You know that 3 o’clock feeling of being at work, wanting to be home, and knowing that you still have to go to the gym? Or maybe you are stuck at home in the middle of a snowstorm and the gym is closed? Perhaps you just flat out prefer working out at home. Any or all of these reasons is a great one to start building your own home gym. Not sweat, this home gym will not break the bank or take up your entire house! The pieces of equipment that I have listed below are easily stored so they will not be lying about and they are the ones that I use in my own home gym!
Kettlebell
This is most likely the most versatile piece of equipment that you will buy for your home gym. I use a kettlebell for abs, kettlebell swings, goblet squats, shoulder presses, and so much more! This piece of equipment will last you forever. I would recommend a 15-20lb kettlebell for a beginner, a 30-40lb kettlebell for intermediate, and up to a 50lb kettlebell for advanced users. Obviously, you are going to want to use lighter weight for abs than a goblet squat, so use your intuition on which weight is right for you. A 30lb kettlebell on Amazon is $39.99, and the price goes up or down depending on the size you get. Walmart is also another great place to pick up a kettlebell. You can buy one from Amazon here.
Light/Med/Heavy dumbbells
I would recommend getting a light set of dumbbells for things like shoulder exercises, a set of medium weight dumbbells for things like biceps/triceps, and a set of heavy dumbbells for things like chest/back. To get the best bang for your buck, I would recommend a set of adjustable dumbbells. You can get set of adjustable dumbbells that goes up to 52.5lb each for $96.49 on Amazon with free shipping! Considering one set of 50lb dumbbells is over $100.00, this set definitely gives you the biggest bang for your buck! You can buy them from Amazon here.
Pull Up Bar
This tool is excellent for upper body development (pull-ups/chin-ups), as well as ab work (hanging leg raises). This is a great piece because it is easily stored and can be attached to a doorway with no hardware. You can buy an awesome pull-up bar that gives you different hand positions (wide, medium, close) for $22.99. You can buy one from Amazon here.
Resistance Bands
Hands down one of my favorite pieces of equipment for a home gym. Light, easily stored, portable, and versatile, these are a cheap but effective way to get a full body workout for just $23.45. Bicep curls, triceps extensions, squats, glute work, ab work, and so much more can be done with these small bands. They are also great for traveling! You can bring them camping, to a hotel, or even to the beach with absolutely no fuss! You can buy one from Amazon here.
Speed Rope
One of the most effective ways to get a cardio workout in in a short amount of time is the speed rope. A 10 minute HIIT workout will leave you dripping in sweat! The best part? You can buy one for $10.00 from Amazon here.
Plyometric Box
Plyometric boxes are excellent for many different things, including box jumps, single leg box squats, weighted step ups, and so much more! These can be stacked on top of each other so they are easily stored, and they are sturdy enough for even your toughest workout! You can buy a set including 16″/12″/14″ boxes for $49.99 here on Amazon!
Your total: $242.91. A typical gym membership costs $30/month. This means that your home gym investment will pay for itself in 8 months! I love working out at home because I don’t have to wait to use the equipment, I don’t have to wear headphones, and I can sing to my music as loud as I like without bothering anyone ;).
Do you workout at home? If so, what equipment do you use? Do you enjoy working out at home? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
