Fitness equipment can be expensive, especially if you want to invest in a product that is of high-quality. 

The global interest in home-gym setups has been steadily increasing year-after-year and this trend seems to be here to stay. If you are purchasing equipment for a home-gym setup, you are likely looking for a good return on investment with fitness equipment that is going to be durable and last for a long time. The reality is, you must be willing to open up your wallet.

As a Canadian specialty fitness store located in Sudbury, Ontario, we work closely with clients to select quality fitness equipment that will be useful and lasting as they reach their fitness goals. Specifically, they want to know how long they can expect a piece of equipment to last with regular use.

Well, the answer to this question varies depending on the type of equipment you purchase , if it is properly maintained, how often it is used, and if the equipment was purchased second-hand. 

In this article, we are going to explore how long your new fitness equipment should last and what you can do to increase the longevity of your product. 

In this article:

1. Factors That Can Shorten the Lifespan of Your Gym Equipment
2. Longevity of Cardio Machines
3. Longevity of Strength Equipment
4. Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Strength Equipment
5. Purchasing Your Gym Equipment at Akfit

Factors That Can Shorten the Lifespan of Your Gym Equipment

There isn’t one specific reason as to why fitness equipment can break down. General wear and tear can be presented in many forms. 

New vs Used

This is obvious, the newer the equipment, the longer it should last you. 

Of course, brand new equipment can also break down if it is low-quality, has a history of breaking down, or you simply don’t take proper care of your equipment. 

With this being said, the likelihood of a heavily used piece of equipment breaking down is higher than that of a brand new piece of equipment. 

If you are deciding between new or used equipment, check out our article New vs. Used Gym Equipment.

Assess the durability and Quality of Your Equipment

As previously mentioned, if you are investing in lower-quality gym equipment, especially products found at a big box store and it is exposed to heavy use, these machines can be subject to break down quicker compared to fitness products that are built for heavy use. 

If you are not sure what type of equipment can withstand what you require, we highly recommend reaching out to us and talking with our fitness professionals. 

Lack of Maintenance 

All gym equipment requires proper maintenance. If you don’t take care of your products they will break down significantly quicker. A good idea would be to organize a monthly and weekly schedule for taking care of your fitness equipment. 

For more information on maintaining your specific equipment, check out our article on how to maintain your commercial gym equipment.

Improperly Fixing Your Equipment

With regular use, it is common to experience problems with your fitness equipment. In fact, we are familiar with the Problems with Treadmills and Problems with Ellipticals.

Do not attempt to fix or take apart your fitness products if you are unsure of how to do so. Always refer to your owner’s manual or contact a fitness professional for advice. Improper maintenance can damage your equipment. 

For professional advice on equipment maintenance, take a look at How to Maintain Commercial Gym Equipment. 

Using Harsh Chemicals

While cleaning your equipment is essential, the use of certain cleaning solutions can wear down specific materials of your gym equipment and can even lead to rust depending on the solution. 

Avoid using cleaning products that are ammonia, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach-related. 

Being Careless

Training with smooth operation is best for any time of fitness equipment. In other words, handle your equipment with care.

Do not slam your equipment harshly. For example, slamming your weight plates together can cause dents in the metal. 

While with any cable-based equipment, letting the cable aggressively collide back lead to more wear and tear on the pulleys and cable itself.

Treadmills, for example, shouldn’t be subject to heavy contact with the console. Consoles are meant to be touched, not leaning on, or withstanding high-impact pressure. 

With any gym equipment, if you are unsure of any general practices to avoid, check your owner’s manual or consult a fitness professional. 

Longevity of Cardio Equipment

Quality cardio equipment, if properly maintained and under regular use, should last you anywhere from 7-20 years depending on your product and workout intensity. The higher quality the equipment, and with proper preventative maintenance, the more likely your equipment will last the duration of the following timeline: 

Treadmills tend to absorb a higher-impact when users hop on and thus tend to break down quicker. Also, many electronic-based products can face issues over time. 

Ellipticals and exercise bikes are usually subject to less impact when working out. There are also usually fewer electronics and moving parts on these machines compared to a treadmill.

