The Fitness Equipment Store Experience
Congratulations on taking another step towards greater health and overall wellness. You’ve planned a trip to a fitness equipment store to pick out something for your home. Don’t let the overwhelming number of options and brands send you into a frenzy. Here’s how to prepare and what to expect.
Preparing in Advance
For the purposes of this article we’re going to assume you’re visiting a dedicated equipment store, like Push Pedal Pull, as opposed to a sporting goods store that also sells home equipment. The distinction is important because the staff in a dedicated fitness equipment store should be well-versed in different forms of exercise and the equipment needed based on your fitness goals. They’re not necessarily going to be personal trainers, but they should be better able to guide you in the right direction.
Before you go, prepare yourself with at least an idea of what you’re going in for. Maybe you know you want a treadmill but aren’t sure which model. Maybe you can’t decide between a treadmill and an elliptical. Be firm in the questions you want to ask and make sure you are guided towards your choices and interests.
Be Prepared with Questions
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Fitness gurus like to rattle off facts and figures, especially when it comes to equipment. They’ll compare motor speeds and talk about the internal computer equipment and various other factors. What do you want to know? Ask about speeds, programmed workouts, impact on your joints, whether the machine is quiet or not compared to others. Don’t understand an answer you’re given because it’s too technical? Don’t be afraid to ask again. You are the buyer and you are the one who needs to be confident that the equipment you are taking home is the right choice.
Be Prepared to Try the Equipment
Head to your store of choice in your favorite workout pants and sneakers and don’t be afraid to ask to try different pieces of equipment. A good fitness equipment store will gladly let you spend time trying machines – and we’re not talking about 20 seconds to fiddle with the buttons. Take a few minutes to jog on a treadmill or to work through the settings on the elliptical or rowing machine. Spend enough time to get a feel for whether you can work the console while working out. Is it comfortable? Does it meet your needs? If you’re not allowed to try it, don’t buy it.
At the end of the day, purchasing fitness equipment is a major investment and you need to know your money is being spent wisely. You should never feel intimidated or forced to purchase one piece of equipment over another. Your budget, your needs, your goals – the entire experience should be about finding what’s really right for you.