- Working out at home is an increasingly popular way for people to stay fit without having to worry about frequenting a local gym or paying monthly dues.
- Building out your own home gym allows you to start improving your health, fitness, and well-being whenever you want from the comfort of your living space – and doesn’t need to require a dedicated room or weeks of setup to create.
- To help you figure out how to start setting up your own personal workout space, we’ve rounded up the best home exercise equipment, including treadmills, stationary bikes, foam rollers, dumbbells, and more.
You want to tone up, improve your health, lose a little weight, and gain greater flexibility. What you don’t want to do, however, is resort to your local gym or fitness studio to do it. Not only are sign-up fees and monthly dues far from desirable but a gym isn’t exactly the cleanest place to get fit.
Thankfully, there’s a far better alternative: Outfitting a home gym. Getting fit at home means you can work out whenever the mood strikes with no need for packing a bag and commuting. No more waiting for equipment or stepping over the chronic texter, and once you piece together some workout gear of your own, you won’t have to shell out a monthly fee to use it.
If you’ve shrugged off a home gym because you think it requires a dedicated room, a huge expenditure of money, or more knowledge than you possess, we’re here to help. You can get a great workout whatever your budget and you don’t need a ton of space to do it.
How we test
Each piece of home gym equipment recommended in this guide went through a series of tests to help determine its effectiveness. We considered each piece’s feasibility for use in a home, if there was a steep learning curve or not, its relative value, how portable or easy to stow it might be, and how practical it is for every day or every week use.
We understand that not all home gyms have the ability to be created in equal fashion, so the equipment tested covers a wide array of use cases that anyone can pick and choose to their liking (and, perhaps most importantly, for what fits their home workout space). This means that if you have the space for a treadmill, you likely won’t also be in the market for a stationary bike or a full-on Bowflex workout machine.
Some of the testings also took place during the creation of other guides (like best treadmills or best dumbbells), so those writers were consulted for input here, as well. Where necessary, we included similar equipment that was also tested, as well as links to our more focused equipment guides.
Here is the best home gym equipment:
- Best treadmill: ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill
- Best training strap system: TRX GO System
- Best resistance band: TheraBands
- Best jump rope: Survival and Cross Jump Rope
- Best dumbbells: PowerBlock Sport 24
- Best yoga set: Complete Yoga Kit Set from Clever Yoga
- Best stationary bike: Exerpeutic Folding Upright Bike
- Best slam ball: Everlast Flex Slam Ball
- Best workout machine: Bowflex Blaze Home Gym
- Best exercise ball: TheraBand Exercise and Stability Ball
- Best foam roller: LuxFit Premium High-Density Foam Roller
- Best pull-up bar: Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar
Updated on 8/4/2020 by Rick Stella: Added a section on how we test the home workout equipment and added relevant links to other equipment roundups, checked the availability of each recommended home gym product, and updated the prices and links where necessary.
The best treadmill
The ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill is a versatile at-home option that's great for racers, casual runners, and anyone looking to keep up with steady cardio exercise.
The beauty of a treadmill is that it accommodates you no matter where you're starting from fitness-wise. You can walk, jog, or run all at your own speed and preference and the ProForm Pro 2000 Treadmill is an excellent choice no matter your fitness level or skill.
ProForm's Pro 2000 may remind you of the treadmills you see in physical gyms as it has the same type of features. There's the ability to incline up to 15%, decline down to negative 3%, as well as a 7-inch color screen that's compatible with a range of interactive workouts from iFit.
This treadmill also has a reliable 3.5-horsepower motor, a wide belt deck that's great for almost all runners, and a soft belt that helps reduce the impact of each stride. There's even a music port for plugging in a music player and fitness app access.
Pros: Strong construction, great features, iFit compatibility, ProShox cushioning for soft landings
Cons: Expensive
If the ProForm Pro 2000 is too pricey for your budget, we also recommend the following:
- Horizon Fitness T101-04 Treadmill ($599.99)
Read our full buying guide to the best treadmills
The best training strap system
If you're looking for a reasonably priced whole-body workout that uses your own weight to provide resistance, check out the TRX GO System.
