When it comes to gym equipment, there are a ton of different brands, types, and styles of equipment; it can get a little overwhelming. From treadmills and rowing machines to adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells, a fitness business often requires a lot of different types of equipment to create the very best member experience.
The ever-expanding gym equipment market and increasing demand for fitness mean there is a wide range of fitness equipment available on the market. Interest in home gym equipment continues to rise and the demand for Bluetooth-connected, smart, and high-quality gym equipment is clear. It’s not just businesses that are buying gym equipment but home users too.
In this article, we try to understand how the gym equipment market is changing and some of the top places to buy gym equipment in the US.
Skip ahead to:
- The gym equipment market, industry trends and updates
- Should you buy used or brand-new gym equipment?
- 9 places to buy gym equipment in the US
The gym equipment market, industry trends and updates
The global fitness equipment market was $11.6 billion in 2020. It’s estimated to reach $14.8 billion by 2028. The fitness equipment market includes machines and devices for physical exercise. The market is evolving at a good speed with an increasing awareness of health and fitness among consumers.
The COVID-19 outbreak has had a positive impact on the fitness equipment market. People are becoming more health-conscious and gym equipment suppliers are looking for ways to cater their gym equipment to home fitness users. Consumers have a newfound awareness for the way that fitness supports mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
When you break down the gym equipment market into segments, you can see how the home fitness equipment has erupted over the last year. Research shows that the home gym equipment market is estimated to rise at a considerable rate from 2021 to 2027.
If you look at brands that have found another level of success during the pandemic, the themes tend to be centered around home fitness equipment. For instance, Nautilus, Inc finished the year with record-breaking sales. Sales growth was driven by increased demand for connected bikes and sales of Bowflex Home Gyms. No doubt, this will be an area of gym equipment that will continue to create a lot of business opportunities and innovation within the fitness market.
What are the different types of fitness equipment?
The world of gym equipment is vast. There are a lot of different types of fitness equipment with various features and connectivity like a touchscreen and streaming abilities. You can go from a no-frills treadmill to a smart rower with full connectivity. Your gym equipment is a huge part of the member experience. It creates a level of convenience and allows members to hit their fitness goals. With that in mind, let’s look at the various machines and gym equipment you can purchase.
Cardio Machines
Cardiovascular equipment is designed to facilitate physical activity that promotes good health and gets your heart pumping. There are many types of cardio equipment that have stood the test of time as well as a few pieces of equipment new to the scene. Cardiovascular machines don’t just focus on getting the heart pumping but also strengthen the muscular and respiratory systems. Cardio machines include:
- Treadmill
- Rower
- Stationary bike
- Stairclimber
Free Weight Equipment
Free weight equipment covers any free weight that you can pick up and put down. When you go into any gym, you will normally see a range of free weights in various sizes. Free weights allow you to work out in any motion rather than a fixed machine where you have to perform a specific movement. Free weight equipment includes:
- Dumbbell set
- Medicine balls
- Barbells
- Olympic weight and bumper plates
Resistance Machines
There are two types of resistance machines: pin loaded and plate loaded. With plate loaded machines, the user can add weights plates to increase the resistance. For pin loaded machines, the user can move a pin up and down on the machine to select a weight on cable machines. You can also use resistance bands and bodyweight exercises to create resistance as well as use machines like:
- Pilates reformer machine
- Lat pulldown machine
- Leg press machine
- Ab crunch machine
Should you buy used or brand-new gym equipment?
Buying gym equipment is challenging. With so many different brands, names, and types of equipment, it takes time and effort to make the right choice for your business. As fitness trends come and go and the price of gym equipment increases, it can be a costly mistake. Apart from the different categories of workout equipment, you also have used or brand-new fitness equipment. While some businesses prefer used equipment, others will only buy brand new. So, should you buy brand new or used gym equipment?
With skyrocketing prices of gym equipment, used equipment is generally available at a much cheaper price. However, it’s not as simple as buying used equipment for a cheaper price and then leaving it there. Sometimes, used equipment can end up more expensive in the long term because it has had a lot more wear and tear. You also need to consider hygiene issues, how easily you can obtain parts for repair and potential repair costs.
The main downside of new equipment is the higher cost. But, the initial investment can save you money in the future as repair costs should be lower. When buying new equipment, look for a full warranty package with no hidden catches. Trusted brands and retailers should supply machines with years of good use.
9 places to buy gym equipment in the US
With such a wide range of equipment available, it’s important that you do your research before any purchase. Have a good understanding of your options and the type of equipment you’re looking for. Keep an eye on warranty and maintenance services so you know what to expect from your supplier. To help you find the best equipment, here are nine places to buy gym equipment in the US.
Gym Source
Website: https://www.gymsource.com/
Gym Source is America’s oldest gym equipment distributor. They offer both commercial and residential gym equipment. This is a good option for gyms who need more guidance. They have consultants that help to make the most out of your space. After delivery, they will make sure all the equipment is installed safely. The maintenance team will continue to make sure all equipment is running properly.
As the largest commercial fitness distributor in the US, they have a ton of trusted brands with leasing options as well as new and used equipment. Brands include TRX Fitness, Cybex, Stairmaster, and Gripmaster.
