These 17 pieces of editor-tested gear will help you achieve your workout goals, right from your own pad.
Rich Scherr is an updates strategist and fact checker for Dotdash Meredith brands, including Health and Verywell. He is a seasoned financial and technology journalist who served as editor-in-chief of the Potomac Tech Wire for nearly two decades, and is a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun. He has also been a news editor for America Online and has contributed to the Associated Press and The Washington Post. Advanced Test Equipment
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Whether you lift weights, run, stretch, or have another preferred method for exercise, the most important thing is that you make sure it's part of your routine. Research shows that in addition to helping you reach physique goals, exercising actually helps you live longer—so finding a way to do it is a great long-term choice.
If you’re not able to make it to a commercial gym, you can still reap the benefits of exercise by purchasing home gym equipment. According to Jacob Sharf, an in-home and corporate personal trainer, building a home gym is absolutely worth it, especially if it’s your only workout option. Hesh Elberger, a fitness trainer at Iron Culture Gym in North Bergen, New Jersey, agrees that you can get a good workout with a minimal amount of equipment, and you can even do it from the comfort of your own basement or garage.
To find the best workout gear to outfit your home gym, we tested a wide range of fitness products to make the best recommendations in 17 categories. We focused mainly on factors like ease of use, storage, durability, and overall value, as well as ease of assembly and grip quality when applicable. Whether you want cardio equipment, strength training gear, or anything in between, this list has you covered.
Right from the start, we loved Cap Barbell Hex Rubber Dumbbells for their basic design, as opposed to flashier and more colorful options on the market. They’re also durable and reasonably priced. Made from solid cast iron with chrome-plated handles, we found them to be exceptionally comfortable and easy to use. The knurling on the handle helped us maintain a good grip, even when our hands were sweaty.
The dumbbells feature a rubber coating that proved to be particularly durable, and there was no damage at all when we dropped them on concrete. Additionally, they proved to be accurate to the weight listed, down to the ounce. The hexagon shape help prevent the dumbbells from rolling when they are put on the floor, and they’re available in 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 60 pound options to provide a thorough workout for any fitness goal.
The dumbbells aren’t adjustable, so if you want more weight you’ll have to buy more, which means more money spent and more space required for storage.
For more affordable dumbbells, we like BalanceFrom’s Rubber Coated Dumbbell Weight Set. Like the CAP choice above, these are made with solid cast and a rubber encasing, but they cost even less. They’re incredibly simple in design, and while there are better knurlings available on more expensive options, we found these kept us feeling safe and comfortable during workouts, though they left a bit to be desired when wet.
Although they’re not adjustable, a single pair of these dumbbells didn’t take up much space for us in testing, fitting neatly into a corner of the room. Additionally, the rubber encasing kept them perfectly protected when we dropped them directly onto concrete. They’re available in 5-pound increments from 5-50 pounds, or you can purchase a 150-pound set, which includes 5-25 pound dumbbells and a rack to hold them.
One thing to be mindful of with these dumbbells is that there is a bit of a disparity and some inaccuracy with some of the weights. While this is fairly normal with weights, one of the 10-pound weights was almost a full pound lighter, at 9.14 pounds.
Adjustable dumbbells are a highly convenient way to access to more weights without having to turn your home into a commercial gym filled with dumbbells. Ethos 50 Pound Selectable Dumbbells provide a 5-50 pound weight range, adjustable in five-pound increments. The weights are made of a steel and plastic construction. We found them to be comfortable in our hands, with a girth that would accommodate both larger and smaller hands. They were easy to grip even when our hands were wet.
The smaller profile of these dumbbells takes up about as much space as a chair, and the storage rack was light and easy to move around while still being sturdy and secure. All you have to do to adjust the weight is to place them in the storage rack and twist a dial to change the weight, which we found to turn smoothly.
There was mild rattling with these dumbbells during use, but it was nothing that made us feel that they were unsafe or poorly made. Sometimes it also took a bit of wiggling to get the dumbbells back into the storage rack. Another thing to be aware of is that while 50 pounds may be enough for beginners, more advanced lifters may not find this to be enough weight for them.
If you’re a CrossFitter or someone who loves implementing kettlebells into a workout, Cap Barbell’s Cast Iron Competition Kettlebell is our pick for you. We found the grip on this kettlebell to be the perfect combination of smooth and rough. It’s easy on the hands, but you won’t feel like you’ll lose your grip. Even compared to more expensive options, we found these kettlebells never got slippery when wet.
