Just as customization has become a popular concept in fashion, it’s also a trend in fitness.
People want personalized, individualized workout plans and to tailor their gym equipment to their training needs, whether they’re preparing for a marathon or just trying to get back in shape, says Therese Iknoian, editor in chief of SNEWS, a trade publication for the fitness and outdoor industries.
Elliptical trainers that adjust for stride, incline and handle placement and stationary bikes with video screens that let riders simulate racing down a mountain or a country road were among the equipment models that personalize a workout shown at the recent Health and Fitness Business Expo in Denver.
“This year was the first time we saw several downsized versions for home use,” Iknoian says, noting her publication dubbed the new ellipticals “A” trainers, for alternative or adaptive.
Elliptical trainers are edging out treadmills in popularity, says Dave Sheriff, who with his wife, Jeanne, owns 11 HealthStyles Exercise Equipment stores in Colorado.
“They’re dual action, working the upper and lower body while being low-impact,” he says. “In addition, they’re a lot less mechanical and have fewer moving parts (than treadmills). Plus people love that they’re quiet and smooth.”
Among the introductions he liked at the expo was Octane’s xRide, a seated elliptical. “It has a 2-inch step-through, which is good for seniors or people in rehab, and you can really isolate if you want to do just your arms or legs. Everyone in the family can use it.”
The other type of equipment gaining favor in home gyms, he says, are cable motion-training devices. They allow training to be sport specific, so you can work on muscles that will improve your tennis or golf swing, or specific leg muscle groups.
Home equipment is also being built with features that allow users to program, record and track workouts, and increasingly they offer entertainment features.
Exercise cycles like the Trixter’s X Dream bikes have sensors all over them so when they’re hooked up to television screens and a simulated rider depicts you, when you lean left or stand up, so does the figure on the screen.
The economy doesn’t seem to be keeping people from investing in such equipment, says Sheriff. “It helps that we live in the most fit state in the nation,” he says. “People are dialed in to health and wellness. We’re losing business in the lower-end pieces, but haven’t seen a drop-off in the person who knows exercise and quality.”
But not everyone is going to be able to afford a new bike or elliptical trainer that costs $1,000-$4,000, so the show also featured smaller fitness gear, from resistance bands and kettlebells to adjustable dumbbell systems like Lifecore Fitness’ that let the user create 5- to 55-pound weights. The setup uses a compact design that eliminates the need to stack 44 pairs of dumbbells in a home gym.
“The small things are always very attractive because people see them as a less intimidating, less costly step as they make an attempt at fitness,” Iknoian says.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
