Obsession Fitness | Exercise Equipment, Home Gyms » compact

Paradigm Fitness Walking Electric Treadmill | Compact, Folding Home Exercise Machine

Steve — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:28:29 +0000

Here’s a no-frills, compact walking treadmill with an unusually sturdy build for the price range, accommodating users up to 350 pounds. While this model is intended for fitness walking only, it is not self-powered like other walking treadmills — the 1.5 HP motor has a speed range of 0.4 to 4.0 mph.

The space-saving design is ideal for small rooms, but with this comes a relatively short walking surface (16″ x 36″ belt), that’s not recommended for users of above average height. A 6’ tall individual will need to stay aware of over-stepping the tread area — not something you want to be thinking about during a workout.

Otherwise the Paradigm Fitness Walking Treadmill provides a safe, stable and comfortable workout, as advertised. Extra long safety handles add to walking security and balance at any speed. The ground-level walking surface makes it easy to get on and off the treadmill.

The control panel is simple to use and monitors time, distance, calories & walking speed. A speed control button fixed to the handle bar makes it easy to adjust the motor speed.

The walking area and belt come fully assembled. The arms, legs and display unit are easily attached. The treadmill folds for storage and includes transportation wheels.

Paradigm Fitness Walking Electric Treadmill Product Details

1.5 HP motor with 4MPH maximum speed
Heavy-duty frame is designed for extra weight support
Ground-level walking surface and wide side rails
LCD displays time, distance, calories burned and speed for easy reference
Folds for space-saving storage and moves easily on built-in wheels
350-pound maximum user weight; 1-year warranty for frame and 5 years for motor

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Folding Mini-Stair Climber | Brookstone Compact Fold-A-Way Cardio Stepper

Steve — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:54:32 +0000

This simple stair stepper from Brookstone offers an adequate cardio and lower body workout and folds away for easy storage when not in use.

The telescopic shaft is a distinguishing feature that can be adjusted to your exact height and accommodate multiple users.

The base is relatively small when compared to more robust and expensive steppers and can lead to some instability when in use. Another con is the lack of side handle bars.

The multi-function LCD console monitors heart rate, pace, training time, distance and calories burned. The computer can also track total steps or all workouts combined for a full week. The monitor automatically shuts off after five minutes of inactivity to preserve the battery life.

Pulse sensor-grips built into the handles monitor your heart rate without the need for straps or wires. However, pulse sensors are generally not as accurate as chest strap heart-rate monitoring.

In our view Brookstone products tend to be overpriced. The tag on this product is a notch high but this is still an affordable basic stair stepper with some nice extra features.

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BodyCraft Fitness Galena Pro Home Gym | Full Body Space-Saving Exercise Machine

Steve — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:46:27 +0000

The Galena model from BodyCraft has been around for a few years but remains a highly recommended, comprehensive and versatile home gym. If you have the space, this is a good alternative to a monthly commercial gym membership.

The unique design with angled work stations accommodates fitting the gym into a corner of a room better than traditional lay0uts with seats positioned at reverse or perpendicular angles.

Although marketed by BodyCraft as requiring less space than most home gyms, the Galana is still a large and heavy piece of equipment. The assembled gym measures 72 x 58 x 81 inches and weighs 500 pounds.

The heavy frame is durable and stable and the fiberglass reinforced nylon pulleys and sealed bearings make for very smooth cable operation. The seat and seat back are fully adjustable.

Every muscle group can be addressed with a wide range of exercises requiring minimal adjustments on 300 pounds of resistance. The Galana features a Chest Press, Dual-Function Pec Deck, Leg Extension, Leg Curl, Lat Pull, Low Pulley Station, Abdominal Crunch, and optional Leg Press (shown in the photo). The “Pec Deck” is truly unique as it accommodates both traditional flys and dumbbell style flys.

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BodyCraft Galena Pro Home Gym with Pec Dec, Leg Press and Weight Stack Guards
US $2,419.00
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BodyCraft Optional Stack Guards for Galena Pro Home Gym
US $14.99
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Folding Upright Exercise Bike | Body Champ XRB100 Compact Magnetic Resistance X-Bike

Steve — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:51:53 +0000

The XRB100 is a minimalist bargain bike with a nice folding feature for those with limited space. Although not suited for serious cardio training, for the price, this bike provides a solid workout.

