Monday, June 9, 2014

How To Buy The Best Home Gym Part 4: Our Recommendations

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best home gym you can buy Here are links to the complete guide: Now that you've read our previous portions of this guide, you should already have an idea of what to look for when it comes to your best home gym. Now it's time for recommendations! recommended-home-gyms

How To Buy The Best Home Gym Part 3: Home Gym Features

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best home gym you can buy Here are links to the complete guide: In the last article we talked about the various types of home gyms available. Here we will continue to talk about various features you want to consider when purchasing the best home gym for your workout regimen. best home gym pulley system

How To Buy The Best Home Gym Part 2: Types Of Home Gyms.

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best home gym you can buy Here are links to the complete guide: In the last article we introduced the concept of a "home gym" and how a home gym can benefit your life. We move on here in this buying guide to let you know the various types of home gyms on the market and the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you find the best home gym to buy for you Exercise Equipment

Monday, May 19, 2014

Bestselling GPS Running Watches

Best GPS Running Watches - Bestselling and Most Popular Right Now

As technology continues to evolve, so does the workout equipment and workout data available to us. One of those workout gadgets that have come to light: GPS running watches. The GPS gives you unprecedented workout data: elevation, minute per mile, and can give you the data in small increments, like on a per-minute basis (depending on what features are available). Whether for fun or for laser targeting in on your workout data, GPS running watches have become a popular addition for many runners, cyclists, swimmers, and more! We present our list of the bestselling and most popular GPS Running Watches on the market. Depending on your situation you may want to consider one or more of the following:

  • GPS accuracy: Vital to accurate data
  • GPS acquisition: How quickly does your GPS position get acquired by satellite?
  • Battery Considerations: Long lasting? User-replaceable? Rechargeable?
  • Workout Data: What kind of data do you want? And how many workouts do you want to keep?
  • Usability: Easy to use? Easy to read?
  • And of course price!

How To Buy A GPS Running Watch Part 1: Why A GPS Watch

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best GPS running watches for your workout lifestyle. Here are links to the complete guide: GPS Running watches are a tremendous tool for both today's more sophisticated athletes as well as newbies to working out. Whether you want sophisticated data for your training regiment or just to see data and monitor your progress to make your workouts more fun, GPS watches are a great addition to your workout equipment (whether for running or swimming or even bicycling). With that in mind, there are many GPS running watches on the market with a wide variety of features. Which one is best for you? Let's go through our buying guide and we'll help you out! how to buy a gps running watch

How To Buy A GPS Running Watch Part 2: GPS Running Watch Features

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best GPS running watches for your workout lifestyle. Here are links to the complete guide: In the last article we introduced you to the GPS running watch. Now we will go into more detail on different features you can get with your GPS running watches. how to buy a gps running watch

How To Buy A GPS Running Watch Part 3: More GPS Running Watch Features

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best GPS running watches for your workout lifestyle. Here are links to the complete guide: In the last article we went through features of GPS running watches. Here is part 2 of that list: Sport watch and pair of running shoes

How To Buy A GPS Running Watch Part 4: Our Recommendations

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best gps running watches for your workout lifestyle. Here are links to the complete guide: In the last few articles we have introduced you to GPS running watches and given you a list of features to consider. Now it's time for our recommendations. how to buy a gps running watch part 4

How To Buy A Treadmill For Home Part 4: Recommendations

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best treadmills for home for you to buy. Here are links to the complete guide: You have read through the buying guides to find out about types of treadmills, treadmill features, and various treadmill buying tips. Now it's time to give you our recommended models and brand names for the best treadmills for home. Let's find out! how to buy a treadmill : recommended treadmills

Monday, March 3, 2014

How To Buy The Best Home Gym Part 1: Why A Home Gym

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best home gym you can buy


Here are links to the complete guide:


Everyone wants to be healthy these days. It is one of those good “fads” to be aware of. However, many people do not like the idea of resistance training, a.k.a. “lifting weights”, because they do not want to get overly big and bulky. This is a huge myth. And in fact weight training and muscle building can be a huge benefit to your health and fat loss. And for many home gym rats, that means getting a quality home gym complete with resistance exercises.


But which one is the best home gym to buy??


Let’s find out!


dumbbell and gym


What Is A Home Gym?


The need to be both physically fit and healthy has drastically increased in today’s generation. However, many cannot afford to spend much time and money into a membership gym because of their tight schedules and due to some other concerns.


Conveniently, many exercising machines are available in the market for home use. At home, you have the freedom to exercise every time that you have some free time. Home gym equipment ensures that you are able to maintain a physically fit body at the comfort of your home.


While technically the home gym can be used as the entire collection of exercise equipment in your home, the term home gym often refers to the weight lifting equipment or strength training equipment at home.


