have several interesting benefits, including the fact that you can follow along with spinning classes if you buy the right bike. Also, if you have arthritis, having a recumbent bike allows you to exercise without experiencing pain. Make sure you avoid straps in your foot pedals, they help work the wrong leg muscles.

    Cost: Stationary bikes can cost between $200 and $2,000.

    How to save on gym equipment

    Gym equipment deals are everywhere but in order to find really useful discounted equipment, you need to really know your stuff. Before even starting to look for deals, make sure you read reviews and try equipment. Look deals only for specific machines, a brand and model you already tried and liked.

    There are several ways to find gym equipment deals, including:
    • Creating Google alerts with specific machine models and the word "deal" or "discount"
    • Check out the Deals and Offers section in Amazon, BestBuy, eBay, Sears, Target, Staples, Onnit, Dick's Sporting Goods, Bowflex, TigerDirect, Overstock and Walmart to see if the machine you want is available.
    • Consider buying during special sale days including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Tax-free weekends, Fourth of July, Super Saturday, Labor Day, Amazon Prime Day, Easter.