If you don’t want to pay a monthly fee, you could create a workout space at home. Once you’ve bought the equipment you need to work out at home, it won’t cost you much to use it, so you won’t have to pay for it every month.
You can save both money and time if you work out at home. The fact that you can wake up and walk downstairs to work out is a big plus. After you set up your home gym, the only bad thing is that you won’t be able to find a reason not to work out.
How to Choose the Best Equipment for Your Home Gym
Starting small and adding to your home gym over time is one way to make one. Fitness fans can still get a great workout with just a few pieces of equipment. If you don’t want to buy a multi-use or cardio machine yet, you could stream exercises online and use free weights, training straps, or resistance bands. Consider the following things when shopping for and using the best home gym equipment, from big to small and expensive to cheap:
Type
There are many different kinds of home gym equipment, from simple free weights to strong machines that work the whole body. For a good workout and to change up your fitness routine, it’s good to have a few different kinds of equipment. The following are common types of home gym equipment:
- Treadmill: A treadmill is a home gym staple for cardio workouts. It can be used to walk, jog, or run inside.
- Elliptical: An elliptical is a great low-impact cardio machine that works your whole body and is easier on your joints than running on a treadmill.
- Stationary bike: A stationary bike is a great way to work out your glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves while getting some low-impact cardio.
- Stair climber: A stair climber makes you feel like you’re climbing a flight (or an infinite number of flights) of stairs, which is good for your heart, core, and lower body.
- Rowing machine: It may not look like it at first, but a rowing machine is good for all fitness levels and works your whole body.
- Dumbbells: Most home gyms need dumbbells because they are so useful. You can do many different exercises with these free weights, from bicep curls to weighted lunges.
- Barbells: Barbells are a popular piece of equipment for compound lift exercises that need a heavier weight than dumbbells. They have a bar in the middle and a weight on each end.
- Kettlebells: With their large, spherical weight and top handle, kettlebells are great for functional movements that involve swinging or explosive movements.
- Exercise or yoga mat: A yoga mat or exercise mat is an important piece of equipment for working out at home. It gives you a soft, secure, nonslip surface for stretching, yoga, lifting weights, and more. Most exercise mats are thicker, while yoga mats are thinner and have a surface that doesn’t slip so you can hold yoga poses.
Available Space
The best home gyms don’t have to be full of equipment, but they do make good use of the space they have. Think outside the box about where it could go. For example, you could give an unused garage or unfinished basement a second chance at life. If the only space you have is a corner of your bedroom, you still have options. You may just have to be a little more creative.
There are options for almost every size of space, but you need to plan ahead. The American Council on Exercise says that a multistation gym needs between 50 and 200 square feet of space, a treadmill needs about 30 square feet, and free weights need between 20 and 50 square feet.
In a small space, choose smaller equipment like weights and bands, and choose machines that are easy to fold up or store. To make the most of the small space, you might also want to spend a little more on one of the best full-body workout machines. For larger spaces, think about cardio machines or machines that can be used for more than one thing. Read on to learn more about how to set up your home gym the right way.
Safety
When shopping for fitness equipment for your home, pay attention to how safe each piece is. For example, most treadmills come with a key you can clip to your clothes to turn the machine off in case of an emergency. This way, if you fall, the machine will turn off by itself.
A safety grip will help keep you from dropping weights and other hand-held equipment. The hardware used to mount doorway equipment should be strong and able to hold a lot of weight. When anchoring straps, look for ones that lock when looped to keep them from slipping off, and make sure the bands and straps are strong enough not to break or tear.
When you work out hard, you will sweat, so it’s important to have good air flow and, if possible, air conditioning. Air can move better with the help of a ceiling fan.
Accessories
There are a lot of workout accessories to choose from if you want to set up a home gym that has everything you would find in a gym. When shopping for smaller items, think about what you need and what you want. Here, think again about your local gym, where you might find towels to wipe off sweat as your workout gets harder, a good water bottle to help you stay hydrated, and mats for stretching and other floor activities.
As you think about what to buy for your home gym beyond the basics, keep in mind accessories that will help you get more out of your workouts. Some of these are resistance bands, stability balls, medicine balls, jump ropes, kettlebells, and foam rollers. You might also want to think about these things if you don’t have much room because they are easy to put away.
And don’t forget your tech, like music players and other things to keep you entertained while you work out, as well as pedometers and heart rate monitors to keep track of your stats. Also, read Best Riding Lawn Mowers in 2023.
