Outdoor gyms: types and applications. How they differ and which one to choose
An outdoor gym is much more than a set of steel machines in a park or on an estate. It is a response to modern life: desk jobs, little daily movement and fewer and fewer natural chances to be active. Since 2007 Starmax has been making outdoor gym equipment with one aim: exercise in the fresh air should be accessible, simple and free to use, close to home.
From the start, our mission has been to get people active outdoors. A short workout on a walk, a few minutes of exercise on the way home from work, a chat with a neighbour at the machines – these are the moments when outdoor fitness equipment does its job. It does not replace health clubs, but it reaches people who would never join one: older adults, beginners, residents of housing estates, teenagers and whole families.
Since 2007 we have produced more than 25,000 pieces of equipment, used by people all over Europe. Outdoor gyms have become part of the fabric of towns, cities and villages, as natural as sports pitches or playgrounds.
This article describes the four Starmax outdoor gym series (OF2, OF3, OFX and OFK), shows how they differ and helps you choose the one that will work best on your site.
What is a modern outdoor gym?
A modern open-air gym works for people of different ages and fitness levels: older adults, teenagers and even children. Exercise fits easily into everyday life, for example into a dog walk or a day out with family and friends. The equipment is simple to use, safe and marked with pictograms, so no training knowledge is needed. Anyone can use it on their own. What counts is regularity, movement and contact with the surroundings. That is why outdoor fitness equipment works so well in parks, on housing estates and at schools.
An outdoor fitness area is also a meeting place: people get to know each other at the equipment and come back regularly.
One idea, different user needs
The idea behind every outdoor gym is the same: to get people moving in the fresh air. But user needs can be very different. Older people look for gentle activity, better mobility and a breath of air among greenery. Adults want a short workout “while they are out” on a walk or on the way home from work. Teenagers and athletes expect a challenge and the chance to build strength and improve their physique.
That is why there is no single piece of equipment that works in every location. Sometimes a few simple machines beside a footpath are enough. At other times a larger, fuller training zone for many people makes sense. In some places durability and resistance to heavy use matter most. A quiet community outdoor gym for older residents is designed differently from a training area next to a sports pitch, and differently again from a modern outdoor gym in a city centre.
At Starmax we have always believed that equipment should fit the people, not the other way round. That is why we offer several series: simple machines for everyday movement, attractive pylon-mounted stations and outdoor gyms with adjustable resistance. Each is different, but all are meant to work in real conditions and serve people.
Exercise without barriers – why do we need outdoor gyms?
Outdoor gyms are not meant to replace health clubs. They are there to make the first step easier: get out of the house, stretch your back, move your arms, take a deeper breath. Older people rarely join a gym, because they do not feel at ease there and do not need hour-long workouts. A few minutes of exercise close to home, a chat with a neighbour and the feeling of having done something for themselves is enough. Younger people do not always have time for a regular workout either, so they train “on the way”: after work, between lessons, with no membership and no pressure.
That is exactly why outdoor fitness equipment works. It is accessible, simple, free to use and part of everyday life, and when well designed it serves people for years, whatever their age or fitness.
How to choose an outdoor fitness equipment for your site and users
The question we hear most often is: “Which outdoor gym should we choose?”. The answer is usually: it depends on the location, on who will be exercising and on what the activity zone is meant to achieve. An outdoor gym on a housing estate is designed differently from one in a town park, and differently again from one at a school or next to a sports pitch.
The best place to start is with who will use it most. Older people need simple, gentle equipment that is easy on the joints. On a modern development, appearance and clear instructions matter. Teenagers and athletes look for real resistance and a challenge.
That is why Starmax has no single standard scheme. We offer several outdoor gym series that we adapt to the site, the look and the budget.
Five questions to ask before you talk to a supplier
- Who will use the gym most: older adults, adult residents, teenagers, children?
- Where will it go: a park, an estate, a school, an area next to a sports pitch?
- How much space is there? Every machine has its own safety zone, so the available area limits the number of stations.
- What is the budget, including foundations, surfacing and paths – not just the equipment itself?
