exercise machine options pls

[CleverCatty]

Am looking into buying some sort of home exercise equipment.

Options are:-

Cross trainer
Exercise bike
treadmill

Which is best and any makes to go for?

I already do cardio, hip hop tabata and yoga and have recently started couch 2 5K.

I've also seen - an exercise bike with desk attached - like sort of a shelf or two - is this gimmicky or any good - has good reviews?

[Bluntness100]

I have all three (in a shit out building) and a rower, it depends what you like doing, but I find I get the most bang from my buck on the treadmill, because I can run up hill on a flat etc.

However if you’re putting it in the house, a treadmill is noisey and I’d go for the quietest which takes the least space, which is the bike. Again you can cycle up hill, standing up etc and vary it up.

[IrkedEssex]

Depends on what your aims are. My view is that for all round cardio full body work a rowing machine is hard to beat. Of your options I would personally pick a cross trainer.

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

We were on the brink of buying a treadmill when a friend who did some personal training and she said never to buy a machine that did the same thing that you could walk out your front door and do.

And exercise bikes seems to end up as clothes horses.

We bought a cross trainer. This was about 12 years ago and it still gets used almost every day by multiple family members. Has been a godsend for me as my knee is shot and can't run anymore but can do the cross trainer.

But buy a good one. It's worth getting the best you can comfortably afford.

[mumsiedarlingrevolta]

*asked a friend so annoying to not be able to edit post

[Lancelottie]

@IrkedEssex

Depends on what your aims are. My view is that for all round cardio full body work a rowing machine is hard to beat. Of your options I would personally pick a cross trainer.

Any recommendations for a rowing machine, IrkedEssex? We have quite a range of heights in the family, so easily adjustable would be good.

[Bluntness100]

We were on the brink of buying a treadmill when a friend who did some personal training and she said never to buy a machine that did the same thing that you could walk out your front door and do

See that’s the thing, I could go run outside. But I really dislike it. And I particularly hate doing it in shit weather. So I’d not go running outside and it doesn’t seem you and your family does either.

Just because someone can, doesn’t mean they will or even remotely wish to.

I mix mine up so treadmill, bike, rower one day, them treadmill bike elliptical the next etc, and then full body weights the third. As said for me the treadmill is the most bang for its buck, the cross trainer second, ans easier on your joints, ans then the bike, then rower.

I would say though weights and a weight bench, are critical in my view as mixing cardio with strength is for me preferable.

[CleverCatty]

@IrkedEssex

Depends on what your aims are. My view is that for all round cardio full body work a rowing machine is hard to beat. Of your options I would personally pick a cross trainer.

My ex-DH had a rowing machine when I was with him and I didn't like it....

Thinking about a cross trainer now thanks

[CleverCatty]

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

We were on the brink of buying a treadmill when a friend who did some personal training and she said never to buy a machine that did the same thing that you could walk out your front door and do.

And exercise bikes seems to end up as clothes horses.

We bought a cross trainer. This was about 12 years ago and it still gets used almost every day by multiple family members. Has been a godsend for me as my knee is shot and can't run anymore but can do the cross trainer.

But buy a good one. It's worth getting the best you can comfortably afford.

Yes, but I dislike running outside generally in colder weather - was jogging the other week and leaves which were wet caused me to slip a bit...

Any ideas for brands of Cross Trainer etc? I literally have no idea.

[CleverCatty]

@Bluntness100

I have all three (in a shit out building) and a rower, it depends what you like doing, but I find I get the most bang from my buck on the treadmill, because I can run up hill on a flat etc.

However if you’re putting it in the house, a treadmill is noisey and I’d go for the quietest which takes the least space, which is the bike. Again you can cycle up hill, standing up etc and vary it up.

I have a small outside London cottage (with a small garden etc) - I could potentially put the treadmill anywhere in the house and no noise issues.

In fact - I got the loft converted a couple of years ago - spare extra room etc and have a sauna and steam room up there in a room next to the bathroom - my one luxury!

[EmmaStone]

We've got a spinning bike, a treadmill, and a few hand weights. DH and I use them all, plus he runs and cycles outside regularly, I run outside sporadically. Sometimes it's just about being able to move when we've been sat at a desk all day, especially with the shorter days. I've been known to jump on the treadmill for a walk at 9/10pm to get a bit of movement into my day.

I don't really like cross trainers, so personally would avoid. My health insurance has provided free access to the Peloton digital app at the moment, and I've used it loads on the bike (as well as a bit of strength, running, cardio), whereas I didn't really use the bike much before.

The weights are YEARS old, but brilliant for a bit of strength training. I see a PT fortnightly (in normal times), so have a fairly good knowledge of form and mix of exercises.

What exercise do you like doing now, how do you plan to use the equipment?

[evilharpy]

I'd get a spin bike. I use mine constantly. There's a huge range of apps (mainly subscription based) providing classes for around £10-12 a month such as Peloton, Les Mills, Intelligent Cycling (free but you need Spotify), The Ride by Keiser, and lots of people are streaming classes if you do a facebook search. Peloton and Les Mills have tons of non-bike classes too.

I hate treadmill running, every minute feels like an hour!

My husband has a rowing machine and uses it often while watching Netflix.

[FlatScreenTV01]

I live my treadmill. I can't go out the frobt door when I like as in a Carer to a disabled child. Amazing how some people have such black and white views that suit them only and work helping others...

[FlatScreenTV01]

My treadmill is quiet as a mouse.

[CleverCatty]

@EmmaStone

We've got a spinning bike, a treadmill, and a few hand weights. DH and I use them all, plus he runs and cycles outside regularly, I run outside sporadically. Sometimes it's just about being able to move when we've been sat at a desk all day, especially with the shorter days. I've been known to jump on the treadmill for a walk at 9/10pm to get a bit of movement into my day.

