Exercising in your own home has its advantages and disadvantages. For many who prefer privacy, purchasing a treadmill, free weights, and a stair climber are a worthwhile investment. Others who prefer to have people around them for motivation prefer the health club. Here is a list of the best home exercise equipment on the market:

For your abdominals
Exercise balls provide a great workout for your abdominal muscles and your lower back. You can sit on the exercise ball and lean from side to side to workout those tough to reach love handles. You can also lay on the ball, with your legs in a 90 degree angle and do crunches. The bounce of the exercise ball will reduce the tension and pressure on your lower back.

The Ab lounge is a great piece of exercise equipment that focuses on tightening your upper and lower abs and oblique's. The machine works by having the individual sit in a chair like position with their arms grabbing a band above their head and their feet interlocked or placed on top of foot pedals. You will then do a standard crunch (raise your torso towards your knees). The foot pedals are adjustable so people of all different heights can use it. The foot pedals also allow you to perform several different exercises.

Aerobic Conditioning
When you begin a workout you must combing aerobic workouts with strength training, it is the only way to effectively lose weight and to strengthen your entire body. A few pieces of exercise equipment for aerobic conditioning include: the treadmill, the elliptical machine, the stair climber, and the exercise bike.

The Treadmill
Everyone knows the treadmill has been on the market for several years because it is the one piece of exercise equipment that has proven results. When you are selecting a treadmill, you need to consider the following:

• Power. When you are walking, and change the speed to running, the transfer of power should feel smooth. You should never hear the motor working hard to keep the pace.
• Horsepower. Online ratings are the best place to check. Look at the figure "continuous duty rating" and shop for a treadmill with the rating 1.5 to 2.5 HP continuous duty. Along with the horsepower rating, check for a treadmill that has a long warranty on the motor and remember that DC motors are quieter.
• The walking belt. You only need 18 inches of width and 52 inches of length. The more belt surface you have, the harder the motor has to work.
• Noise. An overly noisy treadmill indicates it was poorly engineered and constructed with cheap components. A quieter machine means less friction and wear on the treadmill.
• Warranty. A standard warranty is lifetime on the frame, 3 years on parts and 1 year on labor.

Elliptical Machine
Unlike the treadmill, an elliptical machine is low impact and easier on the joints. It absorbs the shock on your joints that you would have if you were running on a treadmill. The elliptical machine is built for smooth, natural motion. When you are shopping for an elliptical machine, you need to consider the safety features, stride length, adjustable incline, smooth motion, upper body option, the noise, and resistance. As with any piece of exercise equipment, you want your elliptical machine to be safe. Your elliptical machine should offer a warm up and cool down period to allow your body to return to its normal state and allow the muscles to relax. A good warranty on an elliptical machine is 1 year for labor and 1-3 years for parts. Purchasing from a dealer with trained staff is also an added bonus if you have problems setting up your elliptical machine.

The stride length on an elliptical machine should be around 21 inches. A good quality elliptical machine will run at least $1000. You can buy a machine for $200 but be prepared for it to squeak and breakdown. Most low-end models do not provide a smooth flow and therefore negate the purpose of buying an elliptical machine.

Stair Climber
Stair climbers provide you with an excellent aerobic workout and reduce the pressure and pain on your joints as compared to climbing an ordinary flight of stairs. Stair climbers work by simulating real stairs by using two foot plates that alternate up and down as you push up and down. Most stair climbers have handrails that you can hold onto as you climb. The stair climbing machine typically features several controls that allow you to select a variety of programs like resistance, step height, pace, and duration. You have two options when it comes to selecting a stair climber, manual or motorized. Manual stair climbers are generally much cheaper than motorized stair climbers. A manual stair climber works by using a pulley cord that is connected to both steps. The steps on a manual stair climber are controlled using pistons and air pressure. They are usually quieter than a motorized stair climber. A motorized stair climber tends to have several options available. Most include computer screens that track your distance, heart rate, and activity level. They will also allow you to select different workout programs such as mountain climbing or general stair climbing. Motorized stair climbers are generally preferred because there is less impact on your joints than a manual stair climber provides.

Exercise Bike
Another great investment is an exercise bike. Many prefer an exercise bike in their home because you can use it while reading a book, watching television, or listening to music. An exercise bike allows you to get in shape without putting added pressure on your joints. When you begin shopping for an exercise bike you need to look for one in your price range that offers convenience, stability, tension, and control. A quality exercise bike should cost upwards of $500. Purchasing an exercise bike in this price range will allow you to expand upon your current fitness level. There are 3 basic models of exercise bikes; the upright bike, the recumbent bike, and the spinner. The only differences between the bikes are the way in which you sit. The upright bike looks like a traditional road bike and has a "banana chair". The recumbent bike has a seat that is like a normal chair with a back support and the pedals are extended in front of you. A spinner bike is generally used in a health club to get you into shape quickly. Spinner bikes allow you to stand or sit, but they do not have a back support.

Strength Conditioning
Many people prefer to use free weights because they completely engage your muscles and improve your strength and fitness. Free weights have been proven to burn calories, increase muscle size, endurance, power, strength, and even increases bone density. Most accidents that occur around free weights are due to negligence; this is why safety needs to be on the top of our list when you begin shopping for free weights.

Commonly free weights have been preferred over weight machines because they don't restrict movement. Every muscle is completely engaged when you are lifting and balancing the free weight. Weight machines are known to balance the weights for you, so your muscles don't end up working as hard. Proper form with free weights is essential. Without proper form, you will sustain injury to your body in other places, perhaps your back, legs, or arms.

The most common types of free weights include:

•     Dumbbells
•     Weightlifting bars
•     Weight plates
•     Weight sets
•     Collars

Home Gyms
Due to the convenience of being able to exercise in your home for half the cost of the gym, you can see why several people have invested in home gyms. One popular home gym is the Weider crossbow. It costs around $400 up and provides you with 240 pounds of resistance. The Weider crossbow offers well over 65 exercises to its user.

Here are some reasons why home gyms are so popular:

• Traditional weight machines limit the range of movement you can have.
• Home gyms provide several workouts for half the cost of a personal trainer or fitness club.
• Most home gyms require little space. Depending upon the style of home gym you purchase, it can be set up in a 5x5 square room.

Resistance Bands
Free weights and weight machines have dominated the market of strength training for several years. However resistance bands are becoming popular as they provide a great way to tone up muscles quickly. Several people enjoy the workout that resistance bands provide with the convenience of just one small tube.

There are several types of resistance bands to choose from: fit tube, fit lube, therapy band, clip tube, figure 8, and ring. Fit tube is the most common form of resistance bands. They can be used to perform practically any exercise from chest presses to squats. When you use free weights, your body gets used to the feeling of gravity pulling on the weights, causing more resistance. The tension on a resistance band is constant and makes the lifting or pulling feel harder.