The Best Home Workout Equipment, According to Trainers
5 Trainers Share the Home Gym Equipment They Can't Live Without
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Whether you're new to working out at home or you've been doing it for years, your home gym must be equipped with the right fitness gear to support your goals. Luckily, there's no shortage of home gym essentials to choose from — but therein lies the problem.
Figuring out what workout equipment to buy can be stressful. There's usually limited space for your home gym, so finding the pieces that will push your physical limits without eating into your living space is crucial. POPSUGAR went straight to the experts to solve this dilemma. These are the pieces of equipment personal trainers say are well worth the investment.
1 Resistance Bands
Resistance bands have become all the rage and for a good reason. Patty Soud, an ACE- and ACSM-certified trainer and owner of Fitness by Patty, loves this Bodylastics Resistance Band Set ($50), because the bands are lightweight, portable, easy to store, and can be used for every muscle group. "[Resistance bands] offer significant resistance to the muscles without the wear and tear on joints that heavy weights can often leave," Soud told POPSUGAR.
2 BOSU Ball
Balance exercises are critical to rounding out any workout regimen. Soud loves the BOSU Pro Balance Trainer ($170) for its ability to incorporate balance into countless activities. "Balancing exercises stimulate deep and intrinsic muscles in a way you just can't get by working on the ground," she told POPSUGAR.
3 Kettlebell
Former Super Bowl champion Omar Bolden, an ISSA-certified personal trainer, creator of X2 Workouts, and owner of Optymyze Training, explained that because of the number of exercises you can do with a single kettlebell, they're a perfect addition to any home gym. "They're great for building muscle, increasing endurance, and strengthening the core," Bolden told POPSUGAR. He likes the JAXJOX KettlebellConnect ($229) because its smart technology allows you to adjust the weight from 12 to 42 lbs.
4 Egg Weights
The key to a great workout is getting the most out of every movement. Functional strength and conditioning coach and certified USA Boxing coach Jana Finkbiner loves shadowboxing with Egg Weights ($30). These weights are no bigger than the palm of your hand and can add intensity and extra upper body resistance to your workout.
5 Jump Rope
Space limitations at home or while travelling can make it challenging to get in a good cardio workout. That's why Finkbiner recommends the Crossrope Get Lean Set ($99). These weighted jump ropes are the perfect way to get in your cardio when space, time, or equipment is limited.
6 Pull-Up Bar
Sandy Sklar, an NASM-certified trainer, corrective exercise specialist, certified pre/post-natal trainer, and owner of Prescriptive Fitness, likes the ROSRAN Pull-Up Bar ($50), because it's good for more than just pull-ups. "Even if you can't do pull-ups, this bar is superversatile and can be used for push-ups, sit-ups, and [resistance] band attachment use in the doorway," Sklar told POPSUGAR. Attaching resistance bands to the bar gives you the ability to do several different exercises, like rows and tricep press-downs.
7 Balance Board
Balance comes in many forms. Darius Alexander, an NASM-certified trainer, certified speed coach, owner and founder of Athlete Performance Factory, and head sports performance coach at Left Coast CrossFit, swears by the StrongBoard Balance ($269 to $289) because it helps activate fast-twitch muscles, improve stability, and incorporate balance. "You can completely do full-body workouts with this device alone," Alexander said.
8 Performance Bands
Unlike traditional resistance bands, performance bands are made for higher-intensity workouts like speed work. Alexander likes the Xceler8 Athletics Dynamx Trainer Set ($30, originally $40). "Whether it's doing explosive sprints mechanics or explosive jumps, these bands will have you feeling the effects," he told POPSUGAR.
9 Core Sliders
Trying to be respectful of your downstairs neighbours? Deanna Robinson, an ACSM-certified trainer and owner of FAB BODY FACTORY, recommends Synergee Core Sliders ($22) for a low-impact — and quiet! — workout. They're great for targeting the lower body, like your inner and outer thighs and also offer upper body resistance training.
10 Suspension Trainer
Your home gym should leave no muscle behind. Robinson recommends the TRX Home2 System ($185, originally $200) for its ability to hit those hard-to-reach muscles. "It supports back exercises that are pretty hard to tackle without some real gym equipment, and it adds stability challenges, too," Robinson told POPSUGAR.
