9 TRENDS OF THE 1990s

The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) recently reported the following fitness equipment trends of the 1990s.

1. TREADMILLS are still popular. Overall spending, however, was flat in 1998.

2. TREADMILLS are less expensive than in the past, with quality models now available for between $1,000 and $2,000. (The flat sales figures for 1998 may be a result of this drop in price.)

3. ELLIPTICAL MOTION TRAINERS with their desirable "no-impact" features--are finding their way into the home, ranging in price from $500 to $2,800.

4. SINGLE-STACK "HOME GYM" Because of the growing recognition of the benefits of strength training and the ability of manufacturers to produce good gyms at lower prices, sales of home gyms are expected to increase significantly over the next several years. Single-stack "entry level" home gyms are now widely available from quality manufacturers for $1,000 or less.

5. SMITH MACHINES could become a hot product for the home. They are being modified for home use, being turned into Smith "ensembles" or "systems" with a bench, weight stack and stations for chest, arm, back and leg exercises. Fully equipped versions are available from about $1,300 to about $1,800.

6. HEART RATE MONITORS AND CONTROLS have become standard equipment on almost all cardiovascular machines. The heart rate controls keep the user's heart rate within a prescribed zone by changing the resistance or pace of the machine.

7. SEMI-RECUMBENT BIKES Even though semi-recumbent stationary bikes are usually more expensive than recumbents or uprights, Schwinn Fitness reports that semi-recumbents for the home are outselling uprights by four to one.

8. QUIET, PLEASE It's going to get quieter at the gym. The hearty clang of plates crashing together was once the sign of a serious weight room, but with more people using the rooms than ever before, there has been a demand for less noise.

9. COMPUTER CONSOLE DESIGN on aerobic equipment is going in two directions at once. For people who like simplicity, there are controls that permit the user to "get on and go." For the technocontender, there are systems that allow you to create customized programs for specific goals.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group