Now, if you are looking to add an elliptical machine to your home gym, then it is crucial that you consider a broad range of factors. Ellipticals are pretty complex machines. And with the saturation in the market, without any prior knowledge, you might end up with an unsatisfying purchase.

To save you the hassle and time, we already did the research and compiled the best elliptical machines on the market today. Our top 5 list is specifically targeted towards users who are on a tight budget. All the ellipticals featured here costing less than $500. Read Here: Top 5 Best Elliptical Under 1000

These machines are considered a step away from the professional-grade ellipticals that you can found at high-end fitness clubs and gyms. However, we guarantee you that they are significantly a step up from the entry-level ellipticals. So, without further ado, here are the 5 best elliptical machines under $500!

Top 5 Best Elliptical Machine Under $500

1) Schwinn 430 Compact Elliptical Machine

In the Exercycle world, Schwinn needs no introduction. They have a line of high-quality elliptical machines that have kept users satisfied for a long time. One of the best-selling machines in the market today is the Schwinn 430.

With a price tag of under 500, the 430 offers you a comfortable and smooth experience. That and the fact that it helps increase your muscle and cardio strength while shedding those unwanted pounds. With its high-speed, high-inertia front-drive system, you get a smooth and quiet workout.

Choose from 22 preset workout programs to start your workout. IT includes 9 profiles, 3 fitness tests, 8 heart control, and 1 quick start. Meanwhile, its 20 inches stride features Precision Path foot motion tech. Meaning, it simulates the natural running motion. To keep you challenged, this elliptical features 20 levels of computer-controlled resistance. This way you have plenty of intensity options.

For your comfort and ensuring an effective workout, it features large cushioned footplates. This contributes to low-impact and comfortable workouts. That and the ergonomically fixed and moving handlebars offers you better convenience and flexibility for hand placement.

With its Goal Track technology, users can set individual workout goals. It tracks distance, time, and calories you can compare with your previous workout. See all your data on the DualTrack 2 LCD screen display.

2) Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical Trainer

One of the most affordable elliptical machines on the market, Sunny Health & Fitness offers the SF-E905 to start for beginners. This rear-drive elliptical trainer is built to provide a smooth lower and upper body workout. You get a full-body workout without causing stress on your joints.

With the 11 inches stride length, it offers a step-like, short-burst motion. Also, it provides a compact unit that can fit easily in small rooms. Meanwhile,the 8 levels of resistance can be adjusted conveniently with a tension knob.

There’s also a hand pulse monitor that allows you to track and maintain your target heart rate. The bright and easy to read digital monitor allows you to track your workout progress. It shows data including the speed, time, scans, calories, distance, and even your heart rate readouts.

In addition, it features large and textured anti-slip foot platforms. This foot platform synchronously moves with the arm handles. To provide safety and prevent tipping, swaying, and rocking, the machine features a floor stabilizer. For portability, you will like its durable and large transportation wheels.

3) Cubii Pro Under-Desk Elliptical

Now, if you are looking for a less bulky, hidden-under-your-work-desk elliptical, then the Cubii Pro is one of the top-rated under-desk elliptical there is. Designed with ultra-smooth gearing, this small elliptical machine is ideal for those little heart-pumping exercise urge while you work on important paperwork.

This popular mini machine uses a small fan wheel with pedals. Thus, it allows you to simulate a full-size elliptical training at your desk. Unlike the standing ellipticals, the Cubii Pro is optimized for seated use. Thus, it reduces the range of motion and cutting down the workload of your legs. In case you need some resistance, this compact elliptical allows you to choose between 8 levels. Meanwhile, stable construction should help you generate more force.

Lastly, the Bluetooth connectivity of this machine is also a nice add-on. It allows you to connect it to the Cubii Android and iOS apps. From there, you are able to track your strides, calories, minutes, PM, and miles. Not only that, but you can also sync your workouts to the Apple HealthKit and Fitbit to reach your step goals.

4) Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine

Another great machine from Schwinn, this is a great option for those people lacking in enough space to place the bulky ellipticals. It features an 18 inches stride length. However, its overall size is quite compact and humbly fits into a small space.

Also, at 120 pounds, this machine is relatively easy to move around. It is smaller and lighter than others. However, the Schwinn 411 still promises to give you an effective all-body workout.

First off is the 5.5 inches High Contrast LCD. With its price, you can expect it to be basic. However, your data are easy to read with both button panel and screen for easy usage and navigation.

One of its best features is the mixed-reality training app. This machine can be synced with your RunSocial app.In which has 27 routes and 19 locations that you can log into with friends. Featuring 16 resistance levels, you get to work your way up from beginner all the way to advanced.

There are also 2 sets of handlebars that are padded and fully-equipped with a heart rate monitor grip. Tracking your exertion output. Furthermore, it has 13 preset programs. Although it is quite modest compared to the previous Schwinn model, these programs are enough to get your heart pumping.

5) ProForm 150I Elliptical Machine

Last on our list is the reliable ProForm 150I Elliptical Machine. Just like other ellipticals on this list, the 150I is a space-saving machine that is suitable for small spaces. Its front-drive design with the 17 inches stride length is enough for most people to have an active exercise routine. The elliptical trainer features 12 workout programs. This gives you enough options to effectively engage your lower and upper body.

To add more challenge to your workout routine, the ProForm 150I also features 12 resistance levels. And the resistance can be adjusted easily according to your personal goals. Meanwhile, it features a console that is super easy to read and navigate. With the bright LCD,you can track and monitor all important data. These include the workout program, calories burned, time, distance covered, and so much more.

Also, the machine is fully equipped with an iFit unit on the pedal. It should allow you to move forwards and backward. There’s also the chest strap heart monitor to track your heart rate. With a 250-pound weight capacity, this elliptical machine is durable and sturdy. Plus, it is protected with the 5-year frame warranty and 90-day labor and parts warranty.

Best Elliptical Machines Under $500 Buying Guide: 6Factors To Consider

Elliptical machines are a unique design amongst home cardio machines. And you will need to do some research in order to make a good purchase. If you do not evaluate your options and considerations, you might end up with an expensive machine that does not fit your stride or your home gym. So, we help you once again with our comprehensive buying guide. This should cover all major features that you need to look at before taking out your hard-earned cash.

1) Design

While most cardio machines such as bikes and treadmills offer one main design, the ellipticals come in a broad variety of layouts. Every setup has its own strengths and weaknesses. And depending on how much space you have in your home gym, you might be forced to consider a single type of machine.

The majority of the ellipticals n the market today fall into 2 designs: the rear-drive and the front-drive. However, there are also portable ellipticals. These are designed to fit and work underneath a desk. Such ellipticals allow you to get your cardio workout during a busy day at work.

1) Rear-Drive Ellipticals

Rear-drives house their drive wheel at the back of the machine. There are specific rear-drive ellipticals with foot pedals mounted on tracks. While some simply suspend the pedals on bars and in between the hand grips and the drive wheel.

Rear-drive ellipticals offer the longest possible stride. Plus, they are far longer than their front-drive counterparts. Thus, they require a great deal of space and tend to be a bit more delicate as well.

2) Front-Drive Ellipticals

As the name suggests, a front-drive elliptical runs with their drive wheel at the front. In order to accommodate its big wheels, these elliptical typically features a big case surrounding the wheels. Also, it incorporates the main console and the handlebars.

This design is far more compact than other ellipticals. Thus, they make it easy to keep in small home gyms o compact apartments. Unfortunately, this design type features a shorter stride length than the rear-drive ellipticals. This shorter length also pushes the elliptical up.So, you will need extra ceiling space in order to accommodate it.

3) Under-Desk Ellipticals

These are the smallest machines of the 3 designs. They general resemble a pair of biking pedals running on a tiny track. Although they do not offer much stride, they are extremely compact. Also, they are suitable if you do not have the time to workout outside of the office.

Beyond these listed designs, you might also come across ellipticals with a side-drive. The flywheels on these ellipticals are on either side of the pedal. Although rare, a side-drive offers you the best of both front-drive and rear-drive ellipticals.

2) Stride Length

This one is a crucial feature that you need to consider seriously.

Why?

Well, buying an elliptical machine with a stride length that is too short or too long can harm your stride mechanics. This may also lead to an unsatisfying workout. The stride length falls into several categories, based on the design you are eyeing. Still, individual machine models vary.

Most home elliptical machines provide a stride length range from 10 – 22 inches. You might find some models with longer or shorter strides. However, the spectrum between the 16 inches and 22 inches should be able to comfortably accommodate most users.

You’ll also want to consider various stride lengths depending on both your size as well as how you want to use the machine. For walkers, you can go with models with shorter stride length. However, if you like running, then a longer stride should be what you need. Also, shorter users (under 5’7”), in general, best fit with 18 – 20 inches of stride. Taller users, on the other hand, can benefit from 20 inches or more stride length.

3) Resistance Levels

Next to the stride length, then next thing you need to determine is the resistance. The stride length affects whether or not you can workout properly at a certain elliptical. The resistance, on the other hand, will determine how much room you can develop on the machine.

Buy an elliptical with too much resistance and you will struggle in progressing in your fitness routine. Meanwhile, elliptical without enough resistance level will prevent you from progressing and getting a more satisfying workout.

Different elliptical models use their systems in order to generate resistance. Under the 500 category, most units utilize a fan wheel design. These are sometimes referred to as the “air resistance” system. In this design, the user’s movement powers the fan that blows against the drive wheel’s blades. So, the faster your pedal, the more resistance you generate.

These types of ellipticals are affordable. Also, they work smoothly without the need for much maintenance. However, the “air resistance” system ellipticals tend to be really loud. Now, if you want something quieter, there are some ellipticals with magnetic resistance.

These ellipticals utilize a set of magnets. These magnets generate a silent and smooth resistance as you pedal. This system is what you will usually find on the commercial and premium machines. Other than being more expensive, they also require serious maintenance. Thus, they are not as common in the under 500 category market.

4) Inclines

Incline is a not-so-common feature on ellipticals under 500. But, if you did find one, it can be a great tool for the advanced runners, making their workout more challenging.

The incline on ellipticals creates an effect that mimics climbing a stair. It shortens your stride while forcing you to exert more energy in order to cover the same distance.

If you find a machine offering incline in the under 500 mark, then it is most likely the fixed type. Adjustable incline levels allow you to control it from the center console. Meanwhile, a fixed incline can’t be adjusted.

5) Control Module

This is the heart of any elliptical. It is a medium where you can select and adjust the incline and resistance.In addition, this is where you can see your workout data displayed.

These include the essentials such as time and speed as well as other items like heart rate that can help you adjust your machine in order to better suit your needs. A poorly designed control module may ruin even a nicely designed elliptical.

Thus, look for an elliptical trainer with a clutter-free and intuitive console. For the ellipticals under $500, they come fully-equipped with LCD screen— basic and get the job done. They may not be the brightest and prettiest. Yet, they are simple and effective enough for most users. Meanwhile, ellipticals with a more than 500 price tag offer a touchscreen and/or colored display.

6) Other Considerations

Like most home cardio machines, the ellipticals are bulky and big. Folding ellipticals are uncommon at this price range. However, they should have transportation wheels. This allows you to easily and quickly transport the bulky machines from one room to another.

Another feature that manufacturers include are Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to connect your elliptical data to various workout apps. Some ellipticals even have speakers to play motivational music.

Lastly, look at the machine’s pedals. This is one of the biggest concerns for most users. If pedals don’t fit your feet, then it can be difficult or impossible to use it for a fulfilling workout. Fortunately, there are models that offer adjustable pedals. This way, you can modify them to fit your feet better in size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is an elliptical machine good for the knees?

A: Ellipticals, when compared to other cardio workout machines, are the best options in protecting your knees. Working out on ellipticals means that your feet move along pedals on a fixed track. This helps reduce some of the pressure that your joint normally experienced. Thus, ellipticals help remove this repetitive impact between your knees and a running surface on the road or on treadmills.

But, it does more than just reducing joint impact. Ellipticals are known to strengthen the muscles surrounding the joints in your ankles, knees, and hips. By strengthening these muscles, you also protect your joints against damage in the future. Also, ellipticals are usually used in rehab centers for a lower-body injury.

Q: How do ellipticals compare to treadmills?

A: Although treadmills ad ellipticals are both great machines to get your heart pumping, they do not function the same way.

As mentioned before, ellipticalis easier on the joints than the treadmill. Treadmills are high-impact cardio workout machines requiring you to push off the belt with every stride. Meanwhile, ellipticals utilize pedals on a fixed track in order to reduce the stress on your hips, knees, and ankles.

Such difference makes the ellipticals much easier on your joint of your lower body than the treadmills. So, if you’re recovering from a hip, ankle or knee injury or only want to reduce the load and impact in your legs, then ellipticals are the best option. Still, unlike treadmills, ellipticals do not mimic a natural stride. This reduces the number of calories you burn and you are not working out your leg muscles more effectively.

In summary, elliptical machines are great for people who need low-impact cardio for their lower body and are suitable for people with joint issues. Treadmills, on the other hand, are for more intense workouts suitable for competing athletes.

Q: How long should I use an elliptical?

