• What the Terms Mean

• Exercise Bikes

• Treadmills

• Stair Machines & Steppers

• Elliptical Trainers

• Rowing Machines

• Trampolines

• Free Weights & Benches

• Multi Gyms

• Yoga & Pilates

• Other Sports

• Exercise & Fitness Accessories

• How to Find Fitness Equipment on eBay

• Buy with Confidence

What the Terms Mean

What the Terms Mean

When shopping for fitness equipment on eBay, you’ll find some terms mentioned frequently in listings. Here’s what they mean:

• Cardiovascular
  Cardiovascular (aerobic) training raises your heart rate (cardio) and pumps blood around your body (vascular). It’s excellent for overall fitness, endurance and circulation.

  Popular cardiovascular fitness items include treadmills, elliptical machines (also called cross trainers), trampolines, rowing machines and exercise bikes.

• Strength Training
  Strength training and resistance work such as weight lifting or Pilates builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the more efficiently your metabolism works and the more calories you burn.
  
  Weightlifting is not just for men. Women’s muscles become leaner and more efficient, giving them more tone and definition and increasing their metabolism and energy.
  
  Popular strengthtraining items include dumbells and free weights, weight lifting benches, Smith machines, multi gyms and steppers like the Lateral Thigh Trainer.

• Flexibility
  Flexibility training (stretching) such as yoga or Pilates helps improve your posture, breathing and muscle tone. It also helps you avoid injury by training your muscles to move through their full range.
  
  You’ll find a full range of yoga mats, other exercise mats, yoga clothing and accessories on eBay.

• High Impact vs Low Impact
  High impact exercise, such as running, is the ultimate calorie-burning cardiovascular workout – and also strengthens the bones and muscles. However it can also put pressure on the joints, so it’s wise to combine high impact training with some low impact workouts (commonly known as “cross training”).
  
  Low impact workouts do not put pressure on the joints but involve more resistance work, so they can be hard work on the muscles. Low-impact exercise can be cardiovascular (such as swimming, cycling or stepping) or anaerobic (non-cardio). Anaerobic low impact exercise includes the range of weight and flexibility training, such as weight lifting, Pilates and yoga.

• Monitors
  Look for information about monitors when you’re shopping for an exercise machine. Most cardiovascular exercise machines have monitors that offer feedback while you exercise, so that you know how hard you’re working. Even budget exercise machines often come with a built-in pedometers to show the time you’ve been exercising, distance covered and calories burned.
  
  The more expensive models have sophisticated computer consoles that include heart monitors. If you buy an exercise bike, treadmill, rowing machine or other exercise machine that has a heart monitor, remember that your maximum heart rate is about 220 minus your age.
  
  Many also have one-touch control for speed and incline, as well as pre-set workouts such as hill, terrain, flat and mountain. When shopping, look for the number and type of programmes on offer and type of screen. LCD screens display information digitally, and LED screens are particularly easy to read.

Exercise Bikes

Exercise Bikes

Stationary exercise bikes are excellent fitness machines for all types of exercisers, including beginners. They’re easy to use and have lots of levels of resistance, so you can work your lungs, heart and muscles as little or as hard as you want. Adjustable seats and handlebars and cushioned seat pads on the more expensive models mean that exercise bikes let you work out in comfort whilst watching television or reading a book.

Cycling provides a cardiovascular workout without straining your back and joints, so it’s good cross-training for runners who want to give their joints a break. As well as working on your overall fitness and endurance, cycling also gives great tone to your leg and glute muscles.
Most exercise bikes have meters that monitor your speed, mileage and how much time you’ve been pedalling. More expensive bikes can also measure your heart rate and calorie expenditure and offer pre-programmed hill or flat workouts.       

• Choosing an Exercise Bike
  Some types of exercise bike offer extra resistance for lower-body conditioning, some are kinder to the joints and some give detailed information on your heart rate and calorie expenditure. You’ll find four main types of exercise bike for sale on eBay:

  • Uprights: Most similar to outdoor bikes. You sit up on a traditional bike seat whilst pedalling. Most budget exercise bike models are traditional uprights.

