The gym isn’t for everybody. It’s expensive, crowded, and sometimes smelly. Even worse, you have to travel to get there — making it ten times harder just to convince yourself to go.
But, if you’re lucky enough to have the space, you have another option that doesn’t involve commuting vast distances only to exert yourself in front of strangers: Just bring the gym home to you.
Yeah, it can cost you a pretty penny, but when you take into account how much gym membership fees add up over the years, buying your own workout equipment and decking out a home gym pays for itself in the long run. (This is all assuming you’ll use it frequently — that part will depend completely on you. Sorry, you can’t quite buy motivation.) Plus, not having to travel back home after an intense workout is just a beautiful thing. You can literally plop down onto the couch after you’re done. Maybe take a shower first, though.
SEE ALSO: The best workout equipment if you work from home
The tough part is making the choice. What fitness gear are you going to bring home first? A treadmill? An elliptical? A bench press? We don’t recommend buying all of them at once unless you have the cash to burn. You’ll have to be honest with yourself about which workouts you find yourself doing the most, and go from there. If you’re a runner, you want the treadmill. If you’re a cyclist, it’s Peloton for sure. Full-time yogi? You’re going to need a good mat for that.
What home gym equipment do you need to buy?
As we said, it comes down to how active you are and what kind of workouts you prefer to do. Most people will want to have a little bit of everything so they can have the most comprehensive workout routine possible. Usually, that’ll include some sort of cardio machine, a set of weights, and an area for bodyweight exercises with a mat and some less bulky equipment (jump rope, resistance bands, etcetera). If you’ve got the room, you might have a few other weight-focused exercise machines, too. But, some people like to focus on just a few things, which is totally fine as well. If anything, that saves money.
What you really want to avoid is buying a piece of equipment that you’re not going to use. For example, if you’re a marathon runner who spends most of their training doing cardio exercises, you’re probably not going to need a whole slew of free weights and bench press equipment — most of your muscle-building can be achieved with bodyweight workouts if your goal isn’t to bulk up. Some people will be the opposite, where most of their home gym equipment consists of weights, upon weights, upon weights, and maybe one cardio machine.
Your mileage may vary, but try your best to map out your workout habits, and buy your equipment according to those parameters.
Are home gym machines worth it?
If you have the space and the cash, sure. But the only machine we say you need is some sort of cardio machine, like a treadmill or elliptical. Weight machines and other equipment of the like are mostly just for convenience, and while that’s great in its own right, you can still get the same results by using free weights with good form. Don’t go crowding up your home gym for no reason — make sure there’s actual material value in it for you.
Elliptical or treadmill?
Either one will be a good purchase, and you’ll be able to get in great cardio workouts by using them, but there are a few key differences between the two that you’ll want to know before making your final decision.
Ellipticals are going to be best for those who want to incorporate an upper-body workout into their cardio session, as well as keep their joints in great shape (ellipticals involve less impact compared to treadmills, where your feet slam on the belt continuously).
While treadmills are high-impact and are harder on your joints, they offer more control, opportunities to build leg strength, and it’s a faster way to burn calories. You can’t go wrong with either if you’re looking to improve your cardiac health — just buy the one that’s more in tune with your body and preferences.
How should you set up your equipment?
This, of course, will depend on what your dedicated home gym space looks like, but you’ll want to try not to just clump all of your equipment together in a corner. Working out is already tough enough, but working out while also feeling claustrophobic? Way worse. Section off areas with some space in between them for resting, stretching, and rehydrating — one area for cardio, one for weights, and another for miscellaneous equipment should do you fine. If you’ve got a lot of space, use it to its fullest — home gyms can have good feng shui, too.
Why is home gym equipment so expensive?
Your eyes might roll into the back of your head when you see some of these prices, but unfortunately, they are pretty standard for quality gym equipment. If you want something that will rival your local gym, you’re going to need to make it an investment. But don’t worry, as long as you use the equipment you buy consistently (and not just for gym selfies), they’ll eventually pay for themselves with all the money you’re saving by breaking up with your gym membership.
There’s also low-budget options for workout equipment, but even those will cost you some serious cash, so we say go for quality first. Many brands offer payment plans for their equipment, too, so be sure to look into those if you’re not in the place to pay everything upfront.
Why are weights so hard to find right now?
Ever since quarantine began in 2020, home gym equipment has been hard to find in general — but free weights have been especially hard to get. Almost impossible, even. The reason for this is probably the same reason you’re here right now: A lot of people are stuck at home with no way to follow their pre-pandemic workout regimens, so they’re shifting over to getting their exercise in at home. Just be patient, things are popping in and out of stock all the time nowadays, so if something you want isn’t available, set a notification for when it’s back and scoop it up then. Also, make sure you’re checking multiple retailers — some may have more stock than others.
Don’t worry, you’ll be able to get all the equipment you want soon enough. Just stay strong and motivated.
So, what’s the best home gym equipment?
Now, what you’ve all been waiting for: We picked out the best of the best in home gym equipment for every type of athlete — from weightlifters to former crew team members and just about everyone in between. So if you’re tired of sweating it out at your local gym, just stay home instead.
Below are our top picks for the best home gym equipment for 2021.