A: The time you use your elliptical will vary depending on your workout goals. Still, there are several key statistics that you need to keep in mind. Most people step onto the elliptical in order to burn calories and remove those unwanted fat and weight. However, people of different sizes will burn calories at different rates when using the elliptical. If you’re particularly muscular or tall, you will burn the same number of calories as a thinner or shorter person in a faster timeframe.

You may burn at least 250 – 550 calories in about 30 minutes on an elliptical, depending on your body composition and size. In most cases, a 30-minute to an hour of elliptical workout should be enough to burn a good amount of calories. However, if you are training for a race, then it might be a greater idea to train based on the mile run instead of time. With this, you can measure your stamina and pace more accurately, developing your endurance.

Conclusion

The best elliptical machines under $500 allow you to build cardio strength while making it easy on your joints. All 5 of the elliptical machines mentioned above are great and effective machines that should keep your heart pumping at an affordable budget. We’ll be glad if you find the right elliptical for you from our list, however, it is also great to be inspired and find other models that accommodate your needs.

The post Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

However, it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. There are many things to consider when selecting the correct treadmill for your home and future uses. Read Here: Best Treadmill Machines For Walking

Read More:

• Best 3 Peloton Elliptical Reviews
• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
• Sole F85 Treadmill Reviews
• Top 3 Matrix Treadmill Reviews
• Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CHOSE A TREADMILL FOR HOME USE

Who is it for? What is it used for?

First things first. When looking at the best option for your household, you’ll need to consider how many people are going to use it and for how long during the day. Each user in your home will also likely use the treadmill in a different way to achieve different outcomes. Perhaps some people are looking for a high-intensity cardio workout, in which case, they’ll do a lot of running.

Others might be looking to develop muscle tone, meaning they’re probably going to do incline walking. If you’re a casual user, you might just want to review and maintain your overall fitness, using a mixture of techniques and walking or running styles. For this, you might require a heart rate monitor.

To lose weight or to train for a racing event, you may need to see how fast you’re traveling and how much distance you’ve covered so you can gradually build up your workout over time.

Determining exactly how the treadmill will be used will need to be your first consideration before delving into the unique features and the ins and outs of each treadmill brand. Make a list of the most important things you want to get out of your treadmill before going shopping. This will ensure you don’t get drawn away by shiny obscure features that you don’t need, forgetting about the actual necessities and functionality.

• Weight

Depending on what sort of accommodation you live in, the weight of a treadmill could be a massive factor in your decision.

If you have a ground floor gym or a garage conversion, then there’s no issue with weight as your flooring will most likely be concrete, which can hold the heavy weight.

However, if you live in an apartment building and intend to start up a home gym above someone else’s apartment, the floor underneath you is more likely to be constructed from wood, which isn’t as good at load bearing.

You don’t want your new treadmill to fall through the ceiling and crush your neighbors.

• Apartment Setup

Living in an apartment isn’t the end of the world though. You don’t have to give up your treadmill dream. The important thing is to spread the load evenly over a wider surface area. Read Here: How to Reduce Treadmill Noise in an Apartment

The average US apartment floor is built to hold around 30 pounds per square foot. You’ll need to measure the surface area of the treadmill and look at the overall weight. Is the square footage wide enough to hold the weight?

If your chosen treadmill is a little too heavy for the surface area, you can distribute the weight a bit further by using a treadmill mat underneath.

These mats are usually thick rubber matting that you can place underneath your treadmill to help with weight distribution and protect your flooring underneath and stop the treadmill from sliding around while you’re using it.

• Noise Level

Noise isn’t something we immediately associate with a treadmill, but now we have; it’s all you’ll be able to hear. Depending on where you intend to place your treadmill in your home, you’ll have to consider the other people living around you to ensure your treadmill isn’t making too much noise.

If you have people living immediately next to your treadmill or below you in an apartment, you’re going to want to invest in a quieter version.

Read More:

• Best 3 Peloton Elliptical Reviews
• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
• Sole F85 Treadmill Reviews
• Top 3 Matrix Treadmill Reviews
• Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

How to Make the Treadmill Quieter

There are several ways that you can try to tone down the noise of your treadmill yourself, as you’ll never find a completely silent one. Read Here: 10 Best Nordictrack Treadmills

• Sound-proofing

Sound-proofing can be done in several different ways if you want to disguise the sound from your neighbor next door. You could employ someone to input professional sound-proofing if you’re looking at a permanent home gym.

This involves putting an extra plasterboard wall in a few centimeters from the actual wall and filling the gap with insulation. Read Here: Owens Corning 703 Review – For Perfect Sound Insulation

If you’re looking for a cheaper option though, you could hang woolen sheets or bed covers along the wall or even put a few bookcases in. Nothing works better as a sound-proofer than a bookshelf.

• Treadmill Mats

Sound-proofing may also be needed for the floor to absorb the noise for your downstairs neighbors. Rubber gym flooring is cheap to purchase, hardwearing, and typically easy to fit. This, topped with a treadmill mat, will help to absorb the vibrations from your treadmill.

• Keeping it clean

You’ll notice that your treadmill becomes noisier over time. This is probably because the cleaning isn’t up to scratch. As more dust and fibers get caught under the belt, it’ll start to make a louder, grating noise. Regular cleaning and oiling should resolve this.

The problem with selecting a treadmill based on the sound it makes is that you’ll rarely get to ‘try before you buy.’ It’s a good idea to go into the store and see if they have a working one on display – failing that, check out a gym that might have the same model.

• Horsepower

Some treadmills are more powerful than others, and if you’re after a more professional style of workout, you’ll be looking for a motor with higher horsepower to give you the right experience.

You should find a treadmill with a motor that boasts at least 1.5 continuous-duty horsepower (CHP).

If you’re on the heavier side or want a faster pace, you might want to consider a 2.5 or even 3 CHP – although these will come at a higher cost. 1.5 CHP should be enough for casual use.

• Foldability

Depending on where your home gym is, the ability to fold away your treadmill could be a necessity. Some treadmills (usually the older models) are static and not meant for moving around too much. That’s not great if you aren’t planning to use your treadmill all the time.

Consider whether you’re going to be setting up a home gym that will remain as a gym the whole time or whether you plan to use your treadmill to do a bit of running in the living room every so often in front of the TV.

If you’re not a hardcore gymer, you’ll need to find a treadmill that folds up into the smallest surface area and has wheels underneath the mechanism so you can quickly move it in and out of rooms at will.

• Belt Size

Believe it or not, treadmills come with different belt sizes, which can affect their performance. It’s all down to the size of the users too.

Everyone will need a belt that’s at least 48 inches long and 18 inches wide. However, if you’re tall (over 6 ft), your strides are likely to be longer, meaning you should go for a 54-inch belt instead to maximize your performance.

• Your Weight

You’ll also need to consider the weight of the different people that intend to use the treadmill in your household. A treadmill fit for a person that is 100lbs might not move if it has someone twice as heavy on there, and it certainly won’t move as quickly.

To select the best option for you, you should look at the maximum user weight, which should be displayed on the packaging of all treadmills. They tend to be a little optimistic with the weight they can hold, so take away 50lbs to be on the safe side.

• Cleaning

Treadmills do take a surprising amount of maintenance, especially if you want it to last for a long time. If you maintain them well, they hold their value though, so you may be able to further sell it for a reasonable price down the line if you take care of it. Read Here: How to Clean a Treadmill Belt

To thoroughly clean a treadmill, you need to:

• Wipe the screen and arms with a plastic-friendly cleaner and non-abrasive cloth. It may be best to use standard dish soap and a microfiber cloth to avoid smears.
• Loosen and remove the belt to wipe underneath. The belt may also need oiling underneath to keep it running smoothly.
• Dust removal from the mechanism underneath the mechanism hood and from underneath the belt itself. This may require a hoover, then a more nimble duster.

One of the main features you’re looking for in a treadmill is the flexibility to clean, making your job easier. You’ll need a treadmill where the mechanism cover is easily removed for hoovering, the belt comes off (and quickly goes back on again with no hassle), and the track folds up to clean underneath.

Your treadmill will require a good clean every few uses, especially if it’s placed in a garage or somewhere that quickly gathers dust, so you need to ensure your cleaning regime will be a quick job.

• Incline Settings

Most treadmills these days will incorporate an incline option so you can walk or run uphill if you want to, intensifying your workout. However, the number of incline options will largely depend on the model. Some only have a flat option and 1-3 incline variations. This generally means that the treadmill becomes steeper much more quickly.

This is fine if you’re looking for casual use. However, building muscle tone and focusing on different muscle groups will require a gradual build-up.

It’s also not ideal to go from completely flat ground to a 45-degree angle, as this isn’t always reflective of the actual running environment if you’re practicing for a racing event, for example.

Ideally, you’d be looking for a treadmill with between 8-12 incline variations to allow you to gradually build up and cool down during your workout and reflect the natural terrain.

However, if you’re going to go really high-tech, some treadmills will reach up to 16 incline variations, each with subtle differences.

• Pricing

Pricing is right at the bottom of your list here, not because it’s not important, but because you need to ensure that you’re purchasing the exact model that you need with all of the correct functions before looking at the price.

It’s no good being lured in by the cheaper option, only to find that it doesn’t do what you need it to do. Find a few options that fit all of your requirements, then see which one best fits into your budget. A good treadmill can be anything from $1000 to $3500, depending on how professional you’d like it to be.

Always keep in mind that the cheapest might be the cheapest for a reason. It might do you some good to splash the cash, rather than having to shell out again in a few years’ time.

Read More:

• Best 3 Peloton Elliptical Reviews
• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
• Sole F85 Treadmill Reviews
• Top 3 Matrix Treadmill Reviews
• Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

Consider Second Hand

Buying second-hand isn’t always a bad thing. As long as a treadmill has been looked after, it can last for years, and you could find one for half the price if it’s second hand. Read Here: Top 10 Best Treadmills Under $1000

Gyms may also sell off their old equipment when they want to purchase brand new. Usually, a gym will buy the more recent models or even be gifted with newer models as part of a brand’s advertising strategy. This means that the old models– which aren’t likely to be that old – will be going cheap. Shop around to try and find yourself a bargain.

Summary

Buying a home treadmill is a great idea to get in shape while keeping it convenient, especially if you have a hectic lifestyle. There are many things to consider before you go ahead with your purchase though, so make sure you do all of your research before going ahead.

The post How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

However, if you are not familiar with the equipment and want to learn more about them, then you are in the right place. In this article entitled “Smith Machine vs Squat Rack vs Power Rack: What is This Equipment? Types, Pros & Cons” we will show you almost everything that you need to know about these pieces of exercise equipment.

Without further ado let’s get started!

Smith Machine: What is This Equipment?

A smith machine is a weightlifting exercise equipment in which the barbell is connected upright guide rails. It also has upright weight stops. Actually, you can set them to a certain height underneath which you would want to restrict the downward movement of the barbell.

A smith machine, on the other hand, will guide the path of the barbell so you do not need to worry too much about steadying the bar and the possibility of failure. Even though this equipment does not activate your stabilizing muscles, still, it is a good workout for the legs.

Furthermore, this equipment comes equipped with safety catches or pins along with the whole extent of the upright rails. Such hooks will let you lock the loaded barbell at any time of your exercise’s range of movement. To latch the barbell, twist it bit by bit from the motion of your wrist. 

Lastly, some of the exercises that you can do with a smith machine are as follow:

• Deadlifts
• Bench presses
• Squats
• Incline bench presses
• Behind the neck press
• Decline bench presses
• Military presses

Types of Smith Machines

As you narrow down your research, there are many different types of smith machines where you can choose from. Here are some of the most popular types available on the market.

• All-in-One Smith Machine

This type is more like an innovative home gym that will cater to a person who wants to add free weight elements to his/her training. An all-in-one smith machine may include a number of stations that will include the footprint and height.

• Residential Smith Machine

This type of smith machine is usually made of a lighter grade frame, bars, as well as other materials. A residential may be either bought as a standalone unit or an all-in-one unit that comes with additional features such as:

• Lat pull-downs
• Butterfly attachments
• Squat cages
• Crossovers

Further, some residential machines come with a nylon bushing system where the bar will ride up and down. The nylon bushing will travel on chromed square steel tubing or chrome guide rods depending on the manufacturer.

• Commercial Smith Machine

This working out equipment is specially designed for all-day usage in dues-paying amenities as well as commercial gyms. Usually, a commercial smith machine comes a standalone unit that doesn’t come with any stations aside from the weight plate storage for easy and quick plate changes.

Since they are made for commercial use, commercial smith machines are made with superior quality materials. Also, most of them come with adjustable height safety arms. There is also a walk-through design to lessen tripping hazards.

• Selectorized Smith Machine

This type of smith machine is not common but you can find one in the market. Nevertheless, the machine comes with a centralized bar that’s attached to a weight stack as well as dual guide rods on every side. Also, you can adjust the height of the bar to cater to your needs.

• Counterbalanced Smith Machine

The main purpose of this smith machine is to lessen the weight of the steel Olympic bar. Additionally, a counterbalanced smith machine comes with counterweights, bushings, guide rods, cables, and pulleys. It also features protective shrouds to protect the user and even the bystanders from moving things connected with the counterbalance system.

