Do work and personal obligations keep you busy during gym hours? Home gyms are a great way to help you keep your commitment to health and fitness, but shopping for a home gym system can be intimidating. What exactly are weight stacks, adjustable position cable systems and weight ratios? Where does the advertising talk end and functionality begin?
Type of Exercise
When you’re shopping for a home gym, you need to consider what you want to be able to do with it. Different home gyms offer different benefits. Did you want to focus solely on problem areas or you looking for overall toning? Are simply looking to add a new level fitness into your life are you trying to increase your muscle mass? Once you know what exercises you want or need to perform, focus on finding a home gym that provides the exercise stations you need. The following table lists station names on home gym equipment and their areas of focus:
| Station | Area of Focus |
| Lat Pulldown | Upper Back |
| Chest Press | Pectorals/Chest |
| Leg Press | Legs |
| Leg Extension | Thigh and Hamstring |
| Leg Curl | Thigh and Hamstring |
| Abdominal Crunch Station | Abs/Stomach |
| Hip Raise/Dip station | Hips, Thighs, Glutes |
| Knee Raise/Dip station | Abs, Shoulders, Triceps |
| Pec Dec | Pectorals/Chest |
| Arm Press | Pectorals, Biceps |
| Pulley Exercises | Upper Back, Arms |
If you are looking for a general aerobic workout for increased stamina, conditioning or overall health, a home gym is unlikely to provide that workout. Home gym exercise stations are designed to target specific muscle groups, and while those exercises provide some aerobic exercise, home gyms are less effective than treadmills, elliptical trainers or other machines primarily designed for cardiovascular fitness.
Installation and Assembly
After you’ve determined which exercise stations you want or need, consider how much space you have for your home gym. Generally, multi-station home gyms require anywhere from 50 to 200 square feet of space. You’ll also want to be sure that your ceilings are high enough for the home gym’s moving parts to clear and that when you’re using it, you have enough to move freely all around the equipment and reach adjustments.
But how does that home gym get set up, anyway? Most home gyms are stand-alone pieces of equipment, but some must be bolted to walls or ceilings. If the home gym that you prefer requires additional stability and you don’t know how to work with the structural elements of your home—the studs and joists hiding inside the walls—hire a professional to do the job. Improper installation will damage your home and could result in serious injury.
Look for professional installation options with delivery. If you decide to assemble the home gym yourself, keep in mind home gyms are often made of solid metal or have heavy weights that require at least two people to properly lift and assemble.
Weight stacks vs. Resistance Bands
Home gyms use either weight stacks or resistance bands to work your muscles. Home gyms with weight stacks generally cost more than those with resistance bands. Weight stacks can be bulkier and heavier, but they also offer a more complete workout, so if you’re serious about toning and building muscle mass, choose a home gym that uses weight stacks. These typically start at around 200 pounds, with the option of adding additional weights over time.
Some home gyms include a weight ratio that lets them deliver more resistance than the weight stack alone. For example, a home gym with a 200-pound weight stack operating at a 2:1 ratio can deliver up to 400 pounds of resistance. This feature lets you get more of a workout from your home gym with less bulky weight stacks.
If you are new to fitness and looking primarily to lose weight and improve your overall health, home gyms that operate with resistance bands are a better choice. They are lightweight, easy to assemble and easy to adjust. Consider the design of these home gyms, as some need more space for proper operation. It’s also helpful to check owner reviews to ensure that the bands will not stretch and lose resistance over time.
Upgrade Options
Beware of low-priced home gyms. Some retailers offer discounted “base” units that will do very little when you get them home. This forces you to purchase upgrades for different exercise stations. What started as a $350 home gym could wind up costing you $1,000 or more. It’s essential to know upfront what equipment and options you’re getting when you purchase your home gym.
With that in mind, home gyms that can be upgraded can be good choices for committed, long-term users. For home gyms that use weight stacks, find out if you can add additional weights as you grow stronger. If you want to start on the core muscle groups and then add specific targeting exercises, look for a home gym that allows you to add exercise stations. Not all manufacturers are alike when it comes to upgrade options, so you need to have an idea what you might want in the future before you buy.
Warranty
Due to the repetitive nature of using home gym, a powerful warranty is worth having. If you are considering two home gyms with similar prices and features, let the warranty be the deciding factor. Some high-end home gym manufacturers offer lifetime or 30-year warranties on the frame and 2 to 10 years on parts. Low-end home gyms may offer only 5 years on the frame and 90 days on the parts. With the range of equipment available, a lesser warranty isn’t good enough and you skip these models in favor of similarly-priced options with better warranty terms.
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The number of choices available can easily overwhelm those seeking to buy the best home gym for the money today. With prices, styles, and quality varying greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer (and model to model), it's no wonder that finding the best home gym equipment can be so complicated. |
I don't use my garage to park my car anymore. Since I love to workout, I wanted to implement space in my house to create a home gym. I was tired of getting my kids dressed every morning, loading and unloading two rear facing car seats into my car, and driving to the gym. |
