Choosing a home gym is a bit more difficult than finding the right treadmill or elliptical trainer. There are a number of different gym types, one of which should suit your needs and help you reach your home workout goals. Keep reading for home gym guide information.

 The variety of machines on the market include the following: weight benches, single stack home gyms, leverage gyms, power rod gyms, multi-station gyms, resistance bands, cable cross machines and power racks. All home gyms regardless of type operate with a form of resistance, either weight plates, leverage plates, resistance bands or power rods.

Plate-loaded machines and power racks.  These types of machines are good for body building and power lifting.  One perk of plate loaded and power racks are that you can adjust your weight load rather easily and the amount of resistance isn’t fixed.

Leverage plate machines are much like the more traditional plate loaded machines, but are much more safe and a spotter is not necessary. 

Another type of home gym is a fixed stack machine.  These are a good option if you prefer a smaller gym that will work much like a health club machine. 

If you have very limited space for your home gym, you might also consider resistance bands.  These also work well for those who travel often as you can easily take them with you. 

Yet another option is a power rod based gym, such as a Bowflex.  These gyms are compact and offer a great variety of workouts with simple adjustments.  A spotter is not required with these machines.

As with any piece of home fitness equipment, you get what you pay for with a home gym.  More expensive machines will offer you greater flexibility (i.e. more workout options) and better quality parts that will last longer.  The most cheap and simple home gym can meet the needs of many people, however: free weights and dumbbells.  Keep in mind that to safely do many exercises with free weights and dumbbells you need a spotter.  With many home gyms you can safely do these exercises by yourself without a spotter.  Make sure you consider this when looking for a home gym set-up that will be best for you.

You will also want to consider ergonomics when shopping for a home gym.  All gyms do not meet the needs of all people, nor should they.  When a gym has made it on to your short-list, make sure it allows you to perform exercises such as a chest press, lat pull, curls, squats and triceps extensions with proper form.  If the machine would make you compromise your form on any of these exercises, pass it up.

When you’re shopping for a home gym, you really have the great flexibility when it comes to price - there is such a wide range of equipment available at all price ranges.  Resistance bands, for example, often cost well under $100 for a full set.  The drawback to purchasing something as simple as resistance bands is that you will be limited as far as what exercises you can do.  A full single station gym can be purchased for an average of $500.

As when purchasing any piece of home fitness equipment, you should read reviews and do your homework before you buy.  You should consider your own personal goals, your budget, the space where you’d like to use the gym and whether or not you have enough room, as well as free weights vs. machines and what would be better for you and your goals. 

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