Universal Fitness Equipment
The two most common types of home gyms are universal gyms and free-weight home gyms. Universal home gyms are great for an overall workout as they provide weight training for every major muscle group in the body. Free weight systems, on the other hand, are less versatile and require the constant removing and replacing of weight plates.
Universal home gyms are, on average, more expensive and take up more space than free weight systems. However, if you and your family, or in my case partner, have different fitness goals in mind, then a universal home gym will provide the best multipurpose bang for your buck.
Universal gyms come in two distinct designs those with built-in weight stacks and those with an alternative form of resistance. Alternate forms of resistance can include flexible bows (for example a Bowflex ), industrial strength resistance bands or cables.
I personally find universal home gyms with weight stacks more durable. They don't require as much maintenance as alternate bow, band or cable resistance that can become loose with time. If you have an entire room to dedicate to exercise then a model with weight stacks can give you the same workout you would get at your local health club or weightlifting gym. However, if you don't have the room these can become a nuisance as they're very heavy and immobile. Prices range from around $800 on the low end to well over $3,500 for a gym-quality universal machine.
Universal home gyms with alternative forms of resistance built in are less expensive than weight-stacked models. A Bowflex, for example, only costs around $800 to $900 and they will still provide you with a decent workout. These also tend to be smaller and lighter than systems with weight stacks, so if you have kids or need the room for something else these models can be moved around easily or even stored away in a garage or closet.