- Who will look after the gym after installation, and who will carry out the inspections?
OF2 series – classic outdoor gym equipment that makes sense
The OF2 series is the starting point for any conversation about outdoor gyms. This is the kind of equipment you most often see in parks, on estates and in recreation areas across Europe. Not because it is flashy or fashionable, but because it simply works. OF2 was designed for everyday, gentle exercise: no pressure, no complicated mechanisms and no need for special preparation. The most popular machine in the series is the cross trainer – we have sold more than 2,400 of them.
These machines are used mainly by older people, but also by adults who do not want to go to an indoor gym. A session lasts minutes rather than an hour.
It is about loosening up the body, improving circulation and working the arms, shoulders, legs and back – areas that are often neglected in daily life. Getting out of the house and meeting other people matters just as much as the exercise itself. An OF2 park gym very often simply becomes a meeting place.
The construction is simple and solid. Resistance comes from the user’s own body weight, so the equipment naturally “adjusts” to the person exercising. It needs no adjustment, training knowledge or instructor supervision, which makes it accessible to practically anyone, regardless of age and fitness.
OF2 does not try to pretend to be a professional gym. Its job is to keep people active, not to produce athletes. It is meant to stand close to people, be used every day and do its job for years. That is why it has worked for years in small towns, on estates and in parks – anywhere that accessibility and simplicity matter most.
OF3 series – pylon-mounted outdoor fitness stations: form, clarity and flexibility
The OF3 series develops the classic concept. It is based on proven OF2 equipment, but we designed it for places where, besides function, appearance, order and clear information for users also count. It is a popular choice for modern developments, city parks and showcase recreation areas.
The key element is the pylons: solid, double-sided structures with a large information board. Exercise instructions are always in view, which helps older people and those who are just starting to exercise outdoors. The graphics and descriptions on the boards can be adapted to the site, both colours and content. We often make boards in a town’s colours, with the council crest or an acknowledgement of the project’s funding source.
Multi-station pylons: 3-in-1, 4-in-1 and 5-in-1
OF3 also gives you a lot of flexibility in planning the space. The pylons can be configured as multi-station units: 3-in-1, 4-in-1 or 5-in-1. A full training zone then fits on a small footprint, with several people exercising at once. It is a good way to make the most of the space, even on small plots.
The character of the exercise stays the same as with OF2: gentle, everyday, independent, with no competition or pressure. The difference is that the whole set-up is tidier and more modern. The colours of the pylons and frames can be muted and minimalist or more natural, to suit a park. That lets OF3 fit equally well into urban architecture and green recreation areas.
When a classic outdoor gym is not enough
For years, outdoor gyms were associated with light recreation, and that was their original role. Over time, users appeared for whom that is not enough: teenagers, people who train regularly, amateur athletes and organised groups. They want real strength training.
In neighbourhoods with few places for young people to spend time, classic recreational equipment falls short, and indoor gyms can be out of reach or simply unattractive. A robust outdoor gym offers an alternative there: it channels energy into sport and builds healthy habits.
It is also an answer for institutions that take fitness seriously: the military, the police, sports academies, sports universities and training facilities next to pitches. An outdoor gym is a fully fledged training zone there, available at any time of day and in any season.
That need gave rise to the OFX series: an outdoor gym with adjustable resistance that goes beyond the classic bounds of outdoor fitness.
OFX – professional outdoor gym with adjustable resistance
The OFX series is for users for whom a classic outdoor gym is not enough. It is a solution inspired by the equipment of traditional gyms, moved into public space: no roof, no reception desk, no opening hours. OFX allows real strength training based on adjustable weight, not just the user’s own body weight.
The load is set by moving the weights along the machine’s guide. Every machine has 40 settings, so each step is roughly 2.5 kg. The lowest load is 5–10 kg (depending on the machine) and the highest is up to 100 kg, rising to 140 kg on the flat bench press. A beginner can start with light resistance and gradually increase it over a few weeks, just like in an indoor gym. The equipment is designed for users aged 14 and over, under adult supervision.
