Best Home Gym Equipment Guide
So, you’ve gotten to the point where you are sick and tired of spending valuable time in the car, not to mention the gas money, and then paying out even more money for membership fees and babysitting in order for you to get your workout in at the local gym? While some need that social environment and motivation of a gym setting, many do not and creating your own home gym may be just the ticket to saving you time and money in the long run, and the convenience of having your OWN equipment to use whenever you want will be something you can be proud of for many years to come. You know what you want, now it’s time to ask yourself the question, “How much should I spend on a home gym?”
Determining How Much to Spend on a Home Gym
A good place to start in determining how much to spend on your home gym is to calculate how much you are already spending on your current habits-this figure will give you an idea of what you have already included in your “fitness” budget and can be transferred across the board to money available for your home gym. Once this has been determined you can apply any money you may have saved for your gym.
- How much is your gym membership fee?
- How much are you spending for childcare?
- How much are you spending on gas for transportation to and from the gym?
- How much are you spending on classes (if not included in the membership fee)?
- How much are you spending at the smoothie shop on the way to your car afterwards?
How Much on a Home Gym: More to Consider When Calculating Costs
- How long do you see yourself using your home gym? 5 years? 10 years? 25 years?
- How many people do you anticipate using the equipment? (Multiple savings on gym membership fees!)
- How much additional money do you have saved to apply towards your gym?
Once these factors have been determined, you can see what exactly your new home gym will cost you up against what it will save you over the long run.
Picking the Right Pieces: How Much Should I Spend on My Home Gym Equipment
When creating a home gym, it is important to pick quality pieces that will last. This is not to say that everything must be brand new. Gym equipment is great because, for the most part, it will maintain its value and even old pieces can last forever. Here are some of the top priorities that you may want to consider for your home gym:
Adequate space
Space is important when creating your home gym, not only space for the equipment, but also open space in which exercises can be done through a full range of motion. Nailing down an ideal home gym layout will help you narrow down which pieces of equipment you want to purchase.
Ventilation
Adequate air flow is also a key factor to consider when creating your home gym. A room that is too hot and stuffy, too cold, or that lacks good ventilation will decrease motivation and ability to perform.
Multi-Station System/Smith Machine/Power Rack
Having a multi-station is pretty much all inclusive and will eliminate the need to buy many of these items separately. Multi-stations allow for hundreds of different exercises and are equipped with a Smith machine/Rack for heavy lifting and squatting promoting safety, pulleys supporting many different arm, shoulder, and back exercises, an adjustable bench, and the list goes on and on. If a multi-station is not selected, a power rack can be purchased separately.
Dumbbells
Dumbbells are always a must have for any home gym because there is just so much you can do with them. However, it can be overwhelming to find the space for an entire full set. For this reason, many are selecting adjustable or selectorized dumbbells for their home gyms which are a huge space saver. These dumbbells basically work by selecting the amount of weight you want to lift, moving the dial or selectorized pin and then lifting the designated weight, leaving the remaining weight on the ground.
Barbells/Weight Plates
This is something that would also be included in a multi-station type system, but if purchasing separately is a pretty standard piece allowing for numerous types of exercises including squats, curls, and Olympic lifts. Of course, with barbells comes the necessity for weight plates in various sizes as well as clamps to hold the weights in place.
Kettle bells
Kettle bells have really become popular in recent years due to their ability to work your whole body. They are basically a cannonball-like weight with an attached handle. You can do many exercises with them such as swinging movements and other more ballistic exercises.
Bench
If buying a home gym multi-station system, this would likely be included as well. Having a bench allows for numerous exercises, especially exercises that single out specific muscle groups.
Cardio Option
This can be accomplished in so many ways from purchasing a larger cardio piece such as a treadmill, stationary bicycle, elliptical machine, or stair stepper to buying a few cardio videos you would enjoy, or by jumping rope or anything that gets your heart pumping and your lungs breathing.
Summary
Having your own home gym can be rewarding in so many ways, but how much on home gym should you spend is entirely up to your goals, ambitions, and of course your budget. Calculating current spending on fitness including gym membership fees, gas, and child care is a great place to start in finding out how much you have to spend. Then, adding in years of use, number of people that could benefit from the gym, and pride of ownership can be calculated in to determine how much additional money you want to invest in your home gym. Finally, make sure your purchases are in line with your fitness goals. Find pieces that get you excited to stay fit and will facilitate your fitness program for many years to come. And if you can’t buy it all in one day, it’s okay, many people build their home gyms piece by piece, year by year, as they come across good deals on equipment or as they save up for new pieces. Either way, enjoy your newfound freedom to workout whenever you please in the comfort of your very own home.
