Choosing fitness equipment is an important but tricky process.The key is doing research and using your own personal experience to work out what equipment you'll actually use on a regular basis. Here are a few proven tips for finding great exercise gear for your home (and saving some money in the process):

• Decide what your primary fitness goals are: weight loss, muscle building, heart health, flexibility, etc. This will help you focus your search.
• Decide on your budget. This will help you narrow down your search even more, saving you time and frustration.
• Find out how much space in your home you have to work with. (You might give up the idea of having multi gym in one bedroom apartment…)
• Go to a large gym and test a range of equipment, like rowing machines, treadmills, and free weights. Remember to keep the weights very light - you want to get a 'feel' for each piece of equipment so you can figure out which ones you like the best. Make a list of your top 5 pieces.
• If possible, visit a local fitness equipment store and see what they have to offer. If they have the gear you like, ask if they're running any promotions now or in the near future. Never buy exercise equipment at normal "retail" prices unless money isn't an issue.




• Never make an "impulse buy" at a sporting goods or fitness equipment store or over the phone. Salespeople often tell you anything just to get you to buy!




• Always choose equipment that you take pleasure in using. Many of the cheaper products seem like a good deal at the time but you'll soon tire of strange, annoying movements and/or poor materials and unstable construction.

If you are interested in a low-impact toning workout focused on your glutes, hamstrings and calf muscles stepper or stair machine is something for you. Different stair machines and steppers have manual and advanced computer-controlled options, and the more you’re prepared to pay, the more features you tend to get.
Stepper: Cost-effective and small enough to keep under the bed. Steppers provide an effective low-impact cardiovascular workout.
Stair machine:
More expensive than steppers, but these refined machines provide a thorough low-impact workout and are comfortable to use for long periods because you can hold the bars while you exercise.
Here are the main features to consider when shopping for a stepper or stair machine:

• Resistance
1. Computer-controlled: Electronically-controlled steppers and stair machines offer smooth movement and predictable changes in resistance.
   Many computer-controlled steppers and stair machines have displays to monitor your heart rate, distance climbed, number of steps climbed and calories burned, and the more expensive machines come with pre-programmed workouts that mimic hills and mountains.
   The Lateral Thigh Trainer is a very popular brand of stepper that uses a built-in computer to give smooth movement at seven resistance levels. Unlike standard steppers, the Lateral Thigh Trainer has pedals that move in various directions, giving a skating-like motion that works every muscle in your legs. It also has custom settings, large anti-slip pedals and compact design for easy stowing.
2. Cylinder-driven: This type of stepper or stair machine is less expensive but more cumbersome to use. Cylinders create resistance using air or hydraulic fluid, and you have to turn a dial to alter resistance. Cylinder-driven stair climbers will usually monitor the length of your workout, the distance you traveled, number of stairs climbed and calories burned.

Step Motion

1. Independent motion: Steps do not come linked together. You need to push down on each step to make it move.
2. Dependent: Steps come linked together, so that when you push down on one step the other step goes up.

Rowing machines are the ultimate resistance exercise machines: you get an intensive low-impact cardiovascular workout and develop a six-pack- all whilst sitting down! You build up your own endurance when rowing, so the more energy you put in the harder the workout you give yourself. Rowing improves your posture and flexibility, and many different muscle groups get a workout – especially the back, upper body, legs and arms.
Choosing a Rowing Machine
Different rowing machines use different ways of creating resistance:

• Air: The closest equivalent to rowing on water. Air resistance gives an excellent even action and full length stroke.
• Hydraulic drum: Lightweight WaterRower rowing machines derive resistance from a hydraulic drum at one end, so that you pull against the natural resistance of water.
• Magnetic: Smooth and variable resistance; often found in gyms. Magnetic rowing machines are usually shorter, so they’re useful in small spaces.

When shopping for rowing machines, also look out for the ones with heart rate monitors so you can keep an eye on your performance. Many rowing machines can also be folded to half their size for easy storage.