In order to assist you obtain the best home gym equipment, here is a presentation of a checklist that will greatly assist you in obtaining the desired devices.


Benefits Of Having A Home Gym


These are some good points of having your own home gym and they include:


  • People who are intimidated over going to membership gyms and would rather choose doing workouts privately can do so conveniently at the comfort of their homes.

  • A home gym can save someone time and money that could have been used in going to and from the gym. You can also save on the fee for a gym instructor.

  • A home gym can ensure that someone saves a lot of time that would have otherwise been used in travelling to and from the gym.

  • These gym equipments found at home also provide a person with the freedom of doing workouts whenever they can.

  • A person does not have to wait until a given machine is free in order for him to use.

  • Should you lose interest in using a given home gym equipment, you can sell it and get your investment back as these devices never depreciate.

Downside Of Having A Home Gym


Performing fitness trainings on your own has its good points. However, there are also drawbacks that you need to take heed of:


  • One great challenge of having a home gym is self discipline. In performing workouts alone a person can be lenient on the timings and intensity of a given routine. It is important that when having a home gym, a person needs to build good character so as to properly attain his fitness goals. For this reason, you should try as much as possible to become motivated daily so as to do your workouts in the proper routine and enhance productivity.

  • An important factor to be careful about is the manner in which workouts are done. For sure, there is no one to monitor if you are properly performing the workouts. For this reason, it is best for you to know the basics so as to properly execute and follow through with the routine.

  • You might also get distracted by family members. Family matters may interfere with your workout routine when doing workouts at home.


  • Some equipment that you wish to purchase may be too expensive. This is unlike being on a gym where all devices are provided.

  • As you will be spending time alone, there will be no socialization. This is unlike being part of a gym where you can chat with others.

That Concludes This Portion Of Our Buying Guide


Now that you know a brief overview of why you would want a best home gym, we will go into the types of home gyms next in How To Buy The Best Home Gym Part 2: Types Of Home Gyms.


Here are links to the complete guide:


Cheers!


Check out each home gym review plus bestseller lists and buying guides

Bestselling Home Gyms

Best Home Gym Review List – Bestselling Right Now


One large misconception about working out and overall fitness is how important it is to do strength training and build muscle. Many people think it’s not necessary to lose weight or lose fat. In fact, building strength is very important for overall health and more and more people are understanding this every day. That is why the home gym reviews can be important, but a bestseller list will give you a great place to start with your research.


Depending on your situation you may want to consider one or more of the following:


  • Portability: Is this something you want to be able to work out anywhere with?

  • Number of Exercises Available: How many exercises do you want to be able to do?

  • Types Of Exercises Available: Major groups? Powerlifting? Isolations?

  • Durability: Of course it has to be able to handle a lot!

  • Price: But of course!

Now, before we go on, it’s important to note there are a lot of different resistance home gyms as there are a large variety of workout regimens. From the quick workouts to the long serious workouts, there are a lot of different needs out there and so there are a lot of different workout machines.


We encourage you to check out our “How To Buy A Home Gym” buying guides in conjunction with the below list!


That being said, our research has deemed the bestselling home gyms are listed below!



Taking all these into account, the number one best home gym right now is the:


TRX Suspension Trainer Basic Kit with Door Anchor Home Gym


TRX Suspension Trainer Basic Kit with Door Anchor Home Gym Pic


The TRX Suspension Trainer Basic Kit is a top selling home gym for many reasons.


  • Extremely portable: fits in a bag, goes anywhere

  • The door anchor provides a lot of great leverage exercises

  • Uses bodyweight for “suspension training” to develop balance, core strength, and flexibility

  • Designed by Navy SEALs to be able to be used anywhere

A few quotes from user reviews:


  • “Great product. High quality, respectable company and brand.”

  • “I love this product and use it at home and on the road.”

  • “You get a great total body work, specifically great for legs and core, in my opinion.”

  • “This system is so portable and simple to use, yet so challenging.”

  • “The core is always engaged while working the rest of the body.”


Overall, suspension training has become known to be one of the most effective training methods for home gym exercise regimens, and TRX is the leader in suspension training. The main slight is that it is considered “overpriced” compared to other suspension training kits. However, it is also recognized that TRX has the most durable quality.