Depending on the type of rower you buy, these can last nearly forever. Many parts of a rower are easy to replace and with regular maintenance and being careful with your equipment, these machines can last a very long time. 

Longevity of Strength Equipment

Quality strength equipment, if properly maintained and under regular use, (2-3 days a week) should last up to 20 years or a lifetime. 

However, it is crucial that your weight and strength training equipment undergoes any necessary repairs or maintenance it requires. Allowing too many parts to break down will not provide you with this return on investment. The longevity of your equipment will depend greatly on your usage and workout style. 

While strength training machines and benches can be useful for up to 20 years or sometimes slightly longer, don’t expect them to look pretty as they age.. 

There are a lot of moving parts to some strength training machines, so a lack of proper repair and maintenance can leave you with too many variables that can go wrong. For example. If small repairs aren’t performed properly, many small parts can begin to deteriorate. 

Common parts on these machines that can break can include cables, pivot points, seats or backrests, handles, and the frame. Most of these parts can be easily replaced and taken care of. However, issues with the frame could end the life of your product. 

Many racks are made of steel, meaning they’re typically strong, sturdy, and built to last. But it’s important to know the weight capacity of your racks, and like strength machines, make sure you perform regular maintenance and repair and parts that are in need of fixing.

Free weights and barbells can last you up to a lifetime as long as they’re properly taken care of. Avoid using a weight that is too heavy for your barbell. If the bar is subject to more bending than it can handle your product may not last. 

Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Your Gym Equipment

Depending on the type of equipment you own, the maintenance procedures will vary. Make sure to always refer to the owner’s manual or contact a fitness professional if you aren’t quite sure how to properly perform maintenance to your fitness equipment. 

Develop a Cleaning and Maintenance Schedule

You should always wipe down your equipment after each use. This is especially important if your equipment is being used in a commercial environment since sweat can cause degrading plastic, leather, and paint, and can even lead to rusting metals.

Moreover, you should oil and grease any moving parts on your strength machines at least once a month, or more frequently if it is under heavy-use. 

For cardio equipment make sure to check the owner’s manual. Treadmills specifically, require lubrication. click here for more information on how to lubricate a treadmill. 

Inspect Your Equipment Monthly for Wear and Tear

Sometimes damages to your equipment aren't noticeable until it is too late. You should check your workout equipment for any cracks, bends, dents, or other irregularities that shouldn’t be there. 

Inspect any cables along their entire length and at any connection points. Also, pay attention to any pulleys that are attached. It is important to replace damaged cables as soon as possible to avoid injury. 

Refer to Your Owner’s Manual

We might be sounding like a broken record here, but if your fitness equipment comes with a manual, read it. All machines are built differently and need to be maintained differently. Refer to your manual to avoid damaging your equipment if you aren’t sure how to maintain it. 

Properly Train Your Staff

If you operate a commercial gym, a properly trained staff in maintenance techniques is crucial. If you are unsure to start, reach out to us with a commercial request, we can provide commercial maintenance plans. 

Purchasing Your Gym Equipment at Akfit

You should now have a better understanding of how long your gym equipment could last if it is taken care of properly. 

If you are in need of any brand new and high-end quality fitness equipment, or if you are in need of any commercial or maintenance support, we are here to help at Akfit. 

Since 1989, we have been providing our knowledge and advice to customers in Sudbury, northern Ontario, the rest of Canada, and beyond. While doing so, we house a large inventory of gym supplies and equipment for home and commercial use. 

We highly encourage you to reach out to us. You can visit us in-store at our Sudbury location, or you can book a virtual meeting with us with any fitness-related questions you may have. 

Our fitness experts can help you find the products that will be best suited for you depending on your goals, budget, and often it will be used. They will also provide you with personalized maintenance advice. If you run a commercial gym, you can submit a commercial request here. 

We also offer delivery and installation services, and it doesn’t stop there. Our fitness experts will show you how to safely use your equipment as well. 

Whatever your fitness-related concern may be, we at Akfit are here to help you reach your fitness goals and needs.