The series covers all the main muscle groups with outdoor weight machines: flat bench press, shoulder press, lat pulldown, seated and standing row, leg press, leg extension and leg curl, biceps and triceps, and a multi-function pull-up bar. The range is still growing. It is equipment for building strength, endurance and fitness, but it remains outdoor equipment. It has a steel frame, powder-coated over an epoxy primer, and HDPE seats. It is weather-resistant and designed for intensive use in public space. We make OFX equipment in line with the EN 16630 standard.
Where OFX works best
An outdoor gym with adjustable weights works well where sport is meant to have a social role, not only a recreational one. Where vandalism is a problem, a solid gym like this has the opposite effect: it builds respect for the place. It gives young people a space to test themselves, compete and develop physically, instead of looking for excitement in destructive behaviour. In many cases strength training becomes a safe outlet for energy.
That is why OFX is a popular choice for:
- military and police facilities,
- secondary schools and sports academies,
- sports universities and colleges,
- sports pitches and sports complexes,
- city parks and large estates.
Responsible use
Outdoor gym equipment with adjustable resistance needs to be used responsibly. Adjustable weight gives a lot of training potential, but it puts the onus on the user to use common sense. That is why clear instructions, a warm-up and gradual increases in intensity matter. OFX does not encourage “setting records cold”, but conscious, regular training. People with medical conditions or injuries should consult a doctor or physiotherapist.
In a well-designed space OFX complements classic outdoor gyms. It can work as a separate zone for more advanced users, or as the next step for people who started on simple machines and want more.
Outdoor gym for children – OFK Kids Outdoor Fitness
Outdoor gyms are increasingly designed as multi-generational spaces. That need gave rise to the OFK Kids Outdoor Fitness series – equipment for children that combines play with physical activity.
OFK is not a gym in the sense of strength training. It is safe, colourful and intuitive equipment matched to children’s height, abilities and the way they move. The exercises feel like play, but they develop coordination, joint mobility and basic fitness.
Most often, OFK mini gyms:
- complement outdoor gyms for adults,
- are built next to primary schools,
- are part of playgrounds.
We wanted children to be able to exercise alongside their parents, on equipment matched to their height. That builds positive associations with exercise and makes physical activity part of everyday life for young children. For schools it is also a way to make break times and free time more interesting.
Some OFK equipment has a certificate of conformity to EN 1176 (playgrounds) and some to EN 16630 (outdoor gyms), so it can be used both on playgrounds and next to outdoor gyms. We help you choose the right equipment for the site.
For many clients, this is what makes an outdoor gym really work: whole families use it, not just one age group.
Starmax outdoor fitness series – how they differ and how to choose
The four outdoor gym series from Starmax differ in purpose, type of training and the way they use space. The options are:
- OF2 – classic outdoor gyms for everyday activity,
- OF3 – modern training stations built on pylons,
- OFX – professional outdoor gym machines with adjustable weight,
- OFK – outdoor gyms for children.
The comparison below shows the main differences. It is a simplified overview: each series can be configured individually, and Starmax advisers and designers will help you choose a solution to suit the site, budget and users.
| Feature / Series | OFK Kids | OF2 | OF3 | OFX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of activity | Play + movement | Light, recreational | Light, everyday | Strength training, professional |
| Target group | Children (approx. 6–12 years) | Adults, older adults | Adults, older adults | Teenagers 14+, adults, athletes |
| Nature of the workout | Learning to move, coordination, play | Staying active, mobility, cardio | Staying active, mobility, cardio | Building strength and endurance |
| Adjustable resistance | No | No | No | Yes – up to 40 settings |
| Construction | Low-level children’s equipment | Classic posts | Pylons with 2–5 stations | Heavy-duty strength machines |
| Clarity of instructions | Basic, pictorial | Basic, pictograms | Very high (pylon boards) | Pictograms with QR code |
| Design and personalisation | Colourful, child-friendly | Universal | High (colours, graphics, boards) | Technical, sporty |
| Typical use | Schools, parks, estates | Parks, estates, fitness trails | Modern estates, town squares | Sports pitches, estates, sports facilities |
| Role in a scheme | Addition for children | Foundation of an outdoor gym | Compact training stations | Professional training zone |
| Standard | EN 1176 or EN 16630 (depending on the equipment) | EN 16630 | EN 16630 | Made in line with EN 16630 |
| Warranty | 3 years, extendable to 5 years | 3 years, extendable to 5 years | 3 years, extendable to 5 years | 3 years, extendable to 5 years |
Which series should you choose?
