Having home gym equipment gives you the convenience of working out any time of the day. But these fitness pieces become a problem when you have to move them to a new home.
Aside from being bulky and heavy, they are also expensive to replace. Hauling weights on and off the truck requires strength and patience. If you’re faced with this challenge, here are five different effective ways to pack, ensuring the safety of your weights.
5 Ways to Pack Weights for Moving
There are a few things to do before packing your weights. Let’s delve into them.
Get packing supplies
Unlike other items in your home, you don’t need many packing supplies to move weights. However, it is essential to have:
- Bubble wraps
- Packing Paper
- Newsprint
- Moving Blankets
Clean and Sanitize all Weights
Cleaning and sanitizing your weights should be the first step of the process. This is to avoid moving unwanted bacteria and germs into your new home and keep your equipment in good shape after the move.
Get helping hands
Moving oversize weights alone can cause strain on your back. If you own one, it is essential to have a friend or family to help you carry them.
1. Packing weights in cardboard boxes
When packing dumbbells, barbells, and hand weights, using sturdy boxes that will not burst under pressure is vital. At the same time, it is better to pack them in small boxes to ensure the weight is evenly distributed and easy to carry.
Once you’ve found sturdy boxes for packing them, wrap the weights in packing paper or bubble wraps to prevent them from clanking, and you can also stuff the boxes with blankets to immobilize the weights. Remember to label the boxes “HEAVY” so movers can handle them with care.
2. Packing Weights in a Backpack
Backpacks can be an excellent option for moving lightweights such as kettlebells and yoga dumbbells. Instead of packing these bags in a box, you can maximize space by placing your light weights with other clothing materials to prevent them from knocking against each other.
Backpacks come with handles that make them easy to carry on and off the truck. It is advisable to keep the weight below 20lbs to avoid damaging the bags, especially the handle.
3. Packing Weights in Suitcases with Wheels
Naturally, a suitcase comes to your mind only when you need to pack your clothing, but this container is a suitable solution for packing weights.
The exterior is made from hard materials that can secure the weights, and they typically have wheels that will enable you to carry the weights easily.
4. Packing Weights in Wooden or Plastic Crates and Bins
When moving weights, plastic crates work better than cardboard boxes. Plastic crates are built strong and can hardly damage under pressure.
Additionally, plastic crates can be stacked on top of each other without the risk of toppling down. These containers are also more durable, holding up against impacts and vibrations.
5. Packing Weights Directly in the Truck
The recommended average weight for packing any item in cardboard boxes is 40lbs. But some weights are even above this benchmark.
When moving weights heavier than 40 lbs, it is vital to keep them directly on the floor of the moving truck. You can use duct tape, straps, or ropes to stop them from rolling around.
Moving Other Large Excercise Equipment
Moving large gym equipment is a little complicated, and it’s vital to be done the right way to protect you from injury and prevent these expensive items from getting damaged. Ideally, it would help if you left this job to our professional gym equipment movers, as they know the correct way to lift heavy, bulky items and have a full range of tools for the job.
However, if you want to go ahead by yourself, it’s essential to go about it the right and safest way. These are the correct techniques for moving each piece of equipment.
Exercise Bike
Exercise bikes are probably the most popular home gym machines, and they’re also one of the easiest to move.
If your bike is electric, unplug it and attach the power cord securely to the bike with packing tape. Then slide furniture gliders underneath the bike to protect your floors. If you don’t have gliders, you can substitute them with towels or cardboard – don’t drag the bike directly along the floor as it will cause damage.
If you have to lift the bike downstairs, two people should do this. Exercise bikes aren’t hefty, but they’re very awkward, and it’s so important to protect yourself from any injury. There should be at least two people lifting the bike into our moving truck or storage container for precisely the same reason.
Elliptical Trainer
The elliptical is one of the most awkward pieces to move due to its shape and many moving parts. The easiest option is to disassemble it.
The handlebars and pedals can be removed from the main body of the machine by unscrewing the nuts and bolts. Then wrap each piece in moving blankets and secure it with packing tape. Put the nuts and bolts in a sealed bag, which you’ll need to label to make sure nothing goes missing. It is good to tape this labeled bag to the trainer for it to be together.
Then each piece can be carried out to the truck reasonably easily.
Treadmill
The treadmill is great for cardio, but it’s extremely heavy and difficult to move. It’s important not to underestimate this job.
Firstly, make sure your treadmill is unplugged. Then, if it folds, which most do, fold it and make sure it’s locked in the upright position. If you have a treadmill that doesn’t fold, you’ll need to refer to the instruction manual to find out how to disassemble it.
Once your treadmill is folded or disassembled, wrap it in moving blankets and secure it with packing tape. Then make sure there are two people to lift it onto a trolley. You can then wheel it out to the moving truck, where you’ll need at least two people to lift it in.
You can also use this technique for moving a rowing machine, as most of these fold up the same way as treadmills. Just make sure you secure the handles before you lift the machine.
