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Fitness Equipment Ratings Guide

How do You Choose the Best Fitness Equipment ?

The Best & the Rest

Whether you are looking to simply start a fitness program, become an elite athlete, create a home gym or even open your own commercial gym there are thousands of pieces of fitness equipment which can help you achieve your goals.

The problem is while there are many good pieces of fitness equipment out there there are even more that are a waste of your time and money.  This is why joining the average gym and starting an in-home fitness program can often become a daunting task.

You don't want to waste your hard earned money on a piece of fitness equipment which will ultimately not get used and turn into a dusty in coat rack your closet over the next few years.

The AskTheTrainer.com fitness equipment reviews will break down each piece of gym equipment in categories which will help you make an informed choice and spend your money wisely.

If you have any questions about which fitness equipment is the best for accomplishing your specific health & fitness goals don't hesitate to Ask The Trainer

Home Gym Equipment

Total Gym

Brief Review
While the tendency to dismiss all 'as seen on TV' fitness equipment as gimmicks is only natural as there is a tremendous number of fitness products which are utterly garbage the Total Gym is a notable exception.  The Total Gym is a quality piece of fitness equipment that you can use daily to help you accomplish your fitness goals.

Read More:  Detailed Total Gym Review

Bodylastics Bands

Brief Review
Bodylastics didn't reinvent the wheel when they came out with their newest sets of cheap home gyms for under $100.  What Bodylastics did was take all the things that were wrong with all the other resistance bands (surgical tubing) on the market and come out with a solid product that will stand the test of time with daily use.  Bodylastics bands took the 2 major problems with the majority of resistance bands 1.  Durability, and 2.  Amount of resistance and created a product which is a solid addition to any workout regimen whether it be in a gym, outside or at home.

Read More:  Detailed Bodylastics Resistance Bands Review

TRX Suspension Trainer

Brief Review
The TRX suspension trainer was designed by a US Navy SEAL who had neither the time, the space, nor the equipment to exercise while on tours of duty so he took matters into his own hands.  The TRX consists of a durable nylon strap which separates into two easy to grip handles as well as ankle/foot straps.  You use your body weight as resistance  to perform dozens of exercises which often involve core and joint stabilization.  The TRX is not for everyone and is not best used as the sole means of exercise but it is a solid piece of equipment to add to your home gym or fitness studio.

Read More:  Detailed TRX Suspension Trainer Review

JC Predator Resistance Bands

Brief Review
The resistance bands you buy in the local sporting good store for $9.99 don't cut for anyone looking to use them for anything other than rotator cuff rehabilitation.  The JC predator bands on the other hand provide 3 levels of resistance.  The advantages of the JC Predator bands is the distance they stretch and the vast difference of resistance which 1 vs. 3 bands can provide.  JC Predator bands are a versatile tool that anyone can use from beginning fitness enthusiasts to advanced bodybuilders.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

Bowflex Select Tech Dumbbells

Brief Review
Without a doubt, dumbbells are the best equipment any person who wants to resistance train can own.  Bowflex Select Tech dumbbells are just that, dumbbells but they have a major advantage over traditional dumbbells when home use is concerned.  That is space.  Each dumbbell is actually multiple dumbbells of varying weights (dependant on model) which can save tons of space without sacrificing much functionality.  The Bowflex Select Tech dumbbells should be the centerpiece to any home workout area.

Read More:  Detailed Bowflex Select Tech Dumbbells Review

Gazelle Edge

Brief Review
If you have a television you know the Gazelle products from hyper- energetic, hair flowing pitchman Tony Little.  The product is based on the design of an elliptical or arch trainer but with no actual moving parts and a cheaply designed frame, the Gazelle edge will not satisfy most serious fitness enthusiasts.  If you are brand new to fitness, haven't used commercial quality cardio machines and are looking to test the waters, the Gazelle Edge may be a good investment as your first home cardio machine.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

Exercise Balls Reviews & Recommendations

Duraball Pro Stability Ball

Brief Review
While Fitter First Duraball pro didn't invent or re-invent the stability ball they created the best stability ball money can buy.  Duraball pro is the only stability ball which enables you to perform both advanced stability and very heavy strength training exercises and stands the test of time with ultra heavy duty use