The TRX GO system is essentially a series of sturdy straps, handles, and hooks. But fasten it to a door, rafter, beam, or even a sturdy tree branch, and you have the equivalent of a full-on gym.Not only does the system strengthen and build muscle but it also helps improve stability and flexibility. Best of all, you can apply as much resistance as you need, making the system suitable for beginners and fitness buffs alike.
You'll love the effectiveness and versatility of the system, along with the fact that it's easy to take along while traveling. It even comes with an extensive workout guide, as well as access to other workouts online.
Pros: Great for travel, offers a versatile, effective muscle strengthening workout
Cons: Might be hard to use in smaller living spaces
The best resistance bands
TheraBands' resistance bands are thin and lightweight, yet offer a surprising amount of resistance perfect for a variety of home workouts - the fact they're under $20 makes them even more valuable.
Resistance bands are simple pieces of workout equipment that offer a wide range of uses, and this kit from TheraBands is the perfect addition to any home gym. The kit allows for a weight range of 2.4 pounds on up to 21.3 pounds, giving you the ability to add minimal resistance to a high-intensity routine or ramp it up for deadlifts or upright rows.
Each resistance band is lightweight and thin, though still delivers durable performance (even if it feels like they might tear). Also, their latex-free design means anyone with a latex allergy can rest assured they won't run into any issues.
The TheraBands resistance band kit is also highly portable. Void of any handle or extra material, each band folds down compact enough to throw into a small gym back for easy transport or storage. And at $16, they're inexpensive, too. This makes them an easy addition to anyone's home gym, no matter if you're looking to add another layer to your strength training or increase the intensity of your cardio workouts.
Pros: Inexpensive, lightweight, offers a wide range of resistance
Cons: Might not be suitable for someone looking for intense resistance
For workout inspiration, check out our favorite resistance band routines
Read our full guide to the best resistance bands
The best jump rope
The Crossrope Get Lean Set is a versatile jump rope that comes with two different ropes, ergonomic handles, and app compatibility for targeted workouts and weekly routines.
According to the American Council on Exercise, jumping rope not only torches through calories but it also increases the resiliency of your lower-leg muscles, improves balance and coordination, and ups your cognitive skills.
When it comes to getting one for your home gym setup, the Crossrope Get Lean Set is an excellent choice. Featuring ergonomic handles, two different weighted ropes (1/2-pound and 1/4-pound), and a companion smartphone application, the Get Lean Set is a great way to improve your cardio or add to an existing full-body or HIIT routine.
Pros: A great workout, perfect for travel, smooth performance, multiple weight options of the rope
Cons: Jumping rope is high-impact, so if you have problems with your knees or back, it might be too intense for you.
If you're not taken with this jump rope, we also recommend the following:
Read our full guide to the best jump ropes
The best dumbbells
PowerBlock's dumbbells offer weight up to 24 pounds in each hand, feature a comfortable, balanced grip, and allow for a variety of exercises.
Finding a reliable pair of dumbbells is an important addition to any home gym thanks to their versatility. Not only do they do well for anyone trying to improve their curl form, but they also work well for a variety of lifts including squats, shoulder presses, lunges, and pushups (among others).
The key to finding a good set rests with how comfortable they are to use, how much available weight they allow, and if they'll take up a lot of room in your home or not. PowerBlock's dumbbells do well to check each of these boxes.
They feature a handle centered on the apparatus to allow for a comfortable feel and grip, as well as a design that makes them incredibly easy to stow.
Though a set of PowerBlock dumbbells sets you back roughly than $400, their ability to allow for multiple exercises across a large range in weight makes them one of the best options for any home gym.
Pros: Max weight of 24 pounds per hand, relatively affordable compared to similar dumbbells, sturdy and comfortable grip
Cons: Awkward weight-changing mechanism, can feel a bit long when at max weight
If these dumbbells are too expensive, you can also check out the following:
Read our full buying guide on the best dumbbells
The best yoga set
With the Complete Yoga Kit Set from Clever Yoga, you'll have all the equipment you need to reap the benefits of this ancient practice.
