Easy Ways to Get Free Gym Equipment

December 3rd, 2008

Good news for those looking to get into shape: it is entirely reasonable to get decent gym equipment for free or almost free. The cumbersome and expensive nature of these items, while usually a problem, can work to your advantage. Here are a few proven techniques on how to make this happen.

Capitalize on someone’s dropped New Year’s resolution.

A hugely popular New Year’s resolution is to get into shape. People put on pounds around the holidays and their guilt impulse buys their gym equipment. Of course guilt doesn’t stick around long. After a while it’s back to the usual routine and dust starts to build up on that treadmill, elliptical or stationary bike. This benefits the cause of obtaining free gym equipment greatly.

Simply ask around. It’s almost guaranteed you know someone who has unused fitness equipment. Check with family, friends and colleagues. The difficulty comes in convincing you mom, buddy or coworker that they’re probably never going to use the machine again. People like to hang onto that hope. Generally the older the equipment the easier it is to procure as hope has packed up and moved on. Avoid asking known pack-rats as your chances with them are slim to nil.

If just asking nicely doesn’t cut it, make an unreasonably low offer in cash or barter. Some people will hang onto the equipment just because generosity isn’t their bag. A little bit of value in kind might be all it takes. If you’re offering more than enough to buy movie tickets for two, you’re probably offering too much.

NOTE: Do not offer a reasonable amount of money for the equipment. If the person isn’t willing to give it up for a song, look for another opportunity. If they’re asking for more than half of the original selling price, they’re asking way too much. That’s just the way it goes in the used fitness equipment market; there’s little resale value on used products. If you’re considering their excessive offer, you might be better off just buying a new unit. At least it would have a warranty and possibly be delivered.

In all cases it’s pretty well universally expected that you will carefully remove the unit and arrange your own delivery. Most home gym equipment, while heavy, is designed to be transported in cars and fit through household doors so grab a hefty friend and a toolset and you should be fine.

Drive around on garbage day.

It’s ghetto, yes. But it’s also consistently amazing how much quality gym equipment goes into the dump every week. If you’re interested in getting in shape and a lack of equipment/money is holding you back, suck it up and go for a drive on garbage day. You’re doing the environment a small favor too.

Now, to be clear: We’re not talking about picking up any old disgusting, sweat encrusted, rusty piece of archaic equipment you see. That’s just gross. Be selective and take a pass on the nasty ones. You’re looking for machines that were bought, tried, and gave up on a week later, not ones that were used religiously. Also, I’m as much for hygiene as anyone so make sure to Lysol the heck out of it just to be safe.

Appeal to desperate or minimalist Craigslisters.

Craigslist is the least preferred way to get free gym equipment as it requires making bold requests of strangers. Oddly this is harder to do than with people you know.

Doing a quick search in my local area comes up with 194 treadmills for sale, which goes to show how many broken resolutions are out there. Fortunately this makes for a buyer’s market. Make some absurdly low offers and be prepared for the colourful responses that will come. If the unit is a cheapo Sears special, just offer to take it for no money whatsoever. The idea here is to find someone desperate to get rid of a bulky piece of machinery.

To better your chances, search “[desired equipment] moving” (eg. “elliptical moving”) to see who is selling due to a move. Go to the oldest entry on the list and work your way up. Craigslist keeps posts for up to 45 days, so assuming the item has not been sold after a month, some sellers would probably just be happy to get rid of the thing and move on with life.

Do these techniques really work? A few years ago when I set out to get in shape, I quickly and accidentally stumbled upon a decent treadmill curbside in my neighborhood. Shortly afterward I acquired a superior treadmill from a family member simply by asking nicely. They weren’t using it anyway. I even got help moving it just so they could have it out of their house. I currently have an in-law ready and willing to equip me with a very good elliptical should I make the space. As for the Craigslist technique, I’ve been on the other side of this; giving away otherwise valuable things just to make space after they saw no significant offers on Craigslist. Those who live a minimalist life get value just from clearing out old stuff.

Often, getting in shape is a matter of eliminating the reasons for being out of shape. A common reason is financial in nature; gym equipment or gym memberships are expensive. It’s difficult to spend that much money especially when there’s no guarantee you’ll even benefit from doing so. Hopefully this information will help you eliminate a reason not to exercise and get you on your way to a fitter life. It worked for me; I lost 50 pounds partially thanks to a donated treadmill, while saving $30/month on a gym membership. That treadmill is rusted and worn now… time to go for a ride around my neighbourhood!