Home gyms have been popular for years but today, with social distancing and concerns especially among senior adults, they are surging in popularity.
We’ve put this guide together to help you understand how to select a home gym that will work well for you and we’ve even included our 4 top picks that we hope will meet your needs and save you some research time.
Let’s start with our 4 recommendations and then move on to the guide.
- OUR TOP PICK
Marcy 150-lb Multifunctional Home Gym
MaxKare Magnetic Rowing Machine
MaxKare Electric Foldable Treadmill
Bowflex Home Gym Series
Overview
Not For Newbies
If you’re an active boomer who is not new to working out, this versatile, high quality multi-gym workout station from Marcy could be what you’re looking for. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a single piece home gym for all their workout needs. It comes with plenty of stacked weights that can be used for various workouts and it has a thick padded seat and backrest for maximum support.
This all-in-one multi-gym workout station is clearly a hit, with a 4-star rating on Amazon with over 500 verified reviews.
Strength and Endurance
Next up, we have this high-tech yet affordable rowing machine. It’s manufactured by MaxKare and has 16 different resistance levels to suit your exact fitness needs, whether you’re training for endurance or strength.
It has a built-in LCD screen which monitors how many calories you’ve burned, in addition to an array of other data, and has attachable wheels so you can easily move it around your home even while it’s assembled.
The price is approximately $230 and it has a 4.5-star overall rating on Amazon.
Compact Design
Next, we have another piece of kit from MaxKare. This foldable treadmill is great for seniors looking to lose weight or simply looking to get some mild cardio in the bank every day. It comes with 15 pre-set programs, 3 elevation levels and has a great digital display to track your performance and progress.
The cost is approximately $350 plus shipping, has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, and can bought on credit
As Seen on TV
You’ve seen Bowflex TV ads for years. It’s a very popular brand offering an impressive line of home gyms.
This model allows you to perform over 60 different types of exercises for a full body workout. You can lift weights to improve your upper body strength, use the sliding seat for an intense leg workout, plus much, much more.
The price is approximately $799 and has a 4.5 star Amazon rating, and you can purchase a two-year warranty for less than 50 bucks.
Features
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Weight Stack Lock for Safety
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Leg Developer aligns with knee joints for a comfortable leg day workout.
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Dual function press arms include foam padding for your comfort
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No need to load and unload weight plates
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Combines arm and leg stations
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Great for strengthening muscle groups and achieving a comprehensive total-body workout.
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LCD monitor displays the data of Calorie, Reps/min, Time, Count and Total Count, tracking your training record.
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16-level magnetic tension resistance for easy operation
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Transportation wheels make it easy to move if necessary
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The fully foam-padded handles allow a wider range of the motion
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The large cushioned seat offers users a comfortable rowing experience
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large LCD display and 15 Pre-set programs
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Foldable design makes it simple to store/move the treadmill in small spaces
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Rubber Tread Belt reduces knee damage and makes running more comfortable.
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Smooth and quiet high torque 2.5HP motor
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Robust and Stable Design reduces noise and decreases vibration
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60 plus exercises for a fully body workout
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210 pounds of resistance (upgradable)
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Bowflex includes 7 free trainer built workout regimens
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Sliding seat rail for aerobic rowing and leg presses
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Lat bar and squat bar included
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Triple function hand grip or ankle cuffs included
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Folding bench and wheels provide easy storage
Home Gym Buying Guide for Boomers
Getting enough exercise every week should be high on the priority list of any boomer. Many studies have found exercising for even a few hours each week will increase your life span, improve your mood, and decrease depression.
Working out at the local gym can be a great way to socialize and make new friends, but home workouts have been surging in popularity, especially in the age of COVID-19, and are preferred by many.
Baby boomers often enjoy working out from home as it offers better schedule flexibility and convenience, and it’s much more affordable in the long run.
Furthermore, home gyms allow you to break a sweat in a much more relaxed and familiar environment, which is particularly important for beginners who may be shy.
While there are many exercises that you can do at home without any machinery, many of these are challenging to perform for boomers. It’s hard to know if you’re doing them right without the help of a professional. If you plan to work out in a home-gym it would be a good idea to book a couple of sessions with a Trainer.
Whether you use no equipment or a home gym, it’s a good idea to exercise near a mirror so you can keep an eye on your posture.
One or two pieces of equipment are all you need for your home gym and will put you in good stead to staying fit and strong.
What Are The Best Home Gyms For Me?
Selecting the best home gym equipment isn’t easy – no matter your age – but there is something out there for everyone, and the research and buying process doesn’t need to be stressful and time-consuming.
