What are the Future Trends for Free Weights?

Steve Krum and Joan Carter discuss the trends, sales growth and future potential for free weights in this week's Ask an Industry Leader. 

Q: "What are the trends, sales growth and future potential for free weights?" 

A: The "crystal ball" for free weight sales growth and trends is extremely bright because of one word.......functional. As we all have seen, functional types of exercise involving core and all the stabilizing muscle groups seem to be the hottest trend in our strength arena. Free weights also solve the "muscle confusion" goal of so many fitness professionals because of the endless possibilities of exercises available to them. In addition to the positive future of free weights, we are also seeing another whole host of "supporting cast" vendors develop with tools, benches, programs, and classes that utilize free weights as the main character. 

It is great to see clubs adapt by increasing their free weight menu and by integrating large open functional areas into, or adjacent to their free weights. This allows multiple trainers to efficiently access "their tools" and design each clients workout. It is impressive to see the creativity of many of our fitness professionals using free weights. These positive trends are here to stay because they are fueled by the results our members are achieving.

Steve Krum
General Manager
Spectrum Clubs
skrum@spectrumclubs.com

A: One of the biggest trends seen in free weights area is a substantially broadening demographic. While this area was once considered the domain of young males trying to get bigger and more muscular, we now see the addition of an older male clientele and women of all ages.

This new group of users is looking for better overall accommodation for user size, takeoff weights that are lighter for less experienced users, as well as better movement patterns for more effective training.  It also means that aesthetics of products found in this area have taken on new importance.  Appearance – which has been the norm in other areas of the facility – are now applicable to free weight areas as well.

From the facility standpoint, we see a desire for products that allow the free weight area to be a more open and inviting floor plan as well as being consistent with the design of the rest of the facility.

Joan Carter
Vice Chairman
CYBEX International

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This post is a part of our weekly Ask an Industry Leader series. We post a new question and answer every Monday morning. If you have a question you'd like our Industry Leaders to answer, submit your question today.

Comments

[Vinko Ivanko]

We at Ivanko Barbell always like to see industry discussions of free-weights, naturally. Implicit in the answers to the question is that free-weight design has often been neglected in years past. While we don't disagree with such a sentiment, we would be remiss if we didn't remind readers that some of us have always stressed the importance of free-weight design (and its attendant functionality).

All equipment makers -- be they making machines or freeweights -- should strive to offer the most aesthetically-pleasing products possible. At its is best, good design marries the functional and the beautiful. And we think the history of free-weight manufacture since the late 19th century demonstrates that some makers (i.e. Jackson Barbell, York Barbell, and Paramount, to name but a few) have always been interested in such.

For a photo gallery of early free weight design see the gallery of the Ivanko Historical Society:

http://www.ivankobarbell.com/gallery/ivanko_historical_society/

[Sara Kooperman, CEO SCW Fitness Education]

Interestingly enough, even with the growth of the usage of medicine balls, kettle weights, barbells and tools like ViPR, it seems that free weights have not lost their impact in both the Group Exercise arena and the Personal Training areas. What we have seen over the past several years is a diminishing usage of lighter free weights - the 1-5 pound range. We are seeing a increase in the request for 5-10 pound range of free weight in all our MANIA Fitness Professional Conventions. Both Personal Trainers and Group Fitness instructors continue to integrate free weights into their newer programs like HIT (High Intensity Training) and Booth Camp programs. It seems because they are simple, effective and versatile. An investment in attractive free weights appears to be a positive move for any health club or fitness center today.
Sara Kooperman, JD
CEO
SCW Fitness Education

[Fernando Gomez]

Dumbbells and kettlebells originated from Ancient Greece and Russia respectively. We wanted to invent and design a USA made product to expand the types of hand-held free weight devices and equipments available. This year at IHRSA 2012 we are introducing FISTBELLS, new patent pending hand-held free weights with unique weight distribution providing alternative muscle resistance and exercise versatility. FISTBELLS enhance grip and forearm strength and accommodate rotating push-ups differentiating them from dumbbells and kettlebells, which means additional free weight variety for health clubs. FISTBELLS are ideal for strength, cardiovascular, functional, MMA and boxing training; they provide an additional method to achieve muscle confusion during workout routines.

FISTBELLS are the new wave of free weights!