Home gyms are usually limited by space. Your may be trying to squeeze a home gym into the corner of an unfinished basement, a spare bedroom or part of a garage. Regardless of where your gym is, the need to maximize floor space is apparent. Folding home gym equipment has been created to address the issue of lack of space for all the equipment you would like to have in your home gym. However, a lot of questions pop up online about if folding home gym equipment is actually worth it. So, we’re here to walk you through the pros and cons, different options and how to navigate the foldable gym equipment world.
The popularity of folding home gym equipment really took off with the COVID lockdowns of 2020. People were forced from their gyms and looking for a way to work out at home. However, most people hadn’t planned on having a home gym, so the ability to cram a treadmill and a squat rack into their house or garage was limited.
Ever the opportunists, equipment manufacturers seemed to turn folding or fold-away home gym equipment into a huge advertising push. Lucky for us, the innovation on this equipment has progressed over the years and now many people choose foldable equipment, even when they have the space for more permanent options.
Folding Gym Equipment Guide
Is Fold Away Gym Equipment Worth It for Home Gyms
Foldable gym equipment can be 100% worth it for most home gyms. Foldable equipment can be every bit as safe, functional and high-caliber as non-folding equipment. The biggest argument for folding equipment is that it provides a space saving option when not in use. However, the biggest drawback is the set-up time potentially acting as a barrier to exercise.
The Pros and Cons of Foldable Gym Equipment
Although foldable gym equipment is worth it for most home gym owners, we do need to understand to benefits and drawbacks of this type of equipment. Many gym owners discuss their foldaway equipment online and it seems that some owners didn’t fully understand what they were buying when they bought the equipment.
The Cons Of Foldable Home Gym Equipment
The most talked about, and most relevant, con of having folding equipment is that you need to do some form of assembly before your workout. This may mean folding out the legs of a bench, rolling out a treadmill and folding it down or folding out a squat rack from the wall.
This can be varying levels of annoyance depending on what folding equipment you have. We have no problem folding out the legs of our bench when we want to use it. However, most people discussing the topic online say that folding out their squat rack is a major deterrent. As a result, most just leave their squat racks unfolded, which defeats the purpose of them.
A secondary con of wall-mounted foldable equipment is that the equipment is in a fixed position. For us, this means that our bench is always stored in one place on the wall. This could also mean that your squat rack is set in one place in your gym forever – unless you’re willing to repair large drill holes and re-do the mounting.
This is a significant drawback for people that are still building out their home gym. Equipment layouts typically change as home gyms expand and progress. However, this process can get complicated with wall-mounted foldable equipment.
Finally, the cost of folding equipment can be a major con. This really depends on the specific equipment and the manufacturer. However, some folding squat racks are super expensive for what you get, considering some are just two uprights and a pull up bar.
For instance, you’re looking at $200+ more for a PRX Profile One Squat Rack compared the Rogue Monster Lite Squat Stand, which are similar quality racks. So, the convenience factor of folding away is baked into the cost.
The Pros Of Foldable Home Gym Equipment
The clear, most important pro of foldable home gym equipment is that you can store the equipment away to free up space when not in use. This includes increasing floor space by folding back a squat rack, folding up a reverse hyper machine or tucking a folding treadmill up against a wall. Opening up floor space is one of the best ways to make your home gym feel bigger and more organized. This is obviously why folding equipment was made, and how it is marketed.
We also find that gyms with foldable equipment have a cleaner looking aesthetic. This is probably due to a combination of a few things: 1) increased floor space when the equipment is stored, 2) foldable equipment is usually more minimalistic in appearance, 3) home gyms that utilize foldable equipment tend to have a more thoughtful layout (usually due to lack of space or required efficiency).
Folding cardio gym equipment is typically cheaper than non-folding aerobic equipment. This is the opposite of what we see in some strength equipment, notably squat racks. However, some folding gym equipment, especially treadmills and bikes, come in at a cheaper price point compared to their non-folding counterparts. This means that something like a folding treadmill is a great place to start your home gym because it is relatively cheap, and can be stored away easily.
