Top 10 Pieces of Equipment Needed in a Home Gym
With more and more gyms popping up, it's difficult to find an excuse not to join and get in better shape. However, common excuses persist, such as gyms being too expensive, inconvenient, or time-consuming. But what if you could eliminate all those excuses and still achieve your fitness goals?With the average size of homes increasing every year, chances are you have more open space than you realize. Additionally, with so many new fitness companies entering the market, equipment prices are dropping to all-time lows.
Why not set up your own personal home gym? For around a hundred dollars, you can have everything you need to get in the best shape of your life. Below are the most essential pieces of equipment to start your home gym. You might not need all of these, but I recommend choosing the items that best fit your needs and goals.
This can be a stereo, a TV, something. This sounds weird but let's face it, working out without your headphones or some other form of mental distraction can ruin your motivation. Keep your brain amped up and motivated, and your body will follow.
Whether it's in a doorway or fixed to a wall, having somewhere to not only do pull-ups but also just hang, put bands around and pull down. It's versatile and essential.
Sure, you might not have room to put this in your living room, or maybe you do. Regardless, if you are going to make a serious attempt at working out at home, you're going to want an Olympic bar. Curls, bench press, rows, deadlifts, pretty much all lifts will use this one.
This is separate from the Olympic bar because many people will just think of a bar with the plates together. However, bumper plates are essential because they aren't just metal plates. In fact, they are rubber-covered. These are important because you can drop them without ruining your floors. They don't crack or chip, and they are easier to handle.
I recommend a 35lb kettlebell as it's the standard single weight in the Russian KB system. You can use it for swings, general weights, or in place of a dumbbell. It's versatile and ergonomic.
I recommend getting at least one set of dumbbells. If you can't afford to buy multiples, buy the lightest set you think you'll need. You can always increase the reps or decrease the speed instead of using a heavier pair. Now, you'll also have the correct weights for your lightest needs.
If you have cold winters, you'll need a heater to help with those first few minutes before your body warms up. If you've got hot summers, a large fan will keep your body from overheating and staying comfortable.
Unless you're going to be working out on your living room floor, you're eventually going to end up laying, kneeling, crawling, on a cold, hard floor. A mat will make you more likely to do those pushups, burpees, or lunges. And it'll help with shock absorption.
Make them out of PVC pipe for something lightweight and incredibly inexpensive. Use them for pushups, dips, handstands, you name it.
You'll want this for everything from bench presses to dips to box jumps. If it adjusts, all the better because then you can use it at an angle and double or triple your workout options.