If you could buy any ONE home exercise machine...

245

Replies

  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    I think I'd love a rowing machine, or some kind of pulley system.

    I have been building up a free weight collection (thank you kijiji) and built a squat rack/bench press system that works fabulously.

    I also have a treadmill and a stepper.

    But I love the burn I get from rowing.

    As for working outside... I run. But I also have two kids and no spouse... So... Getting out for a run while they are sleeping is not a great idea.

    Plus it's damn cold here half the year (think - 40) and I'm too much of a wuss to run in that!
  • Shikonneko
    Shikonneko Posts: 187 Member
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/r6-power-rack.php?gclid=COPG36DO-70CFexcMgodKVoAJg

    102rotl.jpg
    Man, tag your porn. *drools*
  • leantool
    leantool Posts: 365 Member
    Elliptical
    Cause i've wonky knees
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Ten or twenty years ago it would have been a good rower or elliptical as I was short of time and needed something to get a quick intense workout done (pesky kids, career etc...).

    A few years ago my choice was a set of adjustable dumbbells with extra plates but they are now pretty much unused as I have easier access to gyms (and time to go).

    Now it's a turbo trainer for cycle training on those days or winter months when I can't get outside.

    Home cardio machines do tend to become dust collectors once the initial enthusiasm has worn off....
    I would definitely go for a good quality (gym standard) secondhand machine over a new and poor quality (home/leisure standard) new machine - try before you buy.
  • mzfiyaa
    mzfiyaa Posts: 94 Member
    eliptical
  • nnnykkeee
    nnnykkeee Posts: 10
    Arc Trainer. ♥
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/r6-power-rack.php?gclid=COPG36DO-70CFexcMgodKVoAJg

    102rotl.jpg
    Man, tag your porn. *drools*

    LOL I thought "ooooo looooook!" when I saw it.. haha I want one!

    Buy something you will use. At my house is a treadmill and a stationary bike. I don't use either very often. It's a pain and it's soooo boring... I'd rather hop on a bicycle and go, or hit the pavement for a walk/jog!
  • Samenamenewlook
    Samenamenewlook Posts: 296 Member
    I was going to say a rower, but now I want this!
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/r6-power-rack.php?gclid=COPG36DO-70CFexcMgodKVoAJg

    102rotl.jpg
    Man, tag your porn. *drools*
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    power cage with a pull-up bar and dip bars and a barbell and enough weights to do all my workout plus an exercise bench built in somehow so that it's all one machine and I'm staying within the parameters of the question
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I was going to say a rower, but now I want this!
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/r6-power-rack.php?gclid=COPG36DO-70CFexcMgodKVoAJg

    102rotl.jpg
    Man, tag your porn. *drools*

    ^^^^^ or that (just erase my last post lol)
  • amylg05
    amylg05 Posts: 89 Member
    This! And a good set of free weights!

    If you MUST have a cardio machine I would go for a treadmill personally cause its the one I hate the least.
  • sfbaumgarten
    sfbaumgarten Posts: 912 Member
    I recently got rid of my cheapo bike/elliptical trainer and am currently on the market for a nice treadmill.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    Firstly let me say I'm really sorry that some people see fit to answer questions by patronising you and presenting their own preferences as 'the right way'.

    lol wut? OP asked us what we would get...
    She's talking about Chivalryder who felt the need to tell the OP she's a lazy POS for wanting indoor exercise equipment.

    Where did I call anyone a lazy POS? She was asking what we would get, and I said what I would get, and my reasons. Cardio indoors, where you're not really doing anything enjoyable (IMO) is boring and is a complete waste of time. Life is short. Why not do something fun?

    Edit to add: Fitness 'machines' are hugely expensive if you want anything decent. A good pair of running shoes is $150 - tops. Imagine what you could spend the other $850 on!
  • angf0679
    angf0679 Posts: 1,120 Member
    I would get a treadmill.

    One issue. I have no room for it anywhere!
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    Ohhh, fitness equipment porn!
  • Rak0ribz
    Rak0ribz Posts: 177 Member
    If money's no object, I'd say either one of the Expresso fitness bikes (which video-gamify your exercise) or a nice regular bike and a resistance trainer that, ideally, does the same video-game thing. The graphics aren't amazing, but it's enough like a "real" bike ride that you don't get bored (if you're me, anyway).
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    Another call for a proper weights setup.

    Go secondhand - they're just lumps of metal.

    Barbell, ideally olympic. With weights.
    Rack, with spotter bars, ideally full power cage.
    Bench, ideally adjustable incline/decline.

    I made my own powercage out of spare wood I had - total cost, about £2 for a pack of screws.
    All secondhand bar a few new plates:
    165kg of Olympic weights including bar - the >10kg weights were new. Total cost about £180 I think, but bought incrementally.
    Heavy duty incline/decline bench - £48.

    Seperately I also got a rack with spotter bars rated for 250kg for 'wokingout away' - £75
    alfresco-sma.jpg

    :)
    Back where I normally am, also got an exercise cycle (free from a friend) treadmill (free from a friend of a friend), punch bag, multigym, turbo trainer, rower. Only the weights gets regular consistent use.
  • Ashwee87
    Ashwee87 Posts: 695 Member
    What about a pair of running shoes or a real bicycle so you can go outside and enjoy the fresh air while getting an adrenaline rush from doing some actual work, instead of sitting in some dark garage,maybe watching tv while senselessly spinning away or running on the spot?

    While that is "ideal", not everyone may have the ability. By ability I mean, what if they suffer from say agoraphobia, anxiety, etc. They may be overweight individuals that want to be fit/healthy, but the thought of even going outside, being seen by other people, etc throws them into an attack. Who are you to judge these people. If someone is trying to better themselves, doing it in their own way, inside or outside, why do you freakin care? Seriously?!