The construction is solid and sturdy and the push-pull arm design engages the upper body to a limited extent, a feature not usually seen on upright bikes.

Features include adjustable tension control, adjustable seat height, long padded handlebars and smooth, quiet magnetic resistance.

The electronic console panel displays time, speed, distance and calories.

Space-conscious users will appreciate the folding feature that lets you tuck the assembly away in a closet, under a bed or other out-of-the-way place.

Also see the Confidence Folding Stow Away Bike for a comparably priced compact upright bike.

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Best Fitness BFMG10 Sportsman Gym 10 | Affordable Home Starter Gym

Steve — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:53:30 +0000

The BFMG10 Sportsman is a compact, no frills unit with impressive versatility for a home gym in the under $300 price range. It gets a marginal recommendation for those on a budget who don’t need more than a 145 lb. weight stack.

Key features include a wide grip lat bar on upper the pulley, narrow grip low row bar on the lower pulley, press arms, lat pulldown and leg developer that accommodates both leg curls and extensions.

The padded pressing arms are built to match the natural arc of a free weight bench press and pectoral dumbbell fly.

This gym features a no cable change design. The cables are made of 2200 lb. test nylon coated aircraft quality material working with fiberglass pulleys with ball bearing movement on a solid axle rotation.

The complete unit measures 50″ x 77″ x 65″ and weighs 255 lbs.

Home gyms with weight stacks don’t come much cheaper than the BFMG10 Sportsman. For higher end models with more features, see all of our home gym reviews.

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2010 Schwinn 140 Upright Exercise Bike | Affordable, Compact and Feature Rich

Steve — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:52:46 +0000

The 2010 Schwinn 140 is a compact, well-built and whisper quiet exercise bike available at an exceptional value.

Distinguishing features of this model include a perimeter weighted 20-pound flywheel for a road-like, smooth, consistent motion and oversized, ergonomic, dual density pedals for efficient and comfortable pedaling.

Other key features include 16 resistance levels, 17 programs, and both telemetry and contact heart rate monitoring.

The workout programs include 8 course profiles, target heart rate, 2 user profiles plus custom workouts. Multiple user profiles can be saved to avoid re-entering personal information before each session.

While the handlebars are adjustable this model is not ideal for tall users as longer legs may bump the handlebars while pedaling.

The instruction manual is relatively clear and assembly will take 30 to 90 minutes. All the required tools are included.

Schwinn 140 Upright Exercise Bike Product Features

Upright exercise bike
20-pound flywheel
Eddy Current Brake (ECB) resistance system
Backlit, multi-color console for easy viewing
Adjustable handlebars
17 workout programs
Telemetry-enabled, integrated grip heart rate system
Oversized, ergonomic pedal design with dual density
Extra wide, comfortable seat
Water bottle holder
Magazine rack
300-pound maximum user weight

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Fold Up Powered Incline Walking Treadmill | LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor

Steve — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:40:09 +0000

Here’s a sleek and compact folding treadmill that comes fully assembled out of the box. Ideal for small spaces, the LifeSpan Fitness TR200 easily collapses to fit under a bed, upright in a closet or behind a door.

The blue LCD console features a large, easy to use display with 6 exercise programs. You can track speed, time, distance, steps, heart rate and calories burned.

The incline feature, not always seen in treadmills of this price range, is excellent for varying difficulty and working different muscle groups. A push of a button easily adjusts the incline levels between 4, 6, 8, or 10. Another button skips directly to 3, 4, 5, or 6 miles per hour.

Other features include built-in speakers and headphone port for an iPod or MP3 player.

While this treadmill is sturdy and stable, it’s not the best choice for heavy running. The 1.5-horsepower drive motor offers speed ranges of 0.5 to 8 MPH. For models with more speed and power, browse our other treadmill reviews.

LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-N-Stor Product Details

Fully assembled treadmill
Folds compactly to store under bed or in closet
Blue LCD console tracks time, calories, distance, steps, speed, and incline
Quick-start speed and incline buttons; 3 speed and 3 incline programs
10 Incline levels
Built-in speakers and headphone port
Contact heart rate grips
30.5″ x 51.5″ x 60.5″ — Folds to 13.5″ x 59.5″
Drive motor: 1.5-horsepower continuous-duty motor
Speed: 0.5 to 8 miles per hour
Weight capacity: 250 pounds
Lifetime on the frame, 5 years on the motor, and 1 year on parts and labor

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Powerline PHG1000X Single Stack Home Gym | Compact Design for Plate Load or Selectorized Weights

Steve — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:04:31 +0000

The Powerline PHG1000X packs a lot of versatility into a compact footprint with a single weight stack design. It’s small enough to fit in any room.

This gym does NOT come with weights. Standard weight plates can be used or an optional 150 Lb. selectorized weight stack can be purchased separately. The easy to adjust selector pin saves time and makes it easy to increase resistance using both the weight stack and/or standard weight plates.

The patented press arm can be used both as a chest press station and to replicate the pectoral dumbbell fly. Other features let you perform numerous high pulley, low pulley and leg extension leg curl exercises.

Assembly for this gym is complicated and time consuming, and the sub-par directions are not much help. Once assembled this is a dependable and affordable home gym but we recommend considering the highly superior Powerline BSG10X that comes 90% assembled and offers more features.

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Fitness Quest (Eclipse) Elliptical Cross Trainer | 1100 HR/A Space Saving, Affordable, Low Impact Cardio

Steve — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:09:43 +0000

Purchasing an elliptical trainer, treadmill or exercise bike in the under $500 price range can be risky, and often leads to disappointment. We always recommend considering your specific needs and doing enough research to know exactly what you’re getting and what to expect over time.

The Eclipse 1100 HR/A features a uncommonly small footprint and patented orbital linkage system, producting a smooth and natural elliptical rotation.

The stride length is relatively short, making it best suited for small to medium sized users. The motion produces almost no impact on the knees, back, and hips and the workout is appropriate for all ages and fitness levels.

Despite the size, this elliptical is solidly built and has enough mass to ensure a stable workout. Assembly is easy and the machine includes wheels for convenient transport.

The computer panel tracks time, speed, distance, and approximate calories burned. There are 10 preset workout programs, two heart rate control programs and built-in hand pulse sensors for immediate heart rate monitoring.

Other details include a magnetic resistance system, over-sized, slip-resistant foot pedals for stability and comfort, a water bottle holder and reading rack.

We would not expect this piece of equipment to be a long-term solution, lasting 5 or 10 years. Lower priced options can require more frequent service or replacement of broken parts. Thankfully, in this case, Fitness Quest has built a reputation for excellent customer service.

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Schwinn Stationary Upright Exercise Bike | Active 10 Series Compact Home Fitness

Steve — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:11:13 +0000

The Schwinn Active 10 Series shuns excess frills, complicated computer programs and prohibitive expense and is a solid option for those in the market for an entry-level exercise bike.

This Schwinn model gets by on the bare essentials while still providing a comfortable, nearly noiseless and effective cardio workout. The compact design takes up considerably less space than a treadmill or elliptical trainer and is ideal for apartments and other cramped living spaces.

Despite the diminutive build the bike is sturdy and features smooth, quiet belt drive operation and eight levels of magnetic resistance.

The console tracks speed, time, RPM, distance, pulse and calories burned. There are 11 preset programs to add variety to your rides.

The display is digital and easy to read but does not incorporate multiple windows or the back light feature seen on higher end models.

Heart rate is monitored through grip sensors on the bike’s handlebars.

This model does not include a folding mechanism but the size and light weight make it relatively easy to move and store.

Although the user capacity is stated at 275 pounds, in reality this bike is best suited for average weights between 100 and 200 pounds.

The Schwinn Active Series 10 combines sound design and an adequate number of basic features at a reasonable price. For an even more affordable option — the lowest priced upright that we can comfortably recommend — see the Marcy PL-43211 Upright Mag Cycle.

Schwinn Active 10 Series Product Details

Space saving upright home exercise bike
Easy to use LCD display
Eleven workout programs
Six preset workout profiles, one manual, three heart rate control, and one target heart rate
Grip sensor heart rate monitoring
Computer controlled, magnetic resistance with eight difficulty levels
Stable integrated leveling feet for stability and floor protection
Sleek, modern design with silver and black finish
Measures 40″ x 20″ x 53″ and weighs 58 pounds