How to Find the Best Home Gym Equipment
It's a significant investment, but often cheaper than a gym membership. Before you shop decide on the kind of exercise you'd like do and the space you have available.
If you have limited space, choose compact equipment such as the Bells of Steel Cable Tower or an intelligent home fitness system such as Tonal.
Space
Having the right equipment at home can make it much easier to stick with your exercise program. If you're strapped for time or don't have the time to travel to a gym, or do not want to deal with crowds, a space in your home or garage can help you break a sweat at your own pace.
You will need to invest funds to build the perfect training space. This will depend on your space's dimensions and the type of equipment you choose. It is recommended to start small and gradually build up over time, so that you can determine the type of equipment you will need to accomplish your goals.
The best equipment to use in your home gym will offer an array of exercises that target the main muscles. A power rack, for instance, is a foundational piece of equipment for strength that can enable you to bench press, perform lat pulldowns, and squats. Many of them, like the SR-4000 from REP Fitness, are built to be as compact as is possible without sacrificing functionality and durability. It features a 2-post stand profile, which reduces the footprint and is compatible with a range of accessories that can increase the capacity.
You can also make the most of the utilization of your space by choosing equipment that is multi-functional and can be stacked together, such as the TRX system. These portable suspension trainers were designed by Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick to be used in the field. They're a convenient and simple way to get an all-body workout while on the move. They can be folded and nested to reduce space, and some come with attachments that allow you to focus on particular muscle groups or to add extra resistance.
A vibration plate is another alternative that is flexible. It can be used for bodyweight workouts as well as to add an extra challenge for advanced lifters. For example, the AXV Vibration Plate comes with a remote control and 120 speed settings to allow for a customized experience. You can also pair it with resistance bands to target different muscle groups or an bungee cord for an element of dynamic movement.
Capacity for Weight
Home gym equipment can range in size from a basic power tower to a full-on smart home gym, but regardless of the type of equipment you pick the weight capacity must be high enough to allow you to do many different exercises. If you're a beginner begin small with something like a set of dumbbells or a single pair of barbells that can aid in building strength for your upper body and work your back muscles. If you're a committed lifter, you might want to consider a heavier power rack that can hold large dumbbells and many other accessories like lever arms, dip bar, a landmine accessory, seal row pad and many more.
A bench should be included on your list of home gym essentials If you're a space-conscious lifter, consider an adjustable bench that allows you to perform incline and decline presses without taking up a lot of room in your garage. A flat bench will also work, but you'll need to add a set of barbells or dumbbells if you're looking to do isolated exercises like chest press or Bicep curls.
If you're interested in functional training and want to improve your fitness, then a plate stack resistance functional trainer is the perfect piece of equipment for you. This kind of machine targets a variety of muscles simultaneously with a combination of squats as well as bench presses. Functional trainers come with many options. They have cable attachments for tricep flyes and pushdowns as well as the ability to alter the resistance on your own.
Although it might seem obvious, the type of equipment you purchase is a major factor in how effective and enjoyable your exercises are. You should ensure that the equipment you purchase is crafted from high-quality materials that are resistant to regular use. It's crucial for people with limited funds to select equipment made of high-quality materials.
If you're on the tightest budget, you should consider buying home gyms that are a hybrid of an exercise bike and a rowing machine. This type of home fitness equipment offers an ideal workout for your entire body and can help save you money over the course of time.
Versatility
If you have a designated space for a gym at home or are planning to exercise in your living room there are many options to meet your fitness goals and budget. To narrow down your options begin by assessing the amount of space in your home and the exercises you'd like to focus on the most. Think about the type of equipment that best meets your needs. For instance, a Life Fitness G7 Home Gym for instance, provides more than 55 exercises and user-defined moves in a footprint that is smaller than a queen-sized bed. Some machines can be folded and stowed to save even more space.
If you're looking to stick to a smaller budget, consider options like resistance bands, which can be used for strength training and stretching and are compact and portable. These can also be an excellent addition to your existing set-up, such as adding some light resistance bands to a dumbbell set or combining them with a bench to perform lower body exercises.
A quality exercise mat is another must-have for a well-rounded home gym, providing a stable surface for exercises that require standing and decreasing the chance of sliding or falling off. In addition, many mats are also light and mobile, making them easy to store when not in use. A pair of adjustable dumbbells will add flexibility to your fitness center. You can perform exercises like bench presses and seated dumbbell rowing while varying weight loads according to your fitness level.
Smart home gym equipment, such as the Peloton Guide can be a great addition to your home gym. It offers a variety of guided workouts, and a small footprint. It is also easy to use and compatible with a wide selection of TVs and monitors.
The REP PR-4000, a good value home gym, is a versatile machine that lets you perform Nordic hamstring curls, glute-ham raises, and hip thrusts. It can hold users up to 7 feet tall and features 12 different adjustments, all with easy-to-read laser-etched numbers.
Aesthetics
There's no doubt that fitness equipment is a bit different from what it was in the past. Certain brands have modern designs and are integrated with wellness apps to draw in those who appreciate aesthetics more than function. While other equipment has become so comprehensive that it is able to substitute the need to go to the gym (and even track and adjust to your fitness gains).
As space concerns continue to be a major concern for many, we've seen an increase in the variety of home gym options that offer a lower footprint and cost. For example, we love the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical for its affordable price and limited footprint. The elliptical comes with preset workouts, a short stride, and is ideal for those who live in apartments or other small spaces.
stationary bicycle that we love is the Torque F9 Fold-Away Functional Trainer. The full-trainer is lightweight but has enough power to exercise your entire body. It also has two doors that can be closed off from children or pets. The Torque also comes with a wood grain look to enhance the aesthetics of your space.
You should consider adding a powerrack to your home gym if you want a solution that can do more than just track your progress. As the name suggests, these racks let you to lift heavy weights using a variety of exercises, helping you develop a serious amount of strength and endurance. We like the Bells of Steel Manticore power rack that starts at $600 but can grow in cost depending on the customizations you make. It is also simple to use and has a solid design, which is vital for heavy lifting.
No home gym is complete without benches and dumbbells. While benches of standard size can be purchased at any home-supply store We recommend getting one designed specifically for home gyms. The benches that come with these models have a few tweaks that make them better for working out at home for example, a tough rubber coating and moderate knurl to prevent your hands from sliding off the bar after having been working out for awhile.
