Home Gym Buying Guide

Browse Home Gyms »

Do work and personal obligations keep you busy during gym hours? Investing in a home gym is a great way to keep your commitment to health and fitness, but what are weight stacks, adjustable position cable systems and weight ratios? Where does the advertising talk end and functionality begin? Your options for a home gym and the terminology that goes with them can make shopping intimidating. Pronto’s Home Gym Buying Guide will take the mystery out of purchasing a home gym and help you choose the one that meets your budget and lifestyle needs (see also Exercise Bike Buying Guide, Treadmill Buying Guide, Elliptical Trainer Buying Guide). More »

the five

What are the five key points I need to look at?

What should your home gym do?

Consider the types of exercises you intend to do, then find a home gym with stations that focus on your target muscle groups. Most home gyms are not a good choice for general aerobic exercise as they focus on specific areas instead of providing a sustained, low-resistance workout.

Weight stacks vs. resistance bands

Home gyms with weight stacks are good for people who want to build muscle mass. For general fitness and exercise, home gyms with resistance bands offer an easier, more lightweight solution.

Installation and assembly

Measure the space where you intend to place your home gym. Make sure you have enough room to move freely around the equipment and clearance for all moving parts. Look for delivery deals that include professional installation.

Upgrade options

Make sure you know what’s included with your home gym purchase, as some manufacturers may sell base units that require costly upgrades to function. Look for home gyms that let you add weights or exercise stations as your fitness needs change so your home gym grows with you.

Warranty

Warranty terms for home gyms should be the deciding factor in your purchase. High-end manufacturers offer lifetime to 30-year warranties on the frame and 2 to 10 years on parts. Don’t buy a high-end home gym with a warranty that offers you less than that or entry-level home gyms that offer less than five years on the frame and one year on parts.

pronto pick What product do we recommend?

Body Solid EXM3000LPS Home Gym

We like the Body Solid EXM3000LPS Home Gym for its health-club quality and relatively compact size. This multi-station home gym features a bench press, incline press, shoulder press, mid-row exercises, a Pec Dec and a leg/calf press for a complete workout in one piece of equipment. With a solid, comfortable frame and a lifetime warranty, this home gym provides tremendous flexibility for everything from weight training to general conditioning.

Not rated yet

Own it? Write a Review

Available at 14 stores
$1,638 - $3,975

Browse Home Gyms »

experts say

Men’s Journal—“The ProSpot's strength is that you can get a freeweight-style workout that will challenge your coordination and work your stabilizers without needing a partner to spot you, thanks to its clever barbell suspension system. To round out your workout, the P-600 also sports two vertically adjustable pulleys for everything from curls and raises to pulldowns and rows.” Source: Men’s Journal Magazine

Home-Gym-Review.com—“The EXM-3000 Home Gym is another great home gym from Body Solid. It’s a big home gym with 3 stations and a choice of 2 different optional stations (dip/hanging leg raise or multi-hip station) But surprisingly it still doesn't take up too much room. Its chock full of added features like 2 x 210lb weight stacks with solid steel weight stack guards, leg press standard with a fully rubber enclosed leg press foot plate, non-slip low row foot plate, adjustable bench press arms and ab crunch station. Source: Home-Gym-Review.com: Body Solid Home Gyms

Exercise Equipment Expert Review Journal—“The Bowflex Sport is a good value in home gyms and blows the doors off the Weider Crossbow. It's also miles ahead of the overrated Stamina Bandflex Gym in terms of functionality and performance.” Source: Exercise Equipment Expert Review Journal: Bowflex Sport Review

hot buzz What's the latest in the world of home gyms and fitness?

Trainer to the stars Gunnar Peterson has teamed up with Propel energy water to build a new Web site that offers tips for getting the most out of a home gym. Users can pick the body areas they want to target, build a workout program and print it out for use at home. The site also includes video demonstrations that you can download for free to your video iPod. Source: Propel Fitness Water

Wallet Impact

What can I expect in my price range?

Price	Description	Good Pick (see all Home Gyms)

$	Budget-priced home gyms generally use resistance bands and are constructed of lightweight, compact materials. These home gyms are a good choice for beginners or those looking for general conditioning, but they don’t offer enough resistance for building muscle mass. Beware of discounted home gyms in this range that lack enough features to be useful.	Bowflex Sport? Home Gym Compare prices at 2 stores $699 - $1,200

$$	Mid-range home gyms feature weight stacks and multiple exercise stations. Some are designed so that two or more people can work out simultaneously. These machines can often be customized and upgraded with extra options and weights, making them a good choice for more serious users who want a home gym that can be expanded over time.	Bodycraft K2 Home Gym Compare prices at 8 stores $2,299 - $3,399

$$$	High-end home gyms provide everything that a serious user needs. Look for solid, durable construction, multiple stations not found in bargain and midrange equipment and the ability to add extra stations or more weights. Longer warranties are a must—30 years on the frame and 10 years on parts should be the minimum if you’re spending this much.	Body-Solid EXM 4000 Home Gym Compare prices at 12 stores $1,499 - $4,000

shop talk

What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?

Frame

The main body of a home gym. Stations are generally extensions of the frame and can sometimes be added as upgrades in the future. Look for a heavy-duty frame of solid construction. Avoid home gyms with thin frames that may break with repetitive use.

Resistance Bands

Flexible bands stretched between tension points that use various methods to provide resistance for home-gym exercises. Home gyms with resistance bands are generally more lightweight, but they do not provide as much of a workout as gyms with weight stacks.

Station

An area of a home gym designed for a specific exercise. Home gyms have multiple stations designed to work different parts of the body.

Weight Stack

A stack of weights that a home gym uses to provide resistance for exercises. Most home gym weight stacks are around 200 pounds, which is good for most users. Dedicated body-builders may want the option of adding more weight.

guide tools