Best Smith Machines That You Can Get

1) MiM USA Hercules 1001 Commercial Smith Machine

This smith machine from MiM USA comes with everything you need from a piece of workout equipment, except the Olympic weight. The smooth gliding system of Hercules 1001 will allow you to safely lift without the need for a spotter. However, if you want to lift outside this working out equipment, you can always do it but make sure to use the safety spotter arms which are included in the package.

This smith machine, on the other also comes with a high-quality and adjustable commercial-grade bench. In fact, it is beneficial for performing a wide variety of exercises such as bench presses. In addition to that, MiM USA Hercules 1001 Smith Machine features a chin-up station, pulley system, and other crucial attachments.

The only advantage of this smith machine is that you need to buy the Olympic weight separately.

2) MAXXUSS Smith Machine

MAXXUSS Smith Machine is a must-have piece of equipment at a fitness studio and any gym. With this smith machine, you will be able to a lot of exercises such as inverted rows, squats, reverse calf raise, and incline shoulder. Not only that, but you can also target several parts of your lower and upper body.

MAXXUSS Smith Machine is powerfully constructed with oversized tubing for greater stability and durability. There are also 4 convenient chromed weight plate holders on every side. For smoother bar operation, this smith machine comes with accurate linear bearings.

Squat Rack: What is This Equipment?

A squat rack comes with two poles whose main goal is to support and hold the barbell you are working out with. The stand, however, comes in a number of various setups.

The straight bars on the side will prevent the barbell from falling on you. Squat racks, on the other hand, are both affordable and versatile. What’s more, some units are very easy to store.

With this piece of gym equipment, you will be able to move within the frame freely. As a result, you will be able to manage your form depending on the type of your body as well as the technique.

One more thing, with a squat you will be able to do a lot of exercises such as:

• Upright rows
• Bench presses
• Barbell curls
• Close grip bench presses
• Barbell bent-over rows
• Overhead presses
• Inverted row
• Rack lockout
• Barbell shrugs
• Rack pull

Types of Squat Racks

There are different types of squat racks. To help you decide which one you should get, we will define each one of them below.

Squat Stand

Basically, it is an open squat rack that is versatile and comes with a number of safety features. Since it is small in size, it is relatively cheaper compared to other types of squat racks.

Combo Rack

It is a specialized type of squat rack that is designed to be utilized in powerlifting meets. A combo rack comes with a bench that will lock in and adjustable uprights. Despite the fact that is it designed to primarily used in home gyms, in fact, it can be also utilized for powerlifting to meet events and gyms.

If your main focus is on the bench, squat, and deadlift and wants to utilize the same gym equipment that you will be using on the day of the event, then look no further than a combo rack.

Fold Away Squat Rack

As the name implies, a fold-away squat rack will fold away almost flush with the walls where it is mounted. If you don’t have enough space, but you want to perform many exercises like squats and overhead presses, then a fold away squat rack is perfect for you. When you are not using the equipment, you can completely fold it out. Meaning to say, it is not only a piece of versatile equipment but a space-saver on as well.

Best Squat Racks That You Can Buy

1) Merax Barbell Rack

Merax Barbell Rack has all-steel construction and comes with compact and effective size. As a matter of fact, its size can be adjusted with ease so that you will be able to just according to your needs.

With 2-inch hole spacing on the barbell rack you will be able to get the spotter arm customized at the right height for performing shrugs, curls, decline and incline bench presses, squat, and among others. There are also eight-inch weight pegs on ever side that offer convenient storage for usual weight plates. In fact, it will provide compact solutions for fitness studios, home gyms, and garage gyms.

One more thing, the beautiful and color red base of this squat will surely motivate you to do workouts. Last but not least, Merax Barbell Rack has assembled dimensions of 43.5-inch to 67.5-inch (H) by 19.5-inch (W) by 27.5-inch to 45.5-inch (L).

2) HI-MAT Adjustable Power Tower Squat Rack

HI-MAT adjustable power tower squat rack comes equipped with a U-shape base that has a total dimension of 40.5-inch by 41-inch. For greater durability and stability, this squat rack also comes with four non-skid foot sets.

When you buy this product, you will not only get a squat rack but a power tower as well. With that in mind, you will be able to a lot of exercises using this equipment such as squat, knee raise, pull-ups, dips, and push-ups.

This machine, on the other hand, sports a nice and comfortable design. For example, the dip stand is designed using elbow pads. There is also a backrest that can be adjusted to six different levels. This feature will protect both your elbow and spine as you work out.

Another good thing about this squat rack is that it can support users weighing 1100 pounds. The arm cushion, as well as the dumbbell rack, comes with eleven levels of height adjustment. Lastly, this is very easy to install and it even comes with assembling guides and tools.

Power Rack: What is This Equipment?

Also called as power cage and rig, a power rack comes with four feet connected by four metal bars, 2 safety bars in order to catch a weighted barbell, and three stabilizing bars located at the foot. Usually, this piece of equipment comes with a square footprint to ensure great stability.

Almost all power racks come with inbuilt safety bars that can help in catching heavy barbells. These bars, on the other hand, will stop you from dropping a weighted barbell on yourself and being crushed. Aside from safety bars, you can also use safety straps when using a power rack.

When it comes to the exercises you can do with this piece of working out equipment these will include

• Deadlifts
• Pull-ups
• Barbell lifts
• Squats
• Dips
• Chin-ups
• Rack pulls
• Upright rows
• Barbell curls
• Bench presses
• Inverted rows

Types of Power Racks

Here are the different types of power rack that are currently available on the market.

Wall Mount Power Rack

• This type of power rack will not use a significant amount of space. The fact that you can attach it to the wall, a wall mount power rack will lessen the chances of insecure setups. Compared to full racks, you’ll be restricted to a spotter’s arm for safety setups. In fact, it is much better compared to a squat stand. However, if you failed to do a rep you are more likely to bury yourself below the weight since it will bounce off the spotter’s arm and from everywhere. One more thing, space where you can store the place is limited.

Half Rack

• Essentially, it is a small version of power racks that is best suited for people who have a short ceiling or limited space.

• Among the two types of power racks, a half rack is much more affordable. But there is a flip side when it comes to versatility.

Nevertheless, if you do not like to feel encloses when you are lifting, a half rack can be a great option.

Best Power Racks That You Can Buy

1) Merax Aesthetics Fitness Power Rack

Being able to safely exercise is one of the most crucial parts of home works and that is why the Merax Aesthetics Fitness Power Rack makes a nice addition to your gym equipment.

This power rack can offer you more than twenty-four exercise strength training selections. With durable steel construction, Merax Aesthetics Fitness Power Rack will provide superior durability and strength. That said, it can resist intense workout sessions. Inside this power rack, there is plenty of space where you can perform stance squats comfortably. In addition to that, it comes with an additional spotter for improved safety.

The multiple grip pull-up bars of this equipment is specially designed to let you make use of many hand positions to engage and at the same time enhance arm muscles, back, and shoulder further. 

2) Kinelo Body-Solid GPR378 Power Rack

If you want to do strength-training without compromising anything, then you should consider investing in Kinelo Body-Solid GPR378. This power rack is made to work with all kinds of benches as well as engineered for extreme exercises. Kinelo Body-Solid GPR378 is made from 11-gauge heavy-duty high tensile steel frames. As a matter of fact, all four sides have welded construction and are using industrial strength and oversized hardware.

It also has a powder finish that will help in resisting scratching and chipping through the intense workout routines. Nevertheless, if you want to become stronger and get bigger, Kinelo Body-Solid GPR378 can surely help you.

Smith Machine vs Squat Rack vs Power Rack: Which is the Best One?

In the actual fact, there is no correct answer to this equipment. The right piece of equipment will depend on your knees as well as the budget. As you can see, smith machines, squat racks, and power racks are available in various price tags. So, set a budget and make sure to stick it. However, if the equipment you are considering is not within this price range, you should be willing to spend more, but make sure you are getting the best value for your money.

If you are a beginner, consider getting a smith machine. But if you want to focus on building your muscles and strengthening your body you can never go wrong with either a power rack or squat rack. However, if you have limited space, it is best that you opt for a power rack. Hopefully, you have learned a lot from this article.

The post Smith Machine vs Squat Rack vs Power Rack first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post Smith Machine vs Squat Rack vs Power Rack appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

To ensure you get the right amount of exercise on your doorstep without the extra effort, it would be a good idea to use a treadmill. However, it’s essential to understand the dos and don’ts of using a treadmill while pregnant.

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CAN YOU WALK ON A TREADMILL WHILE PREGNANT?

Yes, walking, whether outside or on a treadmill, is a good idea when pregnant as it boosts your mood, helps you lose fat, and helps you sleep a little better, all of which are great for your baby.

It’s recommended that you start with three 15-minute walks per week in the first trimester and build up to a daily walk of 20 – 30 minutes. Most physicians will recommend a total of 150 minutes of walking throughout a 7-day period if possible.

To start your pregnancy workout, you should vary your walking speed between 3-4.5 miles per hour. Any faster could cause your footfalls to become heavier, creating shockwaves that could harm your baby.

THE BENEFITS OF WALKING ON A TREADMILL WHILE PREGNANT

There are several benefits to consistent, light exercise throughout pregnancy, and walking provides the ideal mix of cardio and strength training to keep your body healthy. Read Here: Top 10 Best Treadmills Under $1000

• Sleeping Habits

Some pregnancies can be complicated when it comes to sleeping, especially in the latter stages of pregnancy. It’s hard to get your bump comfortable, and your body temperature is likely to fluctuate excessively.

Walking tires your body out and prepares you for sleep. The more you walk, the faster you’ll be asleep when your head hits the pillow. Your sleeping pattern is good for your baby, too, as your cells repair and develop while you’re sleeping.

• Reduces Anxiety

Being pregnant comes with many natural anxieties; you might be concerned with your baby’s health, worrying about the nursery, or thinking about breast versus bottle feeding. All that anxiety can add stress to your body and make it difficult for you to sleep.

Walking releases endorphins which are natural mood boosters. The more we walk, the better we’ll feel. Spending 15 minutes a day on the treadmill will help you to reduce your stress and anxiety and create a smooth pregnancy.

• Reduces Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are created through increased blood pressure causing red blood cell blockages near the skin’s surface. They restrict blood flow and can become quite painful.

Walking naturally reduces your blood pressure through the steady exercise of the heart and allows for better blood flow. This, in turn, can keep you nimbler for longer while pregnant, as you’ll be able to avoid severe joint and muscle pain in your legs from the heavier weight.

• Weight Loss

You will inevitably gain weight during pregnancy. You’re growing an extra person inside you, and that additional person needs feeding too. Read Here: How to Lose Weight on a Treadmill in a Month

However, it can be bad for your baby if you’re overweight, as the fat you carry can prevent your baby from accessing all of the much-needed nutrients from your body correctly.

Walking is a low-intensity form of exercise which helps to shred fat without the excessive effort of going to the gym. Having a treadmill in your own home will allow you to drop those few pounds when you’re feeling up to it – plus, you’ll have more room for those strange cravings.

• Reduces risk of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes can be pretty common in women that have an underlying health issue before pregnancy. Studies have shown that regular, gentle exercise can reduce the risk of escalated blood pressure and even out blood sugar levels. This allows the pregnancy to commence naturally without the need for excess medication for the mother.

• Cesarean Sections

Focusing on your own health will naturally improve the health of your baby. Ensuring your stay healthy with a good diet and regular exercise will ensure your baby grows to the optimum size for delivery and mirrors your health. This means there’s less risk of an unplanned cesarean on the big day.

• Improves Mood Swings

Research shows that pregnant women who walk for around 30 minutes every day show fewer mood swings and remain more level headed throughout pregnancy. The hormones created through regular exercise help to balance out your emotions – so you’ll hopefully experience fewer tearful days.

• Helps with Back Pain

Regular movement helps to ease back and joint pain. While it’s tempting to sit around, especially as your bump grows, getting your legs moving and doing some gentle exercise will actually ease your aches and pains. Read Here: 6 Best Home Remedies To Relieve Sore Muscles Immediately

• Relieves Constipation

Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy and can be difficult to overcome without the aid of medication. However, regular gentle exercise can help to loosen your bowels slightly and remove the problem.

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The Potential Dangers of Walking on a Treadmill While Pregnant

• Dehydration

As with any form of exercise, you need to be really careful with your hydration levels. It’s crucial to hydrate regularly during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester when you’re likely to experience more morning sickness.

Because of this, 15 – 30 minutes is the maximum that you should walk on your treadmill in one session, and you should always have water available to sip.

• Over Exercising

While walking on a treadmill doesn’t seem too strenuous, it can tire you out quickly if you’re pregnant, especially in the later stages of pregnancy when walking becomes more difficult anyway. Make sure you take regular rest breaks to combat exhaustion, and if it’s hurting your back or hips, stop. Don’t feel like you need to continue to hit a target. If you’re exhausted, your body will take all of your nutrients for itself, leaving your baby without.

• Falls

Naturally, when you’re pregnant, your center of gravity changes a little. You’re suddenly much heavier at the front, so you might be prone to fall forward.

Take walking steadily, putting your heel down first, and make sure that you’re not too close to the head of the treadmill. Equally, walking on an incline that’s too steep could cause you to fall back, too, if you haven’t maintained the correct balance.

Can You Use a Treadmill Within The First Trimester?