Life Fitness
Website: https://www.lifefitness.com/en-us/
Life Fitness is another big player in the fitness industry. The company was founded over 40 years ago and has a global reach. The company features six brands including Cybex, Hammer Strength, and ICG. They focus on bringing innovation to the fitness industry to connect people to their fitness journey.
The company has an interesting service called the Life Fitness Academy which is dedicated to training your employees. It’s designed to help you make the most out of every piece of equipment to maximize your investment and improve your member experience. In addition, you can use the brand’s layout specialists to help you make the most of the space you have to meet the needs of your customers.
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Discover more Johnson Fitness & Wellness
Website: https://www.johnsonfitness.com/Commercial/Index
Johnson Fitness & Wellness is the largest specialty fitness retailer in the US. They feature brands like Vision Fitness, Horizon Fitness, NordicTrack, and Matrix Fitness. The company has showrooms throughout the country where you can go to find the right equipment for you. Certified Fitness Consultants will make sure you know how to use the equipment properly and safely.
They can help kit out your gym with a complimentary site evaluation, expert installation, and ongoing maintenance programs. You can also access remanufactured equipment. Johnson Fitness & Wellness can help to design a custom layout for your gym and take care of delivery and installation. They also have various financing and leasing options so you can find something that works for your budget.
Used Gym Equipment
Website: https://www.usedgymequipment.com/
As the name suggests, Used Gym Equipment sells refurbished and used gym equipment. They have an onsite remanufacturing facility to make sure equipment works like new. When buying used equipment, it’s important that you go to trusted brands and suppliers. Otherwise, you could end up spending more money in the long run. The company offers a competitive leasing program and requires that full payment is made before the item ships. This is how they keep their costs low.
You can find a range of equipment like treadmills, exercise bikes, and free weights equipment like hex dumbbells, power racks, weight benches, and pull-up bars. Interestingly, they have a non-commercial side of the business that aims to install gym-level equipment in garage gyms. The concept is to bring the experience of a gym into a home of any size for an affordable price.
American Home Fitness
Website: https://americanhomefitness.com/collections/commercial
American Home Fitness carries brands from fitness industry leaders like Precor, True, Hoist, and Octane. You can visit showrooms to try out fitness equipment before you buy and make sure that it’s suitable for your gym. Their team of fitness professionals help guide you to make the right choice for your members.
Like other gym equipment suppliers, American Home Fitness, has both commercial and home gym services. They can help you to design a home workout space for your budget and transform home exercise.
US Fitness Products
Website: https://www.usfitness.com/
US Fitness Products has been selling products for 30 years. They have a wide range of products from top brands and customers will have access to the maintenance and service team. You can directly contact the maintenance and service team, instead of having to speak to a middle person.
The business will take you through a discovery process from finding the best products to gym layout and equipment safety and orientation. The commercial design team will take you from concept to installation. US Fitness Products are fully aware of the power of connected fitness and stock several innovative products with smart rowers and treadmills as well as mirror technology.
Iron Company
Website: https://www.ironcompany.com/
Iron Company was first established in 1997. They were one of the first internet fitness equipment vendors in the industry. The company only hires qualified employees that are either fitness professionals, athletes, or specialists within the equipment manufacturing business. The team at Iron Company helps you choose and install the best equipment based on your needs, budgets, time schedule, and goals.
The company stocks a massive range of brands and types of equipment including cardio machines, ellipticals, free weights, weightlifting equipment, gym flooring, and outdoor fitness equipment. There is a mammoth library of brands and products to wade through. Iron Company also manufactures their own equipment which you can buy through the website. They originally produced basic strength training equipment and now offer full fitness brand solutions.
Global Fitness
Website: https://www.globalfitness.com/
Global Fitness is the world’s largest wholesaler of used gym equipment. They specialize in remanufacturing used gym equipment and providing customers with high-quality products at an affordable price. The focus is on delivering a “like new” experience.
Buying used gym equipment is tough because there are plenty of companies that advertise used refurbished equipment as used. Refurbished equipment has to go through checks to make sure it all works like new. Global Fitness products also come with a warranty for peace of mind. At one point, the Global Fitness factory was used for Life Fitness’s and Precor’s Certified Pre-Owned programs.
Top Fitness
Website: https://www.topfitness.com/pages/commercial-fitness
Top Fitness has a commercial arm and home gym section. The design center will help customers design their home gym for a full-body workout, draw up floor plans, and choose the best equipment. Design experts help to create a gym experience in the home.
The commercial side of Top Fitness offers a range of brands like Precor, True, Octane, and Spirit. They will price match a competitor’s published price and have store locations throughout the country. The team will help you go from design to a full installation.
In summary
The world of gym equipment can be overwhelming. Knowing where to buy reputable and high-quality fitness equipment is often the biggest hurdle in the purchase journey. Before you approach equipment suppliers and distributors, think about your needs and goals. Although many of the above businesses can help guide you, it’s useful to start the conversation with a good foundation of knowledge. By understanding the difference between new, refurbished, and used, you can buy exercise equipment from a trusted business that will not only last but improve the member experience.