Here is our complete list of current most popular home gym reviews


  1. TRX Suspension Trainer Basic Kit with Door Anchor Home Gym
    TRX Suspension Trainer Basic Kit with Door Anchor Home Gym Pic
  2. Weider Power Tower
    Weider Power Tower Pic
  3. Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
    Bowflex Blaze Home Gym Pic
  4. Weider Ultimate Body Works Home Gym
    Weider Ultimate Body Works Home Gym Pic
  5. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
    Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym Pic
  6. Woss Trainer In a Bag 3000 Series Equalizer Suspension Trainer Home Gym
    Trainer In a Bag 3000 Series Equalizer Suspension Trainer Home Gym Pic
  7. Total Gym XLS Trainer Home Gym
    Total Gym XLS Trainer Home Gym Pic
  8. Iron Gym Total Body Fitness Kit Complete 4-Piece Kit Home Gym
    Iron Gym Total Body Fitness Kit Complete 4-Piece Kit Home Gym Pic

The above list is our list of top selling affordable best home gyms on Amazon. They are all usually available at discount prices off of retail – you can click on any of the specific elliptical exercise workout machines above to get more information.


The list above covers a nice range of different home gyms ranging from $30 to $950. Some offer the ultimate in portability, effective exercise, quick workouts, and long hard workouts. Some are best as additions to an existing home gym, some are able to stand on their own as your main home gym. If you are searching for the best home gym as a gift or for yourself, chances are high you will find one of the above listed will fit your needs perfectly.


Check out more home gym reviews


best home gym reviews

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

How To Buy A Treadmill For Home Part 3: Treadmill Buying Tips

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best treadmills for home you can buy


Here are links to the complete guide:


Treadmills are a great way for people to get cardio exercise with the convenience of working out at home.When it comes to buying a treadmill, there are some things to consider. Here are some buying tips to help you find the best treadmill for home


how-to-buy-a-treadmill



Treadmill Buying Tips: Assessing Yourself


Know Your Needs


Sometimes you tend to be too aggressive and eager to buy something that is hot in the market. That is why you need to assess yourself. Why do you want to buy a treadmill machine? Is it to lose weight, stay in shape, tone up, or rehabilitate? How badly do you need it? Have you tried one before? Have you tried alternatives like outdoor walking and running? Now, if you have answered all these, you must have assessed the level of your needs and can decide whether to buy one or not.


Know Your Financial Capacity


You must know your capacity to pay and your financial limitations. If you have determined your need, you must now determine your budget and the maximum amount you can spend for a treadmill machine.


Who, Where and How


Talk with your family who will be using the machine, how many of you will use it. Talk about the maximum time for each user. Then, the minimum and maximum weight of each one. Where will you place it? Do you have enough space for a treadmill? And lastly is how will you use it? Is it for light or intense workout or just an alternative for walking or outdoor activities?


Know Your Running Stride Size, Width and Length


You want to make sure the belt is long enough for your stride length. If you like to swing your arms when you run, you’ll want to forgo the manual treadmill for a motorized treadmill.


If you like having room to swing your arms, a wide treadmill will be better so that you don’t feel confined by close handrails. However, if you want the handrails closer for safety and that you are willing to feel more “confined”, then you will want a more narrow treadmill.


Treadmill Buying Tips: Choosing The Best Treadmill For Home


In addition to the factors given above, smart shoppers will really look for other information about the product that they want to buy. It is really important that if you buy machines, it will last for many years. There are many resources now that you can use to evaluate which brand or model you can afford. Before rushing into the stores consider the shortlisted things below.


Reputation of the Manufacturer


There are many products now that are sold in the market that does not give much of your expectation. It is much better to rely on manufacturers that have been in the industry for decades than opting into a lesser price but oftentimes results to waste of money.


Recommendations


Discuss with your friends or family which type of treadmill works best for them, what brand and model lasts longer and where to find ones that gives greater savings. By this you can be oriented on the reputation of the product that is tested and proven by the ones that you know.


Also we will post our own bestseller lists and and recommendations as well (make sure to check out How To Buy A Treadmill For Home Part 4: Our Recommendations.


Search on the Internet


Internet is now the most convenient way to check a product. You can check on websites for the product you wants, their features, product descriptions and photos. You can also read reviews of that product. Websites also offers discounts and free shipping that is good as well.


Run a Sample


You can go to stores near you and test a machine that you would like to purchase. Test the smoothness of the ride and the noise. Look around the machine and look for possible problem each product may give.


Don’t be shy or think you look foolish. Give it a real good run through like you would normally run.


Now, the decision depends on you, but, with these guides listed above, you may be able to weigh advantages and disadvantages of a certain treadmill machine easily. You just have to keep in mind that every machine has positive and negative sides that are sometimes bearable and easy to handle. So good luck and make sure to choose the right one that suits your needs.


That Concludes This Portion Of Our Buying Guide


Now that you’ve gone through our first three parts, you are ready for our recommendations so lookout for How To Buy A Treadmill For Home Part 4: Our Recommendations


Here are links to the complete guide:


Cheers!


Check out more reviews, tips, and guides to best treadmills for home

How To Buy A Rowing Machine Part 4: Recommended Models And Brands

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best rowing machines for you to buy.


Here are links to the complete guide:


You have read through the buying guides to find out about rowing machine benefits, types of rowing machines, and various rowing machine features. Now it’s time to give you our recommended models and brand names.


