How do you know if a Precor treadmill, elliptical trainer or strength system would be the ideal training partner for you? How do you make sure that your shiny new exercise equipment don't become glorified clothes hangers yet again, gathering dust in the corner? How do you ensure that you get value for money? Let's take a look at 10 of the questions you may want to ask yourself, before deciding if you should choose a treadmill, elliptical trainer, strength system or stretch trainer.

1. Do I find repetitive exercise boring?

2. Do I want to learn something new?

3. How much time do I have for workouts each week?

4. How much room do I have available at home?

5. Do I have and aches or pains I should take into account when exercising?

6. Do I want a workout routine that is quick to do?

7. Do I want to concentrate on muscle development?

8. Do I want to be able to read or watch television while working out?

9. Do I enjoy the motivation of training with a partner?

10. Am I supple enough? Do I need to work on flexibility?

Precor Treadmills are really easy to use. These machines remain best-sellers, in spite of all the new innovations on the market today. They don't require much of a learning curve. Simply push the QuickStart button, and away you go. The suspension system ensures joint comfort while you walk or run. You can usually choose from a whole range of programs, concentrating on aspects such as weight loss, interval training or fitness tests. However, if you become bored easily when doing repetitive workouts, this may not be the best option for you.

Precor Elliptical Trainers are among the newer innovations. These may take some getting used to, but they are still fairly easy to master. If you have joint or knee aches and pains, this may be one of the options most suitable for you. These are truly low-impact trainers, as your feet remain on the foot pedals throughout your workout. If you opt for a model with moveable handlebars, you will also get an upper body workout at the same time, which cuts down on training time. These trainers again come with a whole range of built-in programs. Here again, boredom and time issues may cause problems down the line.

Precor Cycles are comfortable, with fully adjustable seats. Programs include interesting variations such as cross country and hill climbs, depending on the model you choose. Again this may be too repetitive, but you can usually read while working out. If you have knee problems or lower back niggles, you may have to pass when it comes to recumbent or upright cycles.

Precor Strength Systems provide a whole range of upper and lower body exercise options. The weight systems are fully adjustable and have been designed to give maximum results in the minimum time. This is one of the most important benefits of these systems. You can normally get away with three sessions of around 45 minutes per week. That is a time commitment of a measly 135 minutes weekly. You are likely to see faster results here than with the cardio conditioning options above. If you don't like long, boring, repetitive aerobic sessions, a home gym is a much better choice for you. Some home gyms allow for 2 people to train at the same time.

Precor Stretch Trainers provide the crucial flexibility element that should be part of every workout. The stretch trainer complements the other exercise equipment. You get a placard with full details of the most important stretches. This routine is great for use before and after each workout, as a warming up and cooling down sequence. The machine has been designed for maximum user comfort and is quite compact.

Precor treadmills, elliptical trainers, cycles and strength systems provide something for every taste and pocket. Just make sure you test them thoroughly before buying, in order to get the perfect fit in terms of a training partner.