If you are serious about fitness, a shipping container gym is an attractive solution.
Not only are they cheaper over the long term than years of gym memberships but they can also be positioned within your grounds, allowing for convenient access day or night.
Plus, the investment means you are much likely to stick to your schedule and meet those fitness goals!
But how should you fill your container gym when it arrives? The experts at Gap Containers give their top tips for a shipping container gym that is so 2024…
What to include in your container gym
When designing a bespoke shipping container gym, the most important factor is to consider what works for the person (or people) who will be using it most.
This means, only installing equipment or tools you’ll actually use and designing it to meet your needs.
However, if you want to keep up with the latest in gym designs for 2024, why not consider a design that incorporates some of the most popular elements of the year?
Our favourites are explored below:
Free weights
Decades ago, free weights were exclusively used by bodybuilders and strong men alike – they were considered very manly indeed.
However, thankfully, times have changed. More people than ever are now exploring the benefits that free weights bring, which include allowing for natural freedom of movement during exercise.
This leads to improved muscular stability and coordination – not only helping to increase muscle strength but also promoting general performance.
To make weights accessible in your shipping container gym, consider:
– Leaving plenty of floor space for whole-body movement
– Investing in mats that can absorb the weight (and noise!) of dropped weights
– Fitting mirrors to allow gym-goers to check their form during movement
Sociability
Gone are the almost secretive home workouts popular from the workout video era – working out with friends and family is where it’s at now.
As well as making exercise more fun and ensuring people socialise, working out with friends and family can also help people to stick to their goals – boosting motivation and accountability!
To make this happen, consider how many people you might be working out with regularly, as this will inform how much free floor space you need to leave.
Likewise, if you will be sharing the space often, consider putting as much equipment as possible on walls or shelves, to leave the floor clear.
Hybrid training
We’re all familiar with hybrid working after the COVID-19 lockdowns – but have you heard of hybrid training?
Mixing strength-building and cardiovascular disciplines to develop well-rounded athletic ability, hybrid training is the next biggest thing in lifelong fitness.
Keen to jump on the hybrid training bandwagon? Consider implementing
– A flexible floorplan instead of specific zones – to allow for more room
– Choosing equipment that targets one or more of the 7 fundamental movement patterns: Push, Pull, Squat, Lunge, Hinge, Rotation, and Gait (Walking)
– Only investing in essential, multi-use tools or equipment – flexibility of use is far more important than having individual machines for everything everything
Recovery
While it is often overlooked, recovery from exercise is actually an integral aspect of training, helping gym enthusiasts reach their full potential, enhance future performance, and minimise the risk of injuries.
It is also a key part of most exercise disciplines, including weightlifting and hybrid training.
As such, be sure to make room in your shipping container gym for recovery essentials, including stretching mats, foam rollers, and lacrosse balls, as well as drinks coolers or mini-fridges for water or electrolyte drinks.
Personalisation is everything
No matter how into your fitness you are, there will be the odd day when it seems like too much effort.
As such, as well as designing a fitness space that helps you meet your goals, your shipping container gym should reflect your personality and be an enjoyable space to spend time in.
This will help you to make the effort on harder days and ensure those endorphins will flow once you’ve arrived.
To do this, you can prioritise essentials like:
– Well-placed windows and doors
– Colour palettes you enjoy
– Statement lighting – including neon signs, LED strip lights, or even funky disco lighting
– Artwork that speaks to you
– Easy-to-use music systems that can be up and running within seconds of you walking in
None of these things take up valuable floorspace but they can give the space more of an identity and help to make your container conversion gym a much nicer place to visit multiple times per week.
Design bespoke shipping container conversions at Gap Containers
If you are keen to bring your shipping container gym designs to life but don’t know where to start, the experienced and professional team at Gap Containers can help.
Covering everything from initial designs to manufacture, delivery and installation, we can work with you to bring your design to life – within a budget and timeframe you are happy with.
For more information or to get started, why not call us on 0870 240 9405 or send us an email to sales@gapcontainers.co.uk? Our team will get back to you as soon as they can.
Reviews