Need Advice for small indoor fitness gear

[dsmoke]

I need suggestions for some sort of exercise device that is small, good for cardio workouts, and not too expensive. Basically I need something I can do indoors when the weather is bad and I can't walk outdoors.

Here are some things I have considered:
--jump rope
--exercise video (blah, not my thing)
--resistance band (never used one, but I've heard they are useful)
--small hand weights

Anything else I could add?

[Scott Bird]

You can't go wrong with a pair of dumbbells. Extremely versatile things, no matter what type of training you favour.

[Wanderer]

Yeah dumbells are probably the way to go, If you want to do CV get a low weight and do lots of reps.
A chin-up bar is also very cheap (£10) and can just be put in a doorway
If your fussy a roll matt for pressups/sit ups could be useful
And a hook and punchbag to hang from the ceiling costs about £30/40, and could add some variety to your work out

Hope this helps

[ahimel]

If you or your housemates are already gamers, consider Dance Dance Revolution. It has an exercise mode where, instead of accuracy, it tracks calories burnt. Slower songs allow for warm-up, and the better you are, the more calories you burn.

If you already have a PS2, game+pad will run under $100. If you don't have a console, or know where you can get/borrow one cheaply, it's probably not worth the effort.

[Scott Bird]

Originally Posted by dsmoke

Here are some things I have considered:
--jump rope

dsmoke, if you've got enough height for a rope, consider getting a kettlebell. As with the dumbbells, they're incredibly versatile things.

[Josh Kaufman]

I've had a very good experience working with a 10lb. sledgehammer for 15 minutes at a time.

Sledgehammer work is very versatile, and you can work every part of your upper body by doing a variety of movements. Your functional fitness improves remarkably quickly, and it's surprisingly fun and satisfying to throw a sledge around for a while. It also doesn't take up much space: I work out in my tiny New York apartment without a problem. After 3-6 months of working with a sledge, you just move up 2lbs in weight for a new challenge.

You can find more information about sledgehammer workouts here. Have fun!

Josh Kaufman
Josh Kaufman: Inside My Bald Head
The Personal MBA — Mastering Business Without Spending a Fortune

[Trustme]

I like the Superman exercise John Peterson suggests in his books. You need one of these exercise wheels and I got the deluxe version on the net. It's really a great workout. I always hated situps and this is a much more efficient abs workout in my opinion.

[maclinda]

Gosh you need so little to get a good workout. The floor, the kitchen counter, your body, some good music and you're set.

I wouldn't invest in any equipment unless you're pretty sure you'll keep using it.