Our treadmills, exercise bikes and cross trainers Buying Guide is designed to help you make an informed choice when purchasing an upgrade to your home workout equipment. We know that making a large equipment purchase online can be a daunting prospect, so we want to give you the best chance of finding the ideal product from our home gym range for your needs. Large exercise machines like treadmills, exercise bikes and cross trainers are perfect if you want to smash a cardio workout at home, helping you to get the heart rate up, burn some calories and lose weight. Whether you're short on space or have acres to work with, this buying guide will help you find the equipment to suit your requirements.

Treadmills:

Running on a treadmill vs outside

The first thing you need to consider is whether you would prefer running on a treadmill at home compared to simply running outdoors. The benefits of treadmills come mainly down to their convenience, as you can run whenever you like without worrying about the weather or any safety risks that bad weather may create. It's also been proven to be easier on your joints and muscles to run on a treadmill as opposed to outdoor terrains, so a treadmill is likely a better choice for any running beginners. You can also easily adjust the speed and incline while running on a treadmill, which helps you to build up speed and endurance over time, as opposed to being exposed to whatever hills and slopes the outdoors has for you. But of course running outside has its own benefits, so it may simply come down to personal preference.

Benefits of a folding treadmill

Folding treadmills are the ideal choice if you're a little short on space at home, or you don't want the treadmill permanently taking up too much room in whichever area of your home it will go. Easy to simply pack away after use, our selection of folding treadmills proves extremely popular as they can easily be hidden away in a shed, the garage or even behind the sofa! You don't lose any of the functionality of a regular treadmill with a foldable treadmill, thanks to the high-tech brands we work with, such as Reebok. Just make sure you measure the space in which you wish to use and store your treadmill before purchase.

Treadmills for beginners

If you're just getting into your fitness and fancy running on a treadmill, we recommend going for a treadmill that has the functionality to progress as you do. After all, you will soon be running faster, further and up higher inclines so it's best to pick up a treadmill that does all that and more. It is also a good idea to go for one which has a high-tech digital display which helps you to track your progress and easily adjust the workout you are enduring. You should also be sure to choose a treadmill with important safety features like an emergency stop if you're a beginner. Don't forget to also check the belt size of the treadmill you're considering - the wider the belt size, the safer it is to run faster.

Long distance and uphill running treadmills

For the more seasoned runners out there, you may want a little more out of your treadmill. For instance, a longer and wider belt size is key if you're running faster than before, while bigger belts also aid uphill running as they can accommodate a longer stride length. Generally, if you're looking for a more advanced treadmill, you will have to pay more, but the investment will be worthwhile as the most expensive treadmills come with the greatest reliability and the latest technology.

Exercise bikes:

Exercise bikes vs cycling outdoors

The most obvious benefit of buying an exercise bike over a bike is that you can do your workout from the comfort and safety of your own home. If you just have a spare half an hour you can enjoy a ride at home on your exercise bike, which can be anything from a casual cycle to a high intensity workout, depending on your goals. That being said, you may well prefer getting out on your road bike and enjoying the open air, so maybe trial both to see whether you prefer the ease of an exercise bike or the challenge of outdoors.

Different types of exercise bikes

The three most common types of indoor exercise bikes are: upright exercise bikes, spin bikes and recumbent bikes. An upright exercise is the most common and designed to most closely resemble a bicycle and provide you with the most similar workout to outdoor cycling. A spin bike is designed to improve stamina and train harder than a regular exercise bike through an easily-adjustable resistance level, often used in spinning classes and also known as an aerobic bike. The largest of the three is the recumbent exercise bike which has a bigger seat in a reclined position, focussing the workout solely on the leg muscles and giving an easier ride to your joints.

Another type of exercise bike you have heard of is a magnetic resistance bike, which uses magnetic force to create tension against the flywheel in a spin bike. A magnetic resistance exercise bike is for the more advanced cycling trainers.

Exercise bikes for beginners

Exercise bike beginners need not spend over the odds to get everything they need to get into the routine of cycling at home. A simple exercise bike will more than cover your needs and give you an experience closest to what you may know from riding a bike. We have a number of cheap exercise bikes that would be ideal for beginners, providing you with a cost-effective way of working out from home. There are, however, more advanced exercise bikes available on our site that may be a better investment if you plan to really progress your cycling over time, offering features like an adjustable resistance level and digital screen displays to boost and track your progression.

Cross trainers:

Benefits of buying a cross trainer

The health benefits of using a cross trainer are significant and numerous. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight and improve your fitness or build muscle and increase mass, a cross trainer can help you get there. A cross trainer workout has the benefit of being a full body workout, working all your key muscle groups, with a strong focus on lower legs and arms. Another key benefit is the safety aspect - cross trainers are easy on your joints and you are very unlikely to fall off or cause any kind of serious muscle injury while using one. Other benefits include the ability to easily adjust the intensity of your workout and how easy it is to use a cross trainer to supplement your overall strength training workout. And of course, if you buy a cross trainer, you can do this all from home, which is a great benefit in itself!

Cross Trainers For Beginners

You can get simple cross trainers that give you everything you need from a workout, but you can also find cross trainers that are more advanced and take things to the next level. If you're new to cross trainers, a basic cross trainer will be more than adequate, providing the power, speed and range of motion you want from a full body workout. If you want to keep track of your progress over time though, you may want to invest in a higher-level elliptical cross trainer with mod cons like digital screens, bluetooth and more available here at Sports Direct.