There are many options available for home gyms and there are many brands with a variety of features. It’s hard to know where to start when buying a home gym and how to know what to look for to make the best possible decision. Here are 5 important things to consider when shopping for a home gym.
Investing more money in a home gym can only bring better results. Sure, you can find some great value treadmills that perform reasonably well on the budget treadmill market.
In this part of the guide, we will focus on the features that are frequently seen in this category and what you should be aware of:
Design
As you examine our table above, you’ll notice that compact home gyms come in all shapes and sizes, all suitable for different fitness goals and spaces. These designs have found a way to solve the footprint problem without reducing functionality.
You’ll find multiple traditional gyms with familiar cable and pulley systems that have simply been built to smaller specifications. Some of these will feature a removable bench or collapsible rail that will allow you to reduce the footprint of the multi gym when you are done exercising.
There are also Total Gym-style machines, which feature a sliding seat on rails to use your own bodyweight for resistance. These units may still take up a bit of space when in use, but they fold up after your workout, generally allowing you to store them in a closet or under the bed.
If you’re short on space, the so-called “gym in a box” options are a great solution. As mentioned, the BodyBoss model above offers more than 200 exercises, using a variety of brands and accessories.
These are certainly limited in some way compared to multiple traditional gyms, however, the fact that you can store them, or even carry them in your suitcase when on the go, is a huge plus.
The design you choose will depend on your goals. Obviously, if you’re looking to build muscle and strength, something that allows you to add your own Olympic plates will be ideal.
Alternatively, if you just want to stay in shape and value your space more than shifting weight, then a gym in a box-style unit will be more convenient for you.
Features
The characteristics of a compact multi gym will generally be determined by its design. For example, if you’re shopping for a gym in a box-style unit, you know that most of the features will be resistance bands and accessories.
On the other hand, larger, and often more expensive, multi-gyms usually feature a bench, frame, cable/pulley system, and whatever resistance they use (see below).
The frames won’t be particularly bulky on these compact units. Also, to keep your footprint to a minimum, these gyms may have a removable bench or a means to fold the bench vertically, thus saving space after you’ve finished your session.
The pulley system offered by a unit will define the movements it can perform. High pulleys allow you to do things as lat pulls and tricep pulls, while low pulleys are what is required for shoulder presses, vertical rows, and bicep curls.
Some multi-gyms will feature an intermediate pulley system, which is great for doing chest presses, rows, and basic exercises like weighted sit-ups and trunk rotations.
If your multi-gym has a bench, it likely has a leg builder as well. These devices are equipped with cushioned rollers that allow you to perform leg extensions and curls, targeting the quadriceps and hamstrings.
Move away from traditional home gyms and opt for Total Gym style units and the feature set changes. With a basic cable and pulley system, you can still perform presses, curls, pulls, and more, but the way you do them is different.
These models will also be equipped with various accessories and accessories, including the most important handles, as well as ankle straps, wing accessory, and a dip bar.
Regardless of which multi-gym style you choose, expect at least some kind of exercise guide to go along with it. Sometimes this can be as simple as a movement sheet, while others will offer you a complete package of exercise cards, DVDs, wall charts, and even nutrition guides.
Adjustability
These elements incorporate adjustability in their design, where you can easily convert the incline levels according to your preference.
Some models include a telescopic design that helps you extend or contract the height. You want equipment that you can easily adjust to match your training requirements and help you add dimension to your exercises.
All of the best compact home gyms come with an adjustable pulley system to accommodate different body sizes and fitness levels.
Just be sure to choose a model with enough adjustability so that you can start with your current fitness level and have room to grow. That way, you will have a lasting contribution to your home gym setup.
Weight capacity
This is another crucial consideration to keep in mind when looking for your shiny new multi-gym for a small space. Home gyms are not commercial grade.
I wish they were, but if they were, they would be much bigger and heavier and cost considerably more. Because they are smaller and lighter, they can only support a certain amount of weight, so the weight capacity of these machines should also be a big consideration when shopping for your home gym.
If you weigh more than 300 pounds, for example, and you come across a home gym with a maximum user weight capacity of only 250 pounds, the home gym will be of no use to you unless you decide to cut below 250.
The maximum user weight capacity is there for a reason, and that reason is to keep you safe.
If it is too heavy for the home gym, there is a risk of it breaking or collapsing, which would be extremely dangerous. When looking for a space-saving home gym, be sure to look at the maximum user weight of the machine before even considering purchasing it.
Price
The price will be a deciding factor for many of you, and that’s perfectly understandable. We know that money is not a luxury to be taken for granted, and we know that you will want to get the best value for money you can get when buying a multi gym.
However, the thing to remember is that you get what you pay for when you buy fitness equipment. If you base your search solely on finding the cheapest home gym possible, don’t be surprised if it breaks, arrives damaged, or is pretty useless when it appears.
Avoid looking for affordable budget models or Chinese imports as they will likely suck and could even be potentially dangerous. That said, you don’t need to spend an absolute fortune either.
There are many home gyms that are available at affordable yet competitive prices that cover all the bases when buying the perfect setup.
If you can’t afford to go first, see how much an average multi-gym costs, compare prices with other rival makes and models, and see what comes to mind.