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

BOSU Balance Trainer

Brief Review
Not often does a piece of fitness equipment hit the market that can truly be called revolutionary but the BOSU Balance Trainer is just that.  By looking at the BOSU ball you may not realize the potential it has but it capable of an extremely wide variety of exercises for the whole body which include power, strength and of course balance.  While the BOSU gets high praise with its versatility and usability it even gets higher praise with its indestructible-like durability which can be used literally for thousands of hours without any problems.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

BOSU Ballast Ball

Brief Review
If anything you can consider the BOSU Ballast a top notch stability ball with some extras.  It pumps up very solid and sturdy and is made of very high quality material.  The ball has 2.5 pounds of sandy material on the inside which makes it more versatile than a standard stability ball as resistance and power exercises can be done.  The drawback of the BOSU ballast ball is you're often wishing there was either more weight in the ball or no weight at all.  If you want a stability ball to add to your home gym, the BOSU ballast ball will not roll around and will outlast much of your exercise equipment.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

Stability Ball Deluxe Pump

Brief Review
Nothing glamorous whatsoever here but a stability ball pump is makes your life a lot easier if you are a personal trainer or have a stability ball that you like properly inflated.  High quality stability balls like the Duraball Pro (above) require optimal pressure to function properly and a deluxe hand pump fills them up to 10x faster than hand pumps. In one test it took 75 up and down strokes and less than 1.5 minutes to fill a 65mm exercise ball.

Aeromat Medicine Balls

Brief Review
Medicine balls are remarkably simple fitness equipment.  Aeromat medicine balls are very tough and durable for bouncing medicine balls.  They can stand up to almost unlimited use without getting lopsided and are very aesthetically pleasing and color coded for weight.  A set of Aer9omat medicine balls with a stand is a solid addition to any commercial or home gym.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

Commercial Weight Training Equipment

Free Motion Dual Cable Cross

Brief Review
During the past 20 years few pieces of commercial resistance training equipment could be thought of as revolutionary but the Free Motion Dual Cable Cross can count as one.  The Free Motion Dual Cable Cross is the most useful piece of weight training equipment other than dumbbells you can find.  It combines almost everything that the giant cable cross over set-up has and takes up 1/5th of the space.  The commercial Free Motion Dual Cable cross is a must for any home, professional or commercial gym, quite possibly the perfect exercise machine ever created.

Read More:  Detailed Review of Free Motion Equipment

Total Gym GTS

Brief Review
The Total GYm GTS by EFI Sports Medicine is the commercial version of the Total GYm home fitness equipment.  It has the same basic concept and design of the home Total GYm but it is made much sturdier to stand heavy use.  The Total GYm GTS is a quality piece of equipment which can be used in a variety of settings including rehabilitation, fitness studios, Pilates studios, commercial gyms as well as at home.
 

Read More:  Detailed Total Gym GTS Review

Cardio Machine Fitness Equipment Reviews

Stairmaster Stepmill

Brief Review
If you've been wanting your own escalator the Stairmaster stepmill is going to be the #1 thing on your Christmas list.  All kidding aside, the stepmill is one of the very best cardio machines because it allows most people to get an intense, vigorous cardio workout while moving at a slow pace which comfortable for the majority of people.  A stepmill takes up surprisingly less floor space than you would think but it does require more vertical space and makes a lot of noise making it ideal for the commercial gym setting and not-so ideal for your home gym.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

Versa Climber

Brief Review
Just because the Versa Climber may be the least popular cardio machine at your gym doesn't mean it is not a good piece of equipment.  The Versa Climber is actually one of the very best cardio machines money can buy as it provides a very intense upper and lower body workout, takes up very little space, and requires very little maintenance.  Any owner of a serious personal training studio which requires machines that take up little space and provide very intense workouts needed for people such as firefighters, mixed martial artists, boxers, Olympic athletes as well as fitness enthusiasts should highly consider purchasing a Versa Climber.

Detailed Review Coming Soon...

Misc. Fitness Equipment Reviews & Recommendations

Use a High Quality Information Source such as the AskTheTrainer.com Fitness Equipment Reviews, Recommendations & Ratings

Please don't buy into the hype which is displayed in fitness magazines, television commercials, on advertisements at your local health food store.  Learn from a professional personal trainer all about products which either can help you or will waste you hard earned money.

