What is the best compact exercise machine for use in a small apartment?
A skip rope and a deck of cards. You can skip for cardio and you assign a body weight exercise to every suit in the deck. The value of the card is the number of reps you do. You can take this travelling, do it in your office and even go to the gym with it. It takes up next to no space, costs next to nothing and is a great workout.
Warm up with three 5 minute rounds of skipping and then try to get through the deck of cards in 30-40 minutes. Another three 5 minute rounds of skipping, stretch and you're done.
Cheers!
15 Answers
I really like the TRX Suspension Trainer, it allows for more workouts that just bodyweight, is small and portable. Plus if you have a sturdy door it doesnt require any mounting hardware. TRX Suspension Trainer
I own an Iron Gym and I think it's great. Body weight workouts are great for toning and gaining strength.
It's small enough to fit in my closet or under my bed. It can be used for 3 different types of pull ups, push ups and dips. You can also use it for crunches too. You can typically find it for around $30.
Warning: annoying video ad will play.
http://www.buyirongym.com/Default.asp?bhcp=1
A door frame pullup bar ($30) and a floor mat (less than $20) are really all you need, and all you should have, in a small apartment. If you need more than that, don't turn your home into a gym. Go to one.
Another link to the Iron Gym (which is very sturdy, as long as you have a decent door frame).
I suggest small dumbells as well.
But a bigger issue in a small apartment might be smell not space. Any serious exercise is going to leave a lingering sweaty odor in a small space.
Get a pair of running shoes and a $29 Nike+ Sensor . Your weight will come off faster and your place won't stink.
I think home exercise equipment is HIGHLY overrated; I have many friends who went the laborious task of acquiring just the right item to help them get fit only to have it sit in a corner - just doesn't seem like a good investment. I suggest yoga mat http://www.yogadirect.com/yoga_mats.html?gclid=CJjTr-2U0KACFQ1lgwod53exzw) and the 5BX plan http://www.corvedale.previewurl.com/5bx/. You'll get fit in 11 mins a day!
I would go with
http://fitnessanywhere.com/
This is a great workout and it uses only gravity and your own body weight to give you a great workout. There's a door attachment as well that you can use on any door in your home.
Try it out. A lot of law enforcement use this as well as swat team members. I use it constantly when I'm on the road.
Just about any exercise that requires a machine can be done with just dumbbells. If I were in an apartment and unable to access a full gym, without any doubt, I would get some adjustable dumbbells or kettle-balls.
http://www.bowflexselecttech.com/bst_microsite/homepage.jsp?adID=DEGD1SITEST
You might also benefit from getting an adjustable bench, so that you can make full use of the dumbbells.
Another great option for exercises in a compact area, is one of the door frame pullup bars.
http://www.amazon.com/Bars-Strength-Training-Equipment/b?ie=UTF8&node=3408471
I recently went out to sea for 90 days, and they didn't have any gym equipment. But by just making use of a horizontal bar, and doing pullups and chinups I was able to stay in great shape.