7 Home Gym Equipment That Will help You Stay Fit

Can’t go to the gym? Why not bring the gym to your own home? Read on to discover the essential home gym equipment to stay fit and tones here.

Did you know that one in two Americans have been intimidated by the thought of working out at a gym?

That’s right, one study found that 50% of Americans felt that the idea of working out among other people in a gym was daunting. A further 31% said they felt anxious about trying to get into shape.

But the good news is you don’t have to work out at a gym to keep fit. Discover what essential home gym equipment you need and start getting into shape now.

Essential Home Gym Equipment You Need

Whether you want to enjoy the comfort of working out at your own home with nobody else looking at you, or you just want to cut down your gym commute time, a home gym is a great idea. Upon buying all the equipment you need, you can also enjoy your workouts for less of the cost.

Saving time, money, and not feeling uncomfortable during your workout are all things that’ll drive you to meet your fitness goals. So, what are the most essential home gym equipment pieces?

1. Yoga Mat

One essential piece of exercise equipment for your home gym is a yoga mat, especially if your workout of choice is yoga! Doing yoga on a hard floor can hurt your muscles and can make some of the poses more difficult to do.

Investing in a yoga mat is a great way to ensure you can comfortably practice yoga. When looking for a mat, make sure you get one that is non-slip and moisture-resistant.

The good news is that this piece of gym equipment doesn’t cost too much and won’t take up much space. You really have no excuse not to buy a yoga mat.

2. Free Weights

Everybody is different and wants to achieve different fitness goals, so if you’d rather build up your muscles than strengthen your core, you should get some weights. Similar to a yoga mat, dumbbells don’t take up that much space and are relatively cheap to buy.

Free weights are perfect if you want to build the muscles in your arms, abs, and back, and can be used for a variety of different workouts. Free weights are also part of your essential CrossFit home gym equipment.

When buying free weights make sure you get a variety of weights and sizes, so you can work your way up. It’s also useful to get some dumbbells that have neoprene coating, so they’re soft to touch and are easier to grip, even when you’re sweaty.

3. Jump Rope

Want to focus on your cardio during your home workouts? Or maybe you want a fun and easy warming up exercise before you move onto the running machine? Then you should get a jump rope.

Jumping ropes are perfect for their own workout or as a warm-up, so having one of these in your home gym is essential. Make sure your jump rope has moisture-resistant handles and a durable and long cable, so you can get plenty of jumps in.

4. Stationary Bike

So far we’ve looked at cost-effective and easy to store gym equipment, but as your workouts become more tailored to your exercise needs, you might need to invest more. The solution to this is a stationary bike.

Stationary bikes are great for workouts that build strength in your arms and legs and also for cardio workouts. You’ll no doubt work up a sweat on a stationary bike. Make sure you get one with a variety of resistance settings, so you can adjust your workout to your athletic abilities.

When looking for the right stationary bike for your home gym, you should also look for one that comes with a screen that can display your distance, speed, length of workout, and calories burnt.

5. Rowing Machine

The rowing machine is another essential at-home gym equipment item that you need. Especially if you want to strengthen and build muscles in your arms, chest, glutes, and legs.

We recommend you find a rowing machine that comes with various resistance levels, secure foot straps, and a screen to display details about your workout. You might also want to find a rowing machine that has a padded seat, to ensure your bum doesn’t go numb during the workout.

Most rowing machines don’t cost that much and can be folded up/take apart easily to store.

6. Treadmill

Treadmills give you plenty of workout options, all of which are ideal for those looking to work on their cardio. Unfortunately, buying a treadmill when it’s new isn’t the cheapest, so you might want to try and find a second-hand one.

We recommend you get a treadmill that allows you to easily adjust the speed and stop the run when you need to. It might also be useful to get a treadmill that can be folded up if you don’t have a lot of space.

If the cost isn’t an issue then we recommend you get a smart treadmill as this can help you track your fitness journey. Some smart treadmills can connect with personal training workout programs so you can get more from your workout. For those who like to blast their music while running, some of the smarter treadmills also come with speakers so you can connect your device.

7. Adjustable Bench and Barbell

If you’re mainly interested in weight training or want more essential equipment for a home CrossFit gym then you need to get an adjustable bench and a barbell. Weighted strength training is a vital part of any CrossFit workout so it’s important you incorporate it in your home gym.

Remember to take care when setting up your gym equipment and to regularly do maintenance on your equipment. For more tips on how to look after your gym, have a look at these 6 common maintenance mistakes to avoid with your home workout equipment.

Set up Your Home Gym and Start Working Out

Pick and choose your essential home gym equipment from our guide and start working on your fitness now. Don’t forget that all workouts are different and need to be personalized for you and your needs, so you might not need to get all the gym equipment.