Call it obsessive, but I like to put myself into situations that demand extra from my body. And whether it is hiking in jungles or going on a parkour dash through the city with a bunch of friends, fitness is key to performance in all conditions. It was with all this in mind that sometime last year I decided to join the newly opened neighborhood gym for a couple of months and see how it goes with the toning business.
Training at a gym wasn’t new to me. In the past I have briefly flirted with a gym routine but quit within a month. Now, finally, it was great to have a dedicated training routine, nutrition advice from experts and friendship with others who shared a common goal to get fitter.
The equipment in my new gym, however, was dated. As the number of memberships increased, so did my waiting time to use the machines. I suppose this is when I first wonderedif I should set up my personal home gym. After all I wanted to improve my health and develop flexibility, but did not fancy the idea of driving all the way to the gym, finding a parking spot after circling around the block and sharing equipment that were often left sweaty by other users.
The idea of a home gym can seem slightly daunting for first-timers. For starters, you may think a home gym requires a separate room and a high budget. You may even have doubts about the kind of equipment necessary to start your exercise regimen or worries about how much all of it would cost.
Our handy guide below is intended to help you through all those doubts and queries. This curated list gives an authoritative overview of the best home gym equipment available right now without breaking the bank. Our focus is on equipment for a range of fitness routines apart from just body building.
Do You Even Need A Home Gym?
That’s a valid question. Maybe you already have a gym membership. Some of you might even enjoy the eye candy and social interaction that gyms offer. There are all sorts of reasons to contemplate this decision, but to make it simpler, below is our round-up of the pros and cons that go into setting up a personal gym.
- Work out from the comfort of your own home
- Work out at any time of the day or night; set your own routine
- Avoid driving, rush hour, parking troubles
- Avoid worn out equipment and unhygienic conditions (such as showers) at your local gym
- Choose equipment based on your level of fitness expertise and desired results
- No more monthly or annual gym fees
- Complete privacy to work on your body goals without others staring at or rushing you
- Motivation! Admittedly, having a treadmill staring you down from a house corner will put some positive pressure to get moving.
- Requires a one-time investment
- Larger gym equipment requires technical assembly and dedicated space
How Should You Choose Your Home GYM Equipment?
This is an important question. Considering that some of these products are bound to set you back by a couple of hundred bucks, it pays to know what to look for while selecting the right home gym equipment for yourself. Here are some key pointers (assuming you already have your budget figured):
Workout Targets: Your personal goals driving this fitness venture should be the prime criteria for picking equipment. What workout plan will you be following? Do you want to lose weight or improve health aspects or just turn into a hunk/diva? These are the things that matter.
Quality: Of course quality matters. The last thing you want is to attempt a solitary marathon on a machine made of cheap plastic. Quality includes a good build as well as comfort. The ergonomics of it, the sturdiness and its delivery of what it promises all define the purchase quality.
Flexibility: I mean flexibility in a number of ways. For instance, flexibility in its intended use – possibilities to use the equipment for other exercises – is a bonus. Like machines that promise full-body workouts. Or flexibility in the workout settings that it offers.
Durability: The world is turning into a series of 6-month tech cycles where we must renew each of our gadgets or everything will fall apart. Well home gym equipment isn’t a smartphone; we should hope it lasts at least as long as an average washing machine.
Size: Trust me, you don’t want an equipment so heavy that, once set on your room floor, it cannot be moved until your grandson is born. Note the size; what looks tiny in an image might end up blocking your bathroom entrance. Check the specifications against measurements of the space you’d be setting up the home gym in.
Best Home Gym Equipment 2020
Since each of us have a different motive behind setting up the home gym, the idea of one ‘best’ equipment is impossible. What we have done here is carefully selected equipment that appeals to a large number of common fitness goals and hope that you find your fit in there.
Goes without saying that we expect you to consult an expert for a lowdown on your personal health condition before proceeding to reshape your body. Also, make sure you plan your nutrition intake alongside your workouts.
1. Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym
In the Bowflex range of home gyms, the Bowflex PR1000 is amongst the less costlier buys, and for that kind of money it still delivers a lot (up to 25 exercises, though if you feel like splurging the Bowflex Revolution comes with 100 exercises). For a full body workout you needn’t look far beyond this one.
What makes it the perfect choice?