  • Recumbents: As with recumbent outdoor bikes, these have the seat positioned at a low level, parallel to the ground. The pedals are in front of you so you don’t bend your legs as much, which is great s for cross-training runners. There’s also a back support for greater comfort. A great choice if you suffer from back or knee problems.

  • Semi-Recumbents: These exercise bikes have an inclined seat higher than full recumbents. Ideal for elderly users, since they’re easier to dismount.

  • Dual Action: Great for an intense whole-body workout, thanks to movable handlebars that work your arms as hard as your legs.

    Tip: Whatever your shape or size, most exercise bikes are adjustable for comfort. However some exercise bikes have a weight capacity. Check this before bidding by clicking “Ask seller a question”.

• Resistance
  Pedal on a stationary bike with no resistance is like pedalling on a bike with a broken chain – you’re going nowhere and your muscles aren’t doing any work. Stationary exercise bikes create resistance, so you’re actually powering along with your legs. Different exercise bikes have different means of creating resistance:

  • Magnetic: Lets you pedal quietly and without friction. You can increase resistance smoothly and easily. Popular in professional gyms, but expensive.

  • Air: A fan built into the wheel builds up an air flow for you to pedal against. The harder you pedal, the greater the air flow and resistance. The air from the fan helps cool you down.

  • Direct Tension: You adjust resistance manually with dials.

  • Flywheel: Resistance is regulated by a heavy wheel and maintained by kinetic energy built up by your pedalling.

Treadmills

Treadmills

Treadmills are the most popular cardiovascular exercise machines sold on eBay. They’re very versatile – use them for a gentle stroll in the front room, or for gruelling marathon training whatever the weather. If you’re short of space (and treadmills can be quite large), choose a treadmill that folds away. Some other features to look for when shopping for a treadmill:

• Speed
  Most treadmills have a speed range of between 0-16kph (0-10mph), and some go up to 19kph (12mph). As a guideline, most people walk at 4.5-9kph (3-6mph) and run at 9-16kph (6-10mph). Look for a treadmill with one-touch controls to change speed settings while you’re running.

• Belt
  More expensive treadmills have better cushioned belts (also called running beds) to absorb impact – important for endurance runners, who risk “runner’s knee” or ankle strain when training on pavements or uncushioned treadmills. Treadmill belts also come in varous sizes, from 40cm-56cm (16”-22”) wide and 1.1m-1.7m (45”-66”) long. Make sure you buy a treadmill with a belt long enough for your longest walking or running stride. If you’re a runner or have a long stride, also look for a wide belt to accommodate natural side-to-side movement.

• Motor
  You’ll find budget treadmills on eBay that have no motor at all and require little maintenance, but they’re hard work because you need to run to get them going and keep them going.
  
  Electric treadmills have one motor to drive the belt and another to control the incline. They reach your desired speed quickly and don't slow down when you do, motivating you to keep up a steady pace.
  
  The larger the motor in an electric treadmill, the more horsepower it can deliver. The amount of power you need depends on your body weight and how fast you want to go. For walking and gentle jogging, look for a continuous horsepower rating of 1.0hp-1.5hp; for running, look for 1.5hp and higher. Heavier runners need a minimum of 2.0hp.

• Monitor
  Most electric treadmills have pedometers to monitor speed, time, distance covered and calories burned. Many also have pre-set programmes that run from basic cardio and fat burning settings to workouts that mimic hilly terrain. On the more expensive treadmills you’ll find features such as a heart rate monitor, cooling fan and CD player.

• Incline Control
  Most treadmills have an adjustable incline level. The steeper the incline, the more resistance is created and the more effort you have to put in – an excellent way to train for races. Most treadmills with adjustable or motorised inclines can go up to 15%, though commercial gym treadmills often go up to 25%, and you’ll find many of these listed on eBay. Treadmills offer three types of incline control:

  • Power Incline: Press a button to increase or decrease the incline.

  • Heart Rate Control: Incline is adjusted automatically based on your heart rate to give an optimum workout. Can be expensive.

