Thursday, February 3, 2011

What is the Very Best Home Gym?

The best home gym will be the one that has all of the equipment you need to reach your fitness goals. As such, there is no one exercise machine or group of machines that is ideal for everyone.

If you have made the decision to purchase exercise equipment for your home, make sure you do your research first. There is a host of information available online, from manufacturer sites to enthusiast sites to forums where consumers who have purchased and used different equipment sound off on the pros and cons.

Fortunately you can find some of the best home gym equipment online, as dozens of top manufacturers offer their wares on their own sites as well as licensed dealer sites. Often online prices will beat those offline, saving you not only the time it takes to visit a sporting goods store but also a good deal of money.

The first step in selecting the best home fitness gyms for your particular situation is to decide what your fitness goals are. Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to gain muscle? Are you looking for a cardiovascular workout or do you just want to lift weights? Determining your fitness goals an important part of the home gym buying process.

Next, figure out how much space you have to dedicate to your home gym. You may have size/weight restrictions to contend with. Once you have made this determination, look for equipment that will fit the space comfortably with room to move around. More importantly, make sure it will fit through your door and into the room where it will be used, otherwise you have a problem.

Finally, before you start your search for the best home gym equipment figure out what your budget is. Although higher cost does not necessarily mean better equipment, the better quality machines will be more costly than the basic units found in bulk item stores and on infomercials. Keep in mind that it will make sense to choose a better unit, as it will last much longer and probably require less maintenance.

When you're ready to start searching, go with well known brands that have been in business for a long time. Avoid the bargain brand home gyms because they usually don't provide a full workout, and they are made of subpar materials that will likely break over time. If you are looking for a strictly cardio workout, go with a treadmill or elliptical machine. If space is tight, opt for an all-in-one home gym like a Bowflex. If you have more room, opt for dumbbells and a couple of machines, perhaps a cable crossover or pulldown machine. Make sure you are able to target all muscle groups to ensure a complete workout.

The best home fitness gym will include all of the machines you need to get the body you want. So first, figure out what you want to achieve, determine your space and budgetary restrictions, and start looking for the best home gym for you.

Michael Browne has been studying the exercise industry for a number of years. He is a contributor to many health sites, including the Best Home Gyms section of http://www.fitness-events.com, which focuses on tips for purchasing equipment for your home gym.

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