Exercise equipment reviews: FAQs
How do home versions compare to gym exercise equipment?
Build up your training programme slowly to avoid injury
This depends partly on your budget.
You can buy the same models as you’ll find in the gym and, as high-specification models, can expect these to be durable and furnished with a variety of programs and features such as water bottles and shelves.
While you’ll need a fat wallet to buy exact replicas of the models you pound in the gym, you don’t have to exhaust your finances to get a good-quality piece of home equipment.
All the exercise bikes and cross-trainers we’ve tested cost less than an annual gym subscription of around £700. We were impressed with the quality. They lack some flashy extras, but the program options, comfort and build quality measure up well.
Do all machines offer the same level of difficulty
No. We measured the minimum and maximum resistance levels of all the cross-trainers and bikes we tested.
The range can vary significantly between machines meaning that some are suitable for a wide range of users while others are better either for unfit people or those who want the most challenging workouts. See individual model descriptions for more details.
How easy is it to assemble the equipment?
Your exercise machine workout will begin as soon as you unpack your new equipment at home. It’s often a mental challenge as much as a physical one, as some instructions leave a lot to be desired.
Most products arrive flatpacked, leaving you to add any pedals, footrests, display consoles, seats and handlebars that are included.
It’s worth getting a willing helper, particularly with treadmills and cross-trainers which have heavier parts. An extra pair of hands can be invaluable to hold sections still while you screw in nuts and bolts – many of which can fit badly, in our experience.
We’ve rated each item for how easy it is to build. The main problems we experienced were poorly labelled parts (one model had 99 separate items), confusing, wrong, misleading or only partial instructions, plus occasional problems tightening bolts.
You’ll probably need your own tools and can expect to spend well over an hour with the trickiest models.
Luckily, this is a job you only need to do once. After that, the real effort begins as you start exercising on your equipment.
What tips do you have for sticking to an exercise plan?
Even top athletes have days when they don’t feel like a workout. But if you want to prevent your home exercise equipment turning into a glorified clothes horse, see our section on tips for exercising at home.
What does the guarantee cover?
There are big differences in what guarantees cover.
Some offer extended (occasionally lifetime) guarantees on frames and other parts, others cover parts and labour for one or two years. If this is important to you, check before you buy as it varies enormously between different models.
What other small exercise gadgets are on the market?
Shops are full of low-cost exercise gadgets making wild claims.
We asked our experts to comment on how three popular types of gadget work, how to use them, and - importantly - whether they're a good way to help you get fit. Generally, the answer was no.
Swiss balls
A bit like a spacehopper or a big beach ball, these can help you develop muscles in the trunk to give you the strength and stability for good posture.
Ideally, you should get guidance on how to use one from a trained expert such as a physiotherapist or qualified gym instructor. Just following an instruction book won't ensure you use the right muscles.
You might also need to do some floor exercises before you're strong enough to use the ball safely.
Using the wrong muscles in your neck, trunk or abdomen can reinforce poor movement and posture, and increase the risk of injury. Prices start at about £10.
Abdominal trainers
These are supposed to help develop the abdominal muscles while supporting the neck and head. But they're easy to misuse by pushing with your arms rather than your abdomen.
They can also encourage you to exercise with rounded shoulders, putting stress on the back and neck.
Learning how to perform a few decent sit-ups or crunches would be just as, if not more, effective.
Even if you get the knack of an ab-trainer, it is important not to overdevelop the abdominal muscles and neglect the stabilising muscles of the trunk. Prices start at about £10.
Pedometers
These are great, cheap (from about £8) motivational devices that measure the number of steps you take.
With some, you program the length of your stride for added accuracy, and some estimate the calories used based on your weight.
The optimum number of steps per day is 10,000. Build up slowly if you're not used to it: try 2,000 extra steps each week till you reach your target.
