Monday, January 24, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

FITNESS: Man and Machine

Buyers should shop around before purchasing exercise equipment, experts say

Click image for enlargement. Illustration by Anton. Depending on your workout plans, dumbbells might provide as much exercise as a fancy, high-priced machine. Illustration by Anton.

It's that time of year when fitness-seeking, resolution-making Southern Nevadans get up off the couch, screw up their willpower and ... well, at least buy a home exercise bike, treadmill or stair-climbing machine.

Of course, in a month or so, most of that machinery will be gathering dust like some pathetic art objects or, maybe, serving as Southern Nevada's most expensive indoor laundry dryers.

But investing in a piece of home exercise equipment can be a great first step in becoming, or staying, fit. As with any other pricey purchase, finding the right one requires a bit of thought and some comparison shopping.

First -- and long before exercising your credit card or check-writing hand -- give some thought to your fitness habits, your exercise goals and the kind of physical activities you enjoy.

For instance, said Debi Scaletta, co-owner of The Fitness Exchange, 3736 E. Flamingo Road, "if you don't like walking outside you probably won't like walking inside."

So, a treadmill probably isn't for you. However, you might enjoy using a stationary bike, a stair-climbing machine or an elliptical trainer, all of which offer a good cardiovascular workout in different ways.

Las Vegas personal trainer Kim Springer suggests trying out the various equipment at your gym to find where your own workout likes lie. Or, if you don't belong to a gym, buy a day pass for one.

In either case, use your field trip to try each apparatus the gym has and determine which you'd like to have -- and which you'd be most apt to use regularly -- at home.

"Make sure it fits, one, your current health status and your needs, and, then, if it's going to help you get where you want to go," Springer said.

A stair-climbing machine tends to be a bit tougher on the knees than an elliptical trainer, Springer said, and a recumbent stationary bike, versus an upright, "is going to take some of the pressure off of your joints."

Consider how comfortable you feel on various pieces of equipment. For example, Springer said, a treadmill is "foolproof as far as the learning curve."

In contrast, noted John Tasigeorgos, senior buying guide editor for ConsumerGuide.com, an elliptical trainer, while offering a low-impact workout, does require a bit of balance and proficiency to use properly.

Meanwhile, Springer said, a stair-climbing machine probably is a bit better suited for "the intermediate to advanced exerciser.

"The movement can be a little more challenging, and you do have to have a basis of strength just so you can do it properly and not find yourself gripping on for dear life, hunched over the machine," she said.

Now that you've decided what general category of machine you'd like at home, research various brands and models online and via word of mouth.

"Talk to friends about what they have and what they've bought and what they've had success with," Scaletta said.

Think about the sorts of features you'd like in your piece of equipment, and what sorts of features you can live without.

"There are some amazing products out there," Tasigeorgos said. "Some products can now be hooked up to the Internet and you can upload custom (workout) programs."

But, even on lower-end items, such features as displays that offer readouts of speed, time, distance and calories burned are common, he said.

Springer said avid exercisers -- or exercisers who will be using their home equipment as their primary means of exercise -- may appreciate machines that offer a variety of workout programs or such add-ons as heart-rate monitors.

Similarly, consumers who are in the market for a home weightlifting machine can buy pricey home gyms that use plates or bands for resistance. But at the other end of the fitness spectrum, Scaletta said, "you can work your whole body with dumbbells and a bench."

Compare warranties.

"You can always determine the durability of a product by the warranty from the manufacturer," Tasigeorgos said. "The longer the warranty, the more faith they have in the product."

Warranties vary greatly. Commercial, high-end treadmills can carry a motor warranty of as long as 30 years, while lower-end models may offer 90-day warranties, Scaletta said.

Consider where you'll be placing the equipment. If space is at a premium, Tasigeorgos said many manufacturers offer portable equipment or pieces that are designed to fold away out of sight.

It's also important to take into account how often you'll use it, how many people will be using it and how hard it'll be used.

If a treadmill will be used by someone who's going to run on it at a pace of 6 mph, "you don't want a flimsy piece of equipment," Springer said. "You're going to want something that will be able to stand up to the pounding."

On the other hand, if the user is a senior who's going to walk at 3 mph a few days a week, you could pass on a treadmills that offer "all the bells and whistles," Springer said.

"We always advise people that it's going to be an investment," Springer added. "If you get something that's cheap and shoddily put together, it's not going to last the distance or you're going to be less likely to use it. It's going to be uncomfortable or not sturdy.

"So to make an investment of, say, $1,000, it's a big chunk of money, but if it's something you're going to have five years and use on a regular basis and is good quality, it's going to pay off."

Now that you've narrowed your choices down, shop around. But, before buying anything, try it out.

Seriously, Tasigeorgos said.

"The most important thing we advise is, when you go into the store and shop for home fitness equipment, don't be afraid to bring your water bottle and work up a sweat," he said. "You really want to put the equipment to the test and feel how comfortable it is for you."