Okay, okay, so you may break a sweat—after all, moving can be physically taxing and fitness equipment is generally heavy—but there are ways to pack and move these pieces with as little stress as possible. Here are four tips from the experts at Molloy Moving & Storage on how to pack and move your fitness equipment, making your move as smooth as possible, so you can get back to breaking a sweat in the gym quicker than you can say “burpees.”

  1. Consider the cardio equipment. The type of cardio equipment your packing up (treadmill, elliptical, bike, rower, stair machine) will determine how you pack it. However, there are some general rules to follow:
    • Fold it up, if possible
    • Lock and tighten any pins or knobs
    • Remove safety key to avoid losing it during the move
    • Wrap in moving blankets and seal with packing tap
    • Secure each piece in the moving truck with ropes or straps to keep them from moving around
  2. Disassemble with instruction. Certain pieces of equipment will require you to disassemble it prior to packing it up and moving it to its new location. Rather than winging it (and possibly making a mistake somewhere along the line), it’s best to refer to user’s manual and follow it step by step. Once each piece is taken apart, wrap each item in moving blankets or bubble wrap.
  3. Take care of equipment essentials. Whether you’re packing your cardio equipment or weight racks and machines, it’s important to pay attention to the pieces that keep them together and make them work efficiently. This includes power cords, screws, bolt, nuts and hooks. To avoid confusion and stress later, be sure to place all of these pieces into zippered plastic bags marked with which piece they belong to.
  4. Pack smaller items together. Although the larger fitness equipment is the more obviously daunting task, knowing how to box the smaller fitness pieces can also pose a few issues. While it may seem like packing like items together is the way to go, this can get a little tricky when packing heavy items such as dumbbells and medicine balls. To prevent boxes from getting to heavy, it’s best to line the bottom of your box with a few dumbbells and medicine balls, then place lighter pieces on top of them. This can include jump ropes, ladders, yoga mats and portable steps. Prevent a guessing game on moving day by indicating on all four sides of your box exactly what’s inside of it.

Looking for a professional moving company that will help you pack and move your fitness equipment so you can exert energy in your workouts rather than during your move? Contact the team at Molloy Moving & Storage today for a free, no-obligation quote.