Fitness Equipment

How to choose equipment you'll still be using in six months

January gym equipment has a poor survival rate, and the reason is almost never the machine. Three questions predict it better than any specification.

• Where will it live, permanently? Equipment that has to be dragged out and set up gets used for about three weeks. If it can't stay assembled somewhere you'll walk past it, choose something that folds or stores upright.
• Would you do this activity anyway? Buying a treadmill because running burns calories, when you dislike running, doesn't work. The right machine is the one matching something you already enjoy.
• How long is a realistic session? Twenty minutes three times a week that actually happens beats an hour a day that doesn't.

What each piece of equipment does

Foldable treadmill

Walking, jogging and running indoors whatever the weather. The StrideMaster 2-in-1 Foldable Treadmill runs from 0.6 to 7.8mph, is adjusted by remote control and folds away on built-in transport wheels. Start every session at a walk, and clip on or stay within reach of the stop control.

Walking pad and under-desk treadmill

Built for walking rather than running. The StrideLite runs from 0.6 to 3.8mph and comes fully assembled; the StridePro runs from 1 to 6km/h and slides under a desk or sofa. Both suit people who work from home and want to move during the day. Walk at a pace where you can still type or talk.

Exercise bike

Lowest impact and the easiest to combine with watching something, which is why people tend to keep using one. The CompactFold has magnetic resistance with 8 levels, an LCD display and an adjustable seat and handlebars, and folds away after use. Set the saddle height so your leg is almost straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke: too low is the most common setup error and it's hard on the knees.

Dumbbells

The most versatile thing on this page. The HexPro pairs come in 2.5kg, 5kg or 7.5kg each, with a rubber coating that helps protect floors and a hex shape that stops them rolling. Start lighter than you think and move up once the movement is clean.

Pilates bar and resistance kit

Light, stores in a drawer, and effective for strength and mobility. The FlexFit kit has a snap-lock steel bar, foam grips and fabric-wrapped latex resistance bands. A sensible starting point if you're not yet sure you'll stick with home training.

Power tower

A free-standing frame for pull-ups, dips and push-ups. The Ultimate Home Gym Power Station adjusts from 183 to 233cm, so check your ceiling height before you buy, and leave room to swing your legs clear of walls.

Home fitness accessories

Smaller items that make a routine easier to keep: a mat under any machine, resistance bands, and a foot massage roller for tired feet after a day standing or walking.

How to set up safely at home

• Use a mat. It protects the floor from sweat and reduces the noise and vibration transmitted to rooms below, which matters in a flat or an upstairs room.
• Check the user weight limit on the product page before ordering. It's specified for safety, not as a guideline.
• Leave clearance: clear floor behind a treadmill belt so a stumble doesn't put you into a wall or furniture, and space either side of a bike so you can mount and dismount easily.
• Assemble fully, including stabilising feet. Most reported faults with home equipment turn out to be incomplete assembly.
• Store dumbbells on the floor or a rack, never on a shelf above head height.

How to start without hurting yourself

The most common home training injuries come from doing too much too soon rather than from bad equipment.

• Start lighter and shorter than you think. Soreness two days later is normal; sharp pain during is not.
• Learn the movement before adding load. Weight training and bodyweight work both reward technique, and both punish rushing it.
• Warm up for five minutes before anything with resistance.
• If you have a heart condition, joint problem, are pregnant, or haven't exercised in a long time, speak to your GP before starting a new programme, particularly with high-intensity equipment.