Bowflex PR1000 is a pulley-based all-in-one home gym that is meant to exercise every major muscle group in the body. What makes it a perfect home gym buy is the Power Rod resistance system, which ensures that you have a comfortable, consistent tension while exercising. So you get the feel of free weights without the risk of getting injured with the real thing. Bowflex pitch it at 210 lbs of inertia-free resistance.
Bowflex PR1000 comes with detailed instructions to set up, which isn’t rocket science at all, but it can be time-consuming to assemble. Once assembled though, the three pulleys – upper, mid-level and lower – will let you target any muscle in your body. From cardio training to press exercises, the Bowflex PR1000 has it covered.
Who is this for?
Overall, Bowflex PR1000 is an affordable home gym that might be just what you needed to work out those muscles. It is ideal for beginner and intermediate levels, though if you are looking for something more advanced then you might want to check out Bowflex’s higher models.
- More than 25 exercises
- Power rod resistance
- Built-in media rack
- Multiple cable pulley positions
- Space-consuming
- Tedious to assemble
2. TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
As far as home massage tools go, the TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller is a sort of industry leader. That is because for the longest time foam rollers were generally considered a waste of dosh. I used to own one too (it was the most congenial fitness equipment to have as a beginner), but the thing just warped after the fifth month of use. That was ‘back in the day’; these days we got TriggerPoint.
What makes it the perfect choice?
Foam rollers are essentially portable massage therapy tools that will spare you the fuss of taking the best-shower-of-your-life just because you are going to a massage parlor. This therapist isn’t offended by anything. A hollow core roller with a ‘3D’ surface that lets the tissue aerate, allowing better circulation of blood and oxygen, which in turn help in muscle repair.
Like most foam rollers, the TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller also assists in lats and calf exercises, while also helping to build core, quads, back and oblique muscles. What makes this particular foam roller unique is that it lasts. I’ve had mine for three years and although I’m in shape, my tall and much heavier brother has also used it and returned the foam roller still firm in shape.
Who is this for?
TriggerPoint Foam Roller is excellent for slow-burn muscle training and physical therapy. It is ideal for those looking to aid in repairing damaged muscle. Comes recommended by physiotherapists.
- Durable
- Stays in shape
- Not the cheapest
3. Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine
The fact that Concept2’s indoor rowing machines have been standard training and testing equipment for professional rowers says something about the durable piece of tech you’d be investing in. They’ve been at it for 40 years guys, if there’s one thing we can trust them with it is a sturdy rowing machine that will work everything from arms, back, calves and thighs to core muscles.
What makes it the perfect choice?
‘All-in-one’ is a tough standard for any single piece of home gym equipment to achieve, but the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine does a good job of satisfying such ambitions at a living room level. They call it ‘low-impact workout’, and so it is.
It’s a little techie wonder, especially when compared to other rowing machines that seem to weigh a ton. And for something comparatively lightweight, the Concept2 Model D comes with a long list of features to keep you motivated in your exercise routine. One of the best is the capacity to measure your progress with a cool performance monitor that lets you adjust time, distance and intervals. It will also save your workout achievements on a pen drive. What’s more, you can adjust your workout intensity with different damper levels.
Assembly is easy, 8 screws and you’re good to chase the fitness dream to reality. There are games and fitness apps included, and the whole thing doesn’t make a sound racket either. Now that’s a good deal in my books.
Who is this for?
Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine is an excellent investment for anyone looking at a durable home gym equipment. If you have limited space, especially, you’re going to love the fact that it can easily be separated into two pieces for economical storage.
- Reliable quality
- Real-time performance tracking
- Easy storage
- Costly
4. NordicTrack T Series Treadmill
I find cardio training to be full of irony. Not entirely sure what is stronger – the benefits of cardiovascular exercises for the heart, or the damage done to the heart on hearing of the hourly session costs of a personal trainer. They come expensive alright, which is what makes the NordicTrack T Series an absolute blessing for fitness fanatics. With NordicTrack’s 45 years of experience in manufacturing exercise equipment, this is one home gym buy you aren’t about to regret.
What makes it the perfect choice?
There are treadmills, and then there are NordicTrack treadmills. What sets the latter apart is that its pre-programmed workouts are designed by certified fitness trainers, so you can be sure that you’ve got the right guidance as you walk, jog or run. Add to that Live Interactive Tech where the trainers go so far as to control your incline, decline and speed, and you know your heart is in good hands. This is interactive fitness at its best.