  • Manual Incline: Cheaper, but it can be annoying to stop running and adjust the incline setting by hand.

Stair Machines & Steppers

Stair Machines & Steppers

Invest in a stair machine for a low-impact toning workout focused on your glutes, hamstrings and calf muscles. Different stair machines and steppers have manual and advanced computer-controlled options, and the more you’re prepared the pay, the more features you tend to get.

• Stepper:
  Cost-effective and small enough to keep in the bottom of the wardrobe. Steppers provide an effective low-impact cardiovascular workout.     

• Stair machine:
  More expensive than steppers, but these sophisticated machines provide a thorough low-impact workout and are comfortable to use for long periods because you can hold the bars while you exercise.     

Here are the main features to consider when shopping for a stepper or stair machine:

Resistance

• Computer-controlled: Electronically-controlled steppers and stair machines offer smooth movement and predictable changes in resistance.

  Many computer-controlled steppers and stair machines have displays to monitor your heart rate, distance climbed, number of steps climbed and calories burned, and the more expensive machines come with pre-programmed workouts that mimic hills and mountains.

  The Lateral Thigh Trainer is a very popular brand of stepper that uses a built-in computer to give smooth movement at seven resistance levels. Unlike standard steppers, the Lateral Thigh Trainer has pedals that move in various directions, giving a skating-like motion that works every muscle in your legs. It also has custom settings, large anti-slip pedals and compact design for easy stowing.

• Cylinder-driven: This type of stepper or stair machine is less expensive but more cumbersome to use. Cylinders create resistance using air or hydraulic fluid, and you have to turn a dial to alter resistance. Cylinder-driven stair climbers will usually monitor the length of your workout, the distance you travelled, number of stairs climbed and calories burned.

Step Motion

• Independent motion: Steps do not come linked together. You need to push down on each step to make it move.

• Dependent: Steps come linked together, so that when you push down on one step the other step goes up.

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical Trainers

Elliptical trainers, also known as cross trainers, are great for low-impact workouts that are less stressful on your joints. Keep your feet on the pedals and use a fluid motion to mimic stepping, walking or skiing to get your heart rate up. Elliptical trainers burn lots of calories in a short time and condition all areas of your body, helping you build lean muscle and control your weight.

When shopping for an elliptical trainer, look for the following features:

• Pre-programmed courses: Choose a setting to climb a mountain, ski across country or walk in the park, at varying levels of difficulty. Some trainers let you create your own custom courses.       

• Display: A large, clear display such as the console on the Tunturi C40 Elliptical Cross Trainer shows you how fast and far you’ve travelled, how long you’ve been working out and how many calories you’ve burned.       

• Dual direction: This type of elliptical trainer works all your leg muscles by letting you walk forward and backwards.       

• Dual action: This type of elliptical trainer has movable handlebars to work out your upper and lower body.       

• Safety: Look for non-slip foot pedals.       

• Portability: Many elliptical trainers fold up for quick and easy storage.

Rowing Machines

Rowing Machines

Get an intensive low-impact cardiovascular workout and develop a six-pack whilst sitting down. You create your own resistance when rowing, so the more energy you put in the tougher the workout you give yourself. Rowing improves your posture and suppleness, and many different muscle groups get a workout – especially the muscles of the back, torso, legs and arms.

Choosing a Rowing Machine
Rowing machines are the ultimate resistance exercise machines. Different rowing machines use one of three different ways of creating resistance:       

• Air: The closest match to rowing on water. Air resistance gives an excellent smooth action and full length stroke.

• Hydraulic drum: Lightweight WaterRower rowing machines derive resistance from a hydraulic drum at one end, so that you pull against the natural resistance of water.

• Magnetic: Smooth and variable resistance; often found in gyms. Magnetic rowing machines are usually shorter, so they’re useful if space is limited.

When shopping, also look out for rowing machines with heart rate monitors so you can keep an eye on your performance. Many rowing machines can also be folded to half their size for easy storage.

Trampolines

Trampolines

Trampolines are more than just fun garden furniture. They offer great cardiovascular exercise for a reasonable price, and they’re easily folded away.

