Fitness Equipment; The New Toilet Paper

Wednesday, February 03, 2021 | By

Yes, you read that correctly! Fitness equipment is the new toilet paper. No, we’re not implying or in any way suggesting that you attempt to use it as one in the same, but if you’ve attempted to buy a set of dumbbells recently you may have flashbacks to empty shelves in the hygiene aisle back in early 2020. Fitness equipment is hard to come by right now and if you are lucky enough to find any in stock, chances are you’re paying a premium.  With that being said, here are 3 options to consider for at-home fitness equipment. 

 1: Buy Used 

 Aside from cardio equipment, most fitness equipment does the same thing now as it did ten years ago. With that in mind, here are some tips when buying used equipment: 

  • Check out Kijiji and Facebook marketplace for items in your local area 
  • With the right timing, you can score a great deal on used equipment online 
  • Be sure to be safe when buying equipment, bring a member of your household with you and arrange for contactless pickup once stay-at-home orders are lifted 

2: Shop Local 

Southern Ontario has a range of residential fitness equipment dealers, here are some of my recommendations: 

  • Niagara Fitness Solutions
    • Niagara and Hamilton location
    • Family-run business
    • Managed by Brock Alumni 
  • Treadmill Factory
    • Locations in London, Mississauga, Markham, Barrie and across Canada
    • Ships to most areas within days
  • Matrix Fitness 
    • Supplies and manufactures both residential and commercial fitness equipment 
    • Much of the new Zone equipment came from here 
    • Most equipment is made in Canada 

3: DIY Equipment 

There are plenty of options for at-home hacks to reduce the need for expensive equipment purchases. Here are some of our suggestions: 

  • TRX Suspension Trainer 
    • Very versatile 
    • Second-to-none core engagement 
    • An instructional video for one of my favourite versions can be found here. 
    • Tip: if using a door as an anchor point, be sure to use a door that open away from you for added strength. A solid or steel door is ideal 
  • Dumbbells 
  • Family-size laundry detergent jugs filled with water 
    • Great to use as they have integrated handles 
    • Increase or decrease the amount of water to adjust the weight 
    • Irregular weight distribution can give your forearms a great extra burn 

If you’re looking to add more to your fitness routine to stay active during lockdown and need that extra motivation, join us for our ExpressFit Live or ExpressFit On Demand classes. Always remember that anything is better than nothing when it comes to exercise and just because it isn’t the gym, doesn’t mean it isn’t fitness! 

 Stay active and stay safe! 

Your friendly neighbourhood Badger