Buying the Best Home Gym Equipment for the Money

Monthly gym membership fees can balloon to $800 per year. So, purchasing home gym equipment may be a good way to save on the membership fees and gas it takes to work out at a fitness center. If you decide to buy, you want to make sure you're buying the best home gym equipment for the money.

Consider your needs

The best way to duplicate the gym experience with home equipment is to focus on items that assist cardiovascular and strength training. But which equipment you buy will be dictated by your training needs and the amount of space you have in your home. You may have a spare room you can dedicate to a couple of machines and free weights, or only a corner of a bedroom in which to train.

The lowest cost solution would be to rely on running or walking for cardio work, and purchase a few weights and a weight bench or balance ball for strength training.

Strength trainers

Adjustable weight dumbbell packs are a great option. One hand weight pack can be the equivalent of 9 pairs of dumbbells, eliminating clutter and saving money. These packs cost between $40 and 100.

A weight bench or balance ball would be a good supplement to a strength-training regime. They add support and variety to your workouts. A balance ball can cost as little as $10, and a good weight bench with an incline option can cost as little as $40.

Another strength-training option for the home is resistance bands. You can do a number of strength exercises with them, and they are relatively inexpensive -- costing as little as $6.

Work the heart

If you live where running outdoors is not an option, or the idea simply bores you to tears, you may want to consider one of the cardio machines. There are many different kinds to choose from, including treadmills, exercise bikes and elliptical machines. While they may be expensive, the machines are less expensive than a gym membership in the long run.

Bang for your bucks

An ideal "bang for your bucks" starter home gym setup would include a variety of strength-training tools, like an adjustable dumbbell set and weight bench, and a basic cardio machine, like a treadmill. You can always add value to your gym with a workout DVD and resistance bands, and later on move up the ladder with more free weights and a balance ball for variety.

Stay away from gimmicky "As Seen on TV" products like abdominal products that promise unbelievable results. However, if you are training for a sport that requires a lot of core strength, you may want to invest in one "As Seen on TV" product, a Bosu balance trainer. If you perform some exercises while standing on top of this tool, you will develop better balance and stronger core muscles.