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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.
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.
The Best Fitness Equipment Brands- Our Top Picks
- REP Fitness
- Titan Fitness
- Rogue Fitness
- ProForm
- Echelon Fitness
- NordicTrack
- Horizon Fitness
- Mirror
- Life Fitness
- Bowflex
- Sunny Health
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
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
Titan Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Home gym owners with limited budgets
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
Rogue Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Home gym owners who want USA-made equipment, and don’t mind paying a little extra for 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
ProForm
SPECS
- Best for: Cardio buffs
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
Echelon Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Cardio enthusiasts, people looking for a Peloton alternative
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
NordicTrack
SPECS
- Best for: People who want to focus on cardio, or who want to supplement cardio with strength training
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
Horizon Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Runners
Horizon Fitness is probably best known for its top-rated treadmills, though the company has also branched out into rowers, massage equipment, and more. Horizon maintains a reputation for great service and long-lasting product designs.
What We Like
- Good customer service
- High-end treadmills
- Some good, flexible financing options
What We Don’t Like
- Limited warranties
- Not as recommended if you’re mostly looking for weightlifting equipment
Mirror
SPECS
- Best for: People who love fitness classes, but would prefer to take them without leaving home
Owned by Lululemon, Mirror is a wall-mounted fitness machine that lets you stream live or on-demand classes, ranging in nature from yoga to kickboxing to dance. It boasts a wide variety of classes plus engaging, charismatic instructors. You also get real-time feedback and tips on how to improve your form—a bonus for beginners just getting started with exercise.
What We Like
- Wide variety of classes available
- Doesn’t take up much space
- Lets you take a class without leaving home
- One-on-one element with instructors and coaches
- Sleek design that won’t cramp your style
What We Don’t Like
- High price point
- Focused more on cardio, not strength-building
Life Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: Fitness buffs who want commercial-quality equipment in their homes
Life Fitness is a favorite brand among commercial gym owners, and a great option if you want to stock your home fitness space with the highest quality of equipment. The brand is known for longevity, particularly with regard to its cardio offerings.
What We Like
- Rugged, reliable, and long-lasting
- Especially good for cardio equipment
- Great customer service
What We Don’t Like
- Higher price point
- Not as recommended for novices
Bowflex
SPECS
- Best for: Anyone who prefers traditional forms of cardio, including running on a treadmill or cycling
A notable home fitness brand for the last several decades, Bowflex is one of the biggest names in the field. The company started with a total-fitness solution but has since expanded into kettlebells, treadmills, and more. Bowflex is known for making one-of-a-kind, hybrid machines that combine the benefits of both a treadmill and an elliptical or an elliptical and a stairmaster. While the brand offers plenty of standard versions of each machine, we like that they offer some unique pieces of equipment as well.
What We Like
- Products can accommodate a variety of budgets
- Wide variety of products
- JRNY app adds real value to your home workouts
What We Don’t Like
- Some products can be quite pricey
- No live classes in the JRNY app
Sunny Health and Fitness
SPECS
- Best for: People who want to build a comprehensive home gym without breaking the bank
Sunny Health has two claims to fame: reasonably low price points and a wide range of equipment that includes everything from cardio machines to free weights. If you’re looking to build out your home gym on a budget, Sunny Health offers a great catalog to consider. With a product range that includes everything from squat racks to treadmills, the brand offers something for cardio junkies and lifters.
What We Like
- Reasonably priced
- Wide range of equipment
- Frequent sales and savings opportunities
- Decent warranties
What We Don’t Like
- Sunny Health app is just so-so
- Customer service can be spotty
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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