After this period of lockdown during the pandemic, people have begun to realize the importance of health and fitness in their lives, and the necessity to have a safe, in-house gym. While previously a home gym was considered a luxury, now, a large number of people find it a necessity. Not only is it convenient, time-saving, and budget-friendly in the long run, but it also saves you the hassle of waking up early in the morning, and rushing off. With a gym in your house or garage, now you can work out any time of the day that suits you!
Moreover, now, in 2022, it is possible to stay fit, and maintain the body of your dreams, without setting a single foot in the most expensive gym! All you need is some equipment that can help you in your fitness journey.
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Choosing the most suitable pieces of equipment for your gym
Before directly going into listing down some basic, necessary equipment for your indoor gym, you must understand the basis on which you should be selecting these products, which suit your fitness goals, without burning a huge hole in your budget. Moreover, there are a huge number of these equipment available today, so you should make an informed decision, after considering multiple factors, some of which are mentioned below.
- Purpose: This is the primary and most crucial factor, around which you will be building your entire gym. You must have your fitness goals clearly set in your mind. You should not be confused about whether you want to build muscles, lose weight, or just boost your stamina. Having your priorities clearly stated will help you in selecting items that will meet your future needs, without leaving any room for confusion.
- Price: The health and fitness industry has grown manifold today. So, gym equipment items costing $10 to even several thousand dollars are available now. Therefore, before making any hasty decisions, and regretting them later, you should set down your budget that you are willing to spend on these items.
- Size and Material: Since you are purchasing gym equipment that will be kept somewhere in or around your house, it is necessary to keep in mind the size of the space you have available beforehand. This will ensure that the product will not look out of place at your house. Moreover, it is necessary to check that the material of the product is stable and reliable as well.
- Versatility: You should always look for machines that are versatile and provide you with several features. This is crucial when you are purchasing the equipment to be kept in-house because it will save both your floor space and your money.
- Warranties: The purchase of even a single piece of gym equipment can be expensive for an average consumer. Therefore, before signing off a purchase, you should always keep in mind the type of warranty the retailer or manufacturer provided. You do not want to be in a situation where you select the best equipment available in the market which turns out to be unwarranted, and it breaks soon, leaving you crying over spilled beans.
- Customer reviews: The reviews of previous customers who have already purchased and used the product can help you make a better decision about the purchase of a product.
Some necessary equipment for an in-house gym
Now, we list down some of the most necessary and basic equipment that you should definitely have at your home gym. The products have been selected after collecting information from a lot of sources and keeping in mind the variety of fitness needs and budgets of different individuals.
Workout (Yoga) Mat
This is the most basic and the most essential piece of equipment to help you do all sorts of exercises, from yoga and stretching to weightlifting and high-intensity interval training.
An exercise or yoga mat makes doing floor exercises much more comfortable and easy, be it an abs workout on your back or push-ups on your knees.
You should prefer a padded, textured mat that prevents you from slipping, and keeps you safe and secure while you sweat.
Moreover, choose a thicker mat for more cushioning, especially if you are working out on a concrete or hardwood floor.
It not only cushions the parts of your body in contact with the floor during stretches and exercises but also prevents ground scuff marks from weights.
Investing in a nice yoga mat reaps the most benefit since you can easily carry it anywhere and everywhere, from your balcony to your yard, and even further, depending on your mood. This is said to be the most essential purchase if you do not plan on splashing out on large, expensive gym apparatus.
Resistance Bands
These products are said to be a compact, lightweight and budget-friendly way to add intensity to your daily workout routine.
Resistance bands can add an extra challenge to lower-body exercises, in particular, and can particularly upgrade your glute workout to the next level, giving you the option to try some glute bridges, side squats, or clamshells with a band around your ankles or under the knees.
With the right assortment, you can also use them to enhance your weight training by attaching them to your barbell. They can even be used to assist with pull-ups and dips for those not strong enough to do those movements unaided.
Many bands also include accessories, such as handles and door anchors. This improves your range of motion and allows for a greater number of exercises.
These are available in a variety of resistance levels from very light to extremely heavy making it so that you will always have an option to challenge yourself. Keep in mind that the tighter the band is, the more challenging it is to work with. However, you should not choose one extremely cheap, that will snap mid-workout, leaving you in a lot of pain.
Adjustable Dumbbells
Dumbbells are the most useful pieces of exercise equipment, for any gym, that strengthen and tone your body. They can be used for a variety of exercises such as biceps curls, triceps kickbacks, weighted lunges, and Russian twists.
Buying a set of these weights can get expensive and might even require additional space for a dumbbell rack.
