Since the onset of the national lockdown, many of us set out to transform our living areas into at-home gyms stocked with dumbbells, yoga mats and skipping ropes. Some of us even went so far as clearing out the stores to find that dusty treadmill or exercise bike. As restrictions have fluctuated, people have continued to look to online classes and workouts to get their fitness hit in — with Virgin Active reporting a loss of nearly a third of its active members by the end of 2021.
Fitness brands have used the past 2 years to bring new products into the market to meet the latest consumer needs and upcoming fitness trends. The home-fitness trend is here to stay and is being driven by a number of factors, but primarily, for many consumers, it comes down to convenience and cost. If you’re looking for new ways to stay motivated and reach your fitness goals, then here are the top at-home fitness trends to look out for in 2022.
Weight training & home-gyms aren’t going anywhere
Fitness brand, Trojan, says larger-scale fitness equipment, like treadmills, are some of its top sellers based on Trojan’s historical sales data, and have continued to show tremendous growth throughout the pandemic. Another top seller has been Trojan’s weight plates, where demand outstripped supply in 2020/2021, when customers stocked up on weights to build their home gyms.
For the more serious home-gym builders, the brand has recently released a fully equipped multi-functional smith machine that caters for over 85 different exercises. The brand says it is also exploring ways to provide a more immersive in-store experience for customers looking to build or expand their home gym.
PriceCheck tip: Remember, a solid workout regime requires recovery too. Check out PriceCheck’s buyer’s guide, where we highlight 3 products to help boost post-exercise recovery and healing.
Space-saving is key
Not all of us have the luxury of space to set up a fully equipped home gym, with several different dumbbells, kettlebells and weight plates available on the market. Space is a key consideration. The latest trend in the fitness industry is adjustable equipment, like dumbbells and kettlebells that are easily stored as one unit, but that can be manipulated to add or remove weight as needed — eliminating the need to purchase and store multiple items.
Some other space-savers available are more functional fitness equipment (think Crossfit sandbags, wallballs and battle ropes) that can be easily stored in the corner of your room, under your bed or even in your closet. Consumers can look forward to fitness brands like Trojan launching more exciting space-saving gym equipment over the next few months to take their home training to new levels.
The importance of rest and recovery
Recovery has become a priority with active recovery and rest days becoming equally as important as heavy workout days. The importance of moving and stretching our bodies has increased since many of us have become more sedentary since the start of the pandemic, often spending long hours sitting in our home offices. It’s equally as important to take a mental break to focus on our breathing and clear our minds when stress is high.
For recovery, consumers can invest in a myriad of home recovery tools to suit fitness enthusiasts of all levels, from rehab foot massagers and foam-rollers to massage guns.