Yes, you can! It’s a good idea to start off walking using your everyday walking habits during the first trimester. You’ll likely feel a little sluggish, and adding extra exercise might be exhausting.

Start at a slow pace and develop a steady, routine walk of no faster than 4.5 mph. As you start to get more into your exercise routine, you’ll be able to upgrade to a slight incline (no more than a level 8 incline). This will intensify your workout without putting too much strain on your body.

When you’re walking, always ensure that you place your heels down first and roll your foot onto your toes. Never walk flat-footed as this increases the vibration through your legs that carries further up your body.

This could disturb your womb, especially during the first trimester, which is the most crucial for healthy development and avoidance of miscarriage.

What About Using A Treadmill Within The Second Trimester

You’ll likely have a little more energy in your second trimester and will want to go for longer walks. Keep to the same speed on your treadmill, but perhaps extend your walking time and increase your incline slightly.

Although you feel like you have a little more energy, you’re likely to be a little heavier – physically – as your baby starts to grow and your bump starts showing. Read Here: Best Massage Chair Reviews And Buying Guide

Don’t be tempted to overdo it just because you’ve got that newfound energy. Heavy running can still cause some damage, so stick to walking at a steady pace.

You may need to use your arms to give you a little more balance at this point rather than holding on to the treadmill handles, as this will provide you with more balance, so be careful of your speed.

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Can Walking on a Treadmill Cause Miscarriage?

Typically, no. There are certain things that you’ll need to watch out for as a result of walking on a treadmill, such as dehydration, falls, or overexertion.

These things, if taken to extremes, could eventually result in a miscarriage. However, walking itself isn’t the problem here. As long as you’re mindful of how you feel while you’re on the treadmill and don’t do too much, you should be completely fine.

The important things to remember are:

• Always carry water with you while you’re walking.
• Don’t stand too close to the front of the treadmill.
• Don’t walk on an incline if you’re feeling too much strain on your hips or back.
• Always warm up – never start your workout on an incline; start flat and introduce it steadily.
• Make sure you do a cool-down exercise before you stop your walk. If you’re out walking, you’ll gradually slow down before coming to a complete stop. Mimic this on your treadmill, and it’ll help your body adapt and mean that you’ll be able to keep your balance more easily.

Is it Safe to Walk at an Incline While Pregnant?

It is safe to walk at an incline during pregnancy; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll always do that.

• First Trimester

During your first trimester, you’ll be lower on energy, and you may find that the extra effort that it takes to walk at an incline just tires you out too much. If this is the case, remain walking on a level footing.

• Second Trimester

Once your second trimester hits, you’ll probably gain a little more energy. At this point, incline walking won’t seem like such a giant hurdle, and it’ll help you keep the baby fat off and reduce your blood pressure.

• Third trimester

By the third trimester, your baby bump might be a little too large to attempt intense incline walking. Although it’s not dangerous to your baby to attempt walking at an incline on a treadmill, it may cause excess back and hip pain which you could really do without.

Walking at an incline or on uneven surfaces could tire you out quickly in the final stages of pregnancy, so it’s best to stick to treadmill walking on a flat belt.

How Else Can I Lose Fat While Pregnant?

Obesity during pregnancy is a massive health risk. It increases your blood pressure, puts more strain on your organs, may lead to gestational diabetes, and could even cause a miscarriage or excessive bleeding, or rupture during the delivery.

To combat this, most low-impact sports and exercises are considered safe while pregnant. Walking and swimming are the best exercises to get a full-body workout while not having to put your body through too much. You could also try dancing or other non-contact sports.

It’s not advisable to continue jogging or running throughout pregnancy. While the movements are essentially the same as walking, the cardiovascular strain is much more intense, and the harder you run, the heavier your weight will be on the floor.

The heavy footfalls can cause shockwaves that might upset your baby, and after a few months, when your bump starts to grow, you may find running just too tiring.

Avoid any contact sports such as football or baseball, but sports where you’re unlikely to bump into anyone accidentally may be okay to try out – badminton or golf, for example.

Read More:

• Best 3 Peloton Elliptical Reviews
• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
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Summary

Buying a treadmill for home use while you’re pregnant is an excellent idea. It’ll motivate you to keep up a steady exercise regime in your own home during pregnancy, which removes the effort of going to the gym. Walking at a steady pace has many benefits for pregnant women and can ensure that they have an easier delivery and healthier baby.

However, it’s important to look into what you can and can’t do, know your limits, and recognize when you’ve done enough. Over-exercising can also have severe health implications.

The post Can I Walk on a Treadmill While Pregnant? first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post Can I Walk on a Treadmill While Pregnant? appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

And there is one known portable home gym— the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym.

A favorite amongst bodybuilders and workout-crazy-people alike, the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym is primarily designed for muscle building and hard-core strength training. But, is it the right one for your personal and workout requirements? Find out with our comprehensive Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Reviews!

The Bowflex Brand

Bowflex is a prominent international fitness brand. It offers premium-grade fitness equipment since the year 1986. Based in Vancouver, Washington, Bowflex sells its product via retail, direct and international channels and is primarily marketed and sold by the Nautilus, Inc. 

As the fitness market was flooded with expensive pieces of gym equipment, Bowflex focused more on developing innovative fitness equipment for home-based users. Read Here: Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

The idea they have was creating a personal home gym that offers the same results and efficiency you can get in high-end gyms and fitness centers. This development of home gyms created a stir in the global market and leads to smarter, more efficient and productive fitness equipment.

Providing revolutionary fitness equipment for the past 30 years, the Bowflex brand brought about breakthrough changes in the fitness industry with their amazing line of fitness equipment series.

The Bowflex brand markets and manufactures a long line of products such as the Bowflex treadmills, Bowflex Ellipticals, Bowflex Home-Gym, Bowflex Max Trainers and so much more! Their innovation of strength and cardio training fitness equipment caters to different needs of humongous base of its clientele all over the world.

A Comprehensive Review Of The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym

Technical Specifications

First off, we take a look at the technical specification of this home gym. When fully assembled, the Bowflex Xceed has a dimension of 59 x 49 x 82 inches. So, it is still reasonably large. But not too bulky or unwieldy awkward size to fit into a gym garage or your workout room.

Also, in its fully assembled form, the home gym has a total weight of 157 weight. This makes it one of the easiest home gyms to assemble by yourself. However, it is always recommended that you get a helping hand.

With its sturdy construction, the home gym can accommodate a maximum weight of 300 pounds. Also, it utilizes a resistance system of power rods instead of plates. The standard weight resistance is about 210 pounds by default. However, it is good to know that it can be adjusted.

With its design features and accessories, you can get over 65 workouts. And it really does a great job of providing a full-body workout routine from a single machine.

Assembling and Maintenance

Assembling the Bowflex Xceed is pretty straightforward and quick. This is mainly because of the provided instruction manual that will guide you through the process. The home gym also comes with Allen wrenches. However, you will need a few wrenches and screwdrivers to assemble it.

As mentioned before, the assembly can be pretty much done on your own. However, it is always recommended to ask for a pair of hands, especially if you are just a beginner in these machines.

The full assembly can take at least a few hours. Overall, the assembly of the Bowflex Xceed is not too daunting when compared to other home gym machines. In terms of maintenance, it is suggested that you unhook the power rods from the cables when not in use. This way, they remain in the upright and straight position.

You can also use the rod binding strap that is included with the home gym in order to bind all rods together above. Also, you can place your grips and cables through the strap in order to keep them out of the way. This way, you can keep it organized and stored properly.

In addition, you will also need to make regular checking of the joints and bolts. Make sure that they are held and screwed well together and re-tightening whenever needed. Also, make sure to pay close attention to loose straps, cables, and harnesses.

For the bench, you can clean it with a non-abrasive household cleaner after every use. This should keep it looking new. Make sure to never use any automatic cleaner since it can make your bench too slick.

Meanwhile, worn or damaged parts need to be replaced immediately. Make sure to only use manufacturer supplied parts to repair and maintain the home gym.

The Build, Design, and Accessories

This home gym comes from the long line of reputable and high-performing workout machines and equipment from Bowflex.

First off, the Bowflex Xceed is constructed and manufactured from high-grade steel. Ten, it is finished with a chip-resistant and rust-resistant paint, with the primary colors of red, gray and black for a masculine look. This makes it super durable and sturdy, guaranteeing to endure even the most brutal workout sessions.

As mentioned above, its overall size may not seem too large compared to other home gyms. However, Bowflex recommends that you have extra space around in order to let its frame fully expand. This should allow its various workout stations and areas to be used to their full capacities.

Thus, Bowflex suggests that you leave at least 96 x 78 inches of space around the home gym for comfortable and safer operation. The home gym will also fit well with a room with 7 feet ceiling or higher.

Not, the Bowflex Xceed does not have adjustable stabilizers. The base of this home gym rests on rubberized pads to improve floor grip and provide stability. Naturally, these rubberized base works even better on concrete or linoleum floors that you might find in most garages. However, it can also work with carpeted surfaces.

In addition, the home gym is considerably heavy. Thus, improving the overall stability as well. The bases do not have any anchor points or holes. And normally, it should not be anchored to the floor. However, if you wish to connect it to the floor in order to improve stability and make it more secure, then you will need to improvise. At the front, you will see the standing plate. This allows you to perform standing workouts such as squats. Meanwhile, the lateral bars dumbbell weight plates in order to add resistance to it.  Each rod is constructed from elastomer that is coated with a rubber finish.

They work with precision machined rings to which the home gym’s cable hooks attach. The rings, themselves, are made of highly durable materials and are almost impossible to remove from the rods. This means that you will need to contact Bowflex and their technician if you ever need to replace one. This is also one of the reasons why the power rods come with a lifetime warranty, which we will go into detail later on.

The power rod set on this Bowflex home gym has a total weight resistance of 210 pounds. That’s 105 pounds on each side. Each rod is also marked with its weight rating at the “Rod Cap”. The rod set includes the following:

• 2 x 50 pounds
• 2 x 30 pounds
• 4 x 10 pounds
• 2 x 5 pounds

It is important to note that the home gym’s overall weight resistance can be upgraded. You can the 4 extra 50 pounds rods, 2 on each side. This allows you to benefit from a total weight resistance of 410 pounds or 310 pounds dumbbell weight plates in order to add resistance to it.  Each rod is constructed from elastomer that is coated with a rubber finish.

They work with precision machined rings to which the home gym’s cable hooks attach. The rings, themselves, are made of highly durable materials and are almost impossible to remove from the rods. This means that you will need to contact Bowflex and their technician if you ever need to replace one. This is also one of the reasons why the power rods come with a lifetime warranty, which we will go into detail later on.

The power rod set on this Bowflex home gym has a total weight resistance of 210 pounds. That’s 105 pounds on each side. Each rod is also marked with its weight rating at the “Rod Cap”. The rod set includes the following:

• 2 x 50 pounds
• 2 x 30 pounds
• 4 x 10 pounds
• 2 x 5 pounds

It is important to note that the home gym’s overall weight resistance can be upgraded. You can the 4 extra 50 pounds rods, 2 on each side. This allows you to benefit from a total weight resistance of 410 pounds or 310 pounds.

Hooking the Power Rods To The Cables

You can use one or several rods in combination in order to create your desired resistance levels. In order to hook multiple rods to a single cable, you will need to bend the closest rod towards the cable. Pace the cable hook through the rod cap. From there, you can hook the next closest rod up on that same cable hook. By hooking up the closest rod, you can prevent the power rods from overlapping one another.

Safety Tip:

Focus Area And Workouts You Can Do On The Bowflex Xceed

While everyone has their own individual focus area, the Bowflex Xceed supports a whole-body range of workouts.

These include:

• Shoulders
• Legs
• Abdominals
• Chest
• Back
• Arms

AS mentioned before, the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym allows you to execute at least 65 full-time workouts. In addition, the home gym includes an exercise guide. This guide provides you comprehensive and in-detail information about various workouts that you can perform in this machine.

Here is the list of various exercises you can do with the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym.

1. Chest Workouts
   1. Chest Fly
   1. Incline Chest Fly
   1. Bench Press
2. Abdominal Workouts
   1. Trunk Rotation
   1. Seated Oblique Abdominal Crunch
   1. Seated Abdominal Crunch
3. Leg Workouts
   1. Squats
   1. Calf Raise
   1. Leg Kickback
   1. Hip Flexion
   1. Standing Hip Extension w/ extended knees
   1. Standing Hip Abduction
   1. Leg Extension
   1. Standing Hip Extension w/ bent knees
4. Back Workouts
   1. Pulldowns
   1. Reverse Grip Pulldowns on the lat bar
   1. Reverse Grip Pulldowns
   1. Crossover Lat Rows
   1. Crossover Narrow Pulldowns
   1. Low Back Extension
   1. Crossover Wide Pulldowns
   1. Bent Rear Delt Row
   1. Stiff Arm Pulldowns
   1. Narrow Pulldowns on lat bars

• Seated Lat Row
  • Crossover Rear Delt Row
  • Seated Wide Lat Pulldown
  • Narrow Pulldowns on the handgrip
• Shoulders Workout
  • Reverse Fly
  • Shoulder Extension
  • Lateral shoulder Raise
  • Shoulder Shrug
  • Scapular Retraction
  • Shoulder Rotator Cuff (internal and external)
  • Seated Shoulder Press
  • Crossover High Rear Delt Rows
  • Crossover Rear Delt Rows
  • Crossover Reverse Fly
  • Crossover Seated Rear Delt Rows
  • Scapular Protraction
  • Scapular Depression
• Arm Workouts
  • Standing Biceps Curl
  • Curling On Seated Biceps
  • Wrist Curl
  • Reverse Curl
  • Triceps Extension
  • Seated Biceps Curl
  • Wrist Extension
  • Rope Pushdown
  • Arm opposition push-pull
  • Triceps Pushdown
  • Barbell biceps curl
  • Hammer triceps Kickback
  • Triceps Kickback
  • Concentration Biceps Curl
  • Single-arm Pushdown
  • Hammer Biceps Curl
  • Cross Triceps Extension
  • Upper Body Opposition Pull
  • Triceps Hammer Pushdown

There are some workouts that will require extra pieces of equipment. For instance, the ankle cuff is needed for effective leg kickbacks. Overall, with the above-mentioned workouts, you can definitely try lots of workout moves on the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym.

