What to Know About Home Gym Machines
Creating a Home Gym with Low-End Treadmills, Bikes and Ellipticals
Dec 12, 2007
If you are considering purchasing a fitness machine for a home gym, like a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical, there are certain things to expect if you decide to go for the low-end models. While they are made to be lightweight, compact and wheeled away for easy storage, they may not hold up to the workout.
Home Treadmills
The lifespan of a low-cost treadmill can be less than a year. This is not a heavy duty treadmill like at the gym. The walking/running surface tends to be shorter and narrower (on average 20 inches shorter and five inches narrower) than high-end models, so they are not great for anyone above average height. The running surface usually has little cushioning, so that could be harder on the joints. A lot of treadmills in this price point are manually powered, meaning there is no motor. The handle bars, whether they are upfront or at the side, have to be sturdy; otherwise you will spend more effort trying to keep yourself on the machine than on running. There will be some sort of monitor that will indicate speed, distance and time but unlikely anything too sophisticated like heart rate monitors. Most of the low-cost home treadmills only offer one incline, and there are weight restrictions, some unable to handle more than 230 pounds.
Home Exercise Bikes
With the inexpensive home stationary bikes, you need to look at the stability of the bike so that it doesn’t shake when you are riding it. A well cushioned seat is also necessary. Not all seats in this price range are height adjustable, and the seat tends to be small. Handlebar design is important. Again, the bike's handlebars may not move, so shorter people may have trouble with the ones that are set further back (so you bike leaning forward). Exercise bikes typically in this category are either magnetic resistance flywheel or fan bikes (use air as the resistance) and the later will make some noise. You will probably get various levels of tension, but you will have to adjust it manually. These exercise bikes will have display panels but they can be hard to read. If you are looking to purchase a low priced ab machine, stepper or rower, see the article What to Know About Home Gym Equipment.
Home Elliptical Machines
Ellipticals are machines where your feet glide back and forth as your arms move poles, sort of like cross-country skiing. Essentially they allow you to walk, step or run with less impact. These are hard to find under $300, but there are a few models. You may discover that the lower-priced ellipticals vibrate intensely, that you may hit your knees on the handlebars if you are quite tall, and that it probably won’t be the smoothest ride. The pedal motion can be unnatural, with little stride length (you want at least 18 inches) and some machines can feel shaky, requiring you to constantly tighten screws and bolts. Some have even been known to tip over at high speeds. Because the workout on these elliptical machines is more intense, pedals may break more easily and components can wear out faster. Noise is again a factor with the less expensive models, and cheaper parts mean digital monitors may stop working after a few months. Plus expect foam covered handles instead of rubber, and rolled steel frames (a lighter gauge of steel).
Home gym machines come in all price ranges, and sometimes it is worth paying more for a machine that you know will last longer and handle the workout.