The choice should not start with the equipment catalogue, but with a question: who will use the gym, and how?
- Older adults and adult residents – OF2. If you are planning an outdoor gym for older adults, or for users who simply want to move every day and look after their health, OF2 will be a good choice. It works in parks, along walking paths, on estates and in smaller towns and villages. It is not about sporting results, but about regularity.
- Modern estate, square, city centre – OF3. When appearance, clarity and a modern look matter, and you also want to fit more stations into a smaller area. The large pylon boards let you match the gym to the colours of the estate or the crest of the town. The exercise is as gentle as on OF2, just in a tidier form.
- Teenagers, athletes, sports facilities – OFX. When the gym is meant for people who train regularly or for sports institutions: pitches, secondary schools and sports academies, universities, the military and the police. It is also an alternative to an indoor gym in neighbourhoods where young people have nowhere to go. Adjustable resistance allows real strength training, while keeping to the rules of safety and common sense.
- Children and primary schools – OFK. A children’s outdoor gym for schools and playgrounds, best placed next to an adult outdoor gym.
You can combine series. In practice, you often end up with sets: OF2 or OF3 for adults together with OFK for children, or OFX as a separate zone for more advanced users. For some it will be a short walk and a few minutes of exercise on OF2, for others a modern OF3 zone on the estate, for the most demanding strength training on OFX, and for children and schools the OFK series. That way the client does not have to compromise and can create exactly the outdoor gym that suits the local community, budget and space.
Not sure which outdoor gym to choose? That is perfectly fine.
Many clients, council officers and estate managers say it plainly: “I don’t know much about fitness equipment, and I don’t need to”. That is why at Starmax we:
- help you choose the series that fits the real needs of your users,
- prepare the outdoor gym design, usually free of charge,
- show you the differences, advantages and limitations of each series,
- create tailor-made solutions, not off-the-shelf cases.
How much does an outdoor gym cost and what affects the price?
We give an exact price after talking about the site and the users, because it depends on several things:
- Series and number of machines. Machines with adjustable resistance are more complex than bodyweight equipment, and three stations cost something different from a zone for a dozen people.
- Foundations. The equipment is fixed permanently in the ground. The OFX data sheets specify a concrete foundation of at least C20/25. It is worth budgeting for foundations from the start.
- Surfacing. It depends on the fall height from the equipment. For OFX it is 0 to 0.60 m, so according to the data sheets surfaces from grass, sand and gravel to hard surfaces are permitted. We check every project individually.
- Area. One OFX station needs an 18–23 m² safety zone, which affects the size of the site and the scope of the work.
- Paths, lighting and resting areas. A gym in a visible spot, next to a footpath, is used more.
- Transport and installation.
We prepare a preliminary quotation together with the design.
How to design an outdoor gym, step by step
An outdoor gym is not just a few machines from a catalogue. It has to fit the planned site and comply with the standards. We offer the following design support to architects and clients:
Step 1: Analysis of the site and users
Every project starts with a conversation. At this stage we help you:
- choose the right equipment series (OF2, OF3, OFX, OFK),
- decide the number of stations and their function,
- plan a logical layout of zones for different groups of users,
- link the gym with other zones: a playground, a street workout (calisthenics) area, a sports pitch.
Step 2: Design based on EN 16630 and EN 1176
Our designs take into account these standards (published in the UK as BS EN 16630 and BS EN 1176):
- EN 16630 – for outdoor gyms,
- EN 1176 – for playgrounds and children’s play equipment.
The design takes safety requirements and functional zones into account. We design both spaces that do not need planning permission and ones that do.
