As a certified personal trainer, I’ll be the first to tell you: you don’t need a gym membership to get a respectable workout. Besides cutting out snowy commutes and long wait times for equipment, a home gym gives you a sense of agency over your fitness routine: you can work out on your time, at your pace.
And you don’t need to fill an entire garage with iron, either. In fact, one of the most rewarding aspects of creating custom fitness programs is getting creative with home gym equipment my clients already own, no matter how minimal or modest. The right compact and budget-friendly gym equipment can help you create a fitness routine you’ll adhere to, and consistency beats having the “best” equipment every time.
Here’s the affordable fitness equipment that I routinely recommend to clients setting up their own starter gyms – because I’ve been using it myself for years, and still do.
SPRI Flat Bands
A great set of resistance bands forms the cornerstone of a well-stocked gym. SPRI makes some of the best because they’re wide enough to stay put all throughout a workout without shifting out of place like numerous other options I’ve tried. And their rubber latex material hasn’t warped or stretched in the decade or so of ownership.
Start by wrapping them around your upper calf or lower thigh to activate sleepy muscles, or wrap them around your wrists for shoulder raises to practice mobility and build upper-body strength. For me, the medium intensity band allows ample range of motion without sacrificing alignment.
Lululemon The Mat
Of all the mats I’ve tried throughout my career as a personal trainer, yoga enthusiast and shopping writer, this one most lives up to the hype. Its dual-sided design offers a grippy surface for added traction during balancing poses, and a plush foamy side to protect your joints during higher-impact movements. A microbial additive keeps it cleaner for longer, which is a plus in sweaty settings. Compared with the other yoga mat I own, the Alo Yoga Warrior Mat, this one’s considerably lighter, making it easier on your back should you ever wish to take your practice on the go.
Feierdun Adjustable Dumbbells
I always thought a home gym needed to include entire walls of weight racks, until I discovered all-in-one weight systems. This adjustable option from Feierdun features weight plates you can reconfigure into all sorts of equipment, including kettlebells, dumbbells and a barbell. The padded bar lets you play around with heavy squats and deadlifts, while the detached handles can serve as a push-up rack if you experience wrist sensitivities, or want to deepen your push-ups. The only caveat here is that because its weight plates are circular, you won’t feel supported in plank-like movements.
For an upgrade that adjusts faster and won’t roll, consider the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells I’ve used daily for about five years now. The dials allow you to flick the weight between 5 and 52.5 pounds in just seconds. Just make sure to buy them new, since older models have been recalled.
Tone Fitness Compact Aerobic Step Platform
To mimic the unmistakably upbeat vibe of cardio group classes, I landed on this cheap and cheerful aerobic step with adjustable legs. While it might conjure images of leotards and legwarmers – and you wouldn’t be wrong! – it’s so much more than that. Use it to prop up your back leg for Bulgarian split squats, perform offset squats, play around with incline or decline push-ups and, of course, get in your heart-pumping cardio. A high-traction surface and non-skid feet will make you feel super stable no matter how you decide to use it.
Crossrope Get Lean Weighted Jump Rope Set
Think about what used to get you moving at recess as a kid. Now take that and adultify it. That’s exactly what this Crossrope weighted jump rope set does. Two weighted ropes of quarter pound or half pound create an extra upper-body burn as you hit your cardio quota. Sprinkle it into your workout for extra bursts of cardio and conditioning, or start your workout with a couple minutes of jumps as an enjoyable dynamic warmup that promotes circulation and loosens your joints. Plus, with app connectivity that offers thousands of workouts and routines, it’s a practical piece of at-home equipment not to be skipped.
Pvolve Adjustable Ankle Weights
Lightweight ankle weights can spice up virtually any workout by adding extra resistance without compromising your form. These Pvolve ankle weights are so comfortably padded, I routinely forget I’m wearing them during hour-long barre and Pilates sessions. Thanks to their uncomplicated strap, you’ll never miss a beat when adjusting them or taking them off during a fast-paced workout. They might not be as fashion-forward as the much pricier Bala Bangles, but luckily when working out from home, my cats are my only audience.
321 Strong Foam Roller
A strong body is a recovered body. I’ve relied on this humble foam roller to help me recover for a decade now, after everything from half-marathons to heavy lifting sessions. It massages the tender fibers that encase your muscles, bones and organs, a process known as self-myofascial release. Besides feeling amazing, it alleviates localized pain and stiffness. This particular model accurately tackles trigger points everywhere from your lower back to your glutes for overall comfort as you move.
CAP Barbell Abdominal Wheel
I perform most of my workouts when my daughter is sleeping, which makes this quiet piece of equipment so appealing. This ab roller allows you to build serious core strength by resisting rotational forces and protecting the stabilizing muscles in your spine and lower back, building functional strength and helping to prevent injuries. Simply place your knees on a mat while grasping each handle, and on the exhale, slowly extend outwards while maintaining a flat back, where you’ll feel deep engagement in your core, back and shoulders. Hold for a second, then return to the starting position on the exhale. Aim for eight to 10 reps across two to three sets.
Horizon Fitness 7.0AT Studio Series Treadmill
Whether I’m walking while on the phone or preparing for a race, I’ve naturally built my Horizon treadmill into the everyday cadence of my fitness and wellness routine. Its cushioned belt feels incredibly comfortable underfoot and it’s roomy enough to make you feel like you’re hitting your stride in the great outdoors. As a hiker, I also appreciate its steep incline option for low-impact cardio.
If a full-size treadmill is too expensive or bulky, this popular walking pad from Sperax checks off many of the same boxes with its ability to reach 3.8mph, which is considered a power walk for most folks. Thanks to its LED display and app connectivity, you can track and be impressed by your stats in real time.
LEKFIT Rebounder
Rebounding is essentially trampolining for adults. It’s not only as enjoyable as it sounds, it has reams of health benefits, including reducing blood pressure, improving balance and sustaining bone density. With nearly three feet of surface space, this model lets you comfortably and safely experiment with a range of jumping styles without feeling boxed in. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on it at this point, and it feels indestructible despite using it at max effort.
If the LEKFIT is a little out of reach, this rebounder from BCAN for less than half the price will also do the trick, plus it adds an adjustable stability bar.