The Bowflex Warranty

To protect your investment and have a peace of mind, Bowflex offers a nice warranty to back up the home gym. The Xceed comes with a long 7-year warranty for its frame. As mentioned before, the power rod system has a lifetime warranty.

This offers great value for your money since the home gym’s rods and frame are the 2 parts that are more likely to face direct abuse and stress.

The frame warranty covers any flaws or defects on the part of the manufacturers as well as accidental failure. Meanwhile, the rod warranty covers replacement of the resistance rods throughout the lifespan of the home gym, provided that you do not destroy them on purposes.

The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym: Who It Is For?

The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym is one of the best compact-sized home gyms that are meant for those people with a space-constrained home. Also, this home gym is mainly designed for individuals who wished to focus on building muscles and having intensive strength training. Furthermore, some of the design features of this home gym make it impossible for certain individuals to use it.

For instance, its adjustable seat can accommodate different height positions but only for users up to 6’5”. So, any user taller than that may have a problem using this machine. In short, this home gym is suitable for the average user who needs a compact machine to train and bulk up in the comforts of their own home.

Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When was Bowflex invented?

A: TheBowflex brand deals primarily with fitness equipment and gears. Their first piece of equipment came into being in 1986. It was called the Bowflex 2000X.

Q: When did the Xceed Home Gym come out?

A: The very first model of the Xceed was first introduced in the year 2006. Since then, numerous changes and updates have been made to the newer versions. From there, you can compare differences in features, prices and pick the right one for you.

Q: Does the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym really works?

A: Yes. The Bowflex Xceed is designed to help you with your workout and fitness goals. However, the results of your workout will largely depend on your efforts and consistency. Fortunately, Bowflex included an exercise manual in order to help guide you in achieving your fitness goals.

Q: Can I bulk up with the Bowflex Xceed?

A: Absolutely! The Bowflex Xceed does provide you a medium to do bodybuilding as well as strength training workout routines. However, as mentioned before, the results will depend on your dedication and consistency in your workouts.

Q: Is the Bowflex Xceed better than free weights?

A: Unlike free weight, the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym can restrict the number of movements that you can make. However, free weight tends to be more demanding to the stabilizer muscles.

Using the home gym, it is easier to target specific muscle groups. Thus, it allows you to put better focus on achieving goals. Also, it is easier to learn how to use the home gym than free weights. So, for those who are only starting in getting fit can find the Bowflex Xceed to be more efficient and easier to work with.

Q: What are the benefits of using the Bowflex Xceed?

: The reason why most individuals prefer going to the gym is because of the different pieces of equipment available, allowing you to work on different goals. However, with the Bowflex Xceed, you can combine these differences into one machine. You can improve your strength, coordination, power, endurance as well as weight training.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: The Bowflex Xceed Home Gym comes with an affordable price tag. You will have to spend less than $700 in order to take it home. That and the quality and warranty that comes with it makes it a valuable and nice investment.

The Verdict

All in all, the Bowflex Xceed only confirms one fact— it is a phenomenal home gym offering you lots of resistance options for all kinds of individuals. It is a nice machine to use and works really well inside your home or gym garage.

Its capability to upgrade the weight resistance means that it is a nice machine to use as you grow your workout technique and body strength. For anyone who wants a whole-body home gym at a nice price tag, you need to check out the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym. You will not be disappointed.

The post Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Reviews first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post Bowflex Xceed Home Gym Reviews appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

Your knees take the most strain throughout life as they need to support every other movement in your body. For this reason, as a senior, it’s essential to keep your knees healthy to allow you to maintain your independence for longer. There are a few great leg exercises that you can do from the comfort of your own home or even from a chair, which will help to keep your knees as limber as possible: The following leg exercises for seniors with bad knees are designed in a way that will be easy for any elderly person to handle. They are low-impact, highly effective exercises.

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LEG EXERCISES FOR SENIORS WITH BAD KNEES

LEG CROSSESS

Using the edge of your bed or a chair, you’ll be able to strengthen your knees and your thighs to make movement much more manageable. This means you’ll be able to walk for more extended periods without having to take a break.

1. Sit on the edge of the bed or on a chair where your feet can easily touch the floor.
2. Place one ankle directly in front of the other so that your feet and lower legs cross over.
3. Lift both of your feet slightly off the ground.
4. Push your front foot back towards your body and your back foot out away from you.
5. You should feel the ankles pressing against each other, and your thighs should contract.
6. Hold this position for 10 seconds.
7. Switch legs and repeat.
8. Try repeating the exercise 4 times on each leg to ensure an even muscle workout.

Tips:

• To create a more strenuous workout, try to lengthen the amount of time you’re holding your pose.

• If you’re struggling with balance at first, try to use a chair rather than the edge of the bed so that you have back support. Gradually move away from the back support as you get stronger and develop your balance, making your workout more effective.

CALF RAISES

Your calves support your knees and need to remain strong too to take the rest of your weight while you’re walking around. You’ll need to use a wall or strong chair for balance while performing this exercise.

Tips:

• To intensify your workout, try shifting all of your weight onto a single foot, gently raising your other foot off the ground. Ensure you keep hold of the chair to maintain balance. Read Here: Is Spinning Bad For Your Knees? All You Need To Know!

• Don’t place any of your weight on the back of the chair; your aim isn’t to strengthen your arms, and letting the chair take your weight through your arms won’t improve your calves or knees.

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KNEE SQUATS

Knee squats create greater flexibility and improve your ability to bend down for longer without excessive pain to your knees.

This exercise not only strengthens your knees but works your thighs and calves too. You’ll need to use your trusty chair again to help you to balance.

Tips:

• To intensify the workout, you should try holding your squat for a more extended period. Extending from 5 seconds to 10 seconds can vastly increase the muscles that you’re building.

• Ensure that you always maintain the straight posture of your upper body. Slouching can cause the muscles in your back to become strained.

STEPS

Knee steps are an excellent way to achieve a cardio workout and focus down on your knees. They’re a great exercise to perform if you’re a senior looking to lose a few pounds.

For this exercise, you should purchase an aerobic stepper as you can tailor the height to your needs. If you’re working to a budget, the bottom of the stairs will work. However, you may find the exercises more strenuous initially as they may require you to step up further than the exercise requires.

The ideal height would have your knee in a parallel line with your hips when you step up, but this will vary based on your height. Read Here: Best Knee Brace for Working Out: Top 5 Editor’s Picks

1. Exhale as you take a step up with one foot onto the step.
2. Get your balance while inhaling.
3. Step up onto the step with the other foot (so you’re now standing on the step).
4. Take your first leg and step back down to the floor again.
5. Balance.
6. Step back down with your other foot.
7. Repeat at least ten times for a good workout.

Tips:

• The more steps you complete, the more beneficial your workout will be, but don’t try to push yourself too much. Stop when you start to feel tired to avoid overexertion.

• You can gradually build up your workout by adding an extra step up each day.

• If you’re feeling ambitious, this is one of the few knee exercises that can be beneficial as a cardio workout, so faster steps will develop your fitness more quickly. But don’t compromise your posture and balance. Doing it right is more important than doing it fast.

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CURLS

Knee curls can vastly improve your knee flexibility, meaning that you’ll be able to walk for longer distances without having to take a break.

1. Stand with your front-facing towards the back of a chair.
2. Place your hands on the chair back to help you to balance.
3. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
4. Move all of your weight over to one foot and lift the other behind you.
5. You want to keep the foot as close to your buttocks as possible while still maintaining your balance.
6. Hold your knee up, your foot bending back towards your body for 5 seconds.
7. Release and repeat using the other foot.

Tips:

• Use an ankle weight when you’ve built up your confidence. It will intensify the workout and will help to tone your buttocks too.

• Always lift your foot gradually. This helps to develop the proper exercise posture.

KNEE EXTENSION

This is an easy exercise that can be performed from the comfort of a chair and not only benefits your knees but can strengthen your hips too.

1. Sit in a chair with your back against the backrest and your feet flat on the floor. It’s crucial to ensure your posture is correct. Don’t select a chair if you can’t touch the floor while maintaining back support.
2. Hold the side of your chair with both hands by your sides to ensure you have accurate balance and pressure on your knees.
3. Slowly straighten your leg out in front of you so that your toes are level with your hips.
4. Hold for a few seconds before releasing and repeating with the other leg.
5. Completing five repetitions on each leg is the optimum amount; however, don’t be too disappointed if you don’t make it to the five reps the first few times or if your leg doesn’t totally straighten out. The more you practice, the easier this will become.

Tips:

• Don’t jerk your leg upwards. Speed isn’t beneficial here; you’ll get more out of the exercise by taking it slowly.

• Once you’ve mastered that, add an ankle weight when you lift your leg. It’ll increase your knee’s strength.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR WITH BAD KNEES

Exercising shouldn’t hurt, no matter how old you are. Sure, it might ache a little the next day, which just shows that you’ve stretched the muscles and that they need to heal. Read Here: Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet: Top 5 Editors Picks

However, if you’re experiencing severe pain during the exercise, there’s a chance that your posture is wrong or that you’re performing exercises that are actually detrimental to your knee health.

It’s always best to start exercising with the help of a professional so that you can make sure that you have your posture exactly right. It’s also recommended that you have another person with you when you begin your exercise regime, especially when you’re just starting out, just in case you experience any pain or discomfort.

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SQUATTING POSTURE

Squatting is one of the more challenging exercises that focuses on building up the knees. Although it is safe for you to do, even with knee injuries, it can put a lot of strain on your joints if you don’t squat correctly.

It’s best to start off doing squats against a wall to help maintain your balance and not put any extra stress on your muscles. (This way, you won’t fall backward).

Once you’ve mastered the balance and posture, you can move on to squatting with the support of a chair; then, when you’re feeling really confident, squat with no support.

LUNGES

Once you become really confident with your workout routine, you might want to add some lunges to develop your knee strength. Lunges are particularly helpful for individuals with knee osteoarthritis as it helps to stretch the tendons and support the more diverse movement.

You shouldn’t ever start lunging with no support. Try placing a chair at either side of you and supporting your weight using the back of the chairs at each side at first. Having a chair on either side helps you to position yourself correctly so that you don’t overload your weight on one side.

With lunges or other exercises that require a stepping motion, such as the knee steps discussed earlier, make sure that both feet are always facing towards the front and are positioned in a straight line. Twisting your feet at an angle can twist the muscles supporting your knees and cause further injury.

ARTICULAR CARTILAGE PROTECTION

Articular cartilage is the protective layer that supports your joints. Common knee problems develop when this cartilage gets damaged and can’t repair itself, meaning that the bones scrape together more easily.

To preserve your articular cartilage as much as possible, you should reduce the amount of high-intensity exercise you do. The cartilage acts as a shock absorber to protect your bones and joints; however, the older you get, the more this cartilage will wear down, and you need to try to reduce the amount of shock that your knees experience.

To reduce the shock, try to avoid high-speed exercise. The faster you go, the harder your feet will hit the floor, creating shock waves. Your cardio workout will be just as effective if you do more repetitions of the same exercise. A longer but slower workout can actually increase your fitness more than a short one focused on speed.

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SUMMARY

Keeping your knees nimble is crucial to staying active for longer. Doing some of these exercises daily will mean you’re easily able to move around without constant joint pain without the need for constant painkillers.

It’s also a great idea to adopt a healthy diet. Vegetables that contain calcium will strengthen your bones, ensuring they don’t become brittle and oily fish can make your joints more versatile.

A healthy diet can also help you to maintain a healthy physique and keep the weight off, even if you’re not as active as you used to be. Sticking to a healthy weight will take the strain off your knees, too—every little help.

The post 6 Leg Exercises for Seniors with Bad Knees first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post 6 Leg Exercises for Seniors with Bad Knees appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

Read More: Best Adjustable Dumbbells

WHY ARE DUMBBELLS EXPENSIVE?

There’s no denying that dumbbells are expensive. There are 4 main reasons for this:

• Weight

Like lots of things, dumbbells are priced based on their weight and because they are specifically designed to be heavy -otherwise, what’s the point?

The sheer amount of cast iron contained in a dumbbell is compacted to make the weight fit for purpose. There are many cheaper weights out there that are frequently bought by people who aren’t quite as serious about their weightlifting future.