Made of cast-iron with no welds or seams, as well as an industrial coated powder finish, we found this kettlebell to be particularly durable in testing. They’re available in weights of 9, 13, 18, 26, 35, 44, 53, 62, 70, 80, and 88 pounds.
The kettlebells are sold individually, and while they are a great value, the cost adds up if you want multiple weights.
Kettlebells can get a bit expensive when you have to purchase more than one. We liked Bowflex’s SelectTech 840 Kettlebell because it’s adjustable and budget-friendly without sacrificing quality. The compact design comes with six weight increments: 8, 12, 20, 25, 35, and 40 pounds.
A simple turn of the weight adjustment dial enables you to easily adjust the kettlebell. It’s made from composite and earned high marks for its durability. And unlike other adjustable weight options, we appreciate that this one is not bulky at all and takes up minimal space when not in use.
One drawback of these kettlebells was the grip. We felt they could have come with more of a textured feel to make them easier to hold onto while working out.
If your preferred method of cardio is running on a treadmill, our pick is Bowflex’s Treadmill 10. It’s easy to operate and includes a handful of features that make it a stand-out product. The built-in user interface in an adjustable HD touchscreen enables you to track metrics, follow trainer-led videos, stream shows, experience outdoor settings, get virtual coaching, and play music through Bluetooth speakers. Do note, though, that some of these features require a JRNY membership.
You can adjust the incline up to 15% or set a 5% decline, which is rare in treadmills. You can also set the speed as high as 15 miles per hour. We like that it provides three separate ways to adjust the incline/decline and speed, with two number pads, two handlebars, and two handrails. Additionally, we found this option to be comfortable to use, with a spacious running belt that has great traction and shock absorption. We didn’t experience any rattling or shaking when running on this machine, and we love that it comes with a built-in fan.
The treadmill proved difficult for us to assemble. For starters, it comes in a box that weighs more than 400 pounds, and the screen was a bit difficult to put together. For taller people it can also be a bit awkward to look down at the metrics while riding.
For a budget-friendly treadmill that has less features but still left us impressed, the Sunny Health and Fitness Premium Folding Incline Treadmill is the way to go. It’s much easier to assemble than the Bowflex option, requiring only a few pieces be screwed together.
This is more of a no-frills option and is great for someone who just needs a treadmill. It doesn’t feature a lot of options, but you also don’t have to connect it to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to use it, though you can connect it to the brand’s app. Instead, you simply choose how many miles you want to run and then press go. The left handle allows you to start and stop the track, while the right handle gives you freedom to adjust the speed. The speed adjusts rather quickly, going from 4 to 9 miles per hour in just 24 seconds and then back down to 4.5 miles per hour in just 13 seconds.
There’s a bit of noise when running on this treadmill, and in testing we found we needed subtitles if watching television while using it. Additionally, you can set up an incline, but you have to do it manually, which makes it less enticing. Lastly, while 9 miles per hour may be perfectly fine for beginners, more advanced runners may find it’s not enough speed.
If you’re looking to maximize your home gym setup, a sturdy bench is an essential component. Flybird’s Adjustable Bench checked off a lot of boxes for us and earned its spot on our list during our testing. For starters, it’s easy to assemble and comes folded in one piece, and it’s also lightweight. Both the back of the bench and the seat are adjustable, with six back positions (19°, 32°, 44°, 58°, 76°, flat) and four seat positions (9°, 17°, 26°) to give you the ability to do flat bench, incline bench, and shoulder presses at your own comfort level.
This option can also be folded and we found it to be particularly easy to carry when we needed to transport it. Despite its lighter weight, it is still made from commercial grade steel and has a 600-pound weight limit. The padding proved to be particularly comfortable.
One thing to be mindful of with this option is that while it is sturdy when laying down on it, we found it wobbled slightly when we used it for exercises like step ups.
If you don’t like to use barbells and dumbbells to get a workout, resistance bands are another great option, especially when you’re on the go. Chareada’s 23-Pack Resistance Bands were our best pick when it came to quality and affordability. These resistance bands are made with an eco-friendly natural latex and come with a surprising amount of gear inside, including loop bands, a glider disk for ab workouts, a jump rope, ankle anchor, door anchor, wrist guards, two styles of handles to attach to the tubes, and a microfiber towel. The color-coded bands come in weights of 10 (yellow), 20 (green), 30 (red), 40 (green), and 50 (black) pounds.