Let’s find out!


recommended-rowing-machines



Recommended Manufacturers


Considering the fitness niche is so popular, there are always new manufacturers and brand names on the market. There are always new innovations with making rowing machines feel smoother and more natural and more fun to use as part of your exercise regimen. Rowing machines themselves have a wide variety of quality and prices.


Here are a few of our recommendations for the top rated rowing machines for home.


The manufacturers we would recommend:


1. Stamina Products Rowing Machines


stamina-products


Stamina Products (official site) was founded in 1987. Since its inception, it has always desired to be a top name in exercise machines and is our recommendation as a top rowing machine. Stamina customers get cutting edge innovation and quality inexpensive exercise equipment for home use.


While Stamina has developed a variety of rowing machines, its most popular machines are its hydraulic piston rowing machines such as the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine and the Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine


Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine     Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine


2. Concept2 Rowing Machines


concept2


Concept2 (official site) is the top name in quality rowing machines. They began in 1976 in the back of a bread truck when, fresh from Olympic training, Dick and Pete Dreissigacker, started making composite racing oars. Concept2 has gone on to become rowing experts with quality oars and rowing machines.


Concept2 Rowing Machines are by far the most popular Air Rowers on the market. Their two most popular machines are the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (left) and the Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine. (right)


Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine     Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine


3. Kettler Rowing Machines


kettlersport


Kettler USA (official site) prides itself on affordable quality rowing machines. Kettler offers well-balanced and well-designed rowing machines. Whether you are a novice or personal trainer, young or old, Kettler rowers offer the perfect workout suitable for all ages and skill levels.


Kettler provides a bit nicer quality smoothness in their hydraulic piston rowing machines, but at a bit of a higher price. They are also known for their outrigger style rowing machines such as the Kettler Kadett Outrigger Rower seen below.


Kettler Kadett Outrigger Style Rower Rowing Machine


Recommended Models


Here are some recommended individual models. Not surprisingly, all of them are already mentioned above.


1. Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine


Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine


  • 4 out of 5 stars

  • Inexpensively priced

  • Hydraulic Piston Resistance on Ball-Bearing Roller System

  • Adjustable gas-shock resistance

  • Reasonably compact for storage

  • Multi-Function fitness monitor

2. Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing MachineConcept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine


  • 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Expensive

  • Air Resistance Rowing Machine

  • Performance monitor

  • Quiet flywheel for smooth and realistic motion

  • Adjustable intensity

3. Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine


Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine

  • 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Moderately Expensive

  • Air Resistance Rowing Machine

  • Multi-function performance monitor

  • Comfortable grips, seats, and large footplates

  • Inexpensive for an air rower

While Stamina makes quality affordable piston rowing machines, they also make many other models including this air rower model. Not as smooth as the Concept2, however the Stamina air rower is also less than half the cost of the Concept2.


4. Kettler Kadett Outrigger Style Rower


Kettler Kadett Outrigger Style Rower Rowing Machine


  • 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Moderately Expensive

  • Hydraulic Piston Resistance

  • Fantastic ergonomic outrigger design

  • Very well designed and engineered – feels great

  • Does not weigh much, is portable

5. HCI Fitness Sprint Outrigger Scull Rower


HCI Fitness Sprint Outrigger Scull Rowing Machine pic


  • 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Moderately Expensive

  • Hydraulic Piston Resistance, 12 adjustable levels

  • Easy to read LCD training display

  • Solidly built and easy to put together

  • Portable

That Concludes Our “How To Buy A Rowing Machine” 4-part Buying Guide


We hope that this “How to Buy a Rowing Machine” buying guide has provided you with a lot of good tips and information to help you research through various rowing machine reviews and testimonials to find the best rowing exercise machine for your fitness program.


Good luck!


References:


Here are links to the complete guide:


Cheers!


Check out more reviews, tips, and guides to buy rowing machine online

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

How To Buy A Rowing Machine Part 3: Rowing Machine Features

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best rowing machines for you to buy.


Here are links to the complete guide:


Now that you are familiar with rowing machine benefits and the different rowing machine types we bring you now to the different features rowing machines have so you can become familiar with them. As you go through this guide, think about your own situation and what might work for you.


confusionclipart



Features To Consider When You Buy A Rowing Machine


Resistance Type


Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing MachineAs we covered in How To Buy A Rowing Machine Part 2, there are four main different resistance types. The more natural feeling is also the more expensive. In order from least expensive to most expensive: hydraulic piston resistance, air resistance, magnetic resistance, and water resistance.


Shown to the right is the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050, the most popular hydraulic rowing machine on the market.


