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As you build out your home fitness center, you naturally want to buy durable equipment made by reputable brands. And yet, with so many companies making home gym equipment, it can be challenging to determine which brands are most worthy of your trust.
The Best Fitness Equipment Brands - Our Top Picks
- REP Fitness
- NordicTrack
- Snode Sports
- Hydrow
- Echelon Fitness
- Titan Fitness
- Force USA
- SOLE Fitness
- ProForm
- Rogue Fitness
- SMRTFT
We researched the best fitness equipment brands with help from our expert panel, made up of personal trainers, nutritionists, and endurance athletes. During our selection process, we kept factors like company reputation, safety, and warranty length in mind. In this guide, we’ll break down a list of our favorite brands as well as which type of athlete each brand is best suited for.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com’s editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
REP Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Weightlifters, powerlifters, and CrossFitters who want good, affordably-priced equipment
Why We Picked It
Founded in 2012 by a couple of brothers who shared a passion for home fitness, REP Fitness has a simple mission statement: Produce high-quality equipment available at an affordable price. The company offers a wide range of products, including relatively simple offerings like kettlebells and resistance bands, that appeal mostly to weightlifters and CrossFitters. All in all, REP Fitness is a great option for anyone who’s just getting started with their home gym experience.
What We Like
- Affordable
- Wide range of options for weight lifters and CrossFitters
- Known for having great customer service
What We Don’t Like
- Products not made in the USA
- Not as many options if you’re looking for machines or cardio equipment
NordicTrack
SPECS
- Best for: People who want to focus on cardio, or who want to supplement cardio with strength training
Why We Picked It
One of the most iconic home fitness brands, NordicTrack is well-known for its TV commercials and prominence in commercial gyms. The brand offers a suite of cardio and strength training machines, plus its own interactive training programs that rival Peloton for variety and quality.
What We Like
- Suits a variety of budgets
- Great combination of cardio and strength training equipment
- Subscription service is very affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Some items can be quite pricey
- Virtual trainers aren’t as dynamic as Peloton’s
Snode Sports
SPECS
- Best for: Cardio enthusiasts or those who need low-impact exercise, those who like to resistance train with dumbbells
Why We Picked It
Snode Sports offers a wide range of cardio fitness equipment including exercise bikes, rowing machines, and ellipticals with an integrated app—called FITLOG—that can be downloaded on their machines for access to a training library and tutorials. Even better, the majority of their smart equipment is under $1,000 dollars. If cardio isn't your thing, you may want to check out their adjustable dumbbell sets that come in either 50 or 80 pounds. Snode also has dumbbell stands and an adjustable weight bench at excellent price points.
What We Like
- Budget-friendly
- App-integrated machines
- Free shipping on orders over $99
- Space-saving dumbbell sets
What We Don't like
- Some equipment isn't fully adjustable
- Not a lot of tracking features
Hydrow
SPECS
- Best for: Those who enjoy low-impact cardio like rowing, CrossFitters
Why We Picked It
Hydrow is at the forefront of the indoor rowing machine industry for a reason. They're equipment is state-of-the-art with an integrated pivoting touchscreen of up to 22 inches (depending on the model) that allows you to adjust the screen for an off-rower cross-training workout. The rower can also be moved easily and stored upright if you're tight on space.
With a Hydrow membership, you'll also be joining a community of fellow rowing enthusiasts and get to participate in classes with expert coaches. That said, if you choose not to become a Hydrow member you can "just row" or purchase the Digital Basic membership at a lower price and get access to the on-demand workout library.
What We Like
- High-quality machines with app integration
- Community
- Storable machine
- Low-impact cardio training
What We Don't like
- Expensive
- You will have to pay monthly for basic app or membership
Echelon Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Cardio enthusiasts, people looking for a Peloton alternative
Why We Picked It
Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Echelon Fitness has burst onto the streaming fitness scene in recent years with a comprehensive lineup of "connected" bikes, rowers, treadmills, and a fitness mirror. They’re all powered by the vast live and on-demand class offerings Echelon Fit app, which also features exclusive audio from Pitbull and other artists. So no, you don’t JUST have to join a class.
The price point for Echelon equipment is comfortably below the big names, but the build quality of the rowers and the app experience is right up there. It’s worth noting that a downside to these and all "smart" machines is that a lot of their functionality and stat tracking is only available to subscribing customers, and even basic functionality can require using the unpaid "freestyle" portion of the app. But if you’re tech-savvy and love the energy of a class experience, Echelon provides a wealth of options to get your sweat on.
What We Like
- Numerous price points and equipment options
- Well-made and sturdy equipment
- Class options to last a lifetime, plus a robust music selection
- Frequent discounts on equipment
What We Don’t Like
- Requires subscription for full info tracking and functionality
- Numerous bike and equipment variations are confusing to choose between
Titan Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Home gym owners with limited budgets
Why We Picked It
Catering primarily to home gym owners (as opposed to commercial gym owners), Titan Fitness is a budget-priced fitness line, showcasing decent products that can accommodate smaller budgets.