Along with its proven abilities to reduce stress and improve mood, yoga is a wonderful way to develop your balance, flexibility, and muscle tone.
If you're new to yoga, you'll appreciate the convenience of getting all the supplies you need in one kit - includes a handy carrying case. You'll also get a large, thick yoga mat, two foam positioning blocks, an eight-foot cotton strap, a hand towel, and a microfiber nonslip mat.
If this set isn't for you, you can also check out our full buying guides to the best yoga mats, the best yoga blocks, and the best yoga socks.
Pros: A convenient and reasonably priced way to buy everything you need for your beginning yoga practice.
Cons: None to speak of unless yoga isn't your thing
The best stationary bike
If you're looking to get fit without blowing your budget, your knees, or your back, consider the Exerpeutic Folding Upright Bike.
The Exerputic stationary bike isn't too fancy, although it does display distance, calories burned, speed, time, and heart rate. There are eight levels of resistance, so you'll continue to be challenged as you grow stronger.
The bike's frame is sturdy and durable, and best of all, it easily folds up nearly flat so you can store it when not in use. The padded, large seat is easy on your rear, and the pedals have straps to hold your feet securely in place. It's basic but it gets the job done.
Pros: Folds up, sturdy construction, great price, several levels of tension, large seat
Cons: A few owners felt the seat was too large, some complaints of squeaking
If you want a more interactive stationary bike, we also recommend the following:
- NordicTrack S22i Studio Cycle ($1,999)
Read our full guide to the best exercise bikes
The best slam ball
A slam ball provides an easy and effective method for improving your strength, flexibility, and explosiveness, and slam ball workouts can easily be incorporated into anyone's at-home fitness routine.
Slam ball workouts may seem ordinary but when done correctly provide an excellent full-body workout. Whether this means using it to add weighted lunges to your routine, utilizing the ball as a base for side-to-side pushups, or just doing a few tried-and-true ball slams, its a worthy addition to any at-home gym setup.
The Flex Slam Ball series from Everlast offers a range in available weights, from 6-pound, textured slam balls on up to a 50-pound traditional ball. Each sand-filled ball provides a comfortable grip, durable exterior, and a shock-absorbing design.
Pros: Available in a variety of weights, easy to use, contributes to a full-body exercise when used properly
Cons: Buying multiple sizes can get expensive
The best workout machine
If you want one machine that does it all - arms, legs, chest, back, and abs - with enough variation to work muscles you didn't even know you had, consider the Bowflex Blaze Home Gym.
Bowflex's all-in-one machine comes with up to 210 pounds of resistance, so whether you're just starting out or are already buff, you'll give your muscles a proper workout.
There are more than 60 possible exercises with the Blaze, including 16 arm exercises, 13 leg exercises, and five ab exercises - enough to keep your workouts fresh for a long time.
The sliding seat also allows you to use the machine for an aerobic rowing workout, too. It's easy to adjust your resistance as you gain strength, and the wide variety of possible exercises not only provides strength training to your entire body, it also keeps things interesting.
Pros: Lots of variation, very sturdy and durable, easy to adjust resistance, reasonable price for a home gym.
Cons: Takes up a lot of space, expensive
If you prefer an interactive machine, take a look at our review of the Tempo Studio.
The best exercise ball
The TheraBand Exercise and Stability Ball holds air better than most exercise balls with its thick-walled design.
The TheraBand Exercise and Stability Ball is one of the thickest-walled balls you can buy, so it holds air longer than most of the competition.
Even if it's punctured, the ball deflates slowly, allowing you to finish your exercise session without falling flat on the floor. Because the Theraband Exercise Ball retains air so well, you won't have to reinflate it that often, either. It does take quite a bit of time to inflate the first time around, though.
The TheraBand ball has just the right type of surface for grip-ability, so it won't move around while you're working out. It's available in four sizes from 45 cm to 75 cm and comes in several different colors.
