what's a reasonable price for a treadmill, bike, or elliptical?
it seems that they range from $350 to $1000+ but how to know which is better or will last longer?

assuming one actually uses their exercise machine instead of just hanging up laundry on it, what's the normal wear and tear on an at-home machine?

for those who prefer to work out at home instead of the gym (for a more flexible schedule, working out in your bathing suit, whatever), what at home machines do you prefer?

800-1000 Should get you one of average quality. Anything below that will probably break within a year.
It seems 90% of people who buy them use it for a few months then they get dusty.

Once you decide on a brand, check out Craig's list, there must be lots of people that bought equipment with their hearts full of optomism and then it became a clothes rack.

You can also go for a day to a gym and try their equipment out, before you commit to buying it.

$800-1000??
we're not talking about machines that will be used by multiple users over several hours a day like at the gym. i'm thinking that something that'll be used for an hour a day barely 5 times a week shouldn't cost more than 500.


so true. i think that's partly because people want to save money so they buy the cheap stuff that doesn't connect properly or work right when they assemble it. also, partly because they see the infomercials about the machine and how easy it looks when a toned, buff dude uses it but once they put it together they see it's not for amatures at all and just give up.

Don't waste your money or space. Buy a set of dumbells for $50 and you're all set.

Dumbells are great if you want to strength train, but not if you want cardio (Although you can incorporate weights into most cardio routines). If you know a lot of different routines, you can come up with good cardio that just utilizes weights, such a walking lunges, and stuff that I don't know the name of

There are definitely cardio options that don't require machines, such as jump-rope, jumping jacks, etc., but it's not always feasable in a small apartment.

My Urban Rebounder folds up but it's not easy to do it. My stationary bike isn't that big; it fits nicely between my bed and the wall.

A treadmill or stairclimber is much bigger.

In our area is a guy who hires and sells treadmills and exercise bikes. I know me, in the winter when it's cold and miserable outside I don't tend to do as much walking outdoors so I asked him if I could buy a motorised treadmill on a trial hire basis. I hired it for about 2 weeks before I fell in love with it and bought it. (250 UKP and it has everything I need). It wasn't new but it had only been out on a few hirings. About a month after I paid for it, it started jamming (stopping dead) in the middle of me walking on it which was very disconcerting. The guy gave an excellent after sales service, after changing almost every part he could think of to solve this without success, he switched it for a brand new one which is working brilliantly. I love watching "A place in the sun" ( buying vacation homes abroad programme) while I am walking on it; it makes me almost believe I am in that sunny place on the screen.

As to weights, has anyone heard of the Russian Kettlebell? (google it) I have two of them, 20kg and 12kg, and my trainer and I work out with them; they give an amazing full body workout. She also brings 4kg dumbbells with her which I use while walking on the treadmill.

walking up flights of stairs, stepping on and off a milk carton or footstool (I used to do this in my office).

you can give yourself the Harvard step test;

The Harvard Step Test is conducted as follows:

Step up on to a standard gym bench once every two seconds for five minutes (150 steps)
Have someone to help you keep to the required pace
One minute after finishing the test take your pulse rate (bpm)- Pulse 1
Two minutes after finishing the test take your pulse rate (bpm) - Pulse 2
Three minutes after finishing the test take your pulse rate (bpm) - Pulse 3
Use the calculator below to determine your level of fitness

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/havard.htm