Further Reading
Should You Buy Foldable Equipment for Your Home Gym
We’ve now established that folding home gym equipment can absolutely be worth the investment for your home gym, even if foldable equipment comes with a few potential drawbacks. However, foldable equipment probably isn’t the right choice for every home gym.
Who Should Buy Foldable Home Gym Equipment
Foldable home gym equipment is best suited for people that have a small home gym. You should buy foldaway gym equipment if you have a small space for your home gym, yet you want to pack in as much versatility as possible. The foldable equipment will allow for more equipment per square foot of space, while also maximizing your useable open floor space (when stored). The ability to fold up and store equipment is a huge bonus for small home gyms.
People that buy foldable home gym equipment must also be willing to commit some time to store away, and then re-assemble equipment at the start and end of their workouts. Although this may not seem like a big deal, it will prohibit you from just walking in and getting your workout started.
Finally, if you are buying wall-mounted foldable equipment then you should have a pre-planned full gym design and layout or buy all your home gym equipment at once. Once equipment is wall-mounted then it is likely in place for a long time. Therefore, you won’t be able to move the equipment around or re-design your space on a whim. You will want a set plan in place – for both short-term and long-term so that you know what your gym will look like moving forwards.
Who Should Not Buy Foldable Home Gym Equipment
There are some instances where foldable equipment is not the right choice for a home gym.
If you want an ‘easy in, easy out’ home gym, then foldaway equipment probably isn’t the way to go. There will be some form of set up and tear down using folding equipment (if you use it the way it is designed). As a result, you’ll have to add some time to the start and end of your workout. Some equipment will be easy to set up. However, a number of comments around foldable equipment is that the hassle isn’t worth it, so the equipment is always left out rather than packed away.
You also shouldn’t focus on foldaway equipment if you have sufficient floor space in your home gym. This recommendation is more focused on foldable cardio equipment and accessory machines/pieces. We find that some of these pieces are more expensive than they must be, or don’t provide as great of an experience as their non-folding alternatives. Keep in mind that a foldable squat rack may still be worthwhile if you have lots of floor space because of the quality and price point of them.
Finally, you should not buy foldable gym equipment, especially wall-mounted versions, if you know you will be rearranging your home gym. Wall-mounted, space saving equipment will be fixed to studs in your room with large mounting screws and brackets. You will not want to get your equipment mounted and then have to find a new mounting point because you bought new equipment and now things don’t fit. Wall-mounted, folding equipment should be set in its place and left for an extended period. If that isn’t the plan for your home gym, then you shouldn’t buy wall mounted foldable equipment.
Is Foldable Gym Equipment Safe and Stable?
The safety of foldable gym equipment is a fair concern to raise before purchasing. Foldable gym equipment is as safe as any non-foldable options.
Foldable squat racks are safe and stable because of their multiple attachment points on the wall and because their feet are firmly on the ground. They also have weight tolerance limits that are the same as their non-folding counterparts, so they can handle anything you throw at it. Check out the Reddit comment below for a super unscientific (and unsafe) way of checking how safe and stable foldable squat racks are.
Folding treadmills and similar equipment are also safe and stable while in use and in storage. Foldable cardio equipment uses a series of levers alongside specific pressure (i.e., lifting the treadmill platform) and then hydraulics assist in the unfolding. These features, in addition to the equipment’s wide base of support make foldable cardio equipment safe – even around kids.
The Wrap Up on Foldable Home Gym Equipment
Foldable home gym equipment is something to consider for your home gym, even if you have a decent chunk of floor space. The equipment is safe, stable, and able to handle all that you can throw at it. You’ll just need to invest some time into planning your space and mounting your equipment, if you choose a wall-mounted foldable option. Regardless, the flexibility that foldable equipment offers makes it worthwhile for most home gyms.
Just remember, you should buy the best equipment you can (within your budget), whether it is foldable or not.
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