However, the more affordable versions often have a cheaper labor cost and aren’t as accurate on weight distribution, so you could miss out on your desired effect. Those people who are willing to shell out the higher prices often get a better product with a more accurate weight distribution.

While the dumbbells’ weight and quality boost the price, you may still find some cost-saving opportunities. However, if you’re buying as a serious lifter, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that they aren’t cheap.

• Storage

Dumbbells are large. This means they take up a lot of storage space compared to smaller products and paying for that warehouse space is costly for the manufacturer. To offset some of this cost, they pump the prices up a little to pay for the area that your dumbbells were using before being shipped to you.

• Transportation

Transporting such heavy goods costs the seller a lot of money. Because of their weight, specialist services have to be employed to move dumbbells.

It may also take multiple employees, where a single employee may have sufficed for smaller, lighter products. Most companies will add a little to the end cost due to the specialist equipment needed to move a dumbbell and cover the extra staff members’ costs.

• Demand

The recent boom in weightlifting in the home due to the pandemic has increased the demand for weights. This, in turn, has increased labor costs and allowed companies to capitalize on their weights.

They operate on a supply and demand basis and, as more people aim to set up a home gym while their regular gym is closed, the demand for weights soars. Prices, therefore, climb based on the competition.

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DUMBBELLS?

The price of your dumbbells will usually depend on the type of dumbbell that you’re looking for. There are three main types of dumbbell:

1) Adjustable Dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells are typically made out of metal rather than rubber but always come with a rubber grip handle, so they’re easier if grip is something you struggle with.

These are the most old-fashioned of the dumbbell types, with the different weights sliding on and off the end of the bar and being locked in place by a clip.

While they are adjustable and fabulous as you move through the weight classes, they could be potentially dangerous if you don’t clip on the weights properly to the bar, so it’s something that you’d really need to pay attention to.

2) Selectorized Dumbbells

Selectorized dumbbells are usually the smallest of the dumbbells with lighter weights. They consist of a single bar that connects through the metal discs on each end. Each disc is connected to a dial which you can turn to select the ideal weight. When you lift out the bar, the correct weights come out of the selector at each side to give you the weight you requested.

These are a little impractical once you reach a certain weight as the power rack becomes unable to support so much weight in such a small surface area. However, due to the convenience, these are normally the most expensive dumbbells on the market.

3) Fixed Weight Dumbbells

Fixed weight dumbbells are just that – fixed in weight. They’re usually a safe bet if you feel that you’ll drop your dumbbells, as the single piece means that they won’t come apart when dropped. They’re also generally made of rubber, meaning they make less noise and cause more minor damage to the floor.

However, they’re the least convenient concerning changing weight classes, as they come in one size, so you’ll physically need to order the next size up when you’re ready to lift a heavier weight unless you purchased the complete set the begin with.

They’re also quite inconvenient to store, especially if you have a small gym at home, as there’s no way to stack them away together like selectorized dumbbells. Their static nature also makes them more challenging to transport.

This type of dumbbell is declining in popularity, so you may find that it’s the cheapest option out there if you’re looking for a bargain.

WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE FOR WEIGHTS?

The price of weights is generally between $1 and $2 per pound, depending on the demand at the time. So, the heavier your weights are, the more expensive they’ll be. Most casual lifters will find their initial weights relatively cheap, and by the time they’ve gained enough muscle mass to up their weight size, they find that they’ve been priced out.

This is one of the main reasons people don’t tend to stay on a long-term weightlifting journey. A good dumbbell set including the rack and weights can cost anything between $85 and $500 depending on the weights’ brand, size, and style.

You’ll find something that works just fine at the cheaper end of the spectrum, but it’ll perhaps be a little more fragile. Buying the more affordable option may mean that you need to replace it sooner as the rack can become worn easily.

LARGE VS. SMALL DUMBBELL SETS

Weirdly, smaller weight sets will possibly cost more per pound than the larger ones. That’s because of the increased demand for smaller sets, meaning there are increased manufacturing costs. The reason for this is that people will always start small (obviously). Everyone has that good intention of weight training to get their perfect body.

However, most people will lose heart or get bored after just a few months and never move onto a set with heavier weights as they just aren’t able to lift that much. For this reason, the heavier weights aren’t purchased as regularly and therefore will come at less cost per pound of weight.

A small set of weights – just a pair of 5 lb. dumbbells, will cost anywhere between $15 – $20. However, a small set of 5 lb. and 8 lb. weights could cost up to $70 if sold in pairs, which they almost always are to keep your muscle tone even. 

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON DUMBBELLS

Technically, you’re already saving money by purchasing dumbbells for your own home. Sure, it’s a sizeable one-off payment, but think of all the money you’re saving every month on gym memberships. You’re even saving on gas to get to the gym too, and it all adds up. However, if you’re still shocked at the costs of weights, there are a few things you could do to minimize your initial outgoings.

• Buy Second Hand

Weights don’t go out of fashion. They might change styles occasionally, but essentially, they’re just a heavy weight at the end of a metal bar. You can’t go wrong. Therefore, buying second-hand, as long as there’s no damage, could save you a fortune.

Many websites, such as eBay or even Facebook marketplace, are teeming with people wanting to sell off barely used weights after their brief stint of weightlifting when they’ve decided it’s not for them. Remember to check the description and ask questions regarding any potential damage to the weights. It would be best to have them in full working order to save yourself from injury or save your home from damage.

• Ship from Overseas

Many dumbbell brands are made in China, making them a little cheaper because of the more affordable labor cost in China. However, if you’re shipping to the USA from China, there might be high shipping costs because of the parcel’s weight.

This means that you might think you have a bargain, but the price is twice as much when it comes to check out. Make sure you don’t fall into this trap and double-check the shipping costs before clicking to check out.

CAN I USE ANYTHING IN PLACE OF DUMBBELLS?

If you’re really struggling with cash flow and need a temporary cheap option, you could create makeshift weights to achieve almost the same effect.

• Water Bottles

Filling up 2 large-drum water bottles (the kind used for water coolers) can be a great option as a temporary dumbbell. The best thing about using water bottles is that you can gradually increase the weight as you get stronger by simply adding more water.

The only problem here is that you’d have to measure the water level precisely in both bottles if you were using one for each arm, otherwise, you’ll end up with one arm bigger than the other. There’s also a limit to how much you can increase the weight – once your bottle’s full, you’ll either need to get a bigger one, or you’re done.

• Books

A good selection of heavy books in bags works out really well. You can change the weights as you get stronger by simply adding more to the bag. However, you’ll need to ensure that you have the exact same weight in each bag if you intend to use them simultaneously or for deadlifts.

• Canned Foods

Canned foods are difficult to grip, but they’re a great source of weight that you can just pull out of your pantry. As long as you have bags or boxes to put them in, you’ll be able to build up your weight gradually. However, make sure that your cans are secure in whatever receptacle you use. You don’t want them to fall out and land on your toes.

• Body Weight

Using your own bodyweight is one of the best ways to mimic dumbbells cheaply, and it’ll provide a great workout too. Resistance training can tone up the muscles in just the same way as weight training, and the equipment you can use to do this is much cheaper. Keep in mind though, that these do-it-yourself dumbbells should only be a temporary measure. Making your own weights will never be quite as accurate as buying them.

You won’t have a way to weigh them to be exactly like a professional manufacturer would have, meaning that you’ll possibly end up with very slightly different weights at each end of your dumbbell. As a result, you might end up with different-sized arms, and it could also be dangerous if the heavier end happens to be on your weaker side.

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SUMMARY

Dumbbells are expensive, and, in some respects, there’s no avoiding this. The truth is, you get what you pay for, and buying cheap often means that you’ll receive a substandard product. ‘Buy cheap, buy twice,’ as they say. However, there are a few ways to cut your costs if you’re particularly money-savvy. If you have long-term fitness goals, you should think of your dumbbells as an investment for your future. Splash out, and treat yourself; you won’t regret it!

The post Why are Dumbbells Expensive? Here’s The Deal first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post Why are Dumbbells Expensive? Here’s The Deal appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

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BARBELL STORAGE

It’s not just the equipment itself you’ll need to think about; you’ll also need to consider where you’re going to store it. There are limitless different storage solutions to suit any household to keep you safe and your equipment looking brand new.

And the best thing about using a DIY solution is that you can tailor your storage to your own home, so if you’re limited on space, you can create something to fit your exact measurements.

A barbell rack will act as your place to store your barbell when you’re not using it but also doubles up to become part of your workout routine, allowing you to rest your barbell at certain comfortable heights.

It comes in the form of a large frame, usually with 4 ‘legs.’ As the lifter, you’d stand in between the legs of the structure and lift the weight to the desired heights, where there would be a rest area or ledge for you to place the weight bar, should you need to.

BARBELL RACK USES

Barbells are made up of a single bar tipped with two equal weights. They’re great for squats and deadlifts, especially if you’re weight training, and they are generally seen as a more specialized piece of equipment for weightlifting due to the muscle groups they focus on.

In the gym, you’ll usually have a spotter when lifting weights to ensure your form is correct (and not leaning to one side) and to make sure you’re safe if the weight gets a little too heavy.

However, in your home gym, you’re more likely to be working out alone, so it’s essential to ensure you still maintain that safety and security as no one will be around to help you if you do injure yourself.

• Artificial Spotter

Barbell racks are the ideal piece of equipment to act as a ‘spotter.’ They’ll allow you to set rest spaces in your workout, so if you do feel that the weight is getting a little too much, you don’t need to drop the weight to the floor or risk injury.

• Motivational Prompt

They can also act as a target. You know what height you want to reach, and that rest space to aim for can help push you just that little bit further if you need some more motivation.  

• Even Lifting

The fact that your barbell has rest spaces at the same height on both sides of the rack will keep your lifting even. When you first start lifting, it’s natural to lean to one side because you’ll always have a stronger favored arm.

Your aim with a barbell is to even out that strength so that your physique will look symmetrical. Using a barbell will ensure that the weight is distributed evenly across your arms, back, and chest.

• Storage

When you’re done for the day, you’ll need a space to store your weights – preferably not on the floor. If you live in an apartment, the floor may not necessarily be designed to take a heavyweight if the pressure is focused on a single area. This might cause floor damage or may even be dangerous for the people living below you if you’re in an apartment building.

Creating a barbell rack will distribute the weight over a larger area, allowing the frame to settle across more of your room. When you place your barbell on there, it will be just as heavy, but a wider section of your floor will take the strain.

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HOW TO MAKE A DIY BARBELL RACK STEP-BY-STEP

There are a few different ways that you could create an excellent barbell rack from the materials around your own home.

• Extended Wall Frame

If you haven’t got a lot of space in your home, this is a great option.

Materials:

• 2 x planks of wood, 6-8 inches wider than your shoulder span.
• Four 2 x 4 pieces of wood.
• 2 x wooden planks (18- 24 inches in length).
• 2 x wooden planks for the legs (ideally at least 6 inches above head height).
• Heavy-duty drill with a variety of drill pieces.
• Metal piping (for the hooks to hold your weight – depending on your intended rest spaces, you might want just 2, but up to six will work).
• Heavy-duty screws.
• Bolts.
• Metal adhesive.
• Hand saw.

1. Take your 2 x 4 pieces of wood and screw them into each end of your 6–8-inch pieces, so you end up with two ‘n’ shapes.

2. Take a 6–8-inch wooden piece and secure it to the wall above the skirting in the place where you intend your rack to stand. This will leave the 2 x 4 pieces pointing outwards.

3. Measure your long planks for the legs and select the heights where you’re most likely to want to rest with your barbell. Mark them off with a pencil on both planks so that they match.

4. Take a corner of your metal pipe (this will act as a hook for your weight to stop it sliding off). You’ll need to measure, so all of your pipe pieces are the same length and all end with an upturned edge, like a hook.

5. Measure the pipe’s diameter and drill a hole in each piece of wood at the marked heights to slip your pipe in comfortably.

6. Use metal adhesive to hold your pipe in place, allowing a small section of the pipe to extend through the back of the plank.

7. Use a heavy-duty screw or bolting mechanism to secure the pipe behind the wooden plank to hold the hook in place.

8. Repeat in several positions if you’d like more than one rest place.

9. Take the other 6-8-inch piece and secure it on the wall directly above the first one at the same height as the top of the leg planks.

10. Take your 18-24-inch pieces and screw them into each of your 2 x 4s that are sticking out from the wall. You should now have four arms protruding from the wall, which will hold up your leg planks.

11. Simply screw the leg planks onto the side of each of the wooden arms to secure them in place.

Pros:

• Because it’s using your wall as a counter-balance for the weight, it’s incredibly strong and could be used to store multiple weights if needed.

Cons:

• Once it’s there, it’s there; there’s no moving it.
• It doesn’t look very pretty.
• There are some materials that you may not have around your home.

• Bucket Rack

This method is simple and requires the least technical knowledge; however, it doesn’t look too aesthetically pleasing, so it’s best if you don’t plan to show your homemade gym to anyone.

Materials:

• 2 x 5-gallon paint buckets.
• Cement mix.
• 2 x wooden planks (at least 4 inches in width). The height may vary depending on how tall you are and where you need the barbell to rest.

