Target Groups

• Before buying a home gym, determine which muscles you want to target and make sure the system you're considering has an exercise or exercises for that muscle group. In fact, you should take that a step further and make sure the home gym you are looking at targets every major muscle group. As your fitness level changes, you may look to target different muscles than what you are focusing on today. You want to make sure your home gym is flexible enough that it will continue to be of value to you.
  
  There are plenty of home gym choices. Don't settle for anything less than exactly what you want. You can likely find everything you want in a home gym for the price you want, but be aware that quality can vary greatly.
  
  

Pulleys, Padding and Performance

• Try out several home gym choices before making your selection. Make sure the pulleys, weights and other mechanisms flow smoothly when exercises are performed. You don't want pulleys that stick or jerk. That can cause injury.
  
  Make sure the stations have proper padding. Home fitness centers that skimp on the padding may not be the bargain you think they are. Your knees and other joints need ample support and padding during exercise.
  
  Also make sure the home gym has enough stations to keep your interest. Performing the same handful of exercise may work for you today, but what about six months from now?
  
  

Location, Location, Location

• Know where you are going to put your home gym before you buy it. If you are going to put the unit in a spare room or den, measure the room and the available space before you go to the store or search online. Don't talk yourself into a unit that doesn't fit that space but might have all the bells and whistles you want. Stick to your space limitations and you will be happier.
  
  

Warranty/Return Policy

• Before settling on a gym, check the warranty and return policy. You should get at least one year of warranty coverage for all pieces of the apparatus, barring damage caused by misuse of the equipment.
  
  The return policy also is important. A firm not willing to take back merchandise because the sale is "as is" might not be worth dealing with.
  
  

Quality Check

• As with most everything, when buying a home gym, you get what you pay for. Look for equipment labeled as "low commercial grade." Such pieces will normally hold up over the long haul.
  
  

Assembly Required

• Make sure you know how much of the home gym will come assembled and how much you will have to put together. That normally is not a deal breaker, but too much assembly required means more room for assembly error.
  
  Also make sure there is customer support service, either via telephone or online, to talk you through assembly issues.
  
  

Tried and True Designs

• There is something to be said for longer-standing models that have gone through design changes. New start-ups may have plenty of glitz, but models that have stood the test of time and been fine-tuned a few times may be more reliable.