Do you want to stay fit but don’t have the time to hit the gym? Well, thankfully we live in a time when we’ve got everything we want at our fingertips and that includes gym equipment as well. That means you can invest in an exercise machine and do your workouts from the comfort of your home instead of heading out to the gym.
Two of the most popular options for home workouts are squat stands and treadmills. Understanding how you can benefit from each will help you determine the best home gym exercise equipment to buy that will suit your specific needs and goals. Regardless of what you choose, remember, that your body is a temple so you should take good care of it.
Treadmills
Advantages
Before you decide which home gym exercise equipment to choose, it’s essential to weigh the benefits and limitations of each option so you can find what works best for you and your space.
Cardio Fitness
Cardio is your best friend when it comes to your physical health and the best investment when it comes to home gym equipment. To improve your cardiovascular health, try to incorporate cardio into your routine at least 4-5 times a week for around 30 minutes a day. And this this is where treadmills excel!
They offer a fantastic alternative to outdoor walking or running. One of the biggest advantages of a treadmill is the freedom to control your intensity and consistency. You can adjust the incline and speed to suit your goals, whether that’s a brisk walk, light jog, or intense run. Regardless of the settings you choose, cardio on a treadmill boosts blood circulation and builds endurance, which is an excellent way to improve cardiovascular health.
Weight Loss
Do you wonder if home gym exercise equipment can help you lose weight? Well, the treadmill is one of the best things you can do for your weight loss journey. Doing cardio on a treadmill, helps you burn calories and shed weight because it targets the entire body.
Remember, fat loss happens across the body, you cannot target specific areas like some influencers claim to be the truth. Instead, try to incorporate consistent cardio into your routine to essentially see the results. With options for walking, jogging, or running, treadmills provide enough versatility to help you achieve weight loss goals faster than a sedentary lifestyle would allow.
Convenience
One of the greatest perks of treadmills i how convenient they are. You can work out anytime without worrying about weather conditions and time. Plus, the ability to adjust speed, intensity, and incline means you can set your workout to fit your needs, so can stick to your fitness routine without fail.
Low-Impact Options
For those with joint or knee pain, treadmills offer an excellent low-impact exercise option compared to walking or running outside. You can set the treadmill to a slow or moderate pace without any incline so you can stay active without placing too much strain on your joints.
Plus, the surface of a treadmill is way softer than concrete, so walking on a treadmill instead of outside on pavement would be a much gentler alternative to your joints and knees.
Disadvantages
Can Take up a Lot of Space
Treadmills tend to be larger than squat stands, so they do take up more space in your home. If your home gym area is small, this could be an issue. But if you have a spacious room, a treadmill is a great investment for your health and fitness.
Limited Exercise Variety
Treadmills are excellent for cardio, no doubt, but this is also the only exercise option that can provide you with. This limitation leaves little room for targeting specific muscle groups. Thus, If your fitness goals include building strength or focusing on particular muscles, then a squat stand or other equipment may be a better fit.
Gym Squat Stands
Advantages
Strength Training Focus
Here is where a lot of people get the confusion: Stand Squats vs Squat Racks. It’s important to note that while these two machines offer similar exercises, they are two different pieces of equipment.
First and foremost, squat stands are excellent for those looking to target glutes and build muscle. Squats are the best exercises for targeting specific muscle groups, and with squat stands you can do them safely and effectively. But that’s not all, you can also use them to do bench presses, overhead presses, and even pull-ups. You can train your entire body and strengthen your endurance.
Compact Size
Stand squats take up much less space, making them ideal for homes with limited room. That means you can easily fit a squat stand into your workout area and still have room to move around freely.
Adjustable Features
Squat stands come with adjustable features that allow you to set the bar at your preferred height. This that you can do a wide range of motions safely and comfortably and avoid any possible injuries as well as maximise the effectiveness of your exercises.
More Affordable Option
Squat stands are generally much more affordable than treadmills, which makes them an excellent choice for those on a budget. If you’re looking to invest in equipment that delivers results and is kinder to your pocket, squat stands are a smart starting point.
Disadvantages
Strength Training Only
While squat stands are fantastic for building strength, they are limited to strength and endurance training only. So, if you’re looking to focus primarily on cardiovascular health, then squat stands might not be the best fit unless you plan to complement them with a treadmill or other cardio-focused equipment.
Requires Additional Equipment
A squat stand, alone is not enough. To use its full potential, you’ll need to invest in additional equipment like barbells, weight plates, or a bench for presses. However, you need to consider that this is an additional investment that can add to the overall cost.
