Why A Home Gym Is Better | 11 Reasons To Know

A home gym can help you save time and money while offering greater convenience. It is ideal for people who require privacy when working out and can also be customized as per the needs of the homeowner. However, you’ll need a good amount of money to set up a home gym. 

Joining a gym is one of the first things that people think of when they plan to achieve a healthier lifestyle. 

A gym can offer several advantages, but many of these are even available in a home gym setup. That is why many people are confused about whether it is better to go for a home gym rather than a commercial one. 

And this guide will help you make the right decision.

Benefits Of A Home Gym 

1. Saving Time

If you’re finding it difficult to make time for your daily workout regime, setting up a home gym is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself fit. There are various ways by which a home gym can help in saving time, such as:

i. No Commuting

There will always be some commuting time in the case of a commercial gym, which will depend on how far the gym is from your house. In case it is situated at some distance, half the time will be spent on commuting. But there is no commute time in the case of a home gym. 

ii. No Parking

Finding a parking spot for your car will also require some time, which will be further saved when you have a home gym.

iii. No Waiting Time 

In a commercial gym, you need to wait for the equipment to become free, which can take considerable time. This is not the case with a home gym, where your equipment is always available. 

iv. No Time In Locker Room

If you go to a commercial gym, some time will be spent packing your gym bag before leaving. Not just that, but showering and changing in the changing room will also require time. But this time wasted in locker rooms can be saved by having a gym in your own space.

v. No Meaningless Conversations 

You can frequently find yourself caught up in unwanted conversations with other gym goers, which can take a lot of time. This is another thing that can be avoided with a home gym.

2. Better Hygiene

One of the biggest problems with commercial gyms is that many people visiting the gym have very poor hygiene. Some examples include people with bacterial foot infections or conditions like verruca who may work out or walk barefoot on the gym floor. Similarly, some people habitually blow their nose or urinate in the gym shower.

Then there are those who never shower, and the gym equipment can get covered with sweat. All these problems can be avoided by setting up a home gym, where hygiene and cleanliness are in your control. 

Also, the garage or room that will be used as a gym will only be visited by you or your family members, ensuring better health. They are more likely to leave the place as clean as they found it. 

3. More Convenient

There are several ways in which a commercial gym can be highly inconvenient. For instance, in many commercial gyms, exercise bars like spotter bars and J cups might be situated at the wrong height. Alternatively, some people may want to work out with you, which means you’ll have to jump on and off the equipment to allow others to use it. 

Also, there are others who do not return the equipment, such as dumbbells, to their proper places. Relocating them when you need them and returning them to their places can be quite tedious. Additionally, commercial gyms can be difficult to navigate since equipment like dumbbells, clips, plates, free weights, etc., are generally strewn across the place. 

Similarly, there are human obstacles to navigate, such as people crowding around an exercise machine like a treadmill, which can prevent access to the equipment you need to use. And having to deal with horrible music which plays at most commercial gyms is another downside. Finally, such gyms operate during specific hours, so they are not accessible 24/7.

Having your own home gym means you can access it at any hour of the day. 

4. Greater Flexibility

Another reason why a home gym is better than a commercial one is because it offers greater flexibility. The training and workout equipment is accessible at all times, so you can adjust your daily schedule as required. 

This means it is possible to start and stop your workouts according to your needs, which can be useful for people with unpredictable schedules. With greater flexibility, there is a lesser chance of missing workouts since they can always be shifted if something else needs to be completed during the regular time. 

Similarly, having your own gym allows you to continue working out for as long as required, which is not possible at a commercial gym. Gymgoers who only get time to visit the gym late evening usually need to wrap up their workouts quickly since the gym has to close for the day.

Additionally, micro-workouts are possible with a home gym since any free time can be used for training. And these can be spread throughout the day, so you get plenty of exercise at your own pace, even during workdays. It is even possible to get a few chores done in between workouts. 

