It does not matter whether you run a gym or you are looking for equipment for your home gym, there is a lot that needs to be considered. Read on to discover everything you need to know.
Gym Equipment: What Kind Of Weight Equipment Is Available?
Gym equipment offers many people the chance to build strength, gain muscle, improve their flexibility and build their confidence. For many people, this can be performed at a gym. For many others, however, they’d rather workout in their own personal space – particularly when it comes to weight training.
Whether you like the thought of the eyes of the world being on you as you make a lift or not, we’re going to go through some of the different options for equipment and weights that can be used in your own personal space or at a gym.
The Different Types Of CrossFit Equipment
It’s easy to get intimidated by all the different options available when looking for the right exercise equipment – particularly if you’re sticking to a training program like CrossFit. However, CrossFit equipment doesn’t need to include a massive investment in your gym. Many advise that there are some priority options when considering what people look for when they are doing a CrossFit program.
Most programs will, at the very least, include the use of strength equipment such as a weightlifting bar, weights, and a pull-up bar. So whether you’re stocking up on gym equipment for personal or commercial use, these are your key items when considering CrossFit programs.
Other considerations also include a jump rope, gymnastic rings, kettlebell, squat box, medicine ball and a weight bench. So, irrespective of whether you’re putting together a small CrossFit gym in your garage or you want to cater to the CrossFit crowd at your gym, there is plenty of equipment that is often used in different programs. If the former applies, you can check out thousands of workouts from expert trainers to use with CrossFit equipment. However, as we say, the main components are an Olympic barbell (for obvious reasons), plates (particularly bumpers) and a pull-up bar or power rack.
Buy Quality Bumper Plates And Bars
It’s easy to get into the thinking that all bumper plates and bars are made of the same quality. It’s something that we all do in every product that looks the same. When it comes to choosing between two different types of apple in a supermarket that looks pretty much identical, we’re probably going to choose the cheaper option (unless you’re particular about your apples).
However, that’s a perishable good. We can easily buy another apple if it tastes bad. Yet we can often apply this thinking to goods that are more permanent fixtures in our life. But when it comes to things like barbells, which need to be able to take a lot of punishment, you need to make sure that you make the right choice.
Cheap or poor quality barbells do break; and, unlike apples, they don’t just grow back on trees – they’re major investments. So, whether you’re running a commercial gym or a home gym, make sure you’re investing in barbells that can take a hit. The same goes for plates – whether you’re after bumper or training plates.
Kettlebells Build Strength And Flexibility
It’s easy to dismiss the simple kettlebell as nothing more than a cannonball with a handle that you swing about rather pointlessly in an effort to look like you know what you’re doing with it. But kettlebells are one of the most important bits of gym equipment you can own. They are weights that you use to perform ballistic exercises combining flexibility, strength and cardiovascular training.
What makes the kettlebell different from the traditional dumbbell is that it features a handle – allowing the center of mass to extend beyond the hand through a swinging motion. The kettlebell can, therefore, be combined into different uses and movements – engaging the entire body at the same time in ways that replicate real-life movements. But, in particular, it will specifically engage the shoulders, lower back, and legs – as well as improving grip strength.
Some have even mooted it as a type of therapy aid to help people with back pain – something most of us will experience regardless of our physical wellbeing. Many studies have reported that kettlebell swings have both restored and enhanced back function and health. Competition kettlebells also offer a consistent size and weight; therefore, this makes them the main consideration for any gym.
Where Can I Buy Gym Equipment?
There are a number of places where you can buy gym equipment and weight lifting equipment. Many people who are looking to put together a gym at as cheap a cost as possible – whether personally or for commercial purposes – may feel tempted to go looking for second-hand equipment. However, as we mentioned previously, this can be a recipe for disaster.
You don’t know the history of the equipment you are purchasing and it could easily break in your hand or – even worse – in the hands of a customer. Therefore, buying new, quality equipment should be a high priority whoever you are and whatever the purpose of the equipment.
To conclude, we hope that you have found this guide useful no matter whether you are looking for equipment for a commercial or home gym.