However, if you are looking to cut down, you should go for heavier dumbbells rather than lighter ones. You can always get creative and do the lighter exercises with resistance bands or household items that you find lying around, like cans of soup or shampoo bottles. However, heavier dumbbells are harder to replicate around the house, so they can be a more useful investment.
Also, having a heavier set of dumbbells around also allows you to progress exercises as you get stronger.
Overall, investing in a set of 3-5 different weights will accommodate your workout for different exercises as well as for increasing strength. You can easily use a lighter set of dumbbells for arms and shoulders, and a heavier set for lower body exercises like squats and lunges.
Moreover, it is advisable to choose bone dumbbells if your goal is to add resistance to your daily cardio workouts which incorporate squat to overhead raises, lateral lunges, rotational kickbacks, and renegade rows.
On the other hand, hex dumbbells can be used for compound weight-training movements such as squats, overhead presses, and deadlifts, as well as isolated exercises like lateral raises and tricep extensions.
Lastly, These come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials these days, from plastic-coated to colorful to straight metal, so you must do adequate research and market study of various brands before taking your pick.
If preferable, you can choose weights that are coated in vinyl material, which makes them resistant to rust and safe enough to use in your small home gym. This can also help you save money that would otherwise be spent on replacement and damage, in the long run.
Kettlebell
One of the biggest benefits of kettlebell training is its simplicity. The number of movements you can perform with a single bell is impressive, and one of the best investments to make.
When using a kettlebell as a supplement to standard resistance training implements, it is recommended to go with a 45-50 lb bell for men and a 30-35 lb bell for women.
Kettlebells can be used for many of the same exercises as dumbbells, but they are more versatile since these weights sit directly beneath your hands which makes them ideal for full-body exercises and also allow room for more dynamic moves, including snatches, cleans, and kettlebell swings.
These are particularly great for working your muscles and getting your heart rate up.
Treadmill
If you have a generous budget and space, a treadmill is a must.
In gyms, treadmills are a popular choice for cardio workouts if you wish to simulate walking or running at various inclines. But, these days, treadmills are found quite commonly in people’s homes as well. They provide an alternative to overground running, which is especially handy when bad weather ruins your outdoor workout plan.
You should choose a treadmill that has varying inclines and speeds and provides heart rate monitoring. Go for a robust, commercial gym-standard treadmill if you can afford it. Furthermore, if you are willing to spend generously, you can look for machines with virtual tracks or other technological add-ons.
Checkout: Treadmill Buyer Guide
Stationary Bicycle and Rowing Machine
A stationary bike is an alternative to the treadmill and rowing machine for cardiovascular endurance training.
It provides a low-impact way to get the heart rate elevated, and elevates your aerobic fitness regime.
This is especially handy when you have limited time. You can easily hop on the bike for a quick ride, without spending time on warm-up since the exercise is not as high impact as running
Moving on, if you are not a huge fan of cycling, you can go for a rowing machine. It has been found that you can do a whole lot of things with a total-body rowing machine.
Unlike the bike and treadmill which focus more on the lower body, the rower offers a head-to-toe workout, engaging the legs, core, and upper body.
Also, it helps burn a ton of calories and is another option for low-impact cardio.
However, both of these pieces of equipment are not completely mandatory for a home gym and will depend on your floor space and budget, along with your personal preference and the kind of training you have planned.
Jump Rope
Jump ropes are a budget-friendly option that can aid your cardio training, and help you derive the maximum benefit from these exercises. Although many high-intensity cardio exercises, like HIIT routines, star jumps, or jump squats, require no equipment, many still prefer to use jump ropes to add a boost to their cardio training.
Using a jump rope can be quite beneficial for your overall health as well Research has proven that using a jumping rope can greatly improve your cardiorespiratory fitness, burning 500 calories in 30 minutes. This refers to the ability of your circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to your muscles during physical activity.
Not only is it a killer aerobic workout, but jumping rope helps build endurance, coordination, and increased muscle engagement as well.
You can easily use this portable piece of equipment both as a warm-up to your workout and as a part of the workout itself.
Suspension Trainers
While this may not be one of the cheapest home gym equipment items, this is one of the most versatile.
Many of the best ones available today use gravity as your resistance, so you can get results out of a full-body workout. These products are flexible as well and can be used to make a workout as easy or as hard, according to your personal preferences and stamina.
This training equipment can be easily anchored anywhere, indoors or outdoors, for a full-body workout. Some of the ones available now have also been upgraded to help you combine bodyweight movements with balance exercises, such as planks or pikes.
Barbell
A barbell is said to be extremely universal, no matter what kind of exercise you might be performing.