Size


Since rowing machines models vary from having a conveniently compact design to having a non-foldable property, you should consider the appropriate size of the equipment which can be rightfully accommodated at your home. If you do not have much space to permanently allot to this machine, it is best that you consider a lightweight and compact model to allow easy storage when it is not in use.


On the other hand, if you have enough room to allocate for a rowing machine, then heavy and non-foldable models should not be a problem for you.


Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing MachineAgain there is a some direct correlation between size and how natural the rowing machine feels. The smallest, most compact rowing machines are all hydraulic piston resistance. Both the magnetic rowers and water rowers are pretty fair in size, but are not popular for home rowing machines for a few reasons (which we covered in detail in How To Buy A Rowing Machine Part 2).


That leaves us with the air rowing machines which are very popular rowing machines for home. They are also quite large. The benefit is that it gives you a very nice long natural feeling range of motion. The downside: not portable, not easily movable to storage.


Shown to the right is the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine, the most popular air rowing machine on the market.


Resistance Change


flywheel-and-damperHow easy is it to change the workout activity? Many times that is just a manner of turning the resistance up. Most hydraulic rowers have a tension dial you can turn to adjust the resistance up or down.


The air rowers use what’s called a damper/flywheel/drag system (shown right on the Concept2 Model D Rower) to control airflow through the flywheel in an effort to change resistance. This gives you quite a flexibility in how you row and how you create more intense workouts.


Here’s a quick video we found which explains the flywheel/damper/drag system, how it works, why it works, and how to change it on a Concept2






Price


This is already implied. Price directly relates to the quality of the rowing machine and usually the resistance type. It is not directly affected by how compact and portable a rowing machine is though the correlation is similar.


It is expected that the cost of rowing machines is among the top priorities that potential buyers highly consider in the process of his survey. Knowledge of your working budget will help in narrowing down your search among the brands and models you can choose from. Quality rowing machines are usually offered at $600-800, while the high-end ones usually sell for as much as $2000 or more.


It may be a good idea to invest some extra cash to ensure a durable and a more comfortable machine. But it is also very crucial to understand that it is not necessary to spend a tremendous amount of money just so you can get the best benefits from rowing machines because it is your fitness goals and preferences which will ultimately decide this factor.


So when it comes to price, it really all boils down to your budget, some may want to buy high end rowing machines but doesn’t have the budget to do so hence ending up buying something less expensive.


User Profile


Of course, it is appropriate to consider the person who will be using the machine prior to making your purchase. Apart from his fitness goals, it is also important to note the requirements they may specifically need from rowing machines. For example, tall people should best acquire a model with a seat rail that is long and, if possible, is set higher off the ground.


Similarly, small people may feel better comfort to get a rower with a small seat rail. It is also advisable that professional healthcare consultation is done by those with special medical condition before they undertake new fitness regime. There are people with certain health conditions that though they want to buy a rowing machine, their health condition doesn’t permit them, so users profile is a big factor.


Progress Tracker and Control Panel


Performance monitor of rowing machines usually comes as a LCD screen which provides digital readout about user’s useful routine information, such as rowing speed and distance travelled.


These parameters may also be modified according to which you are most interested to track through its console controls. By keeping you accordingly updated with your workout progress, this machine provides considerable amount of motivation in staying focused on your fitness goals.


If this feature is particularly important to you, you must carefully review the parameters tracked by the unit you consider to purchase since this function varies among different brands and models. Of course, you must also consider the allowable user info the machine can store.


There are rowing machines that can only store one user info so if another person uses the machine, you may need to reset everything when you use it again. So check for this feature, some allows up to 4 user info to be stored on the training computer of a rowing machine.


Below is an example of a rowing machine display. This one belongs to the Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine


kettler-favorit-rowing-machine-oversized-display


Another example: the very detailed training computer of the Proteus Par 5500 Club Series Rowing Machine


proteus-par-5500-commercial-club-series-rowing-machine-display


Warranty/Reputation


It is definitely recommended that you check the warranties offered by the models you consider purchasing, especially when the unit you intend to buy is high-end and expensive. Most rowing machines provide at least a year of warranty to parts and labor, while higher quality machines offer two three years. Usually, top manufacturers offer generous warranties to their durable equipment.


Not surprisingly, the two companies that put out the most popular rowing machine, Concept2 also have reputable customer service.


As another example, Kettler has good days and bad days. And Proteus seems to be responsive, but distant (and they have no US-based support, only from overseas).


That Concludes This Portion Of Our Buying Guide


Now that we’ve explained the main types of rowing machines and the various features, we will go through some recommendations next! So be on the lookout for the next part: Part 4: Recommended Models And Brands


Here are links to the complete guide:


Cheers!


Check out more reviews, tips, and guides to buy rowing machine online

How To Buy A Rowing Machine Part 2: Types Of Rowing Machines

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best rowing machines for you to buy.