Other features bound to get you into the groove are the built-in mp3 player dock, Bluetooth connectivity, spacious tread belt length of 20” x 55” and an Innovative SpaceSaver design with EasyLift Assist, which means it is easily foldable to use up lesser storage space. User capacity is higher than most other home gyms – 300 lbs – and the tread cushioning can be adjusted to suit your comfort.
Overall, a solid machine equipped with DurX Smart Response Motor that lets you go on running without a sound to distract. Flipside? Many users have reported the cumbersome procedure of registering for iFit, which elicits personal details and takes too long to do it.
Who is this for?
NordicTrack T Series Treadmill is suitable for anyone keen on cardiovascular training. It’s a good-performance home gym equipment that will hold your iPod while the instructor on-screen eggs you on in your daily run.
- Excellent workout programs
- Digital incline adjustment system
- Built-in mp3 player
- Cumbersome activation
- Unreliable customer service
5. Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike
You might be toying with the comparisons between a typical upright bike and a recumbent bike. Well, unlike an upright bike, a recumbent bike comes with better ergonomics, in the sense that it distributes your weight evenly and makes the whole exercise routine more comfortable (thus motivating you to work out longer). For a low-impact full-body workout, the Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is one such home gym equipment worth considering.
What makes it the perfect choice?
There are a number of features that make Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike the perfect choice, but the one that got me hooked is the 25 levels of resistance that simulate a number of natural environments such as uphill forest roads and flat island paths. These provide you with a wide range of options for workout intensity, while the high-quality flywheel and high-speed, high-inertia drive system ensures smoother workouts.
Besides the smoothness of its operations, you can expect DualTrack LCD display, in-console speakers (not the best, but still), adjustable fan and the RideSocial app that lets you synchronize your workouts with that of your friends in realtime. There’s also fitness tracking so you can measure your progress.
Who is this for?
Schwinn 270 Recumbent Bike is ideal for people with neurological conditions. Mainly because it provides workouts for all ability levels and is a low-impact, safe equipment. Good for those of you who enjoy the rigors of biking outdoors but cannot be bothered to miss a session on a rainy day.
- Smooth workouts
- 25 levels of resistance
- 29 programs
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Tedious assembly
- Built-in speakers of average quality
6. Nautilus Elliptical Trainer
Elliptical trainers were all the rage in the 90s, but even today, with hoards of other home gym equipment spoiling us for choice, they remain a healthy option packed with pretty much every modern exercise you can think of. Nautilus Elliptical Trainer comes in three models – E614, E616 and E618 – all of which are good investment, but in this review we focus on the middle option, that is Nautilus E616 Elliptical Trainer.
What makes it the perfect choice?
With 29 programs featuring multiple exercises and 25 levels of resistance for a wider workout intensity range, the Nautilus E616 Elliptical Trainer makes for a classic home gym choice. It’s got motorized incline for you to adjust, trademarked 20-inch Precision Path Stride for more comfy, natural movement, a high-speed, high-inertia drive system like the Schwinn listed above and the option to synchronize your workouts with friends through the RunSocialapp.
With DualTrack LCD display, media shelf, Bluetooth connectivity, performance monitoring and in-built speakers, I’d say it’s a great deal. The only glitch is the weight. It’s heavy, and we recommend an expert’s assistance in assembly.
Who is this for?
This being a low-impact trainer, it is well suited not only for home gym beginners but also for those with some injuries that require special care and lesser risk.
- 29 programs
- 25 levels of resistance
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Heavy to lift
7. Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro
Bulky, high-tech equipment is the most eye-catchingly satisfying draw of any home gym, but for specific requirements you need specific equipment. And not all of it must cost a minimum of a 3-digit figure. The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro is one such investment if your plan is to build more definition.
What makes it the perfect choice?
Well, the name does say it’s perfect, and for a change the brand lives up to its precise promise. Ab carvers are, on any given day, a tried-and-tested tool for core workouts. The Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro isolates and works on your 34 deep core muscles, so for getting into ‘shape’ this is a great supplemental tool to have in your home gym.
An interior carbon steel spring makes sure you have good resistance rolling out and a fair amount of assistance rolling in. Ultra-wide treads allow for better grip and stability even as you carve left and right. Takes a bit of time getting used to, but it’s a highly affordable investment for your abs. Also, it includes a high-density foam knee pad so your comfort remains a priority.