We found the main bands to be versatile and easy to use. Taller people should have no issue with them as they are plenty long, and shorter people can just wrap them around their wrist to decrease the length as needed. Everything is intuitive, including the attachments. Additionally, we found the handles had great cushioning and worked just as well with sweaty hands as they did with dry hands. A small travel pouch makes the set super compact and easy to put in a bag or a backpack. And as an added bonus, there’s no latex smell.
We didn’t find much use for the microfiber towel.
We were impressed by Bowflex’s Velocore Bike 16” for a few reasons. For starters, thanks to the stabilizers and mat, we didn’t experience any wobbling while using it, even when we transitioned from the seated to the standing position, increased our speed dramatically, or changed the resistance level. It also comes with a one-year membership to JRNY, providing a slew of ways to work out. While it didn’t come assembled, we found it was easy to put together and the instructions were helpful.
You can seamlessly hook your feet into the pedals of this bike with ease, and we found they stayed perfectly in place throughout our rides. Additionally, the display impressed us with its large size and the option to toggle the brightness and volume with ease. This bike also made it easy to track our workout metrics, such as time, distance, cadence, calorie burn rate, heart rate, and resistance level. You can measure heart rate with the included armband via Bluetooth. You also have the option to choose from recordings of actual trainers or an AI coach that talks you through the entire workout to help keep you engaged.
Although the seat can be adjusted up or down as well as forward and back, the handlebars are completely stationary. However, they’re also designed to accommodate different hand positions, so you’ll be able to make them work for you. We also felt that the seat left something to be desired in terms of comfort and was comparable to a standard bike seat, causing some mild soreness for the first two or three workouts.
If cycling is your preferred method of exercise for weight loss or aerobic purposes, we found Schwinn’s 190 Upright to be the way to do it from home without breaking the bank. We found the base is wider than the previous model and did a good job of avoiding wobbling even at maximum speeds. The bike comes with an included JRNY app subscription that’s compatible with your phone to allow you to control every aspect of the workout. This feature is particularly helpful for beginners who don’t know where to start, since it comes with instructor-led programs that offer insights into cadence, resistance, burn rate, foot positioning, hand placement, and posture.
Whereas the previous model only allowed you to mildly adjust the handlebars and move the seat slightly forward and back, with this model you can tilt and adjust the handlebars as well as tighten the handlebars and the seat. With a quick-lock seat adjustment, you can raise and lower the seat easily with one hand, even while in use. But what stood out to us with this model was the comfort of the seat. The adjustable foam comfort seat is slightly larger and more padded than the previous model.
One place this option left us desiring a bit more was the display. When connected to the app, the screen of the display goes blank. Additionally, there’s no tablet holder, so if you want to watch something on your tablet while riding, you’ll block some of the display. It also can’t connect to your watch to track your vitals.
For the plyometric exercise lover, Ultra Fitness Gear’s Plyo Box is a great way to get that workout in right from home. It’s available in small, medium, and large size options, but for our testing we used the smallest choice. We found it to have excellent stability, not moving or slipping even when used on grass. While the 3/4-inch thick plywood is thinner than other models, the wood didn’t warp or buckle, even when jumped on. The boxes have also been tested to withstand weights of up to 450 pounds.
Additional features we appreciate with this box include the handle cutouts and how easy it was to lift and move. It’s also adjustable, ranging between heights of 12, 14, and 16 inches depending on how you rotate the box. Do be aware that the smaller size is quite small, making it a good choice for beginners, but not quite enough for intermediate or advanced users.
This option is suited for beginners but isn’t ideal for more advanced users.
As far as reasonably priced free-standing punching bags go, the FITVEN Freestanding punching bag proved to be the best choice in our testing. The all-inclusive set features not only a freestanding punching bag but also a set of gloves. It’s easy to set up, with no additional tools required. It also features suction cups to keep the bag anchored to the ground.
In our experience, the suction cups kept the bag in place without having to add sand, though we did find it to move slightly with some punches, such as upper hits. With a height range of 47 to 73 inches, the bag is a good choice for every member of the family. We found it was neither too hard nor too soft, and the price is just right.
As you get stronger, the suction cups on the bottom may not be enough to keep the bag secure on the floor.
We love lululemon’s The Workout Mat for its quality material and amount of thickness. We’ve tested thinner options in the past, and we found the 6mm thickness of this mat provided more cushion and comfort when doing poses that put our joints directly into contact with the floor. At 71 inches long, the mat can accommodate taller people, even during fully extended yoga positions like a plank or downward facing dog.
The top layer of this mat is made with recycled PVB to eliminate waste, and it features a raised textural design for added traction. In testing, we found the texture provided great grip, even when our hands were sweaty.
