Introduction
Below is a look at some notable survey results in 2024. Below is a brief overview of some of the main polls that stood out in 2024.
Many links below will take you to original results that go into a bit more detail.
If you have any questions or want to discuss results, please shoot me a message – jake@garagegymexperiment.com.
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Who Answers these questions?
- Sample size is typically about 1,000.
- 64% are parents
- Likely at least 80% are male
- Nearly 75% are between the ages of 25 and 44 and 15% more between 45 and 54.
- Home Gym is only option for 44%, primary option 44%, and secondary option for 12%.
- 72% follow a workout program.
- 38% pay for programming.
- 12% have a 1:1 coach.
- 9% are running a business out of their home gym.
- “Hybrid” is the most appealing workout style.
Time is Money
- 93% save time by owning a home gym, but only 41% save money.
- The amount of people saving money with their home gym is going down.
Home Gym Space
- Space varies quite a bit, but most are not working with unlimited space.
- 62% say that the gym is in their garage. The basement is the second most popular area.
- Around 8 feet is the most popular ceiling height.
- 62% say they would add at least 2 specialty machines into their home gym in an ideal world.
- View Additional Survey Results and Analysis
What products are people using the most?
- Barbells and dumbbells are pretty easily used the most
- Pulley systems come in as an easy “third place” beating out kettlebells.
- View Additional Analysis
“Made in Country” Importance Data
- 38% typically look to see what country the equipment made was in before purchasing.
- About 30% say that it is at least “important” to buy gym equipment made in their country.
- Only 4.3% voted it to be “essential.”
- Hasn’t shifted too much since April 2021.
- View Additional Thoughts
“Creator/Inventor Support” Importance Data
- A bit more importance is given to the creator/inventor vs. looking at where the product is made.
- About 40% vote that it is at least important.
- Less are neutral on this topic vs. where the product is made.
- View Additional Thoughts
What do you value most in a company when purchasing gym equipment?
- While I think we can agree all of these are important values, customer service reputation is the easily the winner here.
Additional Purchasing Decision Info
- Community Involvement seen as more important than where the equipment is made for 60% (up from last year).
- 4x Like Seeing CEO’s/Founders in a Companies Marketing vs. Not
- Only 31% say they are not more likely to buy from a person they’ve met in person.
- 55% Are you less likely to buy from companies that knock off other companies with their products (see how that has changed).
- 80% say it is important for those involved in creating the equipment to actually work out.
Instagram influences the most home gym purchases.
***This question was asked on Instagram, so that needs to be taken into consideration.
Lack of Space and Price of Obtaining More Equipment are Easily the Two Largest Issues
| Issue | Not an issue | Minor Issue | Medium Issue | Large Issue |
| Lack of space for home gym is | 10.22% | 24.45% | 33.03% | 32.30% |
| Price of obtaining more equipment is | 9.19% | 26.65% | 34.19% | 29.96% |
| Temperature control is | 34.39% | 29.00% | 22.12% | 14.50% |
| Amount of equipment is | 26.22% | 42.13% | 25.47% | 6.18% |
| Keeping home gym clean is | 30.22% | 46.22% | 19.60% | 3.96% |
| Distractions during home wokrouts are | 34.52% | 43.59% | 17.44% | 4.45% |
| Ceiling height is | 45.49% | 28.79% | 14.78% | 10.94% |
| Not enough lighting is | 43.43% | 34.67% | 16.79% | 5.11% |
| Quality of equipment in home gym is | 51.57% | 29.65% | 14.55% | 4.24% |
| Concern about making too much noise is | 55.84% | 28.83% | 10.40% | 4.93% |
| Warming up for home workouts are | 63.12% | 27.19% | 7.79% | 1.90% |
| Finishing workouts in home gym is | 69.40% | 23.86% | 5.65% | 1.09% |
| Equipment aging quickly is | 74.77% | 18.51% | 5.26% | 1.45% |
| Working out safely is | 79.96% | 15.08% | 3.24% | 1.72% |
When put up side by side, 73% say space is a bigger issue for them than cost of equipment.
“Traditional Dumbbells” barely beat out Adjustable Dumbbells for Most People’s Choice
Also:
- Dumbbells much more popular than kettlebells.
- Later in the year, more chose a 5-100 set of adjustable dumbbells vs. a 5-100 set of traditional dumbbells with cost and space in mind.
- More Dumbbell Data
Only 19% do not own multiple barbells.
- 71% mentioned that Variety/Specialty Bars were the primary reasonthey own multiple.
The Safety Squat Bar, Open Trap Bar, and Multi-Grip Bar are the three most popular specialty barbells
Power Rack Data
- REP (46%) beat out Rogue (36%) when asked where most are likely to get a power rack from – large shift from 2021 (chart on right).
