A home gym has many benefits. No commute, no crowds, and having 24/7 access to your own fitness sanctuary is alluring. If you’re going to have one, you want the best home gym there is. However, your dream can quickly turn into a costly nightmare of unused equipment collecting dust, becoming a clothes rack or a storage shelf.
Unfortunately, a significant percentage of home exercise equipment goes unused after just a few months. Why is that? Well, many people make the classic mistake of investing hundreds, or even thousands, in gear they intend to use but never actually do.
To create the best home gym, consider trying out the gear before buying. There is no better place to do that than at the ultimate showroom at your local gym.
Try Before You Buy
Before you buy a shiny new treadmill or complete weight set, consider trying it out first. Your local gym is a risk-free environment where you can test-drive different machines to discover what truly fits your body, goals, and workout style.
Equipment that looks perfect in a video can end up feeling awkward, uncomfortable, or just plain wrong when you use it. Trying fitness equipment firsthand is about more than just testing it out. It’s also about discovering your personal preferences. For example, there are some things you won’t know when seeing an ad for an elliptical machine, treadmill, or weight set.
First, consider ergonomics. All bodies are unique. So, you may not know if that elliptical stride is natural for your height, or if your shoulders are in an uncomfortable position on that bench for bench presses. Another thing is that you might be surprised by what you gravitate towards. Instead of a treadmill, you may prefer a rowing machine, or instead of free weights, you like the stability of cable machines. On top of it all, you’ll learn quickly the difference between a well-built machine and a flimsy one.
Testing Equipment For Your Home Gym
Gyms are a great place to engage in a variety of workouts, whether using equipment or attending instructor-led classes. They provide a space for people to gather and engage in social activities. That may or may not be something you enjoy. Regardless, having the option to work out in your home gym, catered to your preferences, can provide the best of both worlds, depending on how you feel.
So, how do you test out your gear if you don’t have a gym membership? Many gyms offer daily, weekly, or monthly passes that allow people to try out their facilities before committing to a membership. Additionally, many gyms have personal trainers on staff who can show you how to use the equipment properly. In the end, a little patience and hands-on research can save you from making a major purchasing mistake.
When you’re ready to walk into the gym, have a plan based on ‘your why‘ and fitness goals. Let’s examine what to look for based on specific types of equipment and how that can help make your home gym the best it can be.
Cardio Machines
Cardio is foundational for maintaining your cardiovascular health, improving your endurance, and enabling you to enjoy activities for longer before needing to catch your breath. Therefore, to find the best machine for your home gym, consider testing different types of cardio equipment, such as treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines, and stationary bikes, to determine what works best for you.
When trying different equipment, don’t just do a five-minute warm-up. Instead, try a more comprehensive approach. Spend at least 15 to 20 minutes on each machine to experience it from a warm-up, workout, and cool-down perspective. While using the equipment, pay attention to what the machine is doing and how your body feels.
Ask yourself some questions about your experience. Is the motor loud? Does the machine feel shaky or wobbly at higher speeds? What would this sound like in your home gym? How does it feel on your joints? Are there adjustments you can make? How are the controls? Are there features that you know you’ll use and ones that you won’t?
With all the options available on cardio equipment, find what you like and don’t like, and if your overall experience feels fulfilling and enjoyable. If necessary, try various equipment over a few days or weeks to find the one that suits you best. Don’t overdo it, and try to test everything in one session.
Strength Equipment
Strength training is paramount to maintaining your quality of life as you age. Therefore, it’s crucial to find equipment that works best for you and your home gym since a wide variety is available to help you increase your strength and build lean muscle mass. If you’re thinking about lifting weights, spend time testing both free weights and resistance machines. Observe which type of equipment you use more.
Test how easy it is to change weights and slide locking mechanisms. Are they cumbersome? Do they disrupt your workout flow? Are the benches easy to adjust? Do the machines feel stable? Is the equipment multi-functional, for example, is it a simple squat stand, or does it have attachments for pull-ups or other exercises? For machines, do the cables move smoothly?
Moving between sets and various exercises should be easy, allowing you to focus on your workout. Whatever machines you use, pay particular attention when setting up and moving through your different sets.
Functional Gear and Accessories
The best home gym has more than just cardio equipment and/or weights. Kettlebells, resistance bands, and exercise balls are often overlooked yet important pieces of equipment. You never know if you’ll enjoy working with them until you try it yourself.
If you’re trying kettlebells, note how they feel in your hands. Are they smooth or rough? Resistance bands come in different types and sizes. So, try as many as you can. You may prefer one type over another for lower-body and upper-body exercises. How does the quality feel for gear such as foam rollers or the grip on yoga mats? Asking yourself these types of questions will help you select the right equipment for you, because you can’t figure it out just by reading about it.
Smart Testing Strategies
This isn’t something you can determine in one or two workout sessions. Consider spending up to 30 days trying out a variety of workouts and equipment that you think will be best in your awesome home gym. During your testing stage, mindfully use different equipment, talk to people about their experiences, and ask any personal trainers on staff how to best use any gear that interests you.
Track which machines and workouts you naturally gravitate towards and which ones you have to motivate yourself to use. After each exercise, track it and jot down some notes about your experience. What did you like or dislike about it? How did you feel before, during, and after using the equipment? Is this something you can commit to using 3 times a week?
If you’re considering equipment for your home gym, write down the brand and model number, as you’ll need this information to determine the space the equipment will occupy and, equally important, its cost. Don’t forget to account for extra space so you can navigate around it in your home gym.
Watch For Red Flags
While trying different equipment, it’s critical to be honest with yourself. You may want to like a machine, but you’ll eventually not use it if it’s in your home gym, wasting money and making it harder for you to achieve your fitness goals.
A machine may not be for you if it causes discomfort or forces you to stay in an awkward position. Also, watch out for equipment where you can do the same exercise on a simpler, and likely cheaper, machine, for example, an abs machine vs. a stability ball.
Don’t buy equipment for an aspirational version of yourself. You want to buy machines for the workouts you will do now, not ones you hope to do someday. Otherwise, you may purchase equipment that you can’t easily use, making it harder for you to stay consistent, which is paramount to achieving your goals.
Making A Final Decision
After some time focusing your attention on testing and reflecting, it’s time to create a priority list. Separate your preferences into three categories:
- Preferred: Equipment you consistently use three or more times per week.
- Maybe: Versatile and space-efficient options, such as an adjustable bench, resistance bands, kettlebells, and substitutes for your ‘preferred list’.
- Won’t Use: equipment or gear you used infrequently or didn’t really appeal to you.
Next, determine your budget and confirm if all the equipment you eventually want will fit in your home gym. You don’t have to buy everything at once. Instead, start with one key piece from your preferred list. Your needs may evolve, and a gradual approach will prevent you from overspending on a fancy shelf, coat rack, or dust collector.
The best home gym is one you use frequently and consistently, helping you to make progress toward your goals. Building your ideal home gym is a process, not a knee-jerk reaction to a fleeting burst of motivation. By using your local gym as a testing ground, you invest a little time upfront to make a smart, well-informed decision that will pay dividends in your health and your wallet.
The Takeaway
A home gym is a convenient and fun place to work on your fitness goals, but it’s easy to waste money on gear you won’t use. Before buying anything, try it out at your local gym. Testing different machines helps you determine what feels comfortable, fits your preferences, and motivates you to stay active.
Spend time with different cardio, strength, and functional gear, and take notes on what you enjoy and use consistently. Organize your favorites into a priority list, set a budget, and begin with small steps. The best home gym isn’t the one with the latest gear. It’s the one you’ll actually use.
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Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