On eBay you’ll find a complete range of trampolines from all the major brands. Super Tramp, Jumpking and ProSport are among the most popular makers. Super Tramp trampolines are top of the range, with good overall build quality, padding and bounce performance. Generally speaking, you’ll pay more for greater bounce and durability.

You’ll also find a wide range of covers, safety nets and enclosures, ladders and anchors.

Choosing a Trampoline
When shopping for a trampoline, take into account the age of users, the weight of the heaviest user and how many people may use it. For safety reasons it’s best that only one person uses it at a time; even the largest trampolines should never be used by more than three people at once.

Ensure that you buy the right trampoline for your needs. Age, weight and exercise ambitions are essential elements to consider.

• Rectangular trampolines: If you’re serious about your cardio training, invest in a rectangular trampoline such as the Supertramp Kangaroo for superb bounce and response. Trampolines like these are mainly used by serious exercisers with some knowledge of trampolining, and are not suitable for children.

  However you can get rectangular trampolines that are designed for family use, such as the Super Tramp Prince 18.

• Circular garden trampolines: Nine out of 10 trampolines sold for garden use are circular. They’re ideal for keeping your children fit if you have a big family garden, and they’re safer than rectangular trampolines, partly because they don’t give as high a bounce.

  If you are buying the trampoline for your child, remember that they’ll want to play on it with their friends. The bigger the diameter, the greater the weight it can hold. Ideal choices are the 4.3 metre diameter (14ft) Supertramp Super Bouncer and the 3.6m (12ft) Action Tramps Skywalker Silver.

• Trampettes: These small circular trampolines are ideal for quick workouts if you don’t have the budget or the space for a full-sized trampoline. Popular trampettes include the 92cm (36”) Super Tramp PT Bouncer and the softer, lighter 102cms (40”) Super Tramp Folding Rebounder.

Free Weights & Benches

Free Weights & Benches

If you only invest in one item of exercise equipment, make it a set of free weights. They take up much less space than a treadmill, exercise bike, stair machine, rowing machine or elliptical trainer and they needn’t cost a lot of money.

Weight lifting of any kind is great for toning your body and boosting your metabolism, whether you’re a man or woman. If you find yourself enjoying it, a small set of free weight can easily be added to. Before long, you’ll have the spare room kitted out with weight lifting benches and sophisticated Smith machines.

When shopping for free weights, think about how you’d like to use them:

• For a quick start: Buy a set of dumbbells that don’t involve any assembly. Dumbells don't take up a lot of room and come in set weights.       

• For durability: Metal weights last a long time, but may damage your floor (or your foot) if you drop them. Chrome weights need regular maintenance to prevent rust.       

• For easy handling: Weights coated with plastic, acrylic, rubber or neoprene give beginners a great grip, cause less damage when dropped and don’t require regular maintenance. However the coating may degrade over time.       

• To add weight as you work out: Get a barbell to which you can add weight plates. If you’re interested in bench pressing, you’ll also need a bench.

Benches
Look for a bench that fits your size and can be adjusted for comfort. Here are some other factors to consider:       

• Weight: Choose a bench according to the weight you want to lift. If you want to bench press 400kg, make sure the bench can handle it.

• Crutches: Crutches are the two supports on a weight lifting bench that hold the weight bar. Make sure that you buy a bench with crutches that fit your bar. In general, wider crutches can handle more weight.

• Incline: Some benches can adjust to create an incline or decline. This is a useful feature if you want to do abdominal exercises on your bench.

• Arm and leg attachments: Useful for working on your arms and legs.

Smith Machines
Smith machines consist of a barbell that moves up or down on steel runners with a series of slots. You lift the barbell (with attached weights) as high as you can, then release onto the slots. This is much safer than lifting an ordinary barbell, which you have to drop to the ground.

The Smith machine can be used for any weight lifting exercise where the barbell moves up and down, such as bench pressing or squats. It’s not suitable for weight lifting exercises where the barbell moves in an arc, such as the bicep curl.