Best Home Gym Equipment
This guide shows you some of the best home exercise equipment for most budgets and spaces, whether you want to buy big exercise machines or just the basics for working out at home.
1) Bowflex Xceed Home Gym
Bowflex’s Power Rod system is the only one of its kind. It can handle up to 210 pounds of resistance and can be upgraded to 310 or 410 pounds. Pulleys at the top and chest level and a lat bar can be used to work out the upper body. A seated leg press with upholstered roller cushions that can be removed and a squat bar lets you work out your legs and lower body. The seat can be adjusted quickly and has a thick polyurethane high-density foam cushion. For comfort and safety, the handles have rubberized grips.
Overall, the Bowflex is the best home gym machine because it can be used in a lot of different ways and is powerful. It also fits in almost any space. The Xceed is 53 inches long, 49 inches wide, and 82 inches high, which is a pretty small footprint. This home gym is an investment, but it is still less expensive than many of its competitors.
Specifications
- Best for: Strength training
- Weight Range: 5 to 210 pounds
- Dimensions: 53 by 49 by 82 inches
Pros
- Holds more than 65 exercises
- Suitable for a workout that builds strength all over the body
- From 5 to 210 pounds, it can hold a lot of weight (upgradeable to up to 410 pounds)
Cons
- May need a few changes when going from one exercise to another
2) Synergee Dual Sided Use Core Sliders
Want to work out at home but don’t want to spend a lot of money or hurt your back? Sliders are a small gym accessory that can make exercises like lunges, planks, and bridges harder by adding balance and stability challenges that force you to use your core muscles. Each disc is 7 inches in diameter and comes with a guide with five exercises you can do with it.
The sliders have two sides, one made of foam for smooth, hard surfaces like hardwood floors and the other made of plastic for soft surfaces like carpet or turf. Start slowly until you get used to how your sliders feel on your feet.
Specifications
- Best for: Building strength
- Weight Range: Body weight
- Dimensions: 7 by 7 by 0.5 inches each
Pros
- Safe for hard and soft flooring
- Affordable
- Easy to put away
Cons
- Because the surface is slippery, new users should be careful to avoid getting hurt.
3) NordicTrack T Series Treadmill
The treadmill is always one of the best pieces of fitness equipment for home gyms. This NordicTrack treadmill comes with a 1-month trial of the iFit app, which has thousands of at-home workouts you can stream to your device and sync with your machine. This is a good choice for people who want a cardio challenge. If you use the app’s personal coaching feature, a trainer can take control of your treadmill to match your workout’s length, speed, and incline. A safety key lets you turn off the power quickly in case you fall or something else goes wrong.
One-touch controls let you change the speed and incline by tapping a number instead of scrolling. If you need to save space, you can fold the base up with the help of an easy lift assist when it’s not in use. The machine is 38 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 54 inches high when it is lifted.
Specifications
- Best for: Cardio
- Control Range: 0 to 10 percent incline control, 0 to 10
miles per hour speed control - Dimensions: 73 by 35.8 by 67.5 inches
Pros
- Space-saving fold-up design for storage
- Touch-screen controls
- Includes a 30-day membership to iFIT
Cons
- It’s not clear how people who don’t want to sign up for iFIT can avoid being asked to do so.
4) Exerpeutic Folding Recumbent Bike
This option has a semi-reclined (or slightly leaned back) design and comes with comfort and safety features like a large seat cushion and backrest and an easy way to get on and off. A smooth and safe ride is also made possible by a flywheel, which is a weighted metal disc that takes the place of a wheel. Hand-pulse sensors on the handlebars can help you find your heart rate zone if you want to improve your heart health.
With an eight-level magnetic tension control system, you can set the level of difficulty you want and keep track of your distance, calories burned, time, speed, and pulse on an LCD screen (liquid crystal display). The Exerpeutic 400 XL can hold up to 300 pounds of weight. Also, read Top 10 Best Storm Doors in 2023.
Specifications
- Best for: Cardio
- Control Range: 8 levels
- Dimensions: 20 by 17 by 54 inches
Pros
- Comfortable and beginner-friendly
- Affordable
- Foldable design
Cons
- Not good for people taller than 6 feet.
5) ATIVAFIT Adjustable Dumbbell
Instead of a set of dumbbells, this option has a push-and-slide mechanism that lets you change the weight. For safety, the company says that you shouldn’t change the weight of the dumbbells unless they are in the tray that comes with them. The handle is shaped and has a soft, textured grip to make it easier to lift.
