# FitnessCriteria

> Home gym and fitness equipment reviews and buying guides: racks, weights, benches, treadmills, bikes, rowers, recovery tools and wearables, with reader codes.

FitnessCriteria publishes fitness equipment reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Reviews](https://fitnesscriteria.com/reviews): every product we recommend
- [Buying guides](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://fitnesscriteria.com/glossary): fitness equipment terms defined
- [How we test](https://fitnesscriteria.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Strength](https://fitnesscriteria.com/category/strength): Power racks, adjustable dumbbells, barbells, plates, kettlebells and benches.
- [Cardio](https://fitnesscriteria.com/category/cardio): Treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines and ellipticals.
- [Recovery & wearables](https://fitnesscriteria.com/category/recovery-wearables): Massage guns, foam rollers, compression and fitness trackers.
- [Accessories](https://fitnesscriteria.com/category/accessories): Gym flooring, yoga mats, resistance bands, jump ropes, gloves and training apparel.

## Buying guides
- [Adjustable vs Fixed Dumbbells: Which Should You Buy?](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/adjustable-vs-fixed-dumbbells): Adjustable dumbbells replace a full rack of weights in the space of one pair, which makes them the better buy for most home gyms. Fixed dumbbells change weight instantly, survive drops and suit circuits and shared gyms, but a full set takes a rack and a lot of floor. Choose adjustable for space and value, fixed for speed and durability.
- [Adjustable Weight Bench Buying Guide: What to Compare](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/adjustable-weight-bench-buying-guide): A flat bench covers the basic flat-position lifts; an adjustable bench adds incline and, on some models, decline positions for more setup options. Compare the maker's total load rating, pad width and gap, seat and back angles, adjustment hardware, stability and the floor space it occupies. Choose the lightest setup that fits your lifts and room while staying within the manufacturer's rating.
- [Barbell and Weight Plate Guide: Sizes, Weights and Types](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/barbell-and-weight-plate-guide): A men's Olympic barbell weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb), is about 2.2 m long and has a shaft around 28 to 29 mm thick; a women's bar is 15 kg with a 25 mm shaft. Olympic plates have a 2-inch center hole; older standard plates fit 1-inch bars. Bumper plates are full-size rubber plates made to be dropped, and iron plates are thinner and cheaper. Most home gyms are best served by an Olympic bar and plates.
- [Elliptical Buying Guide: Stride, Fit and Footprint](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/elliptical-buying-guide): Choose an elliptical by how naturally the stride fits the person using it, then compare resistance, incline, frame layout and floor space. If multiple people will use the machine, an adjustable stride can make the fit easier to share. Check the manufacturer's user limits, assembled footprint and operating clearance in the manual before it reaches your home.
- [Exercise Bike Types Compared: Upright, Recumbent and More](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/exercise-bike-types-compared): Choose an exercise bike by the riding position and workout format you will use: upright bikes keep a conventional seated posture, indoor cycling bikes use a forward position, recumbents add a chair-like seat, and air bikes use fan resistance. Compare the adjustment range, resistance controls, console, app requirements and full footprint for the specific model. A bike category narrows the search, but the maker's dimensions and fit chart decide whether it suits your room and rider.
- [Fitness Tracker: Watch vs Ring vs Band](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/fitness-tracker-watch-vs-ring-vs-band): A watch puts a display and controls on your wrist; a ring skips the wrist screen and needs careful sizing; a band ranges from a slim display to a screenless sensor. Compare your phone compatibility, app features, fit, battery and any recurring membership before choosing. The same label can cover very different hardware, so check the exact model and its current plan terms.
- [Foam Roller vs Massage Gun: Which Recovery Tool Fits You?](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/foam-roller-vs-massage-gun): A foam roller is cheap, covers large muscles quickly and lets you control pressure with your body weight. A massage gun targets smaller areas with adjustable speed, reaches spots that are awkward to roll, and travels well, but costs more. Many people start with a foam roller and add a massage gun later.
- [Home Gym Flooring Guide: Stall Mats, Tiles and Rolls](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/home-gym-flooring-guide): For lifting, use dense rubber: 3/4-inch stall mats are the common budget choice, and rubber tiles or rolls look cleaner. Foam tiles suit bodyweight work and yoga but compress under heavy weights. If you drop weights, use bumper plates and add a lifting platform. Measure the room, plan seams away from where you lift, and let rubber off-gas before you close the room.
- [Power Rack Buying Guide: Size, Steel, Holes and Safeties](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/power-rack-buying-guide): Measure your ceiling and floor first: you need room above the rack for pull-ups and room on each side to load plates. Then choose upright size (2x2, 2x3 or 3x3 inch steel), hole size and spacing that match the attachments you want, and safeties you trust. A full four-post power rack with spotter arms or straps is the safest choice for lifting alone; a squat stand saves space but offers less protection.
- [Rowing Machine Types: Air vs Magnetic vs Water vs Hydraulic](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/rowing-machine-types): Air rowers use a fan, so resistance rises the harder you pull; they feel closest to rowing on water and are the gym standard. Magnetic rowers are the quietest and set resistance with a dial. Water rowers use paddles in a tank for a smooth, natural sound and feel. Hydraulic rowers use pistons, cost less and fold small, but feel least like real rowing.
- [Treadmill Buying Guide: Deck Size, Motor, Incline and Folding](https://fitnesscriteria.com/guides/treadmill-buying-guide): Match the treadmill to how you will use it. Walkers can use a shorter, narrower deck and a smaller motor; runners need a longer deck (commonly 60 inches) and a stronger continuous-duty motor. Check top speed, incline range, the user weight limit and the folded and unfolded footprint, and leave clearance behind the belt. Compare the subscription cost if the screen needs one.

Contact: info@fitnesscriteria.com