When shopping, look for a Smith machine with a weight rack in the base to keep it stable. Popular examples include the Marcy MWB Multi Station and the Marcy Deluxe Smith Machine, which includes a flat/incline bench, five Olympic plate adaptors and adjustable deluxe arm curl pad.

Multi Gyms

Multi Gyms

As well as exercise machines and weights, you can buy an entire home multi gym on eBay. You’ll need a spare room to put it in, but if you get good use out of it you’ll save a fortune on gym membership fees in the long run.

Multi gyms let you do various exercises on one piece of equipment, with different sections to let you concentrate on different muscle groups and body areas. Most multi gyms offer the same core exercises such as chest press, leg extension/curl and seated row.

Some things to consider when shopping for a multi gym:       

• Included weights: If you decide on a gym with a weight stack, make sure it includes enough weight. Also check that it includes a set of free weights (eg dumbells) if you enjoy strength training.

• Bands or weights: Some multi gyms provide resistance with a series of elastic bands; others use a system of cables and pulleys to lift a stack of weights.

• Size: It seems obvious, but make sure you have the space for a multi gym. Item listings should include a gym’s height, length and width – if in doubt, click “Ask seller a question”. If only one person will use the multi gym at a time, a smaller single-station gym setup should be enough.

• Storage: Many multi gyms fold up so that you can store them away under the bed or in a wardrobe. Other have folding parts that you can add or put away as you wish.

Yoga & Pilates

Yoga & Pilates

Yoga and Pilates have become increasingly popular with people who want an intense low-impact muscle workout without risking injury or joint damage.

These exercises are not just a gentle stretch. Done properly, they increase physical performance, strengthen muscles and connective tissues, reduce muscle soreness, improve posture, reduce risk of back pain, boost circulation, improve muscle coordination and help you to relax.

Yoga and Pilates are both excellent cross-training exercises for serious runners and cyclists want to avoid joint damage from over-training.

Yoga
On eBay you’ll find all you need to get started, including yoga accessories, clothing, books and videos.

Books, DVDs and videos: Beginners should get some yoga coaching from a specialist. Then invest in a book or video to keep you motivated and informed when practising at home.

Different books and videos focus on different types of yoga such as Hatha and Astanga (Ashtanga). Most yoga practised in the UK is Hatha yoga, which focuses on postures and breath control. It’s often practised solely for health benefits rather than as a path to enlightenment. This is a good type of yoga for beginners.

• Yoga mats: Yoga mats tend to be “stickier” than traditional exercise mats because they need to stay still while you move. Popular brands include Cyclex, Wai Lana and Reebok. Yoga mats can be used for other floor exercises too, and are ideal for stretching after a cardiovascular workout.

• Yoga accessories: You’ll also find foam chip blocks, straps, eye masks and yoga mat bags. Also find yoga balls, sometimes described in listings as fitness balls, exercise balls, gym balls or Pilates balls. * Yoga clothing: Such as Thai pants and yoga belts.

• Yoga sets: If you’re starting out, save money by buying a yoga set. Good examples are Reebok’s Yoga Set, which includes a Reebok yoga mat and strap, bag, block and training programme, and the more expensive Wai Lana Ultimate Yoga Kit, which includes the Wai Lana Toning Workout Video, a 6ft yoga strap, 4-inch foam block, yoga mat, wall chart of postures, inflatable yoga ball, foot pump, online membership and instruction booklet.

Pilates
Pilates is a fitness system developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates, who called it the Art of Contrology. Pilates focuses on the core postural muscles that keep the body balanced and support the spine.

Like yoga, Pilates can be practised by anyone regardless of age and fitness. It’s increasingly used for physical rehabilitation and to treat conditions including neck pain, repetitive strain injury and whiplash. Top athletes use Pilates to build muscle strength and flexibility and to prevent injury – and to maintain their physique.

As with yoga, Pilates is best taught initially by a professional coach. Once you have a grounding in the technique, look for books and videos on eBay, and for clothing and accessories to help your training. The equipment you need depends on which type of Pilates training you prefer.        