Order two of these if you like to work out with a weight in each hand. This adjustable dumbbell is more expensive than others, but it takes up less space than other weight sets because it is smaller.
Specifications
- Best for: Strength training
- Weight Range: 5.5 to 27.5 pounds
- Dimensions: 13.39 by 7.87 by 5.91 inches each
Pros
- Weight can be changed
- Simple way to switch out the weight plates
- Comfortable handle
Cons
- Pricier than basic dumbbells
6) Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands
Resistance bands are popular in home gyms because they are small, can be used in many ways, and are cheap. These five bands from Fit Simplify are great for people who have never worked out before or who are very good at it. For even more bang for your buck, the set comes with a bag to store the pieces and a guide on how to use them.
The five resistance bands are made of natural, tear-resistant latex and have increasing levels of resistance. They can help you work out your whole body at an affordable price. Each one is 12 inches by 2 inches, which makes it easy to use. Since each band is a loop, the resistance band doesn’t need to be tied. Resistance levels range from extra-light to extra-heavy, so you can use the bands for a variety of things, like light stretching, physiotherapy exercises, or to add to a high-intensity workout.
Specifications
- Best for: Strength training, flexibility
- Weight Range: 5 resistance levels
- Dimensions: 12 by 2 inches each
Pros
- Tear-resistant latex material
- Affordable
- Flexible and easy to put away (storage bag included)
Cons
- Not good for people who are allergic to latex.
7) TRX GO Suspension Training
Unlike resistance bands, which only work certain parts of your body, suspension training helps you work out large groups of muscles. One of the two anchoring solutions can be used to attach these bands to a door, a rafter, a beam, a tree, a pole, or a post (included). A locking loop is an extra safety feature that keeps the strap from slipping after you’ve tied it to your anchor point.
Integrated handles and foot cradles are meant to make it easy to work out while standing or on the floor. For people who have never done suspension training before, the set comes with a 35-page workout guide, a posture poster, and 6 months of free access to the TRX app, which has more than 1,000 workouts. Since it only weighs 1 pound, you can take it with you or put it away easily after your workout.
Specifications
- Best for: Strength training
- Weight Range: Body weight
- Dimensions: 50 by 1.97 by 0.1 inches (adjustable length)
Pros
- Very light and easy to carry
- Locking loop prevents slipping
- Comfortable grips and places to put your feet
Cons
- Straps are made thinner so they are easier to carry.
8) Sonic Boom M2 High Speed Jump Rope
This jump rope is another option for small spaces. It’s a great way to warm up or do a full workout. The ball-bearing system lets it turn in all directions, and the polymer-coated cables make it fast and strong. This version is more expensive than others, but it has features made for fitness fans (not the neighbourhood kids).
A self-locking, screw-free design lets you change the length of the cable to fit your needs. Any extra length can be stored in the handles. The goal of no-slip silicone grips is to provide comfort and safety without slipping. Also, read 10 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers.
Specifications
- Best for: Cardio
- Weight Range: Body weight
- Dimensions: 10-foot length
Pros
- Affordable
- Adjustable length
- Design without screws
- Ball-bearing system for smooth rotation in all 360 degrees
Cons
- Prone to kinking
9) Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar
This pull-up bar is a cheap and small way to work out your upper body without weights. The bar has extra-long foam grips that don’t slip and are made to be comfortable while you work out.
With the included hardware, which consists of three sets of screw-in door mounts that can be used in different places or at different heights, the bar can be put in place. The bar can fit stable wood doors that are between 26 and 39 inches wide. Always use the bracket set and screws that came with your bar to secure it to the door frame. Pull on it after mounting to make sure it’s fully tightened before you start your exercises.
Specifications
- Best for: Strength training
- Weight Range: Body weight
- Dimensions: Adjustable from 26 to 39 inches long
Pros
- Fits doorways from 26 to 39 inches wide.
- Foam grips that don’t slip and feel good
- Includes hardware for mounting
Cons
- There will be holes in the door frame from the mounting process.
Conclusion
With more than 65 resistance-based exercise options, the Bowflex Xceed Home Gym can be used to work out your whole body. Consider a pair of core sliders like the Synergee Dual Sided Core Sliders if you don’t have a lot of money or space. Use Core Sliders to add resistance to exercises you do with your own body.
