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Exercise equipment reviews: How to buy

Buying an exercise machine is a significant investment. And, however good your intentions are, it’s worth being honest about whether you definitely want to buy one.

Exercise equipment can take up lots of room in your home.

First steps before buying exercise equipment

If you’ve never used exercise equipment before, it pays to try before you buy to avoid being lumbered with the wrong type of equipment. Or, to realise only too late that this sort of exercise regime isn’t right for you.

Don’t rush in: take time to see equipment first hand so you can appreciate the differences in size, build and sophistication.

Below, we outline the main characteristics of exercise bikes, cross-trainers and treadmills. But there are several preliminary steps you can take to help you decide if home exercise equipment is right for you.

1. Do you know someone who has an exercise bike, treadmill or cross-trainer? If so, ask if you can have a go on it, to see if you think that type will suit you. The owners may also have good advice about their experience. Ask how regularly they use it and if they’ve experienced any problems fitting it into their home set-up.

2. Visit high-street shops such as  John Lewis and sports retailers. Their staff can demonstrate the options available and advise you which type of product may suit you best. You’ll also have a chance to try the equipment in the store.

3. Or, if brave enough, a trip to your local leisure centre gym could help introduce you to the types of exercise equipment available.

Choose the right type of exercise equipment for you

You may already know which type of exercise machine you’d like to buy.

If you don’t yet know, your decision should depend largely on your exercise aims, age and current fitness and your preferred type of exercise. But you’ll also need to take into account practical considerations such as weight, space available and whether you’ll want to store the item between use.

Exercise bikes

Exercise bikes are a perennial favourite and a good choice for older, frail or unfit people. But they’re great for more experienced users, too. Although the exercise is generally targeted towards the lower body, it still works the cardiovascular system (heart and lungs) and is good for improving endurance and burning fat.

Bikes are a good option if you have limited space as they’re more compact than other types and are generally light enough to move out of the way.

If you’ve settled on buying an exercise bike, you need to decide which type.

• Upright bikes The most common kind and with good budget options. You need to climb onto them and adjust the seat so that you can’t touch the ground. They’re relatively lightweight and don’t take up too much floor space. You’ll find the biggest selection available in this format.
• Recumbent bikes These are a newer development to the market. Instead of sitting on a small seat with your legs pedalling below, you lean against a back rest with your legs out in front. They’re a good option if you’re not confident about climbing onto an upright bike and you might find it easier to read on a recumbent bike if this is important to you.
• Spinning bikes Spinning classes are immensely popular in gyms and you can also buy bikes for home use. They’re highly simplistic compared to other exercise bikes and are designed for high intensity use rather than comfort. You can alter the seat height and the resistance level but they’re devoid of other controls and lack display consoles or accessories. They’re small and lightweight and worth considering if want to replicate your spinning class at home, perhaps using a DVD for inspiration.

Cross/elliptical trainers

Cross, or elliptical, trainers have grown in popularity as they offer a challenging full body workout.

You stand on platforms and your hands grip swing arms. The action is similar to running without hitting the floor or cycling standing up while pushing your arms forwards and backwards. The action combines the motions of the treadmill, stepper and exercise bike with your feet forming an elliptical pattern. If your arms tire, you can rest them while continuing to work your legs.

You get a low impact, weight-bearing cardio-vascular workout for both the upper and lower body which is good if you want to lose weight and improve fitness. 

Cross trainers are particularly suited to those who may struggle with hip, knee, ankle or back pain but aren’t suitable if you have balance problems. They allow forward and backward movement which helps muscles develop evenly.

Choose one which is comfortable and will fit into your available space. This can be a challenge as this type of equipment has a large footprint and can be too heavy to move around regularly. Smaller versions are easier to store but will have a comparatively smaller range of motion which may make them feel less comfortable.

Treadmills

Treadmills are the ideal solution for the fair-weather runner for whom downpours, heatwaves and dark winter nights present all too easy an excuse to shirk an outdoor run.

The machinery comprises a motorised belt which can operate at speeds from a slow walk to a fast run. You can also, usually, vary the incline to mimic walking or running uphill.

Treadmills offer a good cardiovascular workout and can be kinder to your joints than running on roads as there is some degree of shock absorbency.

Not every home is suitable for a treadmill though. Whereas cross-trainers and exercise bikes typically weigh under 60kg, treadmills average about 95kg and take up considerably more floor space than other types. Realistically, you need to install one in a dedicated space where you won’t need to move it in between workouts.

You’ll need a bigger budget too. In our experience, entry level models are poor quality and, if you’re serious about getting the most from your treadmill, it pays to spend more.

Budget

The cross-trainers and exercise bikes we’ve tested are just as good as those you use in the gym – albeit slightly less deluxe – and cost less than a typical annual gym membership of around £700. You’ll need to pay more to guarantee good quality if you're buying a treadmill though.

You should fight the urge to buy the very cheapest versions of any type. In previous tests, we’ve found these are wobbly, boring and uncomfortable.

Plus, you're far more likely to stick with a machine that makes exercise interesting so we'd recommend paying enough to get a solid machine with at least a few different exercise programs and a heart-rate monitor.

Where to buy exercise equipment

In shops

You can buy exercise equipment from specialist independents and large chains such as  Argos as well as some department stores such as John Lewis. It’s definitely worth seeing – and trying – your proposed purchase in the flesh before you buy it as comfort should be one of your primary considerations.

Check manufacturers’ websites or Yellow Pages for details of local stockists.

All types of exercise equipment are heavy and bulky so make sure you they'll fit in your car if you want to transport them home yourself.

Buying exercise equipment online

There is a huge online market for exercise equipment and it’s also stocked in catalogue stores such as Argos.

Prices can vary considerably so, once you’ve settled on a model, it’s definitely worth using the internet to shop around for the best price.

The problem is that you can't see the equipment before you buy it, so be sure to do your research carefully and read the specification information about the size, weight and features.

If you want to buy online we'd recommend trying to see the model in person beforehand. Or, use our online buying guide to see which models the Which? experts recommend.