7 Best Home Gym Equipment

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7 Best Home Gym Equipment

​Building a home gym doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars or taking out a loan. All it takes is a little knowledge and research. The misconception is that a home gym must look just like a professional gym, but most people don’t use all the equipment in a big gym. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create an effective home gym. You can build a home gym that gives you exactly what you need without spending a fortune.  This post explains the seven best pieces of inexpensive exercise equipment you can buy for your home gym.

Figure out what you need
What are your fitness goals? Do you enjoy doing cardio, strength training, or a combination of both?  Do you want to just stay fit and healthy, or get into the bodybuilding? These are different goals, and your goals determine how you will set up your home gym. No two home gyms are the same. Make a list of what you want, what your goals are, and how you can achieve those goals by creating your own home gym. 

​1. Dumbbells
​Dumbbells are one of the least expensive types of equipment to obtain for your home gym, and anyone can use them. They can be used to exercise your entire body. Dumbbells allow you to increase your strength and your endurance, and they are very affordable. You can find them easily in almost every sporting equipment store, big box store, and even online.  A good pair of dumbbells will range from around $10 to over $50, depending on their weight.  

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2. Workout bench
 Workout benches give you a stable surface to support your body while doing strength training.  It is an all-in-one piece of gym equipment that lets you perform a variety of fitness exercises to tone and strengthen your core, chest, arms, legs, and thighs.  Get one that has an adjustable back so you can exercise your muscles at a variety of angles.  These start at under $100 and are an essential addition to any home gym.  

​3. A stability ball
 This is not what the old-fashioned bodybuilders used to create their bulk, but they are great for everyone who wants to get the most out of their workouts. Not only does a stability ball provide you the opportunity to turn any traditional workout into something more challenging, it also requires you work on your core. Your core is more than your ability to see your abs through your skin. Your core is where you find the bulk of your strength. If you have a strong core, you have a stronger body. You can buy them for less than $15 and can literally do dozens of exercises using them.

​4. Resistance bands
 Resistance bands aren’t bulky or costly like other types of fitness equipment. A band provides you with the opportunity to use your own body strength to get stronger. These bands are versatile and are easy to attach to doors anywhere at home or on the road. You can build muscle by doing standing chest presses, pulldowns, and other exercises that build strength and stability. If you don’t have a set of resistance bands at home for your gym, your gym is not complete. And you can get a set for as little as $10.

​5. A treadmill
You don’t need a treadmill in your gym to make it a good one, but it’s helpful if you live where it’s cold and not always perfect conditions for walking or running outside. Sometimes a simple power walk or quick jog is all you need to get a little exercise, but it all depends on your fitness goals. A treadmill need not be too expensive, either. There are several good options for less than $800.  If you don’t like to run or you live where the weather is nice all the time, you don’t even need a treadmill. 

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6. An elliptical
 These can be expensive, but you don’t need a fancy one. You can find an elliptical on sale online, used or in sporting equipment stores for a few hundred dollars if not less. These are great items for low-impact cardio workouts. They are easy to use, they burn a lot of calories, and you can build up serious endurance without putting too much stress on your joints. You can buy an elliptical in almost any price range.   

7. A recumbent bike
Recumbent bikes provide an excellent workout for building muscle and even building strength, and they’re not always expensive. If you don’t care that yours is not the most expensive, fanciest, or latest model on the market, you can pick one up at the sporting goods store for under $500. The recumbent bike is an affordable machine to bring home if you want a good cardio and lower body workout. 

Bottom line
In your own home gym, start simple and build up from there.  Only buy equipment you know you’ll use.  Ensure that you get a variety so that you can get a good cardio and strength training workout whenever is convenient for you.  You don’t need a room full of equipment or to spend a fortune to get a total body work out. It’s all about what you know more than what you have.

This post was written with guest author Paul Hickman, who is a fitness blogger and bodybuilding enthusiast. He occasionally writes for the 10machines.com where he shares reviews and tips that help build muscle and slender physique.