Step 3: Layout plan, maps and documentation
As part of the design we prepare:
- a layout plan showing the equipment and safety zones,
- the equipment placed on a map for design purposes,
- a technical description of the equipment,
- product data sheets,
- installation instructions.
It is a complete set of documents that can be passed to the planning authority, the client, the contractor or the procurement team.
Step 4: Visualisation
Before the decision to invest is made, it is worth seeing how it will look. A 3D visualisation shows the outdoor gym and playground on your site, at a scale and in surroundings you know. It makes it easier to assess the design and budget, and gives architects solid material for conversations with planning authorities and councils. We usually prepare the site layout concept free of charge; designs are priced individually.
Production, delivery and installation
Our factory in Gdańsk-Bąkowo makes outdoor gyms, playgrounds and other sports equipment. We provide production of the equipment, delivery across Europe, including the UK, and installation carried out by our local installation partners.
If the project is delivered through public procurement, we help prepare the technical specification with the equipment parameters, product data sheets and supporting documents for your tender.
Servicing, inspections and spare parts
Outdoor gyms are meant to last for years, so we do not disappear after installation. We provide:
- a 3-year warranty, extendable to 5 years,
- spare parts available for at least 10 years,
- service support and help with periodic inspections,
- contact with the manufacturer, not with a middleman.
In the UK, installation, annual inspections and repairs are handled by our local partners, with Starmax as the manufacturer behind them for warranty and spare parts.
Buy direct from the manufacturer – it pays off
When you buy directly from the manufacturer you get support and the best terms. For the client, that means concrete benefits:
- Best price. The offer comes from the maker, so you do not pay for further links in the supply chain.
- Fast quotation. Our customer advisers prepare a quote and select equipment to suit the site, the age of the users and the budget, without passing enquiries on.
- One supplier from A to Z. Design, production, delivery, installation and servicing are coordinated in one place, so you do not need to juggle several companies.
- Installation in difficult locations too. We supply and install equipment on roof terraces and podium decks as well, which is an increasingly common need in cities.
- Unusual requirements are normal work for us. We make shortened versions of machines, custom colours and markings with the logo of a council or of the funding body behind the project.
- Faster repairs and easy access to parts. Parts for our equipment are available for at least 10 years, and we respond to warranty claims within 3 days.
- Responsibility for quality in one place. As the manufacturer we issue declarations of conformity and are responsible for the product and its installation. We work with certification bodies that assess both the equipment and completed installations.
Our outdoor gyms and playgrounds are in use in parks, at schools, on estates and at sports grounds in Poland and across Europe. So we know what works under heavy use and what does not.
We do not promise miracles. We just do our job well and consistently.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an outdoor gym cost?
The price depends on the series, the number of machines, the foundations and the surfacing. We prepare a preliminary quotation free of charge.
Is safety surfacing needed?
Safety surfacing is not required for outdoor gym equipment.
What is the difference between OF2 and OF3?
The exercise is the same: gentle and based on body weight. The difference is the construction. OF3 stands on pylons with a large, customisable information board and fits up to 5 stations on one structure.
Can several series be combined in one outdoor gym?
Yes. Sets often combine OF2 or OF3 for adults with OFK for children, or OFX as a separate zone for more advanced users.
Can older people use OFX?
Yes, if they start with the lowest load and increase it gradually. For people who just want to keep moving, OF2 or OF3 is the simpler option. If you have a medical condition, we recommend consulting a doctor or physiotherapist.
From what age can OFX be used?
OFX equipment is designed for users aged 14 and over, under adult supervision. For younger children we have the OFK series.
Will you help with a tender?
Yes. We prepare a technical specification with the equipment parameters, product data sheets and supporting documents for your tender.
How long does delivery take?
From 4 weeks for standard OF2 equipment, up to 8 weeks in peak season and for larger quantities. Some items we have in stock. Ask us about availability.
Let’s plan an outdoor gym for your site together
Call or write to us: +48 600 250 245. We will help you choose the series free of charge and prepare a design with a visualisation and a preliminary quotation. You can also see our full range of outdoor gyms.