Lockdown ushered in the home workout boom, with retailers like John Lewis reporting a 267% rise in sales for yoga equipment and searches on Google Shopping for fitness equipment soaring.
To help fitness fans ensure their home workout habit is for life, and not just for lockdown, self-storage experts at Space Station have shared insight and advice around the most popular home workout equipment, and how to make sure it lasts.
Resistance bands
Resistance bands saw a 300% increase in searches on Google Shopping between February and April, quickly becoming the must-have fitness accessory. While these bands provide a good alternative to more bulky fitness equipment such as barbells, their elasticity means some care is required when it comes to storage.
First and foremost, never leave or store the bands in direct sunlight. This will reduce the amount of elasticity and eventually make them unusable or worst still, lead to injury. The same goes for heat, as this will have the same effect, so avoid boiler cupboards or any other storage space that’s likely to get warm.
Yoga mats
Searches for yoga mats soared by 426% between February and April, while YouTube searches for yoga increased by 132%.
Yoga mats are generally pretty low maintenance, but it is important to clean and dry them properly after use to avoid build up of bacteria, which is not only unhygienic, but will also make the quality of the mat deteriorate. Always opt for a natural cleaner, as anything with harsh chemicals will damage the mat.
When it comes to storage, we’re used to seeing yoga mats rolled up lengthways when in transit, but this should be avoided for long-term storage. Instead, keep your mat somewhere that it can remain laid flat, or be hung up, to avoid any curling at the edges. If you’re stuck for floor space, consider something like this DIY yoga mat rack.
Weights
Google Shopping search data shows demand for weights boomed by 170% between February and April, as the nation looked for ways to get those gains from home.
When it comes to weights, the biggest consideration is finding storage solutions that keep them tidied away safely. If you’re using a weight rack or a dumbbell tree, always keep the heaviest weights at the bottom to avoid injury when picking them up for your next workout.
A shoe rack or storage unit can easily double up as a home for dumbbells, just ensure it can withstand the total weight of all the equipment. Or, if you’re feeling crafty, there are plenty of online tutorials for building your own weight rack.
Trainers
Nobody needs a stinking pair of gym shoes in the shoe rack, so make sure you’re taking steps to store these away properly after a sweat session.
Make sure you take off your trainers as soon as you’re done with the workout – the longer you leave them on, the more time they have to absorb sweat. Then before storing them away, place dryer sheets in each of your shoes, which will eliminate any bad odours until it’s time for your next workout.
If you’re still struggling with sweaty sneaks, consider investing in some new insoles. There are plenty of products specifically designed to eliminate odours, which are particularly useful if you’ve had the same pair of trainers for a while
Active wear
Due to the high amount of usage and the amount of sweat activewear absorbs, it can be tricky to wash, but it’s important to get this right to maintain the lifespan of your favourite gym gear.
Firstly, get your detergent right. Excessive sweat can create stains over time, so opt for a detergent with an element of stain removal. Don’t be tempted to add more than is required in the hope it will banish the odour, as this can end up leaving a residue on the material that traps sweat during your next workout. The same goes for fabric softener – give this a miss when washing your workout gear.
Finally, high-performance fabrics should be washed on a delicate cycle on a low temperature setting. Hot water can easily damage the fibres of these types of materials and end up ruining them.
Vlatka Lake, Marketing Manager at Space Station, commented: “One of the positives to take away from lockdown is how well the nation was able to adapt to ensure fitness routines could continue from home. However, what this does mean is that households need to find the space to store all of that new workout gear.
This needn’t be stressful though, or a reason to give up on your home workout habit! There are plenty of ways to ensure your new fitness accessories can be easily stored throughout the home, in such a way that ensures they will last long after lockdown.”
For more information about Space Station, please visit: https://www.space-station.co.uk/