Are you going to build an outdoor gym in a housing estate, next to a school or near a playground? It is not only the young who are keen to use these types of facilities. The equipment also often sees older people who are unable to exercise at home, among other users. For a gym to be popular and fulfil its purpose, it is not enough to put a stationary bike or a pull-up ladder there. Check out what else it should include!
An open-air gym serves to promote health and encourage having an active lifestyle. Therefore, it is worth creating it in places where it will be easily accessible. At the same time, it must not be too exposed to the sun, so that summer exercisers do not suffer a heat stroke! In addition to the right location, the right equipment is also needed.
WHAT EQUIPMENT TO CHOOSE FOR AN OUTDOOR GYM?
The outdoor gym will be used by people who have different training goals. Some simply want to get moving. Others are looking for variety to their daily activity. To meet everyone's needs, include several types of equipment in your gym that activate different muscle parts. Explore our suggestions!
Outdoor elliptical trainer
The elliptical trainer is a great choice for people who have joint problems. Training on this device is somewhat reminiscent of cross-country skiing. The step is elongated, the body does not lift and the knees do not bend as much as, for example, when using a cross-trainer. As a result, the joints are not heavily burdened, which has a positive effect on the wellbeing of the users.
Leg press for an outdoor gym
The leg press is perfect for strengthening the lower body, i.e. the leg and gluteal muscles. Training on this device does not require any special skills. All you have to do is sit down and push off the bar with your feet. This is a simple and very effective exercise that has a positive effect on the appearance and strength of the legs. As a result, many people enjoy using the press.
TAI CHI wheels for an open-air gym
TAI CHI wheels are useful for warm-ups and also for mobility-type training. This device is easy to use – just grab the handles and turn the discs alternately. This stimulates the arm and chest muscles to work. In addition, this improves their mobility, which will be particularly appreciated by older people.
Outdoor rowing machine
The rowing machine is a device that is perfect for young people with a sedentary lifestyle. To use it, sit comfortably and rest your legs on the platform, then grab the handles and pull them towards you.
The rowing machine is often chosen for short, overall physical conditioning training sessions. Exercises on this device engage virtually every muscle in the body, especially those in the back.
Outdoor lat pulldown machine
The lat pulldown machine is used to strengthen the upper body, i.e. the muscles of the arms, back and chest. It is not only useful for young guys who want to work on their biceps. It is also suitable for women and the elderly. Allows you to strengthen your arms. This is why the lat pulldown should not be missing from an outdoor gym.
Stepper+Twister
If you're setting up an outdoor gym, also bet on a simple 2-in-1 device, namely a stepper+twister. It has walking steps on one side to help strengthen the leg and gluteal muscles. The opposite side offers a twister, which is used to strengthen the abdominal, back and hip muscles.
Exercising on this equipment also improves joint mobility, but at the same time does not tire too much. As a result, many people are happy to use them, for example while waiting for children in the playground.
Flat bench
Outside, you cannot lie down on the ground to perform, for example, sit-ups. That’s why you must not forget to equip your gym with a flat bench. This will make it easy for users to lie down comfortably and perform, for example, ab contractions and thus strengthen their muscles. This device will also work well for doing, for example, inverted or classic push-ups. Thanks to the bench, users will not have to rest their hands on the ground.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING EQUIPMENT FOR AN OUTDOOR GYM?
When you are choosing equipment for an outdoor gym, pay attention to whether it has the right certifications. According to the regulations, each piece of equipment should comply with the European Standard EN 16630:2015. This confirms that the equipment can be safely used by people over 14 years of age or over 140 cm in height.
In addition, care should be taken to ensure that all externally mounted components are made of high-grade materials, such as aluminium and steel. This will make them resistant to moisture, sunlight and low temperatures. In addition, they should have EN 1090 certification, which is confirmation that the equipment meets the conditions for steel and aluminium structures.
When choosing equipment for an outdoor gym, it is also worth paying attention to the weight capacity. This is important because they will be used by people of different weights. Therefore, you must not choose models that will get damaged under light pressure.
The choice of equipment for an outdoor gym should be well thought out. Its popularity and whether it fulfils its function depend on this. So don't make a decision too hastily!