Home Gym Machines

Many people ask what home gym machines one should consider buying to set up a home gym. The answer really depends on what your fitness goals are, however for overall fitness we all need to have some form of resistance training and some form of cardiovascular training.  Such a balance will keep us healthy and keep our muscle mass intact, especially as we get older.

Let’s look at both cardio and strength training home gym machines and the options that are available for each.

Cardio home gym machines

When choosing cardio equipment there is more choices today than ever before. It is often best to try a cardio machine before you buy it. If you are easily bored with it, it is not really good to anyone if you do not make use of it. Ideally, you want to buy something that you will enjoy doing for long periods.

Treadmills are a very popular cardio machine option as they replicate a natural exercise – walking and running. Many people love to walk and jog outdoors and a treadmill gives people this option indoors without having to worry about the weather or going to the park. There is a huge selection of treadmills to choose from today and many of the higher end models have even greatly reduced the number one problem of the treadmill – impact on your joints.

Elliptical Machines were formulated because they provided a great cardio workout without the impact on your joints, especially your knees. There are many models from different companies with many features including custom programs to help individualize your workout.

Exercise Bikes are from another great fitness activity that people like to do outdoors in the comfort of your own home. There are two types of bikes used for cardio. The traditional stationary bike is a more relaxed form of biking. The spinner or spinning bike, is a high speed ergonomically designed cycle that will give you a fast paced workout that will leave your hear racing and you burning off a ton of calories.

Rowing Machines may be the ultimate cardio workout because it works more muscles than any other type of cardio machine. Today’s rowing machines will let you feel like you are actually in the water performing one of the best exercises to get fit.

Stairclimbers simulate the activity of walking up the stairs. Stairclimbers can be a mundane activity and there is some impact on your knees but they do have their followers that love these machines.

Resistance Training Home Gym Machines

Free weight home gym machines are typically multi station larger gyms in which you can do a complete full body workout in the comfort of your own home. They require weigh plates to be added for resistance. Fitness buffs and serious workout enthusiasts swear by these home gym machines.

Weight Stack home gyms use real weight but in the form of a stack, making it easier to switch resistance without having to add or remove heavy plates.

Simulated resistance home gym machines offer resistance in form of tension rods or elastics. There are many gyms like Bowflex that are very popular in the home gym market because of the feel of the resistance and the wide variety of exercises these machines provide.

Gravity and leverage home gym machines use a combination of gravity and your own body weight to provide resistance. These gyms like the Total Gym have a huge following as they require little space and can fold up and be put away when not in use.