Gym Equipment: No pain, Serious Gain

Maybe we are still only getting the winter cold out of our systems, but there is no getting away from the fact that spring is here and summer is on its way. It means there will be a lot of outdoor activity in our lives again soon. Well, yours probably as I've found myself getting lazier as I've gotten older.

But it reminds me that a lot of people moving enjoy active lives, and they usually have gym or fitness equipment. In my time at Sage, we have moved thousands of clients who included gym equipment on their checklists. Of course, that's no problem for us, but there are some factors you might not be aware of which can guard against accidents while moving.

The chief problem with moving gym or fitness equipment is not the weight (and they can be very heavy) or the space (and they can be very cumbersome), but their proper packing away. It isn't strange for people to forget to disassemble their machines properly, leaving a loose wire hanging or unsecured weights that can fall onto someone's foot.

That did happen to a colleague of mine; three toes were broken and he was out of work for about a month. Thankfully, the proper insurance policies were in place here and so there was no real fall-out but it's still an unwanted (and painful) event. It's always best to be safe rather than sorry. So, keep in mind these three things as you pack your home gym equipment for your move.

1. Disassemble your machines carefully: be more clinical than with any other item. Don't rush it, be methodical and you'll pack safely.

2. Tie away all the loose ends: cords and wires can draw-back and hit you, causing some real damage. When they are packed away, make sure they are not going to unfurl while being loaded so use plenty of duck tape to secure them.

3. Make sure the boxes used are strong enough: You don't want the boxes tearing. If you're using the equipment's original box, then use tape to secure the corners and seals - even if the box still looks new.

Basically, be extra careful when moving your fitness equipment. It can save you and your moving team a lot of trouble - even a life!