- Rogue was the top folding rack choice.
- 84% said that they own a 3×3 rack with 1 inch holes in a perfect world.
- 4 and 6 post have the same interest levels – much more than 2 post racks.
- 30″ depth is the top choice.
- 72% are willing to pay more for the right color.
- 23% express high interest in all-in-one rack
- View Additional Analysis
Rack Attached vs. Standalone?
- This survey took a look at some options that home gym owners could be purchased as a rack attachment or standalone machine.
- Look Closer at the #’s
Smith Machine Data
- 60% believe Smith Machine Popularity will improve in home gyms.
- A fully rack attached option is the option that sounds best to most home gym owners.
- (View More Analysis)
In 5 Years, who will be the most popular equipment supplier for home gym strength?
- Rogue and REP combined for 85% of the votes.
- View Additional Analysis
- REP has increased their votes 4x for this question since 2021, while the Rogue votes have been cut in half.
Biggest Challenger to REP/Rogue in 5 years?
- This poll was performed two times with Titan easily coming out on top both times.
With cost in mind, where are you most likely to buy an entire home gym from?
- REP was the easy winner with 54% of the votes.
- View Additional Analysis
Specialty machines and rack attachments are much more popular right now than cardio equipment and specialty bars.
Interest in “tech entering the home gym space” is up.
| How do you feel about tech entering the home gym space? | 2023 | 2024 | % Change |
| Big Fan | 10.58% | 16.73% | 58% |
| Fan | 15.77% | 17.12% | 9% |
| Neutral | 55.96% | 47.57% | -15% |
| Keep me away | 17.69% | 18.58% | 5% |
In addition:
- 47% use tech to improve their fitness.
- 22% say a piece of fitness technology caught their attention in 2025.
- 40% believe a company like REP or Rogue need to implement great tech into some product to still be on top in 10 years.
- View Additional Tech Analysis
Trust Levels of 9 Companies
- Rogue easily had the highest trust level, but nobody scored over received over 7% of “high trust levels.”
- Overall trust levels do not seem too high.
| Company | High | Medium | Low |
| Rogue | 68.54% | 27.63% | 3.83% |
| REP | 57.88% | 36.76% | 5.36% |
| Black Widow Training | 44.64% | 31.73% | 23.63% |
| Fringe Sport | 23.68% | 49.12% | 27.19% |
| Bells of Steel | 14.86% | 51.06% | 34.08% |
| Titan | 10.06% | 54.81% | 35.14% |
| Get RXd | 9.43% | 47.87% | 42.70% |
| Fray Fitness | 5.20% | 46.10% | 48.70% |
| Major Fitness | 2.63% | 19.04% | 78.34% |
Strength Sports – Level of Interest
Who has dropped the best products in 2024?
- REP and Rogue have dominated the product release category in 2024.
Some Specialty Machine #s
- 70% would put a specialty machine in their home gym.
- 70% would put a commercial gym equipment piece in their home gym.
- In an ideal world, 62% would have at least two.
- View Additional Specialty Machine Data
More Specific Equipment Preferences
- 64% believe REP makes the best benches for home gyms (Check Survey)
- 68% believe Rogue makes the best barbells for home gyms (View Analysis).
- The Rogue Echo Bike is the easy air bike choice for most (View Figures).
- The Concept2 Rower is still the top rower choice for most.
- The REP Open Trap Bar is the top Trap Bar most would choose (View Results).
- REP is the top “Power Rack Choice” as highlighted earlier.
- The Leg Curl/Extension is the lower body specialty machine of choice.
- The “Functional Trainer” is the top “first specialty machine choice,” but it’s close.
6 Trends within the Home gym Community
- Evolving Influences in the Home Gym Community: The home gym community is now driven by everyday gym owners sharing insights online, creating a grassroots approach to fitness trends and equipment recommendations.
- “Mini Commercial Gyms” in Home Spaces: Home gym setups are evolving into mini commercial gyms with advanced equipment like smith machines, pulleys, and specialized strength machines for a complete workout experience.
- “Buy Once, Cry Once” But Still Save Where You Can: Home gym enthusiasts focus on durable, high-quality equipment while finding smart ways to save money and build their dream setups.
- The Real Motivation: Convenience Over Cost: Convenience has surpassed cost savings as the main reason for building home gyms, offering seamless workouts that fit into busy lives.
- The Home Gym as a Lifestyle and Hobby: Home gyms have become a personalized hobby where owners invest in aesthetics, upgrades, and optimization, creating spaces they take pride in.
- Diverse Training Approaches at Home: Home gym training styles are becoming hybrid, combining strength, cardio, and functional fitness to prioritize health, longevity, and diverse fitness goals.