I don't really like cross trainers, so personally would avoid. My health insurance has provided free access to the Peloton digital app at the moment, and I've used it loads on the bike (as well as a bit of strength, running, cardio), whereas I didn't really use the bike much before.

The weights are YEARS old, but brilliant for a bit of strength training. I see a PT fortnightly (in normal times), so have a fairly good knowledge of form and mix of exercises.

What exercise do you like doing now, how do you plan to use the equipment?

I jog (but recently) and like using a cross trainer but I've never liked the rowing machine when used it at the gym.

[Bluntness100]

@FlatScreenTV01

My treadmill is quiet as a mouse.

My treadmill is quiet, less so when I’m pounding on it. Just like in the gym, where they are prob the noisiest equipment there too😃

[EmmaStone]

Yeah, once we're pounding on the treadmill, it's pretty noisy 😁.

If you like jogging and the cross trainer, then it sounds like a treadmill or cross trainer would be perfect. If you have time to get outside still to jog, so don't need a treadmill, then sounds like a cross trainer is perfect. I just hate the movement, doesn't come naturally to me, and my feet sometimes go numb after a while. I can't imagine spending more than a few minutes on one, BUT that's just me! 😂

[TabbyStar]

my feet sometimes go numb after a while

Do you swap and go backwards sometimes? It was a revelation when someone at the gym mentioned to me you could do this as I had the same problem!

[CleverCatty]

@EmmaStone

Yeah, once we're pounding on the treadmill, it's pretty noisy 😁.

If you like jogging and the cross trainer, then it sounds like a treadmill or cross trainer would be perfect. If you have time to get outside still to jog, so don't need a treadmill, then sounds like a cross trainer is perfect. I just hate the movement, doesn't come naturally to me, and my feet sometimes go numb after a while. I can't imagine spending more than a few minutes on one, BUT that's just me! 😂

I have been thinking of biting the bullet and getting both - have got the money and think this would be good.

Exercise bike attached to desk - it has a tray - is this gimmicky?

[CleverCatty]

@EmmaStone

Yeah, once we're pounding on the treadmill, it's pretty noisy 😁.

If you like jogging and the cross trainer, then it sounds like a treadmill or cross trainer would be perfect. If you have time to get outside still to jog, so don't need a treadmill, then sounds like a cross trainer is perfect. I just hate the movement, doesn't come naturally to me, and my feet sometimes go numb after a while. I can't imagine spending more than a few minutes on one, BUT that's just me! 😂

I just don't like jogging in the dark even though the park is 2 minutes from my house! And not really feeling jogging at lunchtime either!

[CleverCatty]

@evilharpy

I'd get a spin bike. I use mine constantly. There's a huge range of apps (mainly subscription based) providing classes for around £10-12 a month such as Peloton, Les Mills, Intelligent Cycling (free but you need Spotify), The Ride by Keiser, and lots of people are streaming classes if you do a facebook search. Peloton and Les Mills have tons of non-bike classes too.

I hate treadmill running, every minute feels like an hour!

My husband has a rowing machine and uses it often while watching Netflix.

Actually maybe a spin bike would suit me - might have a look into that

[AlrightTreacle]

Depends what you enjoy; though saying that pre lockdown I liked using the cross trainer, rowing machine, treadmill and stair machine at the gym, avoided the bike as I found it boring. But all I could afford/find in stock over lockdown no. 1 was an exercise bike, and I'm actually quite converted to it now! I'm considering getting myself a rower for Christmas, and have just bought some kettlebells (need to figure out how to use them). Not sure if I will renew my gym membership now as much more convenient to work out at home.

If you've got the space and money then go for it. I think you might be able to rent exercise equipment from somewhere, so if you were unsure about getting one you could try renting it for a month to see if you actually enjoy using it?

[AlrightTreacle]

Exercise bike attached to desk - it has a tray - is this gimmicky?

Personally I'd say gimmicky, but I like using my exercise bike after work as a way to separate the day, I wouldn't want to combine the two, and need uptempo music to get a sweat on rather than just pedalling while focusing on work. If you're really pushed for time then guess it's good?

[PumpkinCheater]

I like to watch TV while I exercise. So from that point of view a crosstrainer or exercise bike works better than a rowing machine.

Have you thought of renting initially, rather than buying? I would HIGHLY recommend this. We tried a rowing machine and then a treadmill, and didn't get on with either of them. But no problem, because when the initial hire period was over then we just ended the contract and sent them back. Then hired a crosstrainer which actually gets loads of use, and we are now thinking of buying it outright from the hire company.

It's good to try in your own home before you buy, and see how you get on with it in real life. Otherwise you could end up with a very expensive clotheshanger which is also a pain to get rid of.

[PumpkinCheater]

Also bear in mind that some machines are very large and heavy. Might be hard for anyone to physically get them upstairs into a loft conversion etc.

[CleverCatty]

@PumpkinCheater

I like to watch TV while I exercise. So from that point of view a crosstrainer or exercise bike works better than a rowing machine.

Have you thought of renting initially, rather than buying? I would HIGHLY recommend this. We tried a rowing machine and then a treadmill, and didn't get on with either of them. But no problem, because when the initial hire period was over then we just ended the contract and sent them back. Then hired a crosstrainer which actually gets loads of use, and we are now thinking of buying it outright from the hire company.

It's good to try in your own home before you buy, and see how you get on with it in real life. Otherwise you could end up with a very expensive clotheshanger which is also a pain to get rid of.

good call re renting - so try before you buy kinda? thanks!