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Manual steppers range from
a few hundred dollars, but lack
programs offered by the com-
puterized models which have
many options to make workouts
more challenging. It may be a
;D good idea to try a stair climber in
a fitness center for a few months
before purchasing one.
According to Dave Smith, sales
director at All Pro Exercise Inc.
in Farmington Hills, people pur-
chase equipment without re-
membering the dimensions of the
room they're going to use. "Most
stair masters require a 7 1/2-foot
ceiling and that may not work in
the area a customer is planning
to equip," says Mr. Smith.
"The cardiovascular equip-
ment is best located off to one side
with the free weights, any bench-
es and other equipment circled
around it."
Price range: $500 to $4,000.
Rowing Machines
These machines offer good aero-
bic workouts and help strength-
en the back, shoulders, stomach,
legs and arms. The machines
with a flywheel are easier to op-
erate, work more smoothly, and
are more effective than the pis-
ton-type rowers which may be
less expensive and more compact.
When shopping for a rowing ma-
chine, check out the seat and
make sure it has a smooth glid-
ing motion and foot rests with
comfortable straps to hold the
feet in place. Price range: $250 to
$2000.
Multigyms
Unlike exercise machines, this
equipment is designed to build
muscular strength, not en-
durance. It usually consists of
a metal frame, one or more
padded seats or benches, various
levers and handles, and resis-
tance mechanisms.
One of the disadvantages is
that every time you switch to a
new exercise, the machine has to
be adjusted, which can be diffi-
cult to achieve on some models.
It's best to test a home gym be-
fore buying, trying each of the ex-
ercises the machine offers.
Change the resistance for each
exercise, too, to see whether the
increments are small enough.
Sometimes, to save space by
having a vertical bench press,
you may end up with a less-than-
comfortable standing leg curl. Be
sure the machine has the sta-
tions that you prefer.
Price range: $1,500 to
$5,000. ❑
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