5. Saving Money 

Setting up a home gym requires a significant investment. But many people do not know that this one-time investment can help save a lot of money in the long run. The reason is that a gym membership will cost you money every month for membership. 

In contrast, the equipment needed for a home gym only needs to be purchased once. For free weight lifting, a bench, barbell, plates, a pull-up bar, and a rack are more than enough and can also fit your budget. And there is no need to purchase equipment other than what is required depending on your strength and skill level.

But there are other ways as well by which a home gym can help you save money. For instance, you do not need to spend on gas to travel to a gym; thus, there are no commuting expenses. Similarly, there is no need to spend on fancy gym clothes and accessories like a gym bag.

What’s more, you do not need to buy food as in the case of most gyms. 

6. Greater Freedom

A commercial gym will always have some rules that you’ll have to follow. Some of these can be very restrictive and arbitrary, affecting your workout experience to a great extent. In addition, various social norms are to be followed in almost every gym.

With a home gym, there is no need to worry about such rules, and you can enjoy complete freedom. This means that there are no restrictions regarding the attire, how the gym equipment has to be used, or even cleaning and maintenance. A home gym is a better choice for people who like to use chalk on their palms to secure a better grip. 

That said, you may want to exercise some level of restraint to prevent the equipment from getting damaged. 

7. Customizability

One major drawback of going to the gym is that you can only use the equipment that is available. The equipment may be unsuitable and difficult to use, or there may be some restrictive rules regarding their configuration or use. This is not an issue if you have a gym at home.

For home gyms, you can select the right equipment and configure it as needed. For instance, a squat safety bar is one of the things that is often not present in many gyms. But you can get it when working out at home.

Similarly, equipment like a trap bar, which may not be free during your gym sessions because many people use it, can be purchased for your home gym. This allows for trying different workouts and new things, which may not be possible at commercial gyms. 

Aside from the equipment, you have complete control over the workout environment, so elements like music and temperature can be adjusted as required.

8. Privacy 

At commercial gyms, ensuring privacy is not possible. This means you cannot experiment and try out new exercises without the fear of other people judging you. This can be a major drawback for people who are uncomfortable with how their bodies look or how skilled they are. 

On the other hand, having a home gym provides complete privacy, and you do not have to feel intimidated when trying out new things. It is also possible to work out in your home clothes without feeling self-conscious, and there won’t be any compulsion to try out extremely hard exercises to impress others.  

A home gym also does not have any of the distractions that are present in commercial ones. Since there are no other people, focusing on your fitness routine is easy. 

9. Training With Your Family

Instead of training with strangers in a commercial gym, you can train with friends and family at home. They can provide motivation and make your workout routine more enjoyable. 

For people with kids, working out at home can provide kids with a good example to follow. They tend to copy what adults do, so this could be the best way to get them interested in physical fitness from a young age. This will also help them become more confident and make them less susceptible to diseases. 

Similarly, if you train with your spouse, it can help strengthen bonds and improve your relationship. 

10. Daycare At Home  

A home gym can double as a daycare if you have kids, but there is no one to take care of them in your absence. You can create a separate zone for your child or children in the gym and keep tabs on them while working out. 

This provides a relaxed mindset allowing you to concentrate on your training without worrying about the kids. And it can help save money since child-care services at most commercial gyms are a bit pricey. 

11. No Gym Closure

One of the biggest reasons why having a gym at home has become popular in recent times is the possibility of gym closures. The pandemic resulted in a situation where all gyms across the country had to be shut down. 

While they are now operational again, it is better to be prepared for such an eventuality in the future. If you’ve missed workouts when gyms were closed down, a home gym might be a great idea. You can get some gym equipment and continue training at home in case of shutdowns. 

Disadvantages Of A Home Gym

Having a home gym offers many benefits, but there are a few downsides as well, which you should know about. 

1. Huge Initial Investment

As mentioned before, setting up a home gym involves a significant upfront cost. You will have to spend a lot on getting gym instruments that are needed and may even need to renovate the space for the purpose. The more equipment you require, the costlier it will be to create a home gym setup.

