Buying exercise equipment

[k9krazee]

I have a budget of around $1,000 and would like to get some exercise equipment. I originally was going to buy a used treadmill but figured if it was something I was going to use daily I should probably buy new.

So I set my budget around $1,000 -- but that expands my options and maybe I shouldn't limit myself to something like a treadmill.

If you had $1k to spend on exercise equipment and the space to use & store it, what would you get?

I want to run a half marathon (someday) and to get stronger and get into a daily exercise habit again.

[joce]

I had a cheap treadmill and bought a nordictrack this year. Love it. cushiony and my old one always kinda felt like it slipped. I tried out the bicycle guys(brain dead today) brands and just didn't like them. The little research I did said go for longest track you can afford I think(helps with your running I would guess).

I got the c900. Which is 899 on the website now and I think I paid more than that for it.

[Giny]

I'm on my second Pro-form treadmill and I really like it. They're not to expensive, bought this last one a few years ago in the $500 price range. I run 3 to 4 days a week right now, use to run 5 days a week, 3 miles each run, and it handle very nicely.

[Saeleofu]

I would buy at least a cheaper treadmill, as I would use it for not only myself but the dogs too. Then I'd add something else in addition to the treadmill. Not sure what, but probably something for weight/resistance training since the treadmill takes care of cardio.

[eddieq]

What Saeleofu said - Nothing beats a good quality set of free weights/dumbbells for resistance training. The bands are good and have their uses (I use them myself for some things). You can usually get them for around a buck a pound. Buy individual bells, though, not the switchable ones. If you are doing a routine that requires various sizes, you'll drop your heart rate while changing out the plates (in my experience anyway).

Get a range of sizes depending on the type of training you want to do. Lighter/more reps for toning/fat burning. Heavier/fewer reps for muscle building.

A nice treadmill should be well under your 1K budget number leaving a couple hundred something like that.

[Linds]

Jump rope! Probably one of the cheapest but very effective things you could get.

[eddieq]

Originally Posted by Linds

Jump rope! Probably one of the cheapest but very effective things you could get.

Also called "Walking Xena on a long leash when she sees a squirrel."

[Beanie]

Check craigslist or the newspaper for treadmills. My treadmill was purchased from a guy who moved and no longer had room for it. He is also a runner and, like me, used it during the unbearable humidity and when there is ice on the ground, but just plain didn't have room for it in his new house. He spent almost $3000 on it - it is a high end gym quality machine.
I believe I paid $450 for it.

If you buy a used treadmill make sure you ask when it was last used. Treadmills that sit around for ages gather dust that you don't want in your machine; treadmills also need maintenance as far as lubing the belt goes. You can probably figure on having to undo the belt and lube it one way or another but it's best if you can find a machine that hasn't been unused for a long time (the guy who sold me mine had last used it the week prior. =P)

If you are serious about running, and a goal to run a half is definitely serious IMO, I strongly STRONGLY recommend you hold out and look for a high quality machine that is used rather than buying a cheaper "throwaway" model like you will find in most stores. Even the more expensive machines you might find at, say, Dick's Sporting Goods, are not as good as ones that are gym quality. And always ALWAYS look for reviews!


All that said, I own an elliptical that I bought for $400 years and years ago and used the crap out of it before I started running. It still works great. It's probably almost a decade old. It is a throwaway model for sure, no illusions there, but it's been a good little workhorse for me and I still use it to crosstrain on occasion. However when it comes to a treadmill I would never recommend cheaping out. The difference between a good treadmill and a cheap one when you're looking at the high level of training involved for a half-marathon can be the difference between being successful and being hurt.

[Psyfalcon]

Nice rowing machines are pretty fun.

More strength than a treadmill, but still plenty of cardio.

[Beanie]

Also going to add, if you have a budget of $1000, you may want to consider just straight up joining a gym. My gym is not cheap, but even at what I pay, that would be over two years of membership fees - and if you join a good one with plenty of cool classes, you can work in crosstraining and some resistance training, or at least would have access to other machines and also a weight room. Consider if you are the type of person who will really use a machine if it's sitting in your house or if you would benefit from committing to getting up and going to the gym. I know it's easier for me to skip a run here and there if I plan on using the treadmill at home, but there have been times I've decided to hit the gym and use their treadmills and once I've basically made the date of going to the gym I don't wiggle out of it. (But I also really hate treadmill running, necessary evil that it is in my climate, LOL. YMMV.)