Why buy a treadmill for your home if you can go to a gym?
This is a pretty good question. A gym is a “pooling resources” service. A bunch of people puts money into a pot (i.e. entrepreneur) who then buys a bunch of fitness equipment a group of people shares. Pooling resources is economical and offer better selection. So, why are millions of treadmills sold for home use?
People buy treadmills and will continue buying treadmills for home use rather than getting a fitness center membership for a number of reasons. If you’re wondering whether to buy a treadmill or join a gym, consider these pros and cons to a treadmill in your home instead of a fitness center membership.
Pros to a treadmill for home
- Saves time: no travel or changing room time needed.
- Convenience: workout when you want. No gym hours restriction. Less planning issues. What do I mean by this? When you go to a gym during a busy day you need to fit it in – say before work, during lunch, or on the way home from work. With a home treadmill, all you need do is use it whenever you want.
- Cost: cheaper in the long run.
- You don’t have to wait for your turn to use a treadmill. Some gyms get very busy at peak attendance times.
- Use a home treadmill as long as you like. When a gym is busy, you may be restricted to 20 or 30 minutes on a treadmill. At home, you can run a marathon any time you like.
- You get to pick the brand and features of your treadmill specifically to suit your needs.
- You choose the TV show and/or music.
- No other people to bother you. Some people love the social aspect of joining a gym. Other people aren’t interested in joining a gym for social reasons. Workout out at home gives you solitude and the option to focus on your workout.
Cons to a home treadmill
- Unless you spend a fortune, you won’t have all the fitness equipment selection you get in a gym.
- Won’t enjoy the latest equipment. Gyms typically get new equipment every few years.
- At a gym, you get to use commercial-grade treadmills. A good gym spends thousands per treadmill. Because they buy in bulk, they get commercial grade treadmills (also because a treadmill in a gym needs to be a lot tougher than a home treadmill).
- At a gym, you can unwind in a sauna, pool, hot tub and/or steam room.
- A treadmill purchase costs a chunk of money up-front.
- You need to find a place to put your treadmill. If space is lacking, you may annoy your family members.
Featured Image: Men’s Health