1. Empty your paint buckets and mix the cement based on the guidelines.

2. Ensure your wood is cut so that both planks are the same size. Ideally, this should be around 6 inches below your head height.

3. Saw a ‘V’ shape into the top of both pieces of wood. This will give you a place to rest and store your barbell.

4. If you choose wider wood for your legs, you may also be able to cut a few more V shapes, slightly off to the side out of the length of the wood. These will allow you to hold your barbell at a different height.

TOP TIPS

Be careful not to cut too far into thin pieces of wood, as this will damage the integrity and may mean that your rack falls over. Only cut at different heights if you’re using thicker wooden planks that can support the weight.

Also, ensure that you cut your Vs into each wooden plank at precisely the same height; otherwise, your barbell obviously won’t stay on.

1. Place one plank into one bucket, right to the bottom and ask someone to hold this straight while you pour in the cement to hold it in place.

2. Hold the plank in place for around 10 minutes to ensure it sets upright. Then leave to dry completely for at least 8 hours before use.

3. Repeat with the second bucket.

4. When storing away your barbell, place it in the top V of your rack.

Pros:

• It’s one of the cheapest options.
• You need little to no technical knowledge to make this style.
• There are few materials needed.
• Because the two legs aren’t attached together, you can move the rack around easily.

Cons:

• It doesn’t look very professional.
• It may require two people to hold the planks in place while the cement sets.

Read More:

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• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
• Sole F85 Treadmill Reviews
• Top 3 Matrix Treadmill Reviews
• Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

BARBELL RACK MAINTENANCE

Treating and sanding down your wooden frames regularly is a necessity. It allows you to find and fix any potential damages quickly before the structure is compromised and means that you’re kept safer from splinters or stray pieces of wood that may cause injury.

If you start to hear any creaking or feel any movement in the rack when you place your barbell on, then it may be time for a replacement. While homemade barbell racks are a great money saver, they may not necessarily last as long unless you’re a professional carpenter, so always be on the lookout for wear and tear.

OTHER POSSIBLE DIY GYM EQUIPMENT

• Dumbbells

Dumbbells can be created out of anything and everything. To start off with, you need to use heavy objects within your home. Books or canned foods are a good starting point. You can then use multiple books and cans in bags to increase the weight over time and ensure they’re easy to handle. Read Here: Best Adjustable Dumbbells

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution with an easy-grab handle, you could use water cooler bottles. These are easy and comfortable to lift and can be made heavier over time by simply adding more water.

• Battle Ropes

Battle ropes are a simple piece of equipment to make yourself, but they’re incredibly effective due to their versatility with exercises. You can tone your abs, arms, legs, back, and shoulders with just a simple rope, just by changing up your activities. They even make a great cardio workout. Read Here: DIY Battle Ropes – How to Make Your Own Battle Ropes

To make your own battle ropes, simply fill an old hose pipe with sand and use duct tape on each end to hold the sand in. You’ll be able to increase the weight over time as you get stronger, and the uneven distribution of sand inside will even improve your balance.

• Kettlebells

A kettlebell is great to increase your lifting abilities and improve your balance and tone your core, but buying a professional one could set you back quite a lot of money. Instead, you could cut a slit in the top of a basketball or soccer ball and fill it with cement to the desired weight. You’ll then be able to use plastic or metal pipe filled with sand as the handle. Using PVC piping will allow you to bend it easily when it gets a little warm, so you can tailor the handle to your grip size. Read Here: DIY Kettlebells for Under $8 in 6 Easy Steps

• Medicine Balls

Medicine balls are great for your abs, biceps, and triceps, depending on the exercises you choose. You could cut a small hole in the top of the basketball and fill the hole with sand. Sealing the hole with duct tape will then allow you to regularly change the medicine ball’s weight if you want to add more sand later on.

This may even mean that a DIY medicine ball is more convenient and cost-effective than a store-bought one, as you can make it heavier as you get stronger without having to replace it. Read Here: Best Medicine Balls for Slamming: [Buyers Guide]

Read More:

• Best 3 Peloton Elliptical Reviews
• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
• Sole F85 Treadmill Reviews
• Top 3 Matrix Treadmill Reviews
• Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

DIY Barbell Rack: SUMMARY

Making your own barbell rack can seriously reduce the cost of setting up a home gym, and you’ll be able to tailor it to your exact specifications, rather than having to make do with store-bought, standardized equipment.

The post DIY Barbell Rack – How to Store a Barbell Easily first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post DIY Barbell Rack – How to Store a Barbell Easily appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

Yes, I’m talking about gym mirrors!

A gym does not feel quite finish or complete until you have installed a large mirror on the wall. And no, they’re not for vanity or taking mirror selfies to boast about your current body achievement. Okay, I’m kidding, they are great spots for a whole, sweaty bod selfies to flex on social media or staring and falling in love with your new shape.

But, those are not they’re primary purpose. The best gym mirrors help add a finishing touch while also helping you train better (more on that later). So, if you are setting up your home gym, then you simply can’t forget about the top gym mirrors. Read Here: Best Running Shoes for Treadmill – Men and Women Buying Guide

Take note, however, that gym mirrors aren’t going to be cheap. Plus, the wide array of options and technical specifications can make your mind swirl. Not to worry though, we made the effort to put together a comprehensive guide to help you along your gym mirror buying journey.

But first, do you really need a gym mirror?

6 Benefits of Installing Gym Mirrors

1) FORM CORRECTION

The main reason why most people install mirrors in their home gym is to help them check their forms and movements during their workout. It is quite easy to slip into poor habits and do the easy ways during your workout, causing you to get poor results and another day away to your fitness goal.

An incorrect form means that you’re not properly targeting the muscle groups that you want and instead of using other groups to compensate. Thus leading to overall weakness and less efficiency during movements.

2) MEASURING PROGRESS

You should be able to see the physical improvements and benefits of your regular training whenever you look in the mirror. Not only can you see the muscle definition and gain, but you also see how much smoother and effective you are doing the movements compared to when you first started working out. Being able to see the results visually as you work out can be an effective motivating factor, pushing you to do better and with more determination.

3) LESS INJURY RISKS

At best, having the wrong forms or doing the wrong movements is useless. At worst, these can lead to injury as a result of overworking other tendons, muscles, ligaments, and bones.

By checking your movement and form in a mirror, you can see where your weight is and what muscles are being overworked. Thus, you can correct the mistakes and dramatically lowering the risk of injuries.

4) TRAINER REPLACEMENT

Although it is always beneficial and recommended to have someone train with you and guide you in improving your movements, most of the time you’ll be training all by yourself in your home gym.

Thus, there won’t be a personal trainer or spotter to point out when you’re doing something wrong or something is out of alignment. However, with the best home gym mirrors, you should be your own spotter, seeing and pointing out when you are cutting corners in your workout or bending the wrong way.

5) A BIGGER, BRIGHTER ROOM

Everyone knows that mirrors can make a room look brighter and larger. And most home gyms tend to be the garage, basement, or the smallest room in your home. Thus, these spaces could use some brightening up. A better-looking workout space can make you want to train, so adding a few mirrors around can make the difference between loathing and loving your home gym.

6) VANITY

Of course, mirrors are for looking at yourself. With the best gym mirror, you get to stare at yourself and be proud of what you’ve achieved. A little vanity is not a bad thing. It helps boost your self-confidence and the motivation to keep it up!

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Gym Mirrors

Finally, convinced to get a gym mirror? But before you splurge your hard-earned money at checkout, you need to take the following factors into consideration first. You don’t want to experience the whole returning process, especially with a huge mirror purchased online.

MIRROR MATERIAL

With mirrors, you get two options: Acrylic or Glass.

Acrylic gym mirrors are not only cheaper, but they are also about half the weight of their glass counterpart. They can be great for the heavily used areas since they do not attract dirt, grime, and dust the way glass mirrors do. Plus, you can find shatterproof acrylic mirrors that are resistant to impact or will not have those super shards of glass scattered on the ground when you’re prone to swinging kettlebells anywhere.

Now, if acrylic mirrors are so great, then why don’t all commercial gyms and even dance studios use them? Well, it’s because of their reflection quality that degrades over time. Also, they can sometimes distort because of their thinness, something you don’t want when checking yourself out.

Glass mirrors may be heavier and more expensive, however, if you want something to look at yourself for years to come and don’t want your reflection to look like something from a circus hall of mirrors, then you should go with these ones.

TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT?

You also need to consider if you want a mirror to be temporarily or permanently attached to the wall. If you are renting, then you will need to go for standing or hanging mirrors.

Standing mirrors can be easily placed just about anywhere. However, they tend to be more expensive and heavier as well as not having the right height or shape for seeing your whole body during working out.

Hanging mirrors, on the other hand, are easy to put up and take down so you can also bring it wherever you go. However, you will need something to hang it on, otherwise, you will need to ask your landlord’s permission to install a fixture on the wall.

For a more permanent solution, mirrors can be fixed to the wall with channels or screws. Some mirrors even come with self-adhering backing.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

You also need to consider where you will place the mirror. It should be where you do most of your workout, however, you also need to consider if there is enough lighting to see yourself or if there is any direct light that reflects on the mirror and makes it frustrating.

You also need to think about how close your mirror will be to your workout equipment and the types of exercises you do around it. For instance, placing it close to where you swing barbells or a power rack could cause problems. Choose a location where there is plenty of space so that you will not be worried about hitting the gym mirror with your equipment.

EASE OF INSTALLATION

The ease of us should always start with its installation. The gym mirror should come with the necessary hardware to put it on the wall effectively and safely. The brackets should also be easy to install and easily fits the mirror. If it comes with an adhesive back, then it should stick easily to any wall and stay there for years to come.

EFFECTIVENESS

For the gym mirror to be effective, you will need to easily see your reflection as your workout so you can monitor your forms and movements and get the most out of your activity. Thus, you will need a mirror with crystal clear reflection. You want something that will not distort or get all scratched up too easily.

DURABILITY

As mentioned before, most acrylic mirrors won’t shatter if you accidentally hit it with one of your workout equipment. However, glass mirrors also offer a protective coating on the back for durability. Most of them have a vinyl backing that makes them shatterproof, while others have a silver coating that helps protect against corrosion for durability.

The Top 5 Best Gym Mirrors 2020

Gatco 1802 Beveled Mirror

Gatco features a broad range of large rectangular mirrors. It is a reputable US manufacturer who’s been around for over 40 years. This gym mirror features a minimalist flush design with smooth beveled edges and frameless construction. It is of artisan quality, handcrafted and polished for lasting sheen and timeless beauty.

Not only that, but this home gym also boasts sleek diamond-cut float glass that promises durability, longevity, and reliability. It also features the Gatco patented Hang-It wall mounting systems fully equipped with level for effortless installation in just

10 minutes or less. Easily mount it in landscape or portrait on various surfaces including drywall, wood, or tile. Promising excellence and quality, Gatco offers the mirror with a 100-year warranty to back it up.

Better Bevel Frameless Mirror

Another reliable US manufacturer, Better Bevel has over 50 years of expertise in building premium framed and frameless mirrors. They come in a variety of sizes so you can find the right one for your home gym.

These mirrors offer a classic rectangular and frameless design that is both sophisticated and simple, making it a statement on any wall in your home, most especially on your home gym wall. The mirror has a finely crafted 1-inch bevel while the polished edges provide a finished appearance and safe handling.

The authentic ¼ inch thick glass promises no reflection distortion, while the premium silver backing helps improve durability, especially in high-humidity environments. Furthermore, the innovative Z-bar mounting brackets with the included drywall anchors and screws allow for a secure, quick, and easy horizontal or vertical installation

Marketing Holders Mirror Sheet

With half the weight of glass, this mirror acrylic sheet from Marketing Holders offers extensive design flexibility and shatter resistance. This acrylic mirror is vacuum metabolized in a vacuum chamber with the front surface finished with clear polyethylene film to ensure a highly reflective function.

All mirror sheets are protected on the back with the durable coating that can withstand accidental knocks or bumps. Super easy to install, this mirror can be mounted with screws or suitable adhesive backing.

These mirror sheets are available in various sizes. So you can find the right size for your needs or even get several mirror sheets to cover your gym wall. The corners f the mirror sheets are also rounded in order to prevent injuries when handling and installing them.

TroySys MiraSafe Gym Mirror Kit

Here’s a specialized mirror for home gyms—the MiraSafe gym mirror from TroySys is designed to be shatter-resistant, making them the best choice for commercial gyms, fitness centers, garage, and home gyms, and yoga studios.

It comes as a kit, so it has all the materials you will need to install the mirror on your own. These include the ¼ inch thick mirror with flat polished edges, mirror clips, 2 tubes of glue, and a J-Bar that can be cut to size. For superior clarity, this mirror features low iron content without the green tint or distortion found in most home gym mirrors.

Fab Glass and Mirror Activity Gym Mirror

Last but not the least, we have another great gym mirror from Fab Glass and Mirror. Like the previous mirror offering, this gym mirror also comes as a kit. So, it includes all the needed hardware to install it by yourself including 60 inches J bar 4 mirror clips, J-bar screws, and the specialty mirror adhesive.

The mirror itself features a frameless design for a clean and seamless look. Meanwhile, the flat polished edge provides safe handling and installation of the mirror. This mirror is guaranteed 100 percent shatterproof which helps minimize the risks of injuries.

