Can a home gym compare do a real gym? Compare the two options and find out why both options are viable. Get the info you need to make the right decision for you.

Where is the Best Place to Work Out?

The guns are drawn. The battle is about to begin. It’s a showdown between working out at home and working out in the gym. They both have advantages and disadvantages, but of the two choices, which gym will give you the best results? 

Home Gym

The first thing to consider is cost. If you are going to build a home gym, you will need to purchase equipment. If you are serious about bodybuilding then you will need a bench, barbells, and dumbbells. This is the minimum requirement for a home gym.

If you want to build a more elaborate home gym, then you’ll add things like a power rack, a treadmill or a leg press machine. This could very easily end up costing thousands of dollars. On the positive side, once you’ve purchased the equipment, you’re done. If you purchase quality equipment, it will last you for many years to come.

Another thing to consider with a home gym is that chances are you will be working out alone. There will be little opportunity to socialize and for some this is a disadvantage.

You won’t be able to ask other gym members to spot you when you are lifting heavy weights, you won’t get the motivation that comes from seeing others working out in the gym, nor will you be able to consistently gauge the results you are getting from your workouts with the results others receive.

On the other hand, you also won’t have to share your equipment with anyone. When you are ready to perform an exercise, the equipment will always be available for you to use.

One incontrovertible benefit of owning a home gym is the time you save. You won’t have to drive to the gym, find a parking space, change into workout clothes, shower later and then go home or go to work (depending on what time of the day you work out).

Once you come home after a day of work, you can work out, take a shower, have dinner and rest. If you like to workout in the morning you can just jump out of bed, fix a quick snack (or work out in a fasted state) and then get ready to go to work or school.

Gym Membership

Again, the cost is the first thing to consider. The difference in purchasing a gym membership is that you will have a lot of options.

You can go to a gym where you pay as little as $100 a year, as much as $100 per month or any combination of choices in between. You can get a contract that lasts for a few years, or you can pay monthly.

A gym membership will give you the opportunity to work out with a variety of free weights, weight machines, and cardio machines while only paying a monthly or yearly fee.

In contrast to owning a home gym, you are just paying to rent their equipment for the duration of your stay. The diversity of equipment can help you do a variety of muscle-building exercises that can potentially target every muscle in your body.

You will be able to build muscle without the prospect of boredom setting in from doing the same free weight exercises over and over again.

Depending on which gym you choose, you will have the chance to use things that can help you recover from your work out. Lots of gyms have saunas, steam rooms and pools.

Saunas and steam rooms are a great way to relieve some of the muscle tension that you experience after a grueling work out. The heat from saunas and steam rooms help increase the blood flow in your body which could also help you recover faster.

Having access to a pool is another benefit of a gym. Instead of performing cardio on a treadmill or elliptical machine, you can go for a swim. Swimming is a great work out that uses all the muscles in your body. It is also good for strengthening your core muscles.

Lastly, if you are the type who thrives on having lots of people around you, the gym would be beneficial for you. You can get tips from other people who work out or just make some new friends.

The biggest disadvantage of going to the gym would be the time it takes to get there. You will have to incorporate gym visits into your schedule and if you are a busy person, this will be challenging.

Make the Right Choice for You

In the showdown between the home gym and a gym membership, you decide who wins. If you are the kind of person who likes the idea of building your own gym, doesn’t mind working out alone, and wants to save time than a home gym would be perfect for you.

If you like socializing, enjoy having a variety of strength training and cardio equipment at your disposal and want to take advantage of amenities like saunas, steam rooms and pools, then purchasing a gym membership is the way to go.