Who is this for?
Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro is suitable for just about anyone looking at dedicated core workouts as part of their fitness regime. A perfectly inexpensive way to build your abdominals, back and arm muscles.
- Value for money
- Good resistance
- Ergonomic handles
- Heavy
8. AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379
Think balance, and Pilates comes to mind instantly. It goes to say something that this fitness system’s founder, Joseph Pilates, had a gymnast for a father and a naturopath for a mother. I personally have been following a Pilates routine for over a year and a reformer was amongst the first things I invested in while starting out. Read on to know how a reformer like this can ‘reform the body’.
What makes it the perfect choice?
AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 has four bungee cord resistance levels adjustable to suit 11 different intensity levels. This means, technically, you could perform up to 300 exercises, though this might be a myopic claim since the ground level of the equipment limits you off certain varieties of routines.
The platform cushion is comfy to say the least, and the reformer also includes a foot bar, a head and neck pillow, a rebounder and nicely padded hand and foot straps. What makes the AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 a cool buy though, is that it is a light, foldable equipment easily transported and stored in a corner when not in use. Also, the whole thing is easily assembled. Even when I was a home-gym equipment rookie it took me all of 20 minutes to have this up and ready for a routine.
Who is this for?
The AeroPilates Reformer Plus 379 is a great budget buy for Pilates enthusiasts of all levels.Its compactness makes it a real boon in cramped apartments, and the affordable price doesn’t leave many reasons to not buy one. If it helps, it comes with 4 DVDs to kickstart your Pilates lifestyle in the right way.
- Affordable
- Easy storage
- Strap adjustment difficult
- Limited exercises due to ground level
9. Balance From GoYoga 7-Piece Set
Did you think we’d forget the yoga lovers in the fitness gang? Not at all. I’m all for eastern practices, and to be honest there are muscles in the body that I don’t even feel the existence of except when I’m stretching into impossible yoga positions. Which is why, a complete yoga set is just a perfect one-time investment.
What makes it the perfect choice?
The budget set of Balance from GoYoga includes one double-sided slip-and-moisture-resistant 1/2″ yoga mat with a carrying strap, two yoga blocks for those sitting positions, a mat towel, a microfiber hand towel, one yoga strap and a knee pad. That’s everything you’d need when starting out on your yoga dreams, and the whole set comes in 5 bright colors to choose from.
At this point, you must be wondering about the dozens of such sets on sale online. True, they all make the same promises. But I find this to be one of the more affordable deals. If there’s a flipside, it is the thickness of the mat. I’d have liked it to be more considering what headstands do to my palms on a hard floor.
Who is this for?
Balance from GoYoga 7-piece set is ideal for beginners, of course. But also for those of you yoga masters who are taking off on a trip and would rather carry a cheap set than your regular gear, Balance from GoYoga is an affordable way forward.
- Value for money
- Moisture- and slip-resistant
- No carry bag included
10. Amazon Basics Battle Exercise Training Rope
Want something extra disciplined for your so-far extravagant home gym shopping list? But you gotta try a rope exercise to know just how far simple tools can work up those muscles. Not just that, a training rope is a skill added to your body’s maneuverability. For strength training, the Amazon Basics Battle Exercise Training Rope is an excellent investment.
What makes it the perfect choice?
Trust me on this, you don’t want to fool around with a flimsy rope for some of the most demanding exercises possible at home by yourself. The Amazon Basics Battle Exercise Training Rope is available in 1.5 to 2-inch thickness, both of which are durable like rocks. The 3-strand design is made of a durable polyester blend, so no matter how much you put it to test with pulling, undulating or climbing, this rope is bound to stay in form. No fraying, no breaking; that’s the kind of minimum safety you need for such strength training.
This resistance tool so popular amongst athletes and professionals is great for a full-body workout, provided you know the exercises. I’ve been a slow learner myself, but I’m sure this rope is set to outlast my long learning process.
Who is this for?
Training with ropes is one of the most intensive workouts you can opt for. Simply for this reason the Amazon Basics Battle Exercise Training Rope is best suited for more advanced users who know how to handle it and get the most out of all the demanding movements that the rope enables.
- Durable
- Portable
- Costly
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Last update on 2020-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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