Tips, guides and buying advice to help you get the most out of your fitness equipment.
Explore our latest posts on gym equipment, buying guides and more.
KingSmith's WalkingPad popularized folding walking pads. Here's how it compares with other brands.
Two of the most trusted commercial gym brands. Here's how Life Fitness and Precor compare.
Both are popular budget-friendly home gym brands. Here's how Titan and REP compare.
The two most famous air bikes. Here's how the Rogue Echo Bike and Assault AirBike compare.
Tonal pioneered wall-mounted digital strength. Here's how it compares with other smart trainers and traditional gear.
Theragun hits deeper; Hypervolt is quieter. Here's how the two leading massage gun brands compare.
Sole emphasizes sturdy builds and warranties; NordicTrack emphasizes interactive training. Here's how they compare.
NordicTrack and ProForm share a parent company and an app. Here's what actually separates them.
One is the training standard; the other is a connected experience. Here's how Concept2 and Hydrow compare.
You can get a Peloton-style experience for far less. Here's how alternatives compare.
The two most popular adjustable dumbbells take very different approaches. Here's how they compare.
Two of the biggest names in home gym equipment. Here's how Rogue and REP compare on quality, price and value.
Vibration plates promise a lot for little effort. Here's what research actually shows.
Smart bikes, AI cable machines and fitness mirrors promise a personal trainer at home. Here's what connected fitness costs and who it's actually worth it for.
Step, stride or run, all on one machine. Here's how the Precor AMT adaptive motion trainer works and why it's a gym favorite.
Sled pushes, parachute sprints and free running on one footprint. Here's how the Matrix S-Drive Performance Trainer works and why gyms love it.
Spotted a "Biggest Loser Ladder" for sale? Here's what it is, how it relates to the Jacobs Ladder and what to look for before buying one used.
It looks simple, but few machines are harder. Here's how the Jacobs Ladder climbing machine works and why athletes, first responders and gyms love it.
The PowerMill is a revolving staircase that never ends. Here's how the Life Fitness PowerMill climber works, what it trains and whether it belongs in your gym.
Life Fitness's Club Series+ brings club-style cardio home. Here's how the Club Series+ Elliptical Cross-Trainer and Total Body Arc Trainer compare.
Life Fitness calls its ellipticals cross-trainers, and the range runs from home models to club workhorses. Here's how the lineup compares, what they cost and how to buy one.
AT, A, 525, 750, 770 — Cybex Arc Trainer model names follow a pattern. Here's how to decode them and which models suit home and commercial use.
They look alike, but the Arc Trainer and the elliptical move differently. Here's the real difference — and how cross trainers and AMTs compare too.
It looks like an elliptical, but it moves differently. Here's what the Arc Trainer is, how its arc-shaped motion works and why so many gyms keep a row of them.
Classic iron has a following for good reason. Here's what old school gym equipment is worth buying, which vintage brands to look for and what to check before you restore it.
A used Life Fitness treadmill is one of the best-value commercial cardio buys. Here's how the series compare, what to test and what a fair deal looks like.
Arc trainers, AMTs, stepper ellipticals and lateral trainers — the elliptical-like machines worth knowing about.
Side-to-side elliptical training and zero-impact running — how Octane's two most distinctive machines work and who they're for.
A seated, supported, low-impact workout that still trains the whole body — here's how recumbent ellipticals work and who they're best for.
Octane built its name on ellipticals. Here's how the Q35, Q37, Q47 and commercial Pro series compare — and what to check before you buy one.
Iso-lateral bench, incline and decline presses, plate-loaded vs. MTS, plus Hammer Strength benches — what to know before buying Hammer Strength chest equipment.
Plate-loaded or selectorized, converging or fixed path — how incline press machines work and what to look for before you buy one.
Full-body, low-impact cardio built for commercial floors — here's what to know about Technogym ellipticals and cross trainers before you buy.
Plate-loaded machines trade a pin-selected weight stack for free weight plates you load yourself — here's how that changes the way they feel, fit and hold up over time.
Leg extension trains the quads, leg curl trains the hamstrings — here's how seated, prone, standing and combo machines differ, and how to choose one.
V-squat, calf raise, abductor and adductor machines each train the legs and hips differently — here's how to tell them apart and choose the right one.
Standing or seated, machine or dumbbell — here's how to choose a lateral raise machine and get real side-delt results from it.
Dedicated shrug machine, Smith machine, or dumbbells and a barbell — here's how each one trains the trapezius, and how to choose the right one.
Tricep pushdown, seated extension or arm extension machine — here's how to tell them apart, what they work, and how to use one correctly.
Preacher curl, seated curl machine or cable curl — here's how each one isolates the biceps differently, and how to choose the right one.
Shoulder press, lateral raise and rear delt machines each train the shoulder differently — here's how to tell them apart and choose the right one.
Chest press, pec deck, incline press and cable crossover — here's what each chest machine actually does, and how to choose the right one.
Power rack, squat cage or power tower — here's how they differ, what each needs in terms of space, and how to pair one with the right bench.
Adjustable or fixed, dumbbells or a barbell — here's how to choose a home gym weight set that actually matches how you train, and where to buy it new or used.
One machine, multiple stations — here's how all-in-one home gym machines actually work, and what to check before choosing one over separate equipment.
Single-stack or dual-stack, home or commercial, compact or full-size — here's what actually matters when buying a used cable machine, and what to check before you hand over payment.
Selectorized machine, plate-loaded press or a barbell and rack — the right strength equipment depends on your goals, experience and available space.
Treadmill, bike, elliptical or rower — each trains you differently. Here's how to match cardio equipment to your goals, joints, budget and available space, whether you're outfitting a full gym or a home garage setup.