What We Like
- Modest price point
- Lots of space-efficient solutions
- Frequent sales and savings opportunities
What We Don’t Like
- Unreliable customer service
- Lower quality than some of its competitors
Force USA
SPECS
- Best for: Weightlifters, powerlifters, home gym aficionados
Why We Picked It
If you're looking for a solid all-in-one set-up for your home gym, Force USA has got your back, chest, and quads. This strength equipment brand offers everything you could want from power racks to leg machines. They also have flooring, bumpers, barbells, and bench options, and extra attachments to make your power rack even more dynamic. Last but not least, their equipment is backed by a limited lifetime structural warranty with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
What We Like
- Space-saving power racks with add-ons
- All-in-one trainers
- 10% military discount
- Limited lifetime warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
What We Don't like
- Expensive
- Some issues with customer service
SOLE Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Active individuals looking for a mix of cardio and strength equipment
Why We Picked It
We often recommend SOLE Fitness on ACTIVE for their high-quality cardio equipment like treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals, but they also have excellent strength equipment such as barbells, dumbbells, and adjustable racks. For a full-body weightlifting experience, the new SOLE SRVO is a compact motorized resistance system complete with attachments and three training modes. You're sure to find the best pieces of equipment to complement your training regimen.
What We Like
- High-quality equipment for cardio and strength training
- Great warranties
- Free SOLE+ App
- Free curbside delivery
What We Don't like
- Some issues with customer service
- Cardio equipment can be somewhat expensive
ProForm
SPECS
- Best for: Cardio buffs
Why We Picked It
ProForm is known for offering a wide assortment of cardio equipment, including everything from treadmills to bikes to ellipticals. Subscription services are available to deliver instruction and motivation. Like NordicTrack, some of ProForm’s offerings can get a little pricey but the brand is known for making high-quality equipment that’s built to last.
What We Like
- Good content from the subscription service
- Reasonably priced
- Wide range of cardio equipment
What We Don’t Like
- Not as useful if you don’t opt for the subscription service
- Not recommended if you’re mostly seeking weight training equipment
Rogue Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Home gym owners who want USA-made equipment, and don’t mind paying a little extra for it
Why We Picked It
Rogue Fitness has a full catalog of top-of-the-line equipment. Rogue is notable for manufacturing nearly all of its products in Ohio, making it a preferred brand among home gym owners who prefer to buy US-made. Also note that Rogue Fitness has products approved for competition by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), making the USA-based brand a solid choice for weightlifters and powerlifters alike.
What We Like
- Made in the USA
- Extensive warranties
- Great customer service
What We Don’t Like
- Higher price point
- Not as much in the way of cardio equipment
SMRTFT
SPECS
- Best for: Strength training with limited space
Why We Picked It
SMRTFIT Nüobell is a game-changer for lifters working with limited space in their home gyms because these plastic and steel adjustable dumbbell sets can hold up to 10 weights in one sleek package. There are many adjustable dumbbell options available but SMRTFIT Nüobells have the strongest reputation among lifters.
What We Like
- Up to 10 weights in 1 dumbbell
- Color options
- Available accessories like stands and carrying cases
- Free shipping on equipment
What We Don't like
- Expensive
- Adjustable dumbbells and accessories are only equipment available
What to Look for in Fitness Equipment Brands
As you assess different fitness equipment brands, these are a few factors to keep top of mind.
Reputation
You can usually tell a lot about a brand’s reputation simply by reading reviews, both from amateurs and professionals. Look for brands that consistently receive high marks for the quality and longevity of their products.
Safety
Poor-quality gym equipment can increase your risk of injury. Look for safety certifications, endorsements from gym owners, and (again) positive customer reviews.
Warranty
Generally speaking, generous warranties are a good indicator that the home fitness brand stands behind its product, and truly believes it to represent a high standard of quality. In other words, robust warranties should provide peace of mind as you shop.
FAQs About Fitness Equipment Brands
Which fitness equipment brand is best?
There are a number of brands that truly excel when it comes to durability, quality, and safety, with REP Fitness topping our list.
What brands do commercial gyms use?
There’s no one brand that tops the commercial gym market; just like home fitness enthusiasts, gym owners seek equipment that’s safe, reliable, durable, and affordably priced. There are a number of brands that are common in commercial gym settings, including REP Fitness and Life Fitness.
What pieces of fitness equipment are best for beginners?
For novices, we recommend starting with some basics: A pull-up bar, kettlebells, resistance bands, a yoga mat, a Plyo box, and more. For stationary exercise machines, we recommend buying something that has a lot of diverse programming options built in.
About the Author
Josh is a journalist and writer whose work has appeared in magazines and local newspapers such as Christianity Today, IMAGE Journal, Relevant Magazine, FLOOD, The Nashville Scene, True Tunes, Rise Up Daily, and Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet. Josh is an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast.
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