9 factors that determine your choice of fitness equipment

Having your own home gym is becoming increasingly popular. In addition to the time savings and increased privacy, there are many advantages compared to the usual gym. You don't even have to leave your own four walls to do your workout. But you will certainly find it difficult to choose the right fitness equipment for your home from the large selection. Rowing machine, cross trainer, ergometer, vibration plate or a walking pad? How about resistance bands as an alternative?

To make your decision a little easier, here is an overview of the most important points that you should consider when choosing your fitness equipment.

Firstly, work out how much space you want and can give your home gym. If you have a whole room at your disposal, you are lucky enough not to have to worry about whether your chosen equipment will fit in the space. Even with larger equipment such as the cross trainer or rowing machine, there will be enough space. However, consider factors such as ceiling height if you are interested in a cross trainer. Cross trainers are particularly suitable for a larger room, as they take up a lot of space both during and after training.

If you want to store the fitness equipment in one of your living rooms, it would be ideal if it is foldable and easy to store after training. Our Nemo rowing machines all have a practical fold-up function, allowing you to store them compactly on end after training. However, if you have less space available during training, there is also an ideal solution here. X-bikes are the small version of the exercise bike that require little space during and after training. Vibration plates or our walking pad as well as the more compact version of our Nemo water rowing machines are also very space-saving.

In our Guide you will find additional tips & tricks on how to set up your home gym optimally.

Your budget is another important factor to consider. Small fitness equipment for the home is particularly easy on the wallet. For example, fitness bands are low cost, but the training effect is still very high. You also have the option of choosing between entry-level models, which are cheaper to buy, or equipment of studio quality. This includes our Njord rowing machine, for example. In this case, the cost of the equipment is higher, but you will be training on equipment that is comparable to the quality in the gym.

Think about what the goal of your training sessions is. Ask yourself whether you want to train your endurance, build strength or mainly burn fat. Even if you would prefer to pursue all three goals at the same time, there is a suitable solution.

If you want to strengthen your endurance and stamina as well as your general fitness including your cardiovascular system, choose a cardio machine that covers these points. Strengthening cardio training has many benefits for your general health. There is a wide range of equipment that aims to increase endurance and improve your well-being. These include ergometers, cross trainers and rowing machines.

In addition to increasing your endurance, another training goal is to build muscle and increase your own strength. The advantage of vibration plates is that they activate the muscles of your entire body. The focus is therefore on muscle building.

Bodyweight training is a suitable choice to increase your strength and build muscle. In this case, reach for fitness bands. These compact accessories allow you to train more intensively and with more variety.

If you want to boost your fat burning, rowing machines or cross trainers** are more suitable than ergometers, for example, as they primarily work the leg muscles, which do not use up enough energy on their own. These two fitness machines involve a large part of your body, which means that the majority of your muscles are trained and you will see training results quickly. A rowing machine even trains up to 85% of your entire muscular system, allowing you to burn calories faster.

Rowing machines](https://shop.skandika.com/fitness/rudergeraet) are the true fitness all-rounders. Thanks to the individually adjustable resistance, the duration of the training and the strokes per minute, you can customise your training to suit your needs. This strengthens your muscles, increases your endurance and boosts your fat burning. This gives you the opportunity to pursue different training goals at the same time.

Our Foldaway X-3000 exercise bike also offers the perfect combination of training for the upper and lower body. The power ropes allow you to define specific areas of your body and build muscle. It therefore covers your cardio and strength training.

If you can't decide on a fitness machine, a 3-in-1 machine would be the right choice. Our Multi-Gym Vinur offers you a rowing machine and recumbent ergometer as well as a power station. This fulfils all your wishes at once and gives you a varied workout.

Ergometers and walking pads primarily strengthen your leg muscles such as your thighs and calves, but also your pomusculature at the same time. The same applies to the cross trainer, although here you have the advantage of working your arm and core muscles at the same time, as you actively move them directly through the handles.

Many fitness machines have the ability to train several muscle groups at the same time. One example is the vibration plate, which causes your muscles to contract more strongly through the vibration and activates your deep muscles. In this way, your entire body is trained. As already mentioned, rowing machines work around 85% of your muscles. In addition to your leg and arm muscles, this also includes your back and abdomen.

You can use many different exercises with fitness bands to target specific muscle groups and thus strengthen and optimise other muscles time and time again.

It is also important how fit you are or whether you have health restrictions such as joint problems. Check with your doctor in advance which type of sport is right for you. If you struggle with joint problems, you should look for a fitness machine that is particularly easy on the joints. Elliptical trainers** in particular are suitable for people with joint problems due to their smooth movement.

A walking pad is less advisable in this case, as you put a multiple of your own body weight on your body and joints with every step. Alternatives for joint-friendly training include rowing machines and ergometers. Due to the sitting position, recumbent ergometers put even less strain on the knees, making them the ideal fitness equipment for people with knee problems.

If you want your fitness equipment to not only be functional, but also compatible with your interior, the design factor naturally plays a bigger role. Our wooden rowing machine with water resistance Styrke Made in Germany is made of solid ash wood, which will certainly fit into your home thanks to its minimalist design.

Alternatively, our Crosstrainer Adrett brings a designer piece into your own four walls in addition to a fitness machine. With a design that matches almost anything, you can integrate it directly into your interior.

Think about what kind of sport you usually do or what you particularly enjoy. Think about sports that you do outdoors and that you would like to bring into your own four walls if the weather doesn't allow you to train outside. The counterparts to jogging or Nordic walking in this case would be cross and elliptical trainers. If you like cycling, ergometers are an ideal alternative. If you have never rowed before but have always found it exciting, a rowing machine** would be the right choice.

Before buying, consider how often the fitness equipment will ultimately be used. If you want to do more than just an occasional workout at home, you should take a closer look at studio quality equipment. Although these are also suitable for beginners, they are ideal for professional use. For example, our Njord rowing machine or Nemo IV, which bring your rowing experience into your home. Other fitness equipment such as our carbon cross trainers are also suitable for your high demands and are ideal for professional use at home.

Especially if you have never trained with fitness equipment before, you should take a closer look at beginner models. These are often cheaper to buy. This will give you a feel for how often you will end up using the fitness equipment and what your needs are. We recommend our Poseidon rowing machine, which is also very space-saving. Our X-bikes are also a good choice for getting started with training.

As you can see, there are a few things you should consider before buying a piece of fitness equipment. Firstly, find the right place for your fitness equipment. Then think about what goals you are pursuing with your workout and which workout is the most fun for you in order to decide on the right fitness equipment.