If you’re focused on getting into shape but are not sure that you’ll ever find the time to make it to the gym, you’re not alone! With a busy schedule, carving out time to work out is hard enough without a commute. Instead, you can opt to create your own perfect at-home gym with a few key pieces – most of which are actually affordable! Read on to find out which at-home gym equipment you need to get into shape today!
How to Choose Home Gym Equipment
The first step is to determine your fitness levels and fitness goals. Are you planning to join bodybuilding competitions? If not, you may want to skip on the 150-pound dumbbells. Instead, choose home gym equipment that is right for you and your goals.
For example, if you’re looking to shed a few pounds and firm up, you don’t need an entire home gym. You only need a few key pieces to start with. The best home gym is one that is functional and fits your lifestyle.
Best Home Exercise Equipment
The best home workout equipment for your at-home gym should be equipment you know how to use or can easily learn how to use through exercise videos. Home gym essentials should be good quality, but you don’t have to necessarily purchase the highest price tags to ensure the best quality. Here are some great options for affordable home gym equipment:
Treadmill
A treadmill is an excellent machine for your cardiovascular health, especially if you live in a climate that experiences very cold and harsh winters for a large part of the year. A treadmill is an investment piece. That means you may need to shell out a little more today, but long-term, it will be the most cost-effective option.
NordicTrack makes excellent quality treadmills and has a great track record. They tend to be a little higher end, but they often go on sale. Keep your eyes peeled for a deal on a NordicTrack treadmill to start off your home gym.
TRX Bands
TRX Fit System comes in at about $100 and can be used to train nearly every muscle in your body. With varying degrees of intensity, you can choose lighter or heavier resistance for different parts of the body. You can use them with hooks that are nailed to a wall, use a door to hold them in place, or even use them alone.
Resistance Bands
There are a variety of exercises you can accomplish with these. Plus, you can also try Peach Bands Resistance Bands, which you can use to add resistance to activities like squats or lunges.
Ankle Weights
Healthy Model Life Ankle Weights are very popular right now – probably because they’re known to be favorites among Victoria’s Secret supermodels! But these weights really are great. They adjust well and don’t move. Sliding ankle weights can be very irritating. These will stay in place and come in various weight options.
You can use ankle weights to add resistance to any exercise you do, from jogging to leg lifts. You can also add additional weight as you train more.
Stability Ball
A Tone Fitness Stability Ball is an excellent tool for working on your core strength. The best part is that it is easy to use, has a minimal risk of injury, and is super affordable. You can search a number of ways to use this to tone your abs and core, and even improve your balance and posture.
Adjustable Dumbbells
An Adjustable Dumbbells Set from NordicTrack is another excellent addition to your home gym. Though a little costlier (priced regularly at $300), this set is good for a lifetime. Plus, the whole family can use it thanks to its adjustable nature. It’s super simple to add more weight or to remove some. You’ll never have to worry about lifting a heavy dumbbell the previous user forgot to put back in place!
Ab Roller Wheel
What seemed like a gimmick when it was first introduced, is actually a fantastic home gym piece. The Arespark Ab Roller Wheel is an affordable piece of gym equipment ($40) that is great for building core strength and abdominal muscles. You can even use it to work on your upper body strength. It’s easy to use, easy to store, affordable, and effective!
Weighted Jump Rope
Fitness Gear Weighted Speed Rope ($20) is another wallet-friendly addition to any home gym. You can easily use this easy-to-store piece of equipment to work on your cardio and improve your lung and heart health.
Core Sliders
Priced at just $25, Peach Bands Core Sliders are another great addition to your at-home gym. They are excellent for turning your carpeted or hardwood floor into the perfect workout space. Place your feet on top, and you can stretch into a lunge, even if you don’t have a workout mat.
The Best Exercise Equipment for Home
As you may have noticed, it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to start your own at-home gym. You can start with a few affordable pieces to help you get in the groove. As you get more comfortable with your home workout, you can add more pieces of equipment as necessary.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to starting a home gym, it’s all about the planning phase. Make a list of the fitness goals that you think you can realistically achieve. Then research which pieces of equipment are best suited to helping you reach those fitness goals. Don’t run out and buy up every piece of equipment.
Start small and work your way up. This is much easier on the wallet. Plus, it is much less overwhelming. If you overwhelm yourself at the start with too much equipment, you’re much more likely to quit. Instead, remember to start small and slowly, and then gradually increase.
Once you’ve gotten in the swing of using your home gym regularly, you can start adding in more equipment. If you think getting motivated at home is going to be a challenge, remember that it’s all in the way you think about it. Just think of how much more exercise you can get done – and how much you’ll save on gym memberships in the long-term – with your very own at-home gym.