This is because f the safety film backing that strengthens the glass surface and making it less prone to breakage and shattering. Not only that, but this gym mirror is also lightweight and even absorbs sound. They are even super easy to clean and maintain.

Installing Home Gym Mirrors

Once you have purchased the best gym mirrors, it is time to put it to use. The question now is, how are you going to mount the mirror? Here are various ways to install a large gym mirror and the following steps

1) ADHESIVE

Assuming that you are not renting, self-adhering mirrors are one of the easiest and fastest options. For this to work, you will need a non-porous, clean, and even surface. So, yes, no brick walls. The adhesive can take a while to set, however, once it is on properly, the mirror won’t be moving for a long time. Not, this can be a problem if you wish to move your mirror elsewhere or when the mirror itself gets damaged.

2) SCREWS

By screwing the gym mirror into place, you will be able to move the mirror, albeit with 4 holes left in the wall. The walls should be strong in order for the screws to hold. Also, mirrors weakened when holes are made in it. Not only that, screwing too tightly into the mirror can cause cracks. Thus, it is most recommended that you leave it to the professionals.

3) J CHANNELS

If your wall is not perfectly smooth or flat, then you can try J Channels to attach the mirror to the wall. J Channels are aluminum channels drilled into the walls where your mirror is then slotted into.

You drill in the bottom rail then slot the mirror in for quick reference for where the top railing should go. Take the mirror out and drill the top rail into position and sliding the gym mirror in between.

Just make sure that the wall itself is strong so that it can hold the weight of the gym mirror and the J channels. This is a relatively cheap and quick process, leaving a high-quality look. Also, the gym mirrors can be replaced easily when one gets damaged.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Mirrors are notorious for attracting dirt, grime, and dust. And even if you regularly clean them, it is hard not to leave streaks and some lint. This is especially true if you have a garage or basement gym. The key to a shiny, gleaming gym mirror is the right cleaning techniques and tools:

Step 1

Prepare your cleaning solution and tools. Don’t even think about those harsh and expensive mirror cleaners from your local supermarket.

• Spray bottle filled with 4 parts water to 1 part white vinegar
• Microfiber cloth
• Cotton swabs (for getting into those hidden corners)
• Newspaper

Step 2

Prepare the area. Place a few pages of newspaper under the mirror in order to catch any drips.

Step 3

Start cleaning. Spray the solution onto the mirror or onto a microfiber cloth. Rub in a circular motion in order to remove the grime. Follow up with vertical strokes, then horizontal swipes.

Step 4

Put your focus now on the corners. If your gym mirror uses J-channels or is framed, then you will need cotton swabs in order to get right into the edges and corners.

Step 5

Lastly, buff for gleaming perfection. Use the newspaper to buff the mirror and give it a nice shine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the mirror need to be a ceiling to floor?

A: No. Your mirror could be at least 1 ½ feet above the floor and still allow you to see everything when you’re standing in front of it. It should be between 48 and 73 inches tall. Any less or more than that is a waste of money and effort.

Q:Do the gym mirrors distort?

A: Yes, especially the acrylic mirrors that are 3mm thick. If you are considering acrylic mirrors, then you need to choose the thickest mirror you can find.

Q: Do I need safety backing?

A: Mirrors installed with adhesive will not need safety backing. All other mirrors installed with screws or J channels will have space behind them, making them less stable and safe, thus the need for safety backing.

Safety backing is a piece of protective film which goes at the back of the mirror. So, if the mirror is struck, the pieces will stick to the safety backing rather than shattering all over the floors and posing a safety risk.

Q: Can I polish the edges?

A: Most mirrors come roughly cut from machines that leave sharp edges. However, you can polish these edges in order to make them straight and smooth so that they are not dangerous to you or others. Or you can just find mirrors with polished edges.

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap!

We hope you are now more informed about gym mirrors and helped you find the right one for your home gym. Mirrors are indeed a great addition to home gyms, offering a complete feel and look that can help level up your workout determination. Continue bulking up and see amazing results as you stare at that man (or woman) in the mirror!

The post Best Gym Mirrors: Buying Tips and Expert Reviews first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post Best Gym Mirrors: Buying Tips and Expert Reviews appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.

There’s no reason to skip leg day if your gym is right there in your apartment. However, the unease begins when you get that first complaint about noise from your neighbor. Treadmills are undoubtedly loud, especially if you’re on an intense run. Read here: 10 Best Nordictrack Treadmills

If you live in an apartment – especially one that’s a few floors up – then you might start to feel bad about the noise pollution you’re creating daily. But there are things that you can do to remedy this, so don’t let it put you off forever; you’ll just need to make a few tweaks to your setup and routine.

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IS A TREADMILL TOO LOUD FOR AN APARTMENT?

In an apartment, you’re likely to have incredibly close neighbors. If you’re on the first floor, then you’re home and dry as the vibration from a treadmill is expected to be heard downwards through the floor. However, if you live above a neighbor, that vibration may be deafening and more than a little annoying.

It’s not just the vibration when your treadmill is working either. If you’re running, the heavy footfalls will echo through your neighbors’ homes. Your feet will typically become heavier the more tired you get too, and your treadmill may even develop a characteristic squeak.

Although a treadmill is considered one of the loudest pieces of gym equipment to have in an apartment, there are still things that you can do to limit the noise.

HOW TO REDUCE TREADMILL NOISE IN AN APARTMENT?

You’ll need to address the main reasons for the noise if you’re hoping to give your neighbors an easier time.

1) Squeaking

The squeaking comes from the treadmill belt and will generally happen when you’re walking slower on the treadmill or running at an incline. This could be because:

a) Your treadmill belt is too tight.

Check to see that it moves freely on the treadmill floor – but it shouldn’t be too loose either. If you find that the belt is getting tighter over time, it could be because it’s started to drift off to the side and is more off-center. Ensure that the whole of the belt is straight, and each side is parallel to the sides of the treadmill floor.

b) It needs some oil.

Treadmills, like bikes, need oiling every so often to allow the belt to flow freely. Treadmill oil can be purchased from a fitness store, bike store, or online.

If you’ve purchased a more modern treadmill, it might even tell you when it needs lubricating. To add oil, you’ll need to loosen the belt and add oil to either side where the belt turns the corners.

Keep in mind that you should only use professional treadmill oil for this. WD-40 won’t work and will cause permanent damage to your treadmill.

c) Old bearings

If you’ve purchased an old or secondhand treadmill, it may be that your bearings need changing. Like any equipment that works with a cog or revolving mechanism, it will require an update every so often.

You should also check your rollers at either end of the treadmill after removing the belt. If either roller is damaged, it will need to be replaced to prevent squeaking. Broken rollers could also cause you to fall if the belt slips, so you must get them changed as soon as possible.

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2) Your Feet

In fact, it’s you that’s the main reason for all the noise in your apartment. You’re pretty heavy, and essentially all you’re doing, especially if you’re jogging at a fast pace, is jumping up and down on your neighbor’s ceiling.

The best thing you can do here is try to absorb a lot of that noise. Trying to be quieter won’t help as you’ll still make the same level of noise on tiptoe, and it’ll ruin the effectiveness of your workout too.

The best way to absorb some of the impacts of your footfalls and reduce the noise is to add treadmill mats underneath your treadmill. They’re thick and made of rubber or spongey material, limiting the vibration but still being solid enough that you can safely run without the treadmill moving.

3) Your Exercise Regime

You want to go as hard as you can to get fit as soon as possible, and it’s tempting to start running on your new treadmill immediately. However, walking at an incline could actually be more beneficial from a weight loss, stamina, and muscle-building perspective; plus, your feet won’t hit the treadmill as hard, so you’ll reduce the noise this way. Perhaps it’s time to start changing your exercise regime to be a little quieter where possible.

DO TREADMILL MATS REDUCE NOISE?

Yes, treadmill mats are excellent vibration absorbers and will reduce the noise impact for the people living below you. Their rubbery, dense texture helps to keep your treadmill steady while you’re running and provides an element of soundproofing.

Mats are also an excellent idea for other reasons. They provide a protective surface under your treadmill to keep your floor scratch-free and protect your treadmill from damage. Having a treadmill mat underneath can actually extend the life of your treadmill quite substantially. Read Here: Top Five Best Treadmills For Seniors – Reviews & Buyers Guide

The grippy surface underneath the mat will help you to keep the treadmill steady against the floor, meaning it’s much safer for you to use as you can be confident that you won’t slip around throughout the workout.

THE BEST FLOORING FOR A TREADMILL

While mats are a great way to cancel out the noise below, it’s evident that having a hard floor underneath the mat won’t entirely absorb all of the sounds. If possible, try to set up your treadmill in a room that’s carpeted.

The layers of underlay, then carpet, and treadmill mat will provide a triple soundproof layer. Hard flooring, especially if you have a wooden floor, will increase the echo in your room and allow the sound to travel further.

Read More:

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WHERE SHOULD YOU PUT THE TREADMILL IN YOUR APARTMENT?

You’ll need to consider a few things before you bring the treadmill into your apartment. Although some are noise-related, others will need to be considered for your general safety.

• Neighbors

It would be best if you always considered the neighbors around you before placing your treadmill. Always place it in a room that’s as far as possible from your neighbors.

If you happen to live with the lobby next to a couple of your rooms, then it’s probably best to place it in one of those. Your neighbors above and below may still be able to hear you, but you’ve removed a little of the risk of upsetting your next-door neighbor on the other side.

With a treadmill, you’ll probably never be the perfect neighbor. However, it would be best if you always discussed with the people living around you before deciding. It may be that they’re fine with it at certain hours of the day, but one neighbor works nights. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you’re dealing with daily complaints.

If your neighbor has a specific reason for you refraining from working out at certain times of the day, then try to stick to this. It’s more trouble than it’s worth. Plus, coming up with a strict workout schedule will benefit you, so try to stick to working out at the same times each day to make the annoyance minimal.

• Live Load

Live load is the amount of weight your floor can hold before it becomes dangerous and specifically refers to the furniture or moveable elements in your room. Generally, each square foot can take around 30 pounds of weight in a US apartment at any one time.

Treadmills will take up a fair amount of square footage in your room, but you’ll need to work out how heavy your treadmill is to ensure that it doesn’t exceed the weight allowed for how much space it takes up.

Typically, a home-use treadmill can weigh up to 220lbs. As long as this is spread over 7 square feet, you should be fine. Your weight on top of this needs to be factored in too.

The bottom line is, an apartment building isn’t equipped to take excessive weight on the floor in a single spot. If the weight is too much in a particular area in your spare room, you’ll be in danger of falling through the ceiling.

So it’s not only annoying for your neighbors but also potentially life-threatening too. If you have a home gym in one of your spare rooms, make sure that all of your heavy equipment is spaced out around the room. Stacking a treadmill, weights and an exercise bike or rowing machine in the same corner is likely to result in disaster.

• Mobility

Treadmills are a sizable piece of equipment. This is something that most people forget when they make their purchase. Sure, it’s easy to order online for delivery, but how are you going to get your treadmill up to your apartment from the first floor? And how will you maneuver it to the correct room once it’s there?

You can make all the plans in the world for the perfect gym setting, but if you can’t physically get it to that room, that’s all of your decorating out of the window.

One of the main factors that you need to consider before you purchase is how you’re going to get it to where you need it to be. It might be easier to place it in a room that’s nearest the door, for example.

• Flat Surfaces

It seems obvious, but the source of a lot of the noise coming from many treadmills is the banging and scraping that comes from the treadmill itself moving across the floor if it’s not set up on a completely flat surface.

While most apartment floors are flat, an older apartment might have warped flooring due to age, damp damage, unprofessional tiling, or carpeting.

Before you set off on your first run, just rest your body weight on each of the corners to ensure there’s no movement. Getting a firm base will reduce the risk of noise and also keep you safer.

TAKING DRASTIC ACTION

If you’re still worried about your treadmill use around your neighbors and you’ve tried everything else, but you’re still receiving complaints, it might be time to take some more drastic action.

If you’re completely set on having a treadmill in your home, and you own the apartment rather than renting, then you could put in some professional soundproofing. This helps to contain the noise, especially for your neighbors who live next door.

It involves adding an extra layer of drywall and filling the gap with mineral wool. A slightly more temporary measure would be to hang layers of wool or thick fabric across the wall – or even add a bookcase (books make for excellent soundproofing).

Read More:

• Best 3 Peloton Elliptical Reviews
• Best 3 Incline Treadmill Reviews
• Sole F85 Treadmill Reviews
• Top 3 Matrix Treadmill Reviews
• Best Elliptical Machines Under $500: Top 5 Options Reviewed

SUMMARY

A treadmill is a fantastic way to stay fit in your own home. The single upfront cost could save you a lifetime of gym membership and will motivate you to exercise more often. Living in an apartment shouldn’t stop you from taking this positive step as long as your apartment is sturdily built.

However, you will need to prepare adequately before you bring your treadmill home. Speak to your neighbors, check out the health and safety aspects and do all the soundproofing you can.

The post How to Reduce Treadmill Noise in an Apartment first appeared on Best Home Gym Equipment.

The post How to Reduce Treadmill Noise in an Apartment appeared first on Best Home Gym Equipment.