Treadmills are one of the most popular cardiovascular exercise machines. They’re very versatile – use them for a gentle stroll in the front room, or for marathon training whatever the weather. If you’re short of space (and treadmills can be quite large), choose a treadmill that folds away. Some other features to look for when shopping for a treadmill:

• Speed
  Most treadmills have a speed range of between 0-16kph (0-10mph), and some go up to 19kph (12mph). As a guideline, most people walk at 4.5-9kph (3-6mph) and run at 9-16kph (6-10mph). Look for a treadmill with one-touch controls to change speed settings while you’re running.
• Belt
  More expensive treadmills have better cushioned belts (also called running beds) to absorb impact – important for endurance runners, who risk “runner’s knee” or ankle strain when training on pavements or uncushioned treadmills. Treadmill belts also come in varous sizes, from 40cm-56cm (16”-22”) wide and 1.1m-1.7m (45”-66”) long. Make sure you buy a treadmill with a belt long enough for your longest walking or running stride. If you’re a runner or have a long stride, also look for a wide belt to accommodate natural side-to-side movement.
• Motor
  You’ll find budget treadmills that have no motor at all and require little maintenance, but they’re hard work because you need to run to get them going and keep them going.

Electric treadmills have one motor to drive the belt and another to control the incline. They reach your desired speed quickly and don't slow down when you do, motivating you to keep up a steady pace.

The larger the motor in an electric treadmill, the more horsepower it can deliver. The amount of power you need depends on your body weight and how fast you want to go. For walking and gentle jogging, look for a continuous horsepower rating of 1.0hp-1.5hp; for running, look for 1.5hp and higher. Heavier runners need a minimum of 2.0hp.

• Monitor
  Most electric treadmills have pedometers to monitor speed, time, distance covered and calories burned. Many also have pre-set programmes that run from basic cardio and fat burning settings to workouts that mimic hilly terrain. On the more expensive treadmills you’ll find features such as a heart rate monitor, cooling fan and CD player.
• Incline Control
  Most treadmills have an adjustable incline level. The steeper the incline, the more resistance is created and the more effort you have to put in – an excellent way to train for races. Most treadmills with adjustable or motorised inclines can go up to 15%, though commercial gym treadmills often go up to 25%, and you’ll find many of these listed on Bizrate. Treadmills offer three types of incline control:
1. Power Incline: Press a button to increase or decrease the incline.
2. Heart Rate Control: Incline is adjusted automatically based on your heart rate to give an optimum workout. Can be expensive.
3. Manual Incline: Cheaper, but it can be annoying to stop running and adjust the incline setting by hand

Stationary exercise bikes are excellent fitness machines for all types of exercisers, including beginners. They’re easy to use and have lots of levels of resistance, so you can work your lungs, heart and muscles as little or as hard as you want. Adjustable seats and handlebars and cushioned seat pads on the more expensive models mean that exercise bikes let you work out in comfort whilst watching television or reading a book.

Spinning provides a cardiovascular workout without risk of strain to your back and joints. As well as working on your overall fitness and endurance, cycling also gives great tone to your leg and glute muscles.
Most exercise bikes have meters that monitor your speed, mileage and how much time you’ve been pedaling. More expensive bikes can also measure your heart rate and calorie burning and offer pre-programmed hill or flat workouts.

Choosing an Exercise Bike
Some types of exercise bike offer extra resistance for lower-body conditioning, some are kinder to the joints and some give detailed information on your heart rate and calorie burning. You’ll find four main types of exercise bike on BizRate:

• Uprights: Most similar to outdoor bikes. You sit up on a traditional bike seat whilst spinning. Most cheaper exercise bike models are traditional uprights.
• Recumbents: As with recumbent outdoor bikes, these have the seat positioned at a low level, parallel to the ground. The pedals are in front of you so you don’t bend your legs as much, which is great s for cross-training runners. There’s also a back support for greater comfort. A great choice if you suffer from back or knee problems.
• Semi-Recumbents: These exercise bikes have an inclined seat higher than full recumbents. Ideal for elderly users, since they’re easier to dismount.
• Dual Action: Great for an whole-body workout, thanks to changeable handlebars that work your arms as hard as your legs.

Resistance
Pedal on a stationary bike with no resistance is like spinning on a bike with a broken chain – you’re going nowhere and your muscles aren’t doing any work. Stationary exercise bikes create resistance, so you’re actually powering along with your legs. Different exercise bikes have different means of creating resistance:

• Magnetic: Lets you pedal quietly and without friction. You can increase resistance smoothly and easily. Popular in professional gyms, but expensive.
• Air: A fan built into the wheel builds up an air flow for you to pedal against. The harder you pedal, the greater the air flow and resistance. The air from the fan helps cool you down.
• Direct Tension: You adjust resistance manually with dials.
• Flywheel: Resistance is regulated by a heavy wheel and maintained by kinetic energy built up by your spinning.