    That said and back on topic, I would totally go for a rowing machine. The work-out and how fit those people are...holy smokes!! @_@
  • demartz
    demartz Posts: 5 Member
    A TRX. Cheap, portable, customizable, definitely gets the job done!

    (No affiliation, just had great results with this product.)
  • kaaaaylee
    kaaaaylee Posts: 398
    I would skip the machine, buy a bar and some weights, and just run for cardio, personally.
  • sombrefawn
    sombrefawn Posts: 44 Member
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/r6-power-rack.php?gclid=COPG36DO-70CFexcMgodKVoAJg

    102rotl.jpg

    This is really a thing of beauty. :smile: If I had room or a garage this would be my number one choice for equipment.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    For cardio....I'm all for a goood quality treadmill. I can't get into the elliptical at all.

    Throw in some dumbells, barbells, plates and a bench. If you are really splurging, throw in a squat rack.
  • MBrothers22
    MBrothers22 Posts: 323 Member
    Power rack, bench, olympic weight set was my first purchase - and zero regrets.

    Your tracker made me laugh more than it should have
  • 120by30
    120by30 Posts: 217 Member
    What about a pair of running shoes or a real bicycle so you can go outside and enjoy the fresh air while getting an adrenaline rush from doing some actual work, instead of sitting in some dark garage,maybe watching tv while senselessly spinning away or running on the spot?

    While that is "ideal", not everyone may have the ability. By ability I mean, what if they suffer from say agoraphobia, anxiety, etc. They may be overweight individuals that want to be fit/healthy, but the thought of even going outside, being seen by other people, etc throws them into an attack. Who are you to judge these people. If someone is trying to better themselves, doing it in their own way, inside or outside, why do you freakin care? Seriously?!

    That said and back on topic, I would totally go for a rowing machine. The work-out and how fit those people are...holy smokes!! @_@

    It's also possible that some people simply don't have the opportunity to just go outside for a run or a bike ride. I know I don't. I'd prefer to run outside, but I had to get a treadmill. Can't just take off away from the house when you're responsible for 4 children. You can do "actual work" in your home if you need to.

    OP, my answer is rowing machine. I want one of those so bad!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    What about a pair of running shoes or a real bicycle so you can go outside and enjoy the fresh air while getting an adrenaline rush from doing some actual work, instead of sitting in some dark garage,maybe watching tv while senselessly spinning away or running on the spot?

    While that is "ideal", not everyone may have the ability. By ability I mean, what if they suffer from say agoraphobia, anxiety, etc. They may be overweight individuals that want to be fit/healthy, but the thought of even going outside, being seen by other people, etc throws them into an attack. Who are you to judge these people. If someone is trying to better themselves, doing it in their own way, inside or outside, why do you freakin care? Seriously?!

    That said and back on topic, I would totally go for a rowing machine. The work-out and how fit those people are...holy smokes!! @_@

    It's also possible that some people simply don't have the opportunity to just go outside for a run or a bike ride. I know I don't. I'd prefer to run outside, but I had to get a treadmill. Can't just take off away from the house when you're responsible for 4 children. You can do "actual work" in your home if you need to.

    OP, my answer is rowing machine. I want one of those so bad!

    I do 90% of my cardi outside, but sometimes there is a thunderstorm happening when I have time to work out. So, I could sit on my butt doing nothing because I can't go outside or I can use the indoor equipment I invested in (and I got a good quality elliptical for far less than $1,000, brand new).
  • slk_5555
    slk_5555 Posts: 177 Member
    If I could only buy one piece of cardio equipment I would buy a good rowing machine. I have a concept 2 machine at home. If you get the technique right (loads of videos on youtube/concept2) then you really will work your whole body (arms, legs, back, core). A lot of cardio equipment doesn't really work your upper body too much - this does it all.

    So many people at the gym don't use proper technique & so don't really get the most out of it - no surprise really because most gym instructors I have come across don't know how to get the best out of these machines either. I think its the most underutilized piece of equipment.
  • chivalryder
    chivalryder Posts: 4,391 Member
    You people need to learn how to read and keep things into context.

    First line of the OP: What would you get?

    I simply answered the question and gave my reasons. FFS, I'm not saying anything about what the OP should do, and she didn't say anything about not being able to go outside for some exercise.

    Quit tying your panties into knots.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    You people need to learn how to read and keep things into context.

    First line of the OP: What would you get?

    I simply answered the question and gave my reasons. FFS, I'm not saying anything about what the OP should do, and she didn't say anything about not being able to go outside for some exercise.

    Quit tying your panties into knots.
    She specifically asked about indoor exercise equipment. You told her to get shoes or a bike and do "some real work" outside.

    I don't think we're the ones having trouble reading.
  • katro111
    katro111 Posts: 632 Member
    This is way more than what I need right now, but I I could buy ANY thing this would be it.

    http://www.roguefitness.com/r6-power-rack.php?gclid=COPG36DO-70CFexcMgodKVoAJg

    102rotl.jpg
    Ohhhhh, totally yes, this!!!
  • sassyjae21
    sassyjae21 Posts: 1,217 Member
    You people need to learn how to read and keep things into context.

    First line of the OP: What would you get?

    I simply answered the question and gave my reasons. FFS, I'm not saying anything about what the OP should do, and she didn't say anything about not being able to go outside for some exercise.

    Quit tying your panties into knots.
    She specifically asked about indoor exercise equipment. You told her to get shoes or a bike and do "some real work" outside.

    I don't think we're the ones having trouble reading.

    QFT

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