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There’s no time like the new year to refresh and reset, well, everything. And just like you may be taking stock of your closet inventory or finally purging all of the random stuff in that miscellaneous junk drawer, now’s also the perfect opportunity to reevaluate the status of your at-home workout equipment.
While gym gear isn’t something that needs to be replaced regularly, it still has a shelf life. Ensuring everything from smaller gear (like free weights and booty bands) to big ticket items (like treadmills and stationary bikes) are in tip-top shape is important for making sure your at-home workouts are safe and effective.
To find out when it’s time to toss your exercise equipment, PS tapped personal trainers and gym owners for their best advice.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Manning Sumner, is the CEO and founder of Legacy Gyms.
Lisa Solomon-Hirsch, is the founder and CEO of The Studio (MDR).
Kenny Santucci , is a personal trainer and founder of Strong New York.
Ianthe Mellors , is a professional ballet dancer and instructor at Barry’s.
Oliver Nam , fitness trainer and owner of Thrive Training.
When Should You Throw Out Old Gym Equipment?
While there aren’t hard and fast rules about throwing out gym equipment, there are a few key signs that gym owners and trainers tend to look out for.
- Visible Wear and Tear: If you see cracks, rust, or loose grips on your gear (think: kettlebells or dumbbells), that’s a good sign that it needs to be replaced, says Manning Sumner, CEO and founder of Legacy Gyms. “Free weights with worn grips can slip during use, increasing the risk of injury,” he says. The same can be said for resistance bands. “Over time, they can develop small tears or lose elasticity, which makes them less effective and potentially dangerous if they snap mid-exercise,” Sumner says.
- Performance Level: Evaluate whether or not the equipment can still do what it’s supposed to. “A good rule of thumb is when things are no longer even, level or able to perform their duties, [throw it out],” says professional dancer and Barry’s instructor, Ianthe Mellors. For example, if gliders no longer glide or a yoga mat is worn in places so it becomes uneven — making balancing on it challenging and savasana uncomfortable — those are signs to upgrade.
- The 10-Year Rule: Unlike food or even many beauty products, you won’t find an expiration date stamped on the bottom of your elliptical or treadmill. But a decade is a good time range to take inventory of your equipment, particularly for larger machines. “If you maintain the equipment properly, 10 years should be fine,” Sumner says. That said, how often you’re using the machine definitely plays a role. If you’re using things daily, that lifespan might be slightly shorter, he notes. The 10-year mark is typically when some larger machines will show signs of casualty. For example, maybe your machine is making a grinding sound or you notice jerky motions and sudden resistance changes. This may be a sign to have your machine checked out or to invest in a new machine. “If anything feels unstable or unsafe, it’s best to stop using it immediately, says Lisa Solomon-Hirsch, founder and CEO of The Studio (MDR). At the end of the day, it’s imperative to prioritize replacement over risking your safety. You can up the likelihood of injury using certain pieces of equipment when they’re worn down, says Kenny Santucci, personal trainer and founder of Strong New York.
How to Make Your Equipment Last Longer
If you want to avoid having to throw out equipment in the first place, consider spending a bit more up front. The old adage ‘you get what you pay for’ does hold true in the case of gym equipment, particularly for larger machines. “I’ve owned gyms for the past 10 plus years, and when it comes to more expensive pieces of equipment, very rarely do you have to have them replaced,” says Santucci. “I tend to stay away from buying any deals that seem to be too good to be true. You want your gym equipment to be durable and predictable. I always tell people to buy from reliable companies that have been around for a while. You’re better off spending a little bit of money upfront than having to replace equipment later on.”
It’s also a good idea to pay attention to your product’s warranty. Brands like Peloton, iFit, and SoulCycle offer protection warranties with the options to extend to protect your hardware. It may be a bit pricier, but it’s not a bad idea to have these as insurance in case something does go awry.
And if you do notice that your stationary bike or elliptical is starting to act a little funky, but you don’t have the budget for a full replacement, Santucci says it’s worth looking into companies that will refurbish your equipment. They can make your gear operate like new, at a fraction of the cost of what an entirely new replacement would run you.
“Oftentimes, any touch up work is usually just some paint and oil to keep them looking good and operating smoothly,” Santucci reveals. “There are services that can refurbish equipment, especially for larger pieces of equipment.”
If you do want one last ditch effort, Mellors says you can adjust the way you are using the equipment to see if that makes a difference. “I try to use things for as long as possible by changing their function,”she suggests. “For example, when my bands lose their resistance, I’ll use them to help me stretch or activate muscles instead of strength training. If gliders lose their glide, I’ll keep them in my bag so I can use them to protect my knees when warming up before a rehearsal.”
Make sure you’re also storing the equipment in a safe place. Location is key to longevity, says Oliver Nam fitness trainer and owner of Thrive Training. “If it’s used once in a while, every month or so, you need to worry about how it’s stored more than anything,” Nam says. “Wet, damp areas will create rust in metal [and] dry air will be horrible for bands, making them less sturdy.” But direct sunlight isn’t recommended either. “[The] best place to store home equipment would definitely be out of the sun, away from any extremely high or extremely low temperatures,” Nam says. Aim for a shaded corner of a room or an area that’s roughly 65 to 68 degrees and low moisture, per Nam.
And in the event that the time has come to say goodbye to your favorite workout toys, fear not, because most equipment can go back to Mother Earth. “You can recycle most items since they’re usually simple rubber, iron, or plastic,” Nam says.
Lanae Brody is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and reporter who’s been covering entertainment, fashion, and health for 16 years. In addition to PS, her work has appeared in People, Us Weekly, Muscle & Fitness, and more.