Must Have Equipment for Your Home Gym

The world is slowly going back to normal, which means we’ll all be able to go to the gym again soon! Until that time comes, though, it’s a good idea to stock up on some at-home workout equipment in order to stay on top of your fitness game. It’s possible to keep your muscles toned and strong by doing some equipment-free exercises around the house, but you don’t have to limit yourself; there are a lot of great equipment options that are easy to use and easy to store after your workout is finished. Here’s a list of what we think are the top 10 home gym essentials in order to get the most out of your workout:

1. Kettlebell

Essentially, a kettlebell is a small, cast-iron ball with a handle. It’s easy to fit into a workout routine, and it’s available in a variety of different weights to suit any fitness level. A couple of benefits that a kettlebell can give you include a stronger grip and muscular forearms. The most popular exercise involving a kettlebell is called the kettlebell swing. This exercise is done by planting your feet on the ground shoulder-length apart, bending your knees a little, picking up the kettlebell, and then swinging it up in front of you until it reaches the height of your head. Remember that proper form is important while performing this exercise, as improper form could result in serious injuries.

2. Yoga Mat

Believe it or not, a yoga mat can be used for more than just yoga. If you enjoy doing exercises that rely only on your body weight, yoga mats are great for doing pushups, situps, planks, lunges, squats, and more! Most yoga mats are made from PVC (also known as vinyl), making them a lot more comfortable than the floor, especially if you do exercises while lying down.

3. Jump Rope

Remember when you were a jump rope master as a kid? Revive those skills by investing in a good, adult-sized jump rope. Jumping is a great cardio exercise that burns a lot of calories and improves your heart health, but it also helps strengthen your bones and leg muscles. You can also learn some fun moves to show off to your family and gym buddies if you feel adventurous.

4. Resistance Bands

Elastic resistance bands can greatly improve the quality of your exercises, making you stronger, more mobile, and more balanced overall. If you’re new to the world of fitness, resistance bands can help you learn and maintain proper form, which will prevent injury and make sure you get the most out of your workouts. There are a lot of different ways you can use resistance bands; they can be especially beneficial for activities involving weightlifting, rehabilitation, and building up to pullups.

5. Dumbbells

Most people don’t have room for a barbell set in their homes, which is one of the benefits of dumbbells: they’re small and easily portable, even though they train your muscles and joints just as effectively as barbells do, if not more so. Dumbbells also tend to be safer than barbells and give you a better range of motion, which is important for injury prevention. You can use a set of dumbbells to work just about any muscle group in your body. They’re versatile and powerful, which is why every person who takes their fitness seriously should have a dumbbell set in their house.

6. Medicine Ball

Stuffed with sand and covered with nylon, medicine balls are one of the most popular pieces of equipment in the gym for people who want to strengthen their cores. Working with a medicine ball can improve posture significantly over time. If you have a workout buddy, try holding the ball close to your chest and then pushing it out, throwing it gently for your partner to catch and vice versa. If you exercise alone, medicine balls are great for sit-ups and Russian twists.

7. Stability Exercise Ball

Gyms aren’t the only places you might see stability balls: physical therapists often use them in their rehabilitation sessions, and some business offices allow people to use them as desk chairs. When they’re used strictly for exercise, though, they do a lot to benefit your abdominals and back muscles. In that way, they’re similar to medicine balls. However, stability balls tend to be much larger, lighter, and bouncier than medicine balls, especially since stability balls don’t have anything inside of them but air.

8. Sliders

Also referred to as gliders, sliders are yet another piece of workout equipment that can take your core exercises to a whole new level. The secret is in their ability to move smoothly across any type of flooring (even carpet!) without damaging the floor or the glider itself. Getting used to using sliders can be tricky, but once you have the hang of it, exercises like lunges, planks, and so much more will be fun and easy!

9. Foam Floor Tiles

If you’re dedicated to making your home gym the most beneficial environment possible, but you don’t want to go through the hassle and expenses of installing rubber floors in your house, you should consider getting foam floor tiles. They fit together like puzzle pieces, which means they’re easy to install and easy to remove. These tiles tend to be shock absorbent and sweat-resistant, which means you can work as hard as you need to without worrying about damaging your floors.

10. Workout Bench

Depending on the space and budget you have to work with, a workout bench is a really nice piece of workout equipment to have in your home. You can do a lot with it, especially if you enjoy using dumbbells or doing workouts that rely on your body weight, like tricep dips or angled push-ups. It’s very versatile, and even though it’s a bit bigger than some of the other pieces of equipment we’ve mentioned, it’s also still relatively easy to stow away as needed.

Now that you know everything you need to create the perfect at-home gym, what are you waiting for? Get to work so that you can see amazing results from the comfort of your living room!