5 key considerations for choosing the right gym rig for your facility

When it comes to designing a high-performing fitness facility, every square metre matters. The right equipment can create more training opportunities, support engaging programming and help deliver a better experience for your members.

One solution gaining popularity across commercial gyms, functional training studios and performance facilities is the training rig. More than a piece of strength equipment, a well-designed rig can become the centrepiece of your training floor, bringing versatility, functionality and flexibility into one cohesive system.

But with different configurations, attachments and customisation options available, how do you choose the right rig for your facility?

At Blue Fitness, the exclusive distributor of ELEIKO in New Zealand, we help facilities find equipment solutions that align with their space, training requirements and long-term goals. Here are five key considerations to guide your rig selection.

1. Start with your programming

Before choosing a rig, consider how you want your members and trainers to use it.

Will it support functional training classes, small-group sessions, personal training or independent strength workouts? Will multiple members need to use it simultaneously, or will your programming involve rotating between different stations?

Understanding how the rig will be used helps determine the configuration, number of training stations and attachments required.

For example, a facility running circuit-based classes may benefit from multiple stations that allow members to move efficiently between exercises. A performance facility may prioritise specific strength and gymnastic movements, requiring different heights, attachments and clearance.

It's also important to consider the coach's position and visibility. A well-planned setup allows trainers to observe members, demonstrate movements and provide guidance throughout a session.

The takeaway: Design around the training experience you want to deliver, rather than selecting equipment first and trying to fit your programming around it.

2. Choose the right configuration for your space

Your available floor space, building layout and installation requirements will all influence whether a wall-mounted or free-standing rig is the better option.

Wall-mounted rigs can help maximise usable floor space by keeping the training area more open. They can also support a layout where members face the coach, helping with visibility and instruction. However, the suitability of a wall-mounted solution depends on the building structure and appropriate fixing requirements.

Free-standing rigs offer greater flexibility in how a training area is arranged. They can be particularly useful when wall mounting isn't suitable or when the layout requires access from multiple sides. Depending on the configuration, they can also accommodate training stations on both sides of the structure.

Think beyond the immediate installation, too. Could your facility expand its group training offering? Might you need to accommodate more members or introduce new training formats in the future?

A modular system can help support these changing requirements without necessarily starting from scratch.

Meet ELEIKO Prestera

ELEIKO Prestera is a modular strength training system designed to bring together free weights, bodyweight training and cable-based exercises in an adaptable setup.

Its modular approach allows facilities to configure a system around their space and training requirements, with the potential to reconfigure or expand the setup as needs evolve.

For commercial operators, this flexibility is worth considering when planning a training space that needs to work for both today's members and tomorrow's opportunities.

3. Consider the movements and attachments you need

Not every facility requires the same training capabilities. The movements you want to support will influence your rig's height, configuration, clearance and choice of attachments.

Start by identifying the exercises and training styles that are most important to your members and coaches.

These might include:

• Barbell strength exercises and squats

• Pull-ups and other bodyweight movements

• Gymnastic ring work and muscle-ups

• Rope climbs and suspension training

• Wall ball exercises

• Cable-based strength training

• Specialised exercises using attachments such as landmines or lever arms

Each movement comes with its own space and equipment considerations. For example, rope climbs and muscle-ups may require greater height and overhead clearance, while other exercises may need additional room around the station for safe movement.

Consider how members will move between stations, too. Sufficient clearance around the rig helps reduce congestion and makes the area more practical for everyday use.

Attachments can significantly expand a rig's capabilities, but more isn't always better. Focus on the exercises your members will actually perform and the programming your team wants to deliver.

With ELEIKO Prestera, a range of attachments and configuration options can help facilities build a training system around their specific requirements.

The takeaway: Choose attachments with purpose. The best configuration is one that supports your programming and gets used regularly.

4. Plan for storage and floor flow

A well-designed training space needs to do more than accommodate exercise. It also needs to make equipment easy to access, keep walkways clear and allow members to move comfortably throughout the facility.

Integrating storage into your rig can provide convenient access to items such as weight plates, kettlebells and other training accessories. Keeping equipment organised and close to where it's used can also make it easier for trainers to prepare sessions and members to return equipment after use.

However, integrated storage may reduce the number of available training stations, depending on the configuration.

Alternatively, separate storage units may provide more flexibility in how the training area is arranged, although they require additional floor space.

The right approach will depend on your facility's footprint, the volume of equipment you need to store and how many members you expect to train at once.

When planning your layout, consider the entire training environment, not just the rig itself. Think about circulation, access to surrounding equipment, instructor visibility and how the area will function during your busiest periods.

A well-planned layout helps make the most of your available space while supporting a smoother member experience.

5. Customise your rig to reflect your facility

Your training environment is part of your brand. The equipment, layout and overall aesthetic all contribute to how members perceive your facility.

Customisation offers an opportunity to create a rig that complements your gym's identity while meeting your practical training requirements.

Depending on the system and available options, this may include custom colours, branded components and specific attachments selected to support your programming.

ELEIKO Prestera offers customisation possibilities, including plates that can incorporate a facility logo, message or instructions. These details can help create a more cohesive training environment that feels purpose-built for your brand.

Beyond appearance, customisation should also serve a practical purpose. The goal is to create a setup that looks right, works efficiently and supports the way your members train.

For commercial gyms, boutique studios and performance facilities looking to differentiate their offering, a thoughtfully designed rig can become a defining feature of the space.

Build a training space designed for the future with ELEIKO Prestera

A rig is an investment in more than equipment. It can influence how your floor operates, the training experiences you offer and the ways your members engage with your facility.

By considering your programming, configuration, movements, storage and customisation requirements from the outset, you can make a more informed decision and create a training environment that works harder for your business.

ELEIKO Prestera brings together strength training, bodyweight movements and cable training within a modular system designed for flexibility and adaptability. Whether you're planning a new facility, refreshing an existing gym floor or introducing a dedicated functional training zone, the right configuration can help you make better use of your space.

Planning a new rig or upgrading your facility?

Blue Fitness is the exclusive distributor of ELEIKO in New Zealand, supporting commercial fitness facilities with premium equipment solutions tailored to their needs.

Our team can help you explore your options, consider your training requirements and plan a rig configuration that works for your space and your members.

Get in touch with Blue Fitness to discuss your next gym project.

Let's build a training space that works for your business and gives your members more ways to train.