These can include weight machines, cardio equipment, power and squat racks, strength training and weight training equipment, and more, depending on your fitness goals. Moreover, all this fitness equipment and the entire setup will require proper maintenance to keep them in good shape. Maintenance costs can be quite high, depending on the equipment.

But if they are not maintained, they can get damaged, which will result in costly repairs or replacements.

2. Requires A Dedicated Space 

The primary requirement for setting up a home gym is adequate space. It can be set up in a spare room or the garage, but the space should be large enough to hold all the gym equipment you plan to purchase.

In addition, there should be plenty of room left after installing the equipment for you to move and exercise freely. To get the most out of a home gym, it should be set up in at least 500 square feet of area. In smaller homes, this may not be possible. 

Ideally, this space should be situated where you can work out without distractions, such as the basement or garage. 

3. No Gym Atmosphere

Some people miss the atmosphere that is found in commercial gyms, which are crammed with people. If you’re one of those, a home gym where there is just you and nobody else might not be the right choice. 

The right training environment is crucial for a successful workout, so depending on personal training requirements, getting a membership at a local gym might be a better option. 

Benefits Of Commercial Gyms

I’ve already discussed the benefits that you shall reap after setting up your own gym. Now, let’s look at the advantages commercial gyms offer. 

1. You Can Sign Up For Classes

Most commercial gyms offer a variety of classes on fitness-related topics, such as yoga. A gym membership can be very helpful for people who prefer such activities instead of lifting weights and doing cardio. Additionally, they have professional trainers who can help you become familiar with the gym, fitness equipment, and the etiquette to be followed.

In the case of a home gym, you will need to hire a personal trainer to get all these benefits, which will come with an increased cost.  

2. Socializing Opportunities

For people who like socializing and need to spend some time out of their homes, signing up for a membership at a local gym would be the best bet. This is especially true if you work from home and do not get many opportunities to stretch your legs. 

You can meet other people and socialize, which can be an added advantage for people who do not like to work out alone. Finding like-minded people can keep you self-motivated and result in a great workout. 

Some gyms even offer options like group fitness classes, which can be great for people who want to socialize. 

3. More And Varied Equipment

In most cases, commercial gyms will always have a larger variety of equipment than home gyms.  

These can include a power rack, squat rack, cable machines, rowing machines, spin cycling cardio bikes, and more. And such gyms employ personal trainers who can help you learn about the different pieces of equipment and how to use them properly without getting injured.

Also, compared to a home gym, commercial ones have pools, saunas, and other amenities that can make your training sessions fun.  

Disadvantages Of Commercial Gyms

1. Crowded Spaces

A major disadvantage of getting a gym membership is that you will have to deal with crowds. Many people want to avoid this, especially since they have to wait for the equipment to be free. While commercial gyms have rules limiting the time one person can use a piece of gym equipment at a given time, this does not serve as a practical solution. 

And you will have to engage in small talk and meaningless conversations when there are people nearby, resulting in more wasted time. 

2. Monthly Membership Fees And Added Charges

All commercial gyms charge membership fees, which can range from $10 to more than $300 per month. But what may be surprising to many is that, in many cases, a lower fee is offered when you sign up and become a member. Once the gym membership has to be renewed, the amount charged will likely be higher. 

Sometimes, you may even need to pay more to cancel the membership. And if you plan to sign up for personalized or specialized classes in addition to the standard membership, the total cost can be extremely high. 

Why A Home Gym Is Better Conclusion

The home gym vs. commercial gym debate is one which cannot be easily resolved. That said, it can be seen that having a gym at home offers several advantages over commercial gyms. Whether it is the greater convenience, cost-effectiveness, or savings in time, setting up your own gym can be very beneficial.

But it may not be ideal for everyone since many people get gym memberships to experience the bustling atmosphere of commercial gyms. Or they may be beginners who want to get familiar with the equipment before setting up their home gyms. 

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, and you should think of your own requirements when deciding which option to choose.