For strength training, a barbell that can stack weight plates of various sizes is a pricier free weight. Even though costly, unlike dumbbells and kettlebells, barbells can evenly distribute weight across your shoulders, which enables you to lift heavier weights during squats while providing good stability.
While you should not spend a huge amount of money on these, you should also not choose the cheapest ones. A cheap barbell corrodes very quickly, and its finish might chip and crack as well. It will not have a quality knurl and will either be hard to grip or tear up your hands. Moreover, it will squeak and rattle and eventually fall apart under even the lightest use. Some might even bend easily and become unusable very soon after purchase. Therefore, purchasing a quality product is essential.
You can either purchase the Olympic bar (which is a 55-pound bar for men and 45 for women), squat rack, bench press rack, and removable plates if you can afford them, or go for a set of fixed or easily adjustable barbells with a smaller bar.
Moreover, bumper plates have also proven to be a great addition to any home gym, as they help minimize noise, reduce bounce, and protect your floors during strength-training moves like deadlifts.
Squat Rack
This will probably be your biggest investment when building a home gym, as well as the biggest piece of equipment you can buy to aid muscle building.
While you can make use of a barbell without this large frame, it enables you to carry out a wider range of maneuvers, helps you to lift your barbell from safe positions, and can catch the barbell if you fail. This is particularly useful if you are training with very heavy weights.
A rack allows you to get your barbell in position for most lifts. Without it, you will never be able to squat or press meaningful weight. This is especially important when training alone.
Some of these also have built-in safety and spotting devices, which allow you to lift heavy without the risk of serious injury.
If you are tight on space and still willing to purchase this, you should consider one that gets bolted to your wall and folds up when not in use.
Also, you should select a rack that has one or more integrated pull-up bars, to save the need for buying them separately.
Workout Bench
While not mandatory, a bench is still a critical component of any home gym.
A workout bench is an adjustable platform used specifically for weight training purposes. It helps you adjust your backrest so that you can move it from a flat position to an incline. Moreover, getting your body safely in the correct position for some exercises is a key function of a solid bench.
Another key function of this equipment is to enable you to do some particular exercises, which is otherwise not possible without this bench. Basic exercises like the bench press along with others like chest-supported dumbbell rows are also possible to do now. Therefore, having a stable adjustable bench facilitates a wide array of movements.
While the workout bench is not that necessary for all exercise regimes, it is said to be the key to weightlifting training. You can definitely get a great workout without a bench, but if you have room, investing in one can change up your whole routine by incorporating weight training.
A large number of these are available today in the market, but you should choose one that is easily adjustable and well constructed as well. Go for something like high-quality steel and durable leather, that does not tear or break anytime soon.
Lightweight, foldable benches are available these days as well, which helps you in moving and storing the equipment conveniently at your place.
Medicine Ball
Medicine balls are often neglected in the gym because many consumers are unaware of the correct way to use them. But, these rubber medicine balls are a great way to improve core strength and balance.
A nice, sturdy ball is well stitched and designed to withstand the force of dynamic exercises. These are available in a variety of weights which you can choose from.
Unlike kettlebells and dumbbells, they can be thrown and caught. This enables you to increase difficulty in movements like sit-ups, overhead throws, or wall ball slams.
These products are most useful for burning out your abs and chest by performing a push-up on the ball or adding in a crossbody movement with a wall ball slam.
However, you must keep in mind that the rubber design of these balls means that they will bounce, and must be used carefully to avoid injuries.
Workout Mirror
As recommended by many experts, a workout mirror should not be absent in a home gym, if you have the space and budget. Checking your form throughout your workout can help you prevent injuries and build strength properly.
Nowadays, many tech-savvy ones are available that have attached Bluetooth-enabled speakers, touch screens, and sensors that track your movements, offer weight-load guidance, and provide formative feedback. So, if you have a higher budget, you can definitely look for something like this.
Simply building your perfect home gym is obviously not enough. You should be willing to put in your own time and effort, without the benefit of attending a class at a local gym, and find an exercise routine that best suits your needs. Consistency is the hidden key!
Also, remember that before blindly starting working out in your indoor gym, learn the proper manner to use them, to avoid injuries on day 1 itself!
At the end of the day, there is no point purchasing all these products, just so that you can boast in front of others, while dust collects on all equipments. If you are someone who enjoys the feeling of connection that a gym membership provides, you should avoid setting up a home gym. But if you are the kind who feels intimidated working out at a gym with so many strangers, and would reap better results in a pressure-free zone, go for an indoor gym without a second thought. It is your body, your fitness journey, and your health goal that matters, and you must choose only that which is best for you.
We hope the article was helpful and will aid you in your home gym setup!