• Without machines: The best way to start. With this variety of Pilates you use your own body as a “weight” to build strength and flexibility.
  
  You’ll need a Pilates mat or yoga mat; a regular exercise mat be enough, but make sure it doesn’t slip. Also look for Pilates accessories such as blocks, balls, straps, blocks and rings.

• With machines: Many Pilates practitioners use specially developed equipment to create resistance and develop specific muscle groups. You’re recommended to start with mat classes before moving on to Pilates machines.
  
  The best Pilates machines are called performers or reformers. This group of machines, from brands such as Ultrafit (look for the Ultrafit Magic Pilates) and Aero (for example the Aero Pilates and Cardio Board), have a system of pulleys, springs, ropes and bands to create muscle resistance. Can be expensive and bulky, but ideal for serious practitioners.

Other Sports

Other Sports

eBay’s main Sporting Goods category is the place to shop for equipment and clothing for sports such as squash, badminton, tennis and swimming. However the Exercise & Fitness category contains some items for sports that you can do at home, such as boxing and table tennis:     

• Boxing
  Boxing is a fantastic cardiovascular workout that tones your body and gets rid of stress. A good cross-training choice for sportspeople who need upper body strength, such as rowing or rugby.

  Look for punchbags, boxing gloves, boxing shorts, skipping ropes, fist wraps and medicine balls from top brands like Lonsdale and Everlast. You’ll also find plenty of kick boxing and martial arts clothing and equipment in eBay’s Sporting Goods category.

• Table Tennis
  Get a cardiovascular workout and exercise your skills of concentration and co-ordination with a table tennis table – and someone to play with. Many tables you’ll find on eBay are full size (9ftx5ft), and you’ll also find smaller tables from 8ft down to a space-saving 4ft 6-inches.

  Look for a table with accessories such as bats, balls, net, post sets and cover included. Most table tennis tables fold down for storage. Top brands include Cornilleau and Butterfly.

Exercise & Fitness Accessories

Exercise & Fitness Accessories

Portable Monitors

• Pedometers: Many exercise machines have built-in pedometers, but if you want to monitor your performance when walking or running you’ll need a portable pedometer. On eBay you’ll find all sorts of pedometers that you can strap on or slip in your pocket. These tiny lightweight gadgets record steps, distance and calorie expenditure. Some pedometers include a radio and stopwatch.

• Heart rate monitors: Your resting and maximum heart rates offer the best indicator of your personal fitness. Invest in a heart rate monitor that you can strap onto your arm or wear like a wrist-watch, and it’ll help you set realistic exercise and fitness targets.

  Some high-end heart rate monitors, such as the Polar WM41 Heart Rate Monitor (worn on the wrist), include a personal weight management programme, weight diary, exercise diary, calorie monitor, nutrition diary and personal heart rate limits. Other top brands include Omron and Garmin.

• Body fat monitors: Measure weight and body fat percentage. Some body fat monitors are handheld gadgets; others are sophisticated bathroom scales. On eBay you’ll find body fat monitors made by Omron, Cyclex and Salter.

Exercise Mats
As well as specialist yoga mats, you’ll also find lots of exercise or gym mats for sale on eBay. Choose according to how active you want to be when doing floor exercises – the more active and the bigger you are, the bigger the exercise mat should be.

When shopping for an exercise mat, look for a non-slip surface and a padded nylon finish for comfort, durability and easy cleaning. Top brands include Reebok and Supermats, who make tough PVC mats to go underneath exercise equipment such as rowing machines and exercise bikes.

Sports Clothing
Whether you want the latest pair of Asics Gel Nimbus running shoes, a judo outfit or yoga pants, you’ll find what you want in eBay’s main Sporting Goods category. Note that if you plan to do lots of running, have shoes fitted professionally in a specialist running shop (not a high-street fashion shoe shop). Once a specialist has tested your technique and recommended the right shoes, come to eBay for a brand new pair at the right price.   

Supplements
Find a full range of vitamins and supplements to help boost your immune system, protect your joints (for example glucosamine) and help muscle recovery (protein supplements, often used by weight lifters).   

