Outdoor Gym: Reviews, Benefits, Drawbacks, and Alternatives.

Outdoor gym – advantages

 

The most important advantages of the gym are:

 

It is free - the main idea behind the gym is that you can use it for free. Usually, these facilities are open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are eagerly visited in good weather.

 

Senior 60+ - Outdoor gyms are one of the few recreational facilities that are very eagerly used by seniors. The exercises are easy, intuitive and there is no fear of injury. You don't need the knowledge of a bodybuilder to do the exercises correctly. All of them are equipped with clear instructions with pictograms on how to exercise.

 

Low operating costs - the price of the gym depends on the selected manufacturer, type of devices and the warranty period. Of course, maintaining a gym requires annual inspections and incurring the cost of ongoing repairs. Since the devices are designed to function outdoors, their workmanship is solid, and the anti-corrosion protection allows for many years of operation. Hence, after the initial purchase and installation expenses, the expenses in the following years are small.

 

Physical activity in the fresh air - a gym in a park or on a local playground is an opportunity to leave the house, talk to your neighbor and, above all, get some exercise. Light physical activity outdoors has a positive effect on the circulatory system, it activates large muscles of the arms, legs and torso. A short training while walking with a grandson or a dog can be a diversion in everyday monotony and has a positive effect on the mood.

 

Lots of choice - you don't need to be an expert to choose a set of outdoor exercise machines. Manufacturers offer sample sets tailored to the buyer's requirements and the specificity of the location. So you can opt for a senior gym set with equipment for the elderly. Gentle training will focus on activating the muscle groups, stretching and increasing the range of motion. The gym for the disabled will be adapted to the requirements of people with mobility impairments or visually impaired people. The gym for the bodybuilder offers much more difficult exercises with adjustable weights or the so-called street workout for intensive training with your own body weight. The outdoor gym for ladies offers aerobic training and gentle exercises for the legs and waist. Ladies most often use an elliptical cross trainer, a bike, a twister, a “jumping jack” and an air skier.

 

 

Outdoor gym – disadvantages

 

The most important disadvantages of outdoor gyms in the open air are:

 

Amateur character - it is both a disadvantage and an advantage of this type of recreational installations. Such requirements are imposed on the manufacturer by the standard 16630, which defines the main assumptions for outdoor fitness. The devices cannot cause injuries despite their use by amateurs, without preparation and supervision by the trainer. This causes the manufacturer to balance between a demanding user and a complete beginner, between a tall young man and an older, shorter lady. Is it possible to create something that will meet all these expectations? Unfortunately, for some people the exercises will be more difficult, whereas others will not be delighted with some of the "toys".

 

Limited weight capacity - most machines do not have the ability to regulate the difficulty of exercising. They operate on the principle of a lever that uses the load of the user seated on the device. To some extent, simplicity works, because a strapping adult person will have more resistance on such gym machines than a lightly built person. However, this is not enough for many fitness enthusiasts and after some time you will expect more professional and regulated solutions.

 

They depend on the weather - because the overwhelming majority of outdoor gyms are installed outdoors, they can serve potential enthusiasts of movement in public places, when weather permits. This means that on a beautiful day, when everyone hungry for spring sun has appeared/will appear in the city park, there may be a problem with space for your favorite runner or chest press. However, when it rains and the frost does not encourage you to leave the house, the gyms stay empty for weeks. Well, that's just the climate we have ;-))

 

 

Technologies and devices of outdoor gyms - alternative solutions

 

Depending on the resistance exercises, there are several types of devices:

 

Outdoor gym that uses the weight of the exerciser

It is the most popular type of device both in Poland and abroad. The devices are relatively simple in construction and have very little susceptibility to failure. They use the load of a person sitting or standing on the platform and, by means of a lever, part of the weight of the user provides resistance to the movement. Some of the equipment that activates muscle groups instead of building muscles, may be completely without resistance.

