Is It Possible To Store a Cross Trainer Outside? - Our Best Storage Tips!

Cross trainers are a great piece of home gym equipment to invest in, they allow you to stay fit and healthy or meet weight loss goals all in the comfort of your own home. 

Many people forget, however, to have a cross-trainer inside of your home you need to ensure that you have enough space to store it and use it, leading many of us to ask, can you keep a cross-trainer outside? 

Well, it is not typically recommended to store your cross trainer outside, but if you have to, you need to ensure it is in the right temperatures and protected against outdoor elements. 

We have put together a short guide below that will tell you exactly how much space you will need for a cross trainer and some ways to protect it if you have to store your machine outdoors. 

How Much Space Do You Need For a Cross Trainer? 

Before you decide on where to store your cross-trainers, it's a good idea to double-check if you have enough space inside, to begin with as indoor storage is the preferred option for a cross-trainer. 

A cross-trainer will likely take up the same amount of space as an average-sized treadmill would, you should budget at least 2 meters of space for your cross-trainer. You could invest in a folding cross trainer which would save you even more space too. 

Just like a non-folding treadmills machine, you also need to ensure you have space around it for safe use, for example, you should have 1 meter left behind your cross trainer and double the width of each side. 

Ensure you have enough ceiling height for your cross-trainer too like you would need with treadmill surfaces once mounted on the machine.

Tips For Storing Your Cross Trainer Outdoors

If you have decided that you do not have enough room to store your cross trainer inside then you might be left with no option but to store it outside. 

While this is not the best-case scenario, it is not impossible to store your equipment outside, so we will mention some tips below to help you out. 

• Look for the best storage space - When deciding where to store your cross trainer outside you should make sure that you find a place with little moisture and no dust, as these can all negatively impact your machine. 
• Clean the space and use a mat - Clean where your trainer is going to sit and place down a mat for it to sit on, this will prevent any scratches and stop dust from getting into the machine from the bottom of the device. 
• Cover your cross trainer - One of the best ways to protect your cross trainer outside is to use a cover for it as a standard treadmill cover, this will stop the machine from getting affected by UV rays and mildew or moisture. You can even get a customised cross trainer cover like a custom treadmill cover which will fit your machines specs exactly.

Considerations For An Outdoor Home Gym

You might prefer to keep your cross trainer outside due to the more pleasant environment to work out in and build a small outdoor home gym due to limited space inside. 

Whatever your reasons, there are a few considerations if you are looking to have a small outdoor home gym. 

• Think of an outbuilding - So as you can have the best experience for your outdoor gym, we would recommend trying to put it in an outbuilding of some sort such as a patio or gazebo for extra protection from the outdoor elements. 
• Portability - Cross-trainers and other exercise machines are not very portable, so you should consider if your model is folding and the total weight of it before putting it outside and whether or not you want it to stay there permanently. 
• Electricity - Ensure that your exercise machines have a source of outdoor electricity for the machine to be plugged into. 
• Ground cover - No matter what, your cross-trainer needs to be put with some kind of ground cover such as a mat or paving stones to keep the ground flat and level, as well as protect it from moisture from the floor.

Final Words 

Overall, there is no reason as to why you can't keep a cross-trainer outside as long as it is in a temperature-controlled environment with floor protection and necessary equipment protection such as a cover and a shelter from the rain. 

We would always suggest having exercise equipment inside if possible, but you should ensure you have enough space around the machine for safety purposes and double-check ceiling height, cross-trainers take around 2 meters of space, so be aware of this when planning where your machine will go.