Here are links to the complete guide:


Now that you have hopefully read Part 1 to get familiar with rowing machines, we’ll cover some different types of rowing machines here.


Types Of Rowing Machines



Types Of Rowing Machines


When it comes to fluid circular motion, technology continues to advance. Mostly famous in cycling (both stationary bikes and bike trainers), rowing machines add a new twist onto the idea of fluid motion as there are two main motions to simulate



  • Back and forth motion of the lower body
  • Circular rowing motion of the upper body

See this short video to illustrate rowing form






Standard models operate through one of the four resistance types of rowing machines:



  • Hydraulic Piston
  • Magnetic
  • Air
  • Water

Each provides varying workout intensity, so understanding them is necessary to ensure that you can get what you want to expect in the fitness device you will purchase. Of course, some types of resistance feel much better and more natural than others. And of course, those are much pricier as well.


Here are each type in more detail


Hydraulic Piston Resistance Rowing Machines


Rowing machines which work on piston resistance delivers less realistic rowing action but maintains to give excellent value for one’s money since it provides great workout for a less expensive cost.


Also known as hydraulic rowing machine, this type is a low-end option that works on piston resistance through hydraulic cylinders that are attached to the arms of the rowing machine. They offer resistance levels by manually moving these clamps or levers for adjustment.


Advantages of Piston Resistance Rowing Machine


  • Price Range: $100 – $500
  • They are offered at a more affordable cost compared to other resistance models but it does not sacrifice the quality of the workout it delivers. This is a smart choice considering the price you pay for the features you get.
  • They come in compact size, not being as large as the other models. This allows it to easily fit under beds or smaller spaces for storage. Some can even fit your closet in an upright position.
  • Resistance levels are adjustable, allowing users to workout according to their preferred intensity. This makes your work out interesting, you are in control of your own rhythm and pace.

Challenges of Piston Resistance Rowing Machine


  • Its motion will not be as smooth and natural as the other resistance types.
  • This resistance type provides more arm workout than a leg and full-body routine.

Most people who buy rowing machines for home will be these hydraulic rowing machines. The two main reasons: inexpensive price and compact design for easy storage.


Stamina Rowing Machines are the most popular on the market. Good fluidity with ball-bearing technology. Their two most popular machines are the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 (left) and the Stamina 1215 Orbital Rower (right)


Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine     Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine


Magnetic Resistance Rowing Machines


Magnetic resistance type of rowing machine provides smooth and natural feel of rowing across water.


In this resistance type, powerful electromagnets provide control to the resistance of the rowing machine. They are somehow similar to the piston resistance models but offers better and more impressive operation. There are rowing machine models which combine this resistance type to air resistance model.


Advantages of Magnetic Resistance Rowing Machine


  • Price Range: $500 – $2000

    It delivers a much smoother flow of motion than a piston model
  • It works almost completely silent.
  • These models have adjustable resistance levels, providing better options to users in choosing preferred intensity for their routine.
  • Progress are more accurately measured through electronic components which provide a digital display about user’s routine profile in terms of distance, calories burned, scans, time, heart rate and a lot more.

Challenges of Magnetic Resistance Rowing Machine


  • It is not as easily stored as a piston resistance machine because it has a long main rail that cannot be folded, but if you have a decent space at home for this equipment, then this should not be a problem.
  • Not as good as Air Rowing Machines which are about the same cost.

Considering Air Resistance Rowing Machines are about the same price and are much better quality, most people looking for a quality rowing machine at this price range will opt for Air Rowing Machines instead of Magnetic Rowing Machines


Air Resistance Rowing Machines


Air resistance rowing machines are the ones most commonly used by off-season rowers.


This kind of resistance is often found in good quality rowing machines, making it the preferred type of off-season rowers. In this model, resistance is dependent on your own pace. This means that greater resistance is provided as your speed increases. It works through a finned flywheel that sucks in air when the row arm is pulled back.


Advantages of Air Resistance Rowing Machine


  • Price Range: $800 – $2000
  • With the resistance being dependent on user’s performance, it provides him good control over his workout.
  • This also means that resistance adjustment is unlimited (stepless) since more resistance can be obtained by simply rowing faster.
  • It has a longer main rail which can greatly benefit tall users.
  • Easily identified by the use of a flywheel.

Challenges of Air Resistance Rowing Machine


  • Its fan blade has the potential to get somewhat noisy.
  • Its longer main rail cannot be folded, making it not conducive to compact storage. But this should not be a significant issue if you have a good amount of space to accommodate this equipment.
  • A bit pricier

When it comes to looking for a high quality rowing machine for home, most people will opt for the Air rowing machines. Very smooth feeling and fun to use. The flywheel provides an extra element of fun as well.