Pros: Maintains its shape and holds air better than other exercise balls, includes a slow deflate technology if the ball is punctured, extremely firm, has a good surface for just the right amount of grip, offered in four sizes
Cons: Takes a long time to inflate, no inflation pump included, only one color per size
If this exercise ball isn't the one for you, you might prefer the following:
For some workout inspiration, check out our favorite exercise ball routines
Read our full guide to the best exercise balls
The best foam roller
The LuxFit Premium High-Density Foam Roller is an affordable and simple tool that gives your muscles relief before or after you work out.
The LuxFit Premium High-Density Foam Roller is made of polyethylene foam, which is easy to clean. The roller has a 6-inch diameter and is lightweight enough for easy transport or storage.
The roller comes in three different lengths: 12, 18, and 36 inches. The longest option is ideal for tall or heavy individuals, the medium is good for working all parts of the body, and the small is good for targeted areas, like the neck. Whichever you choose, they're covered by a one-year limited warranty.
This high-quality foam roller is affordable, too, starting at just $9 for the small on up to $25 for the large. The roller has a slight texture to prevent sliding and the foam is just dense enough to massage your muscles and support your body. Users noted that the roller is effective on the back, upper chest, and abs.
Pros: Affordable, three size options, one-year warranty
Cons: Certain materials may slide along the surface without rolling
Read our full buying guide to the best foam rollers
The best pull up bar
The Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar is easy to install and gives you a great workout.
The Garren Fitness Maximiza Pull Up Bar is made of chrome steel and comes with three sets of mounting hardware with two of the sets able to support up to 300 pounds of weight. The medium-duty door mount supports 150 pounds and is not recommended for use above waist height.
You can also use the bar without door mounts for sit-up foot support and other light exercises. It's adjustable and fits doorways between 26 and 36 inches wide, and can be installed so that you can still close the door.
The bar features non-slip, extra-long foam grips to ensure you won't easily lose your grip. You shouldn't have any trouble with installation, though it may take a little work to get it to the right length.
Pros: Comfortable foam grips, unobtrusive, solidly built
Cons: Installation requires drilling into a door jamb, foam grips may wear from heavy-duty use
If you want a different option, we also recommend:
Read our full buying guide to the best pull up bars
How to make the most of your home gym
Just because you're not visiting a brick and mortar gym or fitness studio, doesn't mean you can't replicate the workouts they offer. Everything from high-intensity interval training and strength workouts to cardio routines and resistance training can easily be done at home.
Here are a few basic exercise categories to familiarize yourself with before jumping into any workout routine.
Cardio exercise
Cardio - which comes from cardiovascular - exercise is defined by the American College of Sports Medicine as any exercise that raises your heart rate and breaths per minute while repetitively and rhythmically using large muscle groups. That's a fancy way of saying that cardio or aerobic exercise is anything that gets you moving fast and hard enough to break a sweat. Typical cardio exercises include running, biking, jumping rope, etc.
The benefits of aerobic exercise are many, including weight loss, stronger bones and muscles, better sleep, lowered levels of depression and anxiety, and even the reduced risk of many types of cancer, to name a few.
The ACSM recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, which can be broken down into multiple sessions as short as ten minutes.
Strength training
Strength training - also called resistance training - is the use of exercise against resistance to build and strengthen muscle. That resistance might come from your own body weight, a dumbbell or other hand-held weight, or a wide range of resistance machines.
Along with improved muscle strength and definition, resistance training helps develop bone density and assists with weight loss.
The ACSM recommends healthy adults do strength training two or three times per week, engaging in eight to 10 different exercises focusing on a variety of muscle groups. Beginners should aim for eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise, using the amount of weight that leads to muscle fatigue within that set of reps.
Balance and flexibility training
While various cardio and strength-training exercises help improve balance and flexibility, it's important to incorporate training that specifically targets these two functions. They make daily living much easier and help improve your overall health and mental well-being. Aim for at least two balance or flexibility workouts each week.