It always
amazes me when people say "Home Gyms are expensive! I just don't have
$1000's of dollars lying about" These people obviously haven't looked very
hard because nowadays home gym equipment doesn't have to cost 2, 3 or even
$4000 dollars.
Below are 5
great alternatives that won't cost you the earth but can do just a good a job
as many of the commercial fitness equipment found in local gyms.
1. Dumbbells
For
resistance weight training you can't go past dumbbells for their practicality
and versatility. You can perform any number of exercises with dumbbells that
even the more expensive weight machines can't do. These days you can get
adjustable dumbbells which allow you to use add or remove weight from a single
dumbbell with a simple pin, just like with traditional pin loaded weight
machines.
This feature
means you don't have to buy different weight dumbbells for different exercises
and you save on floor space which can be used for cardio equipment like
ellipticals or treadmills.
You can
easily get a good quality quick change dumbbell set for less than $500. At that
price you'd be silly to spend money on larger, muscle specific equipment even
if you did have extra cash floating around.
2.
Remanufactured
A lot of
people these days are buying remanufactured exercise equipment, and for good
reason. Remanufacturing involves taking a used machine and completely restoring
it with new parts to make it look, feel and function like a new machine. Often
the only part of the equipment that is not brand new is the frame.
By buying
remanufactured or refurbished fitness equipment you can realistically save 50%
off the normal, new retail price.
3. Used
Buying used
or second-hand equipment can be a cost effective way of setting up your home
gym. The only problem is you don't know how the previous owner treated the
machine and if it has any problems. The last thing you want is for the machine
to breakdown 6 weeks after buying it and finding out that it's not covered by
warranty.
Sometimes
the actual machine may seem like a bargain but future unforeseen expenses may
make you regret your purchase. If at all possible get to test drive the machine
and ask about the warranty.
4. Buy
direct from the factory
Some online
stores offer factory direct fitness equipment. By doing this you cut out the
middle man and save big time. Remember just because it is cheap doesn't mean
its poor quality. With so much competition online these days online suppliers
are cutting costs to get market share. That means more money in your pocket!!
5. Added
bonuses from reputable online suppliers
Some online
suppliers will include free shipping with their products. This can greatly reduce
the cost of piece of equipment if you add delivery to it.
Also make
sure you check out the machines warranty. You can save yourself a lot of heart
ache down the road if you make sure you're covered by a decent warranty which
included motor, parts and labor.
Look for at
least 6 months for parts and labor and 1 year for the motor for remanufactured
equipment and 1-2 years parts, labor and motor for new equipment.
Now that you
are armed with this information go and have a look around yourself you'll be
surprised at what you find!
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