Concept2 Rowing Machines are by far the most popular Air Rowers on the market. Fantastic design, well constructed flywheels, comfortable seats and grips. Concept2 is head and shoulders above the rest in this arena. Their two most popular machines are the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (left) and the Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine. (right)


Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine     Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine


Water Resistance Rowing Machines


Water resistance models provide the most authentic emulation of actually rowing on water.


This resistance type is known to deliver the most natural simulation of real outdoor rowing. It provides resistance through a stainless steel paddle placed inside a water-filled tank. Its resistance levels are adjusted in two ways: (1) through dependence on the user’s pace, with the resistance proportionally increasing with it and (2) through the addition or removal of water in the resistance tank.


Advantages of Water Resistance Rowing Machine


  • Price Range: $1000 – $5000
  • It provides two great options for resistance adjustment, allowing users to freely customize his workout.
  • Users can expect a naturally smooth and vibration-free rowing motion.
  • The soothing sound of water movement during use adds to the natural feel of rowing.

Challenges of Water Resistance Rowing Machine


  • It may produce a considerable amount of noise during operation but this is not as much as air resistance models do.
  • This model is extremely heavy, secondary to its accompanying tank which is full of water. Therefore, it is advisable to allot an ample space for this equipment which will serve as its permanent location.
  • Expensive!

Most people looking for rowing machines at home will pass this one up. For much less cost, the Air Rowing Machines provide the proper amount of natural feel for the majority of folks looking to workout at home.


That Concludes This Portion Of Our Buying Guide


Now that we’ve explained the main types of rowing machines, and that for most people the Hydraulic Resistance Rowers or the Air Rowers will be the right pick when you want to buy a rowing machine, we’ll now move on to specific features to look for when buying rowing machines.


So be on the lookout for the next part: Part 3: Rowing Machine Features


Here are links to the complete guide:


Cheers!


Check out more reviews, tips, and guides to buy rowing machine online

How To Buy A Treadmill For Home Part 2: Treadmill Features

The purpose of this buying guide is to help you find the best treadmills for home you can buy


Here are links to the complete guide:


Buying treadmills have become the wisest and hottest choice when it comes to cardiovascular workout. It is a great way for people to get cardio exercise with the convenience of working out at home. It gives runners a nice respite from running outside, especially if there is inclement weather. It also gives runners a chance to set actual pacing metrics.


But which one is the best treadmill for home to buy??


Let’s go over some features!


treadmill features



Treadmill Features To Consider


Manual Treadmill Or Motorized Treadmill


As mentioned in How To Buy A Treadmill For Home Part 1 the two main

types of treadmills are the Manual Treadmill and the Motorized Treadmill.


The motorized treadmills are much higher quality and much easier to work out with, but at a much higher cost.


Manual treadmills require you to use the handholds which doesn’t give you a true “running” workout. However, they are much cheaper and also much more compact.


See our previous Part 1 of our buying guide for full details.


Motor Capacity


If you are considering a motorized treadmill, the motor capacity of a treadmill is the factor that needs consideration. The motor is the most important part of a machine, without it a machine will not perform or work accordingly. There are two motors that is inside the treadmill, first is the one that drives the belt and the other is the one responsible for raising and lowering the incline. This might be confusing, especially when you don’t know important things about a motor. So, here is what you need, look for “continuous duty” motor that has at least 1.5 horsepower for light use and 2.5 to 3.0 horsepower for frequent use.


Machine’s Cost


It is always said that you get what you paid for. But not everything that costs less has less function. Buying a treadmill is a good investment; this is why you need to consider its price. Now, for those who have tight budget prices of treadmill machines ranges from $500 to $1500, for the mid-range price ranges from $1500 to $3000 and higher quality treadmills ranges from $3000 and up. Of course there are times that significant sales and discounts are offered which is something you should also consider.


Stability and Smoothness


When you want to test a treadmill machine, wear on your workout shoes and your workout clothes. The ride should be smooth, and not shaky. If it is very shaky, it is unacceptable. Test the handrails, it should be sturdy enough for support and provides ease for gripping.


Machines Workout Features


Choose a treadmill machine that has the most programmable and pre-set workouts. The machines incline speed should be easy to adjust from the console. Pulse monitor and display data should be accurate. There should be additional features like water bottle holder or book rack for a little entertainment. Some may have audio or video plug-in and Wi-Fi that may provide more comfort and of course to provide more workout routines for the user.


Space and Folding Treadmills


You need to have enough space for your treadmill. Measure up your area and look for a machine that can conveniently fit your desired space. If you have big space, you can have a non-folding treadmill or if you have a little room for it then you can opt for a folding treadmill. The noise should also be considered.


You can find both manual treadmills and motorized treadmills of a folding variety.


Below is the Phoenix 98510 Manual Folding Treadmill.


Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up Manual Treadmill


For a motorized folding treadmill, check out the popular Proform Pro 2000 Folding Motorized Treadmill


ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill Pic


Walking Belts Size


The size of the walking belt should also be an important consideration. The size of the deck of walking and running surface should be at least 3/4 thick for utmost comfort. The thicker the surface the better it is, and more comfortable for the user. Thick deck surfaces also minimize chances of injury. For running, 48” by 17” long is the ideal size of the belt. But, belts that are too thick are prone to hold in heat and increases electricity consumption. The heavier weight added to the belt also gives more stress to the roller bearings. Find a belt size that gives you more comfort.


Noise Level


If you are living in apartments then you need a treadmill that does not make a lot of noise. You might think manual treadmills might be quieter, but some manual treadmills might take a bit of a “pounding” to get the belt running which might be a more annoying noise than a consistent motorized hum.


Then again, depending on how you run, you might give a regular motorized treadmill a pounding as well.


That Concludes This Portion Of Our Buying Guide


Now that you know some features to look for when considering best treadmills for home, you are ready for Part 3: Treadmill Buying Tips


Here are links to the complete guide:


Cheers!


Check out more reviews, tips, and guides to best treadmills for home

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Bestselling Treadmills For Home

Best Treadmills For Home – Bestselling Right Now


Cardiovascular work is healthy for your heart, and losing weight is healthy for your joints. Running is definitely considered one of the best cardio workouts you can do, and definitely helps strengthen those muscles around those joints. For that reason, treadmills are a very popular addition to the home gym for those times you want to run from the convenience of your own home. In fact, treadmills combined with elliptical machines (for when your joints need a break) pack a really nice one-two punch for cardio workouts.


Here is our list of the best treadmills for home use


Depending on your situation you may want to consider one or more of the following:


  • Comfort: What is your desired stride length?

  • Manual or Motorized: often depending on budget and space available

  • Portability: How portable? How easy to store?

  • Durability: how many miles and how much weight can you put on this thing?

  • And of course … Price!!!

Now, before we go on, we want to give you a shortcut here: For motorized treadmills, on any given day depending on which one is on sale, the number one spot might rotate between three very popular treadmill brands. As a whole, you will have a good experience with:


For those looking to manual treadmills, the Stamina Treadmills are great quality.


That being said …



Taking all these into account, the number one best treadmill for home right now is the:


ProForm Power 995c Treadmill


ProForm Power 995c Treadmill Pic


The ProForm Power 995c Treadmill is a top selling treadmill exercise machine for many reasons.


  • Very high quality $2000 treadmill often found on sale for less

  • 20″ by 60″ running belt: more than enough space for any stride length

  • Up to 15% incline

  • “Space Saver” design and “Easy Lift Assist” makes it fairly portable and easier to store

  • Very quiet motor

A few quotes from user reviews:


  • “This treadmill is solid, sturdy, strong, and I’m a pretty big guy! (250lbs – 6’2″)”

  • “Runway is super long, so it totally makes for a comfortable run”

  • “It folds up nicely and easily”

  • “Seriously feels like it is better than most gym treadmills”

  • “The extra features (fan, speakers in particular) are pretty sweet.”


Overall, this is a great option for an treadmill for home. As we mentioned before, Horizon, Lifespan, and Proform are all fantastic brands. What we believe put this as the top seller is that you can often find it on sale for even 50% off. $1000 for this treadmill is definitely a great bargain. Even at $2000 (list price), the ProForm Power 995c Treadmill delivers well on durability and smoothness. .


Here is our complete list of current most popular best treadmills for home


  1. ProForm Power 995c Treadmill
    ProForm Power 995c Treadmill Pic
  2. Horizon Fitness T101-04 Treadmill
    Horizon Fitness T101-04 Treadmill Pic
  3. LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding Treadmill
    LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding Treadmill Pic
  4. Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Treadmill
    Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Treadmill Pic
  5. Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
    Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill Pic
  6. Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up Manual Treadmill
    Phoenix 98510 Easy-Up Manual Treadmill
  7. Merit Fitness 715T Plus Treadmill
    Merit Fitness 715T Plus Treadmill Pic
  8. Stamina InMotion T900 Manual Treadmill
    InMotion T900 Manual Treadmill

The above list is our list of top selling affordable best treadmills for home on Amazon. They are all usually available at discount prices off of retail – you can click on any of the specific treadmill machines above to get more information.


The list above covers a nice range of motorized treadmills ranging from $350 to $2000 and manual treadmills ($100 to $150). Many common criteria include a durable motor, sizable belt, and foldable for easy storage. If you are searching for a treadmill for your home gym as a gift or for yourself, chances are high you will find one of the above listed will fit your needs perfectly.


Check out more best treadmills for home


best treadmills for home picture