Peloton Bike
A vast library of workout classes, engaging instructors, Bluetooth support, and compact design makes the Peloton worth every penny.The Peloton is compact in size — you can fit it in pretty much any room without it being in your way, and it’s much smaller than the stationary bikes you might find at your local gym. The bike’s seat is adjustable in almost every direction, ensuring that you’re comfortable for your first ride. And the included screen will be your epicenter of video-based workout classes. Thousands of them, even.
The bottom line: If you can swing the price, the Peloton Bike is one of the best pieces of home workout equipment you can get, period. The features included in the whole package make every cent well worth it.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
The treadmill is the most classic piece of home gym machinery, and the NordicTrack hits every mark with the Commercial 1750.And when it comes to treadmills, not many do it better than NordicTrack. Their Commercial 1750 model is our top pick.
The Commercial 1750 is the whole package, bringing plenty of adjustment options, video classes, and long-term comfort to the table right from the start. You’ll be able to navigate between live studio sessions (including yoga and other full-body training classes), first-person globe-trotting trails, and real-time workout tracking on the included screen, and have the chance to customize and adjust your experience with plenty of incline and speed controls.
Sole Fitness E95 Elliptical
If keeping your cardio workout low impact and comfortable are paramount to your equipment choice, the Sole Fitness E95 is one of the best elliptical machines out there.You can pretty much get the same kind of cardio workout from a treadmill or other cardio machine, but while you’re in your body’s natural position. You’re not hunched over like you would be on a bike, or pounding on your joints like you would on a run (which, over time, is vital to joint health).
The Sole Fitness E95 elliptical machine is our favorite for a few reasons. Like most cardio machines, the E95 has a built-in navigation screen so you can choose workouts, change incline levels, up the intensity, and more. This elliptical also includes an integrated tablet holder, in case you want to stream some Netflix while you work up a sweat. You’ll also get 20 different resistance levels and adjustable foot pedals for enhanced comfort, allowing for almost anyone to find their sweet spot. Throw in a pair of Bluetooth speakers, a USB charging port, and whisper-quiet usage, and you’ve got a great elliptical machine.
Mirror
The Mirror is a wonderful library of comprehensive workout classes housed in a space-saving pane of glass.When you get a subscription to Mirror, you’ll gain unlimited access for up to six people at once — sharing is caring, after all. The Mirror’s interactive nature will keep you from ever getting bored, and all the space you’ll save by making it your primary workout device is more than worth the price of admission.
This mat from Gaiam perfects all of those things. It’s lightweight yet durable, and includes plenty of cushioning to keep your joints from aching at the end of your yoga session.
The biggest draw for this mat, though, is its grip. It’s created with a topcoat that wicks away moisture, keeping your grip intact (even during a hot yoga class). No sliding around, ever.
Hydrow Connected Rower
Rowing machines aren’t always the most popular home gym choice, but if you’re going to get one, Hydrow is the way to go.The Hydrow Connected Rower is basically the Peloton Bike of rowing machines. While much larger than the bike (you’ll have to measure it out and make sure you have enough room at home), the Hydrow includes a variety of classes that are similar to that of Peloton, but for rowing. Also, all the class videos feature instructors that are actually on boats, so you can get a nice (virtual) view of the water even though you’re indoors. New videos are added on a daily basis, so you’ll never be starved for new content.
FightCamp
Bring the whole boxing gym to you with FightCamp — there’s plenty of great equipment, classes, and more to get you whipped into shape.The full package comes with a free-standing punching bag, a mat, hand wraps, boxing gloves, and the vital punch trackers. These trackers can be connected to the FightCamp app, which tracks your progress and measures your stats in real-time during the app’s collection of classes from professional trainers. Those stats are stored as your benchmark goals, and serve as your motivation for your next round of classes, which are updated every week.
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells promise to replace an entire rack of 30 free weights within just two physical dumbbells, cutting down on overall clutter. Using the included dial on the weights allows you to adjust from five to 52 pounds, allowing you to tone and build muscle at various levels of intensity. This durable pair of dumbbells are constructed with premium materials, with strong grips that won’t tear up your hands, and molded plates that won’t get damaged and clang around.
Tempo Studio
Weight training is hard to get into alone — Tempo Studio can help to get you comfortable in no time.You’ll get a Mirror-like display that will be home to all of your training classes and progress-tracking, with the addition of a handy weight cabinet right beneath it. You’ll also get four different sets of weight plates (four plates in each), a barbell and a set of dumbbells with collars, a heartrate monitor, a mat, and a foam roller. Through dozens of classes and in-depth training, you’ll be a weightlifting pro in no time.
This set from Fitness Gear Pro packs in pretty much everything you need in a resistance band kit. It comes with five different tubes that can be mixed and matched to range from a resistance of 10 to 150 pounds. You’ll get a set of grips to attach to the bands, as well as a door anchor for more exercise options. There’s a nice travel bag that comes with the set, too.
Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym
You’ve seen the commercials — Bowflex is your one-stop-shop for pretty much any resistance-based exercise you could dream of.While it’s not the smallest machine in the world, it combines pretty much every machine you’d ever use in a gym into one. So, you’re really saving space at the end of the day.
The Gaiam balance ball is simple, yet super reliable — it’s designed to protect the ball from ever popping, so you won’t ever have to worry about ending up like Dwight in that one episode of The Office (unless you put the ball near any sharp objects).
The ball comes with a set of guided digital workouts to get you started, taking you through a series of pilates, yoga, and strength moves that focus on major muscle groups. You’ll get a pump as well, in case it starts to deflate over time.