About Cardio Equipment & How to Use it

Best Cardio Machines
All cardio machines are designed for a sole purpose of elevating your heart rate to exercise your heart and lungs but that is often where the similarities end.  Learn about all the cardio machines you will find in a gym, tips for use and which ones are most effective.

Best Cardio Exercise
Learn what cardio exercise is all about.  Learn the advanced and basic ways to elevate your heart rate by moving your body's large muscle groups.  Find out which types of exercises are best for losing fat and toning up.

Best Cardio Workouts
You know basic forms of cardio such as walking, jogging and running outdoors and bicycling can burn calories but what are the best workouts to burn the most calories?  If you're bored doing your normal caridio routine in the gym you will be pleased to know there are many more activities you can do to burn those extra calories.

Weight Training Fitness Equipment & How to Use it

Gym Equipment
Whether you're a seasoned gym veteran or simply looking to get fit by joining a gym and using the vast amount of gym equipment which they offer here you can learn about the basic types of equipment which gyms offer.

Home Gym Equipment
Whether you simply want research fitness equipment or are looking to possibly buy a piece of fitness equipment for your home, learn about the best fitness products for home use.

Exercise Videos
Having and using gym equipment will always be secondary to knowing how to properly use the ultimate piece of fitness equipment:  The human body.  Click the anatomy chart and find the best exercise videos for the desired body part.  Watch and listen to instructions and form tips.

Exercise Balls Information & How to Use them

Best Exercise Ball
You have probably had friends talking about the "best exercise ball" and wondered just what they were actually talking about.  There are numerous exercise balls in the gym and some may be the best exercise ball for your fitness goals.

Stability Ball Exercises
By looking at a stability ball one may be surprised how many exercises are possible.  Learn the kinesiology behind exercises using the ever popular stability ball.

BOSU Ball Exercises
Just like the stability ball, the BOSU ball or BOSU balance trainer may be more than meets the eye.  The dome shaped fitness equipment wonder is surprisingly very versatile and can be used for an incredible variety of exercises involving balance, power, strength and more.

Medicine Ball Exercises
When someone thinks of medicine balls they no doubt think of Rocky Balboa getting smashed in the stomach training for the next big boxing event.  It shouldn't surprise you that medicine balls are fitness equipment with much more uses than training boxers.  Find out what medicine balls have been used for thousands of years!

Fitness Equipment Ratings Guide

All Ratings are Goal Specific

Each supplement is only as beneficial as the goal it can help you achieve.  You will see the same supplement get different ratings in different categories because of this.  Remember, supplements will only help you get faster, and better results if you use them as directed along with a structured exercise and nutrition regimen.

Revolutionary

A rare piece of fitness equipment which redefines how people exercise.  Fitness equipment which is worth every penny you spend and then some.

Excellent

Fitness equipment which serves its purpose perfectly.  A new piece of fitness equipment which improves on its predecessor.  The best of a certain category.

Good

Fitness equipment which is worth using and can benefit the vast majority improve their health and fitness goals.  Fitness equipment which is worth the price you pay but there is most likely better equipment out there.

Below Average

Fitness equipment which may work for some but there is definitely better products out there.  Fitness equipment which is made poorly and/or doesn't serve its purpose well.

Complete Junk

Fitness equipment which is poorly made or serves no purpose.  Fitness equipment which will surely result in wasting your hard earned money.  Fitness equipment which is gimmicky at best. 

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Where is the Best Place to Buy Fitness Equipment Online ?

Amazon.com

Amazon is your best bet for finding fitness equipment online for numerous reasons.  Amazon tends to have the best selection and price because most merchants from around the world list their products at the best prices on Amazon.

You benefit as all the most trustworthy merchants try  to reach the tens of millions of daily users on the internet's largest and longest running merchant.

If you want to maximize the use of home gym equipment, try reviewing a physical education curriculum so you can exercise the right way.

Full Fitness Equipment Review List

Bodylastics Resistance Bands Home Gym

Total Gym Home Gym

Free Motion Equipment

Bowflex Select Tech Dumbbells

TRX Suspension Trainer

Duraball Pro Stability Ball

BOSU Ball (Balance Trainer)

BOSU Ballast Ball

Fitness equipment reviews added frequently

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