As is often the case with yoga mats, we found this option had a slight chemical odor at first, but fortunately it dissipated quickly. Additionally, although the 6mm thickness provides exceptional support and comfort for most exercises and yoga poses, it might not be enough for sessions that include extended time lying on your back.
XMark’s Adjustable Decline Ab Workout Bench features 12 different levels of decline. The 14-gauge steel mainframe is durable and left us feeling secure and safe. The adjustability makes it a highly versatile choice for beginners and advanced lifters alike.
The bench also comes with an ergonomic leg holder with 4-inch contoured roller pads and 2.5-inch vinyl cushions. These comfort features combined with the decline option enable you to get into positions you wouldn’t be able to access without an ab bench. We highly recommend it, especially for advanced lifters who are looking to add new exercises to their routine.
One drawback we found with this bench is that it cannot lie completely flat. While it is a decline bench, we feel that adding this ability would make it even more versatile.
Mirror workouts provide a fun and novel way to get your exercise in at home. In particular, lululemon’s The Mirror included a handful of features that made it stand out in our testing. It provides you with the option to do plenty of workouts as well as live classes. The app is able to recommend classes based on what you’ve done before, and it also offers 15-minute workouts. You can do workouts that are tailored to specific body parts, such as upper body or glutes and legs.
The best thing about this mirror is its versatility. There’s no shortage of workouts to choose from, including barre, kickboxing, dance studio, vinyasa, strength, and more. It also offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, and we found the instructors to be helpful and encouraging. Lastly, an added bonus is that when it’s not in use, this is a sleek and stylish mirror that adds to the overall aesthetic of whatever room you put it in.
You have the option with this mirror to leave it freestanding or to mount it, and it also comes with white glove delivery service. While it doesn’t include any accessories, you can purchase items like a heart rate tracker, smart weights, and smart weight bangles. In our opinion, the $39 per month subscription for unlimited classes absolutely gets you your money’s worth. Plus, with the subscription you earn 10% off lululemon apparel and 20% off classes at certain studios.
One tricky thing to be aware of with this mirror is that it needs to be near an outlet, so you might need to reconfigure your space. You also have to pair your phone with the mirror every time you want to do a workout.
You may be asking yourself, how different could one foam roller be from another? Well, we found the TriggerPoint Grid Patented Multi-Density Foam Massage Roller to impress us with its design, which is more forgiving and accommodating for beginners. We found it to have softer grooves than competing foam rollers, allowing it to work into muscle knots without overly digging in. We also found the shorter length worked well for rolling your inner legs.
The roller doesn’t take up much space, and we even used the inside to store things when we needed to. The firmer core of this foam roller is a hollow and plastic tube, which we felt gave us good control over how much pressure we applied.
The smaller profile of this foam roller may make it hard to target larger areas like your back.
To find the best home gym equipment, we spoke with several fitness experts to get their advice on which items are most essential for a good home workout. Because of the wide range of products on our list, we conducted unique research for each item, rating each product on a scale of one to five. Here are some of the qualities we considered for each home gym item:
Elberger says investing in a home gym is absolutely worth it, noting that you can get a great workout with a minimal amount of equipment. Sharf agrees that a home gym is worth the time and money, especially if you don’t plan on getting a gym membership.
Elberger says making a home gym is not as pricey as people might think, especially if you use simple tools like dumbbells or a pulley cable. Adjustable dumbbells are a cost-effective way to conserve space. Depending on what your goals are, Elberger says you can put together a great home gym setup for under $1,000.
According to Elberger, a barbell, bench press, and squat rack will allow you to do a wide variety of exercises. Multifunctional options like a barbell are also effective because they allow you to do different exercises like overhead presses and curls. Dumbbells can also provide a lot of variety, especially adjustable ones that allow you to progressively overload and build strength over time.
Elberger tells us that if you can bench, deadlift, and squat, you can build a solid training program. He also notes that bands can be good for stretching as well as resistance exercise. In Sharf’s opinion, resistance bands are the way to go, especially if you’re a beginner. They’re affordable, portable, and allow you to progress quickly. If you’re more experienced, Sharf likes adjustable dumbbells for building muscle and strength.
Jack Byram is a freelance writer who covers all things health and home related. He is an avid exercise fanatic who is constantly researching and speaking with experts about how to get the most out of his exercise. He is also always trying new exercise equipment to make better recommendations in his work.
Zhao M, Veeranki SP, Magnussen CG, Xi B. Recommended physical activity and all cause and cause specific mortality in US adults: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2020;370:m2031. doi:10.1136/bmj.m2031
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