Following our step by step guide will simplify, speed up, and remove the stress from the process, so you’ll be able to begin working out and improving your fitness asap.
We will go into each step in more detail, but here are the five steps for you:
- Think about what you want to achieve
- Decide what type of home gym equipment is best for you
- Set a semi-flexible budget
- Browse and shortlist home gyms
- Order and Test
Step One – Set Your Fitness Goals
Why set fitness goals at all? There are a lot of reasons to set fitness goals including improving your mood, increasing your stamina, improving your appearance, or maybe just to get ready for a family vacation!
Before looking at individual products online or even thinking about setting a budget, you should think through your fitness goals.
For example, do you want to build strength? Do you need to improve your endurance? Are you hoping to lose weight?
Your fitness goals should be the very first thing you need to define. If you’re clear in your mind about goals it will make the rest of the process much less confusing.
Tip: You can have multiple fitness goals and achieve them simultaneously, sometimes with only one piece of home workout equipment, so give it some thought and keep an open mind.
Step Two – Consider the Types of Home Gyms That Are Available
Depending on your specific goal, different types of home gyms will be better suited to you than others. For example, if you’re looking to burn off excess body fat, a treadmill or a rowing machine is much better suited to you than buying a pair of dumbbells.
Treadmills and rowing machines are also great for building endurance, and rowing machines can also be used to build muscle and gain strength. We strongly recommend them for boomers who want to improve both strength and endurance.
If you want a very versatile piece of gym equipment that will allow you to work out every part of your body, you might want to invest in a multi-home gym workout station.
These systems have several components, including pull-up weights and bars, so you can really mix up your workouts, but they are pretty expensive.
Step Three – Set a Semi-Flexible Budget
Home gyms can be significant purchases – and it can be tempting to focus on finding the least expensive model on the market. However, this is almost always a bad idea. Instead, consider how much money you can realistically afford to spend and look for products within this price range.
If you can’t find a system from an established manufacturer within this budget, you should consider increasing it or searching for a different type of equipment, which can also help you achieve your fitness goal.
As a broad estimate, you should be looking to spend anywhere from about $90 to $600, depending on the type of equipment you want.
It’s almost always more cost-effective to purchase a multi-home workout station instead of buying all the systems separately. So, if you have plans to purchase several pieces of equipment over time, you might want to consider a multi-home workout station instead.
Tip: Keep in mind that many retailers offer credit programs that allow you to pay bit by bit. Paying overtime can be a great way to purchase for many boomers, but be sure to read the fine print and make sure the interest being charged (if any) is affordable.
Step Four – Browse and Shortlist Your Options
Now that you know what kind of equipment you’ll need and have a budget to work with, you can begin browsing your options online. As you find home workout products that you like and are within your budget, you can shortlist them.
Then, compare your options more closely and arrive at the best one for you by the process of elimination, taking into consideration factors such as price, quality, and aesthetics. Once you’ve decided on the perfect home workout equipment, you can place an order and wait for it to arrive at your doorstep.
Step Five – Assemble and Test
Some home gyms can be straightforward to assemble and don’t require any tools (aside from those that come with the package), while others may consist of over a dozen components and have complex assemblies. In such cases, it’s advisable to pay a professional to assemble your equipment.
As soon as you’ve assembled your piece of equipment, it’s a good idea to test it out and make sure you’re comfortable using it. After experimenting with settings (the various resistance levels or elevation), slowly get an idea of good starting points. You and can adjust the settings further over time.
Tip: Check out the countless guides and video tutorials on YouTube if you’re unsure how to use a piece of equipment.
Note: It’s imperative to gradually warm-up before starting your main workout, as it reduces the chances of you hurting yourself, so a warm-up should never be skipped.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Gyms For Seniors (FAQs)
How Much Space Do I Need For a Home Gym?
The amount of space you need really depends on what equipment you end up buying. A couple of dumbbells or a barbell require very little space and can be used in even the most crowded homes, while a rowing machine or a treadmill needs around 2 yards by 1 yard of empty space.
It's always best to check the dimensions of any home workout equipment you're considering buying and compare it to the free space you have in your home.
Is it Safe to Work Out Alone?
Unless you are lifting very heavy weights (especially when seated or lying down), it is safe to work out at home alone, though it can sometimes be hard to find motivation. To combat this, you can find a suitable gym class video on YouTube and watch it or have it playing in the background while you work out. Music can also help.
Should I Consider at Used Home Gym Equipment?
We advise against buying a second-hand piece of home gym equipment, as it may be poorly maintained, out of warranty, or damaged and unsafe to use (even if it looks fine on the surface.) Instead, we suggest you buy a brand-new home gym machine and consider buying it on credit if money is currently tight.