If you are deliberating starting a fitness program, you know it is a challenging commitment. You'll need to ascertain whether you are better off buying brand new fitness gear, potentially costing thousands of dollars, or used equipment, costing considerably less. Get the greatest value for your money by observing the hints that follow.

Be certain to explore your options before purchasing anything. Explore the Internet and compare price, use and reliability. The last thing you want is to wind up with equipment that does not hold up to its promise, or cannot be fixed if it is too outdated and there is no one available to repair it.

When comparing prices, be sure that you are going to receive the optimal value for the cost. Try to avoid buying anything during the pre-summer prime time of year of October through March. This is when many people start out their physical fitness plans in preparation for the summer. Near the conclusion of the summertime season, people will have likely quit using their equipment, become unmotivated or finished their original programs and there will be much more used equipment available for purchase.

Rather than going to a used equipment shop, look on the Internet, yard sales or in classified ads in the paper. You are certain to find much better deals.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid paying more than half of the original price of an item. If you are 100% certain that the equipment is in perfect, like-new condition, then it is acceptable for the used cost to be higher than one-half.

There are perpetually new fitness items being promoted on the television. Try to avoid buying these ones if they have been previously used. This is because new items come out so often as few of them appear to last that long. You should avoid these entirely unless you are buying from someone you know and are completely positive that it was used sparingly.

Finally, what you do not want is to end up with a piece of unreliable equipment that breaks down while you are part way through your fitness program.

Be patient. The desire to begin might be compelling, but you will benefit in the end if you receive a good deal on a piece of gear that is reliable and functions well for you. To Boot, you will have saved money in the process.