Yesterday, I was talking with a client (over text message of course, because social distancing and all…) and she was mentioning how she just bought a treadmill.
She’s currently training for a 1/2 marathon and when I suggested she just do laps of her apartment, she didn’t think that was the best idea. So, she purchased a treadmill to have at home. Apparently, this was a common thought among people right now because she said the store was quite busy with people doing the same as her.
I asked her if she purchased any other home gym equipment. She informed me that she hadn’t, but then felt silly for not consulting me before going down there. I told her I was obviously very insulted that she hadn’t, but I would give her some recommendations anyways.
Here are few home gym essentials I recommended, in the order that I would prioritize:
1. TRX Suspension Trainer – $199
This is one of the most versatile workout tools available and in my opinion gives most people the best “bang for your buck”.
I have one and I even bought my parents one for Christmas a couple years ago.
Click here to grab your TRX Suspension Trainer today.
2. Resistance Bands – price varies
When I say resistance bands, I’m talking about the ones that look like really big elastic bands, not the ones with handles on them.
There are usually 4-6 different strengths and I would just grab a full set because you’ll want heavier ones for certain exercises and lighter ones for others. A full set will typically be $100-150, maybe even less.
3. Adjustable Dumbbells – $399+
I typically recommend PowerBlocks for adjustable dumbbells. The base set will go from 5 lbs to 50 lbs and in my opinion they’re better quality then other brands.
If you’re tight on space but want a set of dumbbells, this is the way I’d go.
4. Ketllebells – price varies
I love kettlebells, but they would be a “nice to have” not a “must have” for most people’s home gyms.
They do open up a lot more variety for your workouts, so if your space and budget allow for them, I would highly recommend adding them in.
On top of these, you could always add things like:
:: Stability/Exercise Ball
:: Foam Roller & other self-myofascial