Best indoor fitness machine to buy (eg. treadmill)?

makemewannadie
makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
My partner and I are thinking of purchasing some indoor exercise equipment- I don't often like going running outside (and yes I am making excuses haha, but I live in the city centre and the weather is almost always awful too!)
I would love some suggestions on what would be best- the max we could spend is £150 but preferably lower (I know that's not much!) We were having a look on gumtree and saw there are a fair few second hand treadmills/rowing machines/cross trainers/bikes etc. for sale for less than half our budget.

Any tips on which is best to buy/what each machine is best for?

Replies

  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    A kettlebell and skipping rope each.

    Or you could just do bodyweight circuits.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
    A kettlebell and skipping rope each.

    Or you could just do bodyweight circuits.

    We have skipping ropes already, and i'm used to doing workouts without equipment, but my boyfriend is keen on getting a machine of whatever kind, he wants to lose a bit of weight himself but doesn't want to have to do home workouts without equipment... we can't afford the gym for both of us. I'd really like a treadmill as I do love to run but find it difficult to run outside, i'm mainly worried about the noise/size of it as I live in a relatively small flat with neighbours above, below and to the sides!
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    a squat rack.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    With all of those restrictions, I can't think of anything that wouldn't be a waste of money.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
    With all of those restrictions, I can't think of anything that wouldn't be a waste of money.

    Restrictions such as a budget, and the fact that we want to buy an exercise machine? Not really rmassive restrictions are they? I'm just looking for some suggestions as i've only been to the gym twice in my life, both times were for spinning classes, i'm used to exercising by means of ballet, basketball, gymnastics etc. i'm naive when it comes to equipment and i'm the first to admit that.
  • sabolfitwife
    sabolfitwife Posts: 423 Member
    With all of those restrictions, I can't think of anything that wouldn't be a waste of money.

    Restrictions such as a budget, and the fact that we want to buy an exercise machine? Not really rmassive restrictions are they? I'm just looking for some suggestions as i've only been to the gym twice in my life, both times were for spinning classes, i'm used to exercising by means of ballet, basketball, gymnastics etc. i'm naive when it comes to equipment and i'm the first to admit that.

    I think by restrictions, they mean that you have neighbors on all sides and are worried about noise. I have an elliptical that is only powered by me, it makes hardly any noise at all. I love it.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
    I think by restrictions, they mean that you have neighbors on all sides and are worried about noise. I have an elliptical that is only powered by me, it makes hardly any noise at all. I love it.

    Ah I see, I have had no experience with ellipticals/other machines so i'm not sure how loud they actually are! I'm just a little weary if they are super loud and clunky as we did complain about our neighbour (below us) and their ridiculously loud music and ridiculous o'clock -_- Thank you for your reply!
  • SJCon
    SJCon Posts: 224
    An elliptical is much more quite than someone running on a treadmill IMO. One with programs is better at keeping your interest as well.

    Davpul would suggest one that accepts a HRM signal to vary its resistance. ( JK Sorry Dav could not resist.)
  • krisalexine
    krisalexine Posts: 78 Member
    Rowing machine. Just from personal experience, I find it's too easy for me to "cheat" on a treadmill or elliptical. With a rower you get a full body workout and most are electricity-free and super quiet, except for a slight "whirrrrr" sound when you pull.
  • scrappy25
    scrappy25 Posts: 77 Member
    Kettlebells are compact, low impact, quiet, fun, gets the HR very high, burns fat, and strengthens your core and extremities (with heavy enough bells). My husband and I do them together in our family room so it is social also. Wish I'd learned about them years ago. My treadmill use has gone from 4x/week to almost zero and everyone comments on how much trimmer I look. We have an elliptical that I use when my knees hurt from running but my knees don't hurt with KB's so I don't use that anymore either.
  • zebisis
    zebisis Posts: 157
    Elliptical and dumbells. We also have a bow flex, but that can come later if you find you want something like that. My elliptical is so quiet, I can do it while my kids are sleeping in the same room!!!

    I am sure I could cheat on it... But I don't!! High cal burn, and I love that.

Categories