Essential Equipment for Your Home Gym
There are many reasons to invest in a home gym. To name a few: no travel is required, you won’t have to wait for your favorite piece of equipment to become available, and you can enjoy your privacy. The gym can also be an intimidating place, especially for beginners. Having your own equipment and space removes multiple barriers to starting a fitness program and getting healthy. If you're unsure what equipment is necessary to build a home gym that fits your needs, this article will point you in the right direction.
The two biggest factors when deciding what equipment to purchase are 1) how much space you have and 2) what your budget is. Fortunately, whether you have a lot of space and a high budget or a small space and a low budget, I’m confident that you can build a suitable home gym. Having the right equipment is important, but what's more important is how you use it! No matter how much your setup costs, if you don’t work hard, you won’t see results.
Keep in mind that this is by no means “the” list; it’s just my opinion based on the equipment I believe to be the most effective and “home-friendly.” I’m sure there will be equipment that people think is essential and wonder why I left it out. This list is mainly for those with average space and an average budget who are looking for a convenient way to exercise. Let’s begin!
Dumbbells
Dumbbells are an absolute must-have. They require little to no maintenance, help correct muscle imbalances, and can be modified based on ability. There are four main types of dumbbells you will encounter when shopping: hex, round, adjustable, and loadable. Since dumbbells are so important, I wrote a separate article comparing and contrasting the different types and weighing their pros and cons. I recommend giving it a read here.
Resistance Bands
If you have a small space that can’t accommodate dumbbells or a low budget, resistance bands can be a great alternative. They’re lightweight, cost-effective, and low-impact. You can purchase bands with varying degrees of resistance (the thicker the band, the more resistance it has) to achieve a solid workout. That said, if it’s just a space issue and not so much a budget issue, I would definitely go with adjustable or loadable dumbbells over resistance bands.
Adjustable Bench
This is another piece of equipment I really don’t think you can go without. Push-ups are a great exercise; I do them myself, and I think everyone should be able to do at least 10 proper form push-ups on their toes. But once you’ve achieved that and are looking to gain more strength, doing a dumbbell chest press on a bench is tough to beat. Make sure it’s adjustable and not just a fixed, flat bench. An adjustable bench can be set to various angles (incline, decline, and flat), allowing you to perform a wider range of exercises targeting different muscle groups.
Pull-Up Bar
Who doesn’t want to be able to do a lot of pull-ups? When I was working out in my parents’ garage, I used two different types of pull-up bars: one that goes over the top of your door frame and one that was considered a pull-up “station.” The station had a bar attached to two uprights, and I believe it included two handles and a cushioned back for performing leg/knee raises and dips. While door frame pull-up bars save space, please make sure to check that they’re secure before using them!
Treadmill / Exercise Bike / Rowing Machine / Elliptical
It would be nice if we could perform all our cardiovascular activity outside in the fresh air, but sometimes the weather won’t cooperate (especially in Vancouver). Think about what type of cardio you enjoy doing outside: do you like to run, bike, etc.? That should help you choose which piece of equipment to invest in. Among the four pieces listed above, treadmills are generally the most expensive; however, there are some compact models that are very budget-friendly. If I had a choice, I would go with the rowing machine or elliptical because they work your entire body, offer varying resistance, and are low-impact (though I get a better workout on the rower!). If you are a senior or have mobility issues, I would recommend a recumbent bike due to its more comfortable seating position and back support.
Exercise Mat
If you work out on a harder surface, you’ll definitely want to get a mat. While yoga mats are good for poses, balance, and stability, exercise mats are thicker and more suitable for your floor workouts and stretches.
I’m fairly confident that just these five or six pieces of equipment, if used correctly and in tandem with a healthy diet, will help you achieve your goals. I would like to mention a few additional pieces of equipment that I wouldn’t necessarily consider essential, but are really nice to have and have helped me with my training.
Kettlebells
I nearly listed kettlebells as essential because of how much I use them these days. However, after giving it some thought, I realized that during the first several years of working out, I never really lifted a kettlebell while still achieving my goals. I just think they’re a lot of fun to use! Exercises such as kettlebell swings and renegade rows engage your whole body, and using them over even a short period has definitely improved my grip strength. If you have the space and budget and are looking to vary your routine, kettlebells are a great option.
BOSU Ball
If balance is an issue, I would absolutely recommend the BOSU ball. It is a dome-shaped inflatable top attached to a flat, sturdy base. It can be used with the dome side up or down, allowing for a variety of exercises that challenge balance, stability, and coordination.
Foam Roller
A foam roller is used primarily for myofascial release, which helps alleviate muscle tightness and improve flexibility by releasing tension, breaking down knots, and aiding in blood flow to muscles. I definitely recommend it!
Ab Wheel
You absolutely do not need an ab wheel to build a strong core; however, I use one because it improves my stability and engages my entire body. Additionally, I find traditional core exercises to be a bit boring, so incorporating the ab wheel into my routine keeps things fresh.
Squat Rack, Barbells, and Weight Plates
I won’t go too in-depth with this because I don’t believe the average person looking to build a home gym will have the space nor the budget to invest in this equipment. Is it nice to have? Absolutely. Barbell squats, when performed correctly, are a great exercise, just like barbell deadlifts. I personally don’t squat and only use barbells occasionally, so if I were to build a home gym, I would probably invest in a wider range of dumbbells and kettlebells.
Mobility Stick
While you can improve your mobility and flexibility with just your body, I find myself using a mobility stick fairly often, particularly to increase the range of motion in my shoulder joints. If you have balance issues, you can use a mobility stick as an aid when performing exercises that require balance, such as lunges.
I really hope this list gives you a good idea of what to purchase when building your home gym. With so many options and variations of equipment, it can become quite overwhelming. My advice is to stick to the basics at first and slowly make additions as you see fit. If you have any questions, please reach out! I’ll be more than happy to help as much as I can.