Books and Videos
With any form of exercise, it helps to read or watch the experts. Whether you want a DVD to help you learn your yoga postures, a celebrity workout video to keep you motivated, a directory of vitamins and supplements or a book about how to train for a marathon, you’ll find it on eBay.

How to Find Fitness Equipment on eBay

How to Find Fitness Equipment on eBay

There are lots of ways to find your ideal exercise machine or fitness accessory on eBay. Here are a few tips:

1. Basic Search
If you know what you’re looking for, use the Search box on the homepage. Type in your keywords and select Sporting Goods from the drop-down box. For example if you’re looking for a Lateral Thigh Trainer, type in “Lateral Thigh Trainer” and select Sporting Goods, then click Exercise & Fitness in the left-hand list of categories.

2. Narrow your search
Just above the listings you’ll often see a short list of popular search terms in that category. For searches in the Exercise & Fitness category, these links may include trampoline, exercise bike, Lateral Thigh Trainer, rowing machine, exercise mat, pedometer, elliptical machine, weight lifting, heart rate monitor, cardiovascular, dumbells, stepper, yoga mat and Pilates performer. Click on a link to see matching items currently for sale.

The list may also include popular brand names such as Nike, Reebok, Omron, Asics, New Balance and Slazenger.

3. Browse the categories
You can also narrow your search with the Categories list on the left of the listings page or on the Sporting Goods Overview page. For the Exercise & Fitness category, the list includes Cardiovascular Equipment, Exercise Clothing & Shoes, Fitness Accessories, Monitors/Pedometers/Computers, Strength Training, Videos, DVDs & Books, Vitamins & Supplements, Workout/Instructional and Other Exercise & Fitness.

Click on any of the categories to see all items currently for sale. For example in the Strength Training category you’ll find all you need to build muscle: free weights, weight lifting equipment, dumbells and Smith machines.

In the Cardiovascular Equipment category you’ll find all the machines and devices that help you get your heart rate up, such as elliptical machines, exercise bikes, Lateral Thigh Trainers, trampolines, treadmills, steppers and more.

4. Want It Now
Desperately seeking a particular Pilates video, weight lifting barbell or children’s trampoline? Post a message on Want It Now and tell millions of sellers exactly what you want. Post your message in the Sporting Goods category for the widest audience, or target specialists by posting in Exercise & Fitness.

5. Go to eBay Shops
eBay Shops are run by experienced eBay sellers who sell hundreds of items each day. They tend to specialise in one area such as weight lifting equipment, rowing machines, yoga clothing, Pilates machines, heart monitors and pedometers, vitamins and supplements, videos and DVDs.

Click the eBay Shops link on the eBay homepage, then click Sporting Goods to explore items for sale by Pilates specialists, boxing experts, trampoline specialists and so on.

To search just within eBay Shops, go to the eBay Shops homepage and enter your search term, such as “Lateral Thigh Trainer”. The results will look similar to any other listings page, but the sellers are all Shops sellers.

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

You may find the rowing machine of your dreams and want to bid on it. But before you do, here are some tips:

• Work out the postage and insurance: Include the cost of delivery in your calculations when deciding how much to bid. If you spend a lot of money on an item, make sure the seller will insure it for delivery. With large or heavy items like trampolines, exercise bikes, weights, treadmills, multi gyms, rowing machines, elliptical machines, weight lifting benches and steppers, it’s a good idea to buy from someone nearby so that you can arrange courier delivery without adding too much to the total cost – or collect in person.       

• Check the seller’s feedback: Avoid buying from a seller who doesn’t have a good feedback score. Click on their User ID to read comments left by other buyers.       

• Read the item description carefully: This is particularly important with expensive items like laptop PCs, high-end software and high-spec components and accessories. Check whether full instructions are included. If the listing doesn’t say so, click “Ask seller a question” to find out before you bid.       

• Is it under guarantee? If so, what are the terms?       

• Check the return policy: Email for clarification if you need it.       

• If in doubt, ask. Important information about multi gym storage, trampoline size, treadmill width and so on are crucial to your decision to bid.