 

Gym with weight machines, where exercises are about compressing rubber elements

This equipment is not very popular, because the exercises are not very fun and the resistance changes unpleasantly. Their advantage is the most primitive mechanism of operation and minimal failure rate. The disadvantage is the unnatural load that changes with the force we exercise. The more force we put into performing the exercise, the more force the lever uses while braking.

 

Outdoor gym with variable load

Such installations are still rare. The equipment is aimed at a conscious and professional bodybuilder and does not differ much from those found in professional gyms. You can freely put on and remove the loads placed on the bars, adjusting the loads to individual requirements. Low popularity is undoubtedly associated with the high price of the devices.

 

Outdoor gym with hydraulic resistance

it is an intermediate solution between a variable load gym and a lever gym. The resistance of the performed movements is made by adjusting the actuators. Unfortunately, the actuators can only be used with a few strength devices for the chest, back and legs. So far, no equipment has been developed to the extend of having this type of devices to be widely used in many cities.

 

 

Gyms for children - novelty or a whim

 

According to the 16630 standard, the target group using the outdoor exercise facilities are adults and adolescents measuring more than 140 cm in height. Despite the clear markings on the devices "+140 cm", caregivers allow toddlers to try their hand at equipment for adults. Nothing unusual. Children love to imitate adults and quickly learn what an elliptical cross trainer, runner or ladder are for. Seeing this interest, we designed the Kids line - outdoor gyms for children. A children's gym is something between fun and real training. We focus on building habits to physical activity. By installing several devices for children at the adult gym, we expand the group of exercisers from toddlers to seniors. Grandfather and grandson can practice in one place and everyone will find something for themselves. This is how the idea of ​​superheroes was born - children exercise in front of their guardians and can receive praises from them. It builds a positive self-esteem of the young generation and strengthens good habits. When the outdoor gym for children has a certificate of compliance with the standard 1176 for playgrounds, it can also be installed together with play equipment and supplement the play offer in a school or a local playground.

 

 

Outdoor gyms - customer reviews

 

So you already know the most important advantages and disadvantages of outdoor gyms. However, what can be deduced from what customers and users say about gyms?

 

Among the numerous conversations with our clients and exercisers that we meet at our facilities, there is a clear satisfaction with the possibilities offered by gyms. Most often we see elderly people who stopped for a short training session while walking. They smile, talk to their neighbors and come to exercise regularly, because they are aware of the importance of physical fitness in old age. I haven't heard of opinions that the gym should be more professional. More important is a rather convenient location close to housing estates and a secluded place so that everyone feels intimate enough. Officials or developers liked outdoor gyms for their ease of installation, low operating costs and increased vandal resistance. Gyms do not require a building permit or expensive safe surfaces.

 

 

Price of an outdoor gym

 

The price is always an important parameter to decide what equipment will end up in the yard under the carpet hanger.

The prices of outdoor gym equipment depend on the manufacturer, type of equipment, line and materials used. The most durable and expensive are outdoor gyms made of stainless steel. They will look like new for many years. Black steel devices are cheaper. Powder coating is an excellent anti-corrosion protection and offers great color possibilities.

Depending on the budget for the arrangement of the gym, we have full possibilities to adapt the offer to the expectations of a demanding investor. A small gym for a start or a multi-functional zone in a popular city park for seniors, adults and children? We will make an offer for you, cost estimate, visualization and a design to submit, which does not require a building permit.

 

 

Outdoor gym - is it worth it?

 

As can be seen from the above analysis, an external gym is a good solution that will surely meet the needs of many municipal officials or developers. Take advantage of this offer, especially if you are looking for an idea for a recreation facility and do not have a large budget or a large plot of land. The outdoor gym will not replace the municipal or city gym for bodybuilders, but it will be a perfect complement to the playground or a variety in the downtown park.

 

 

Author of the article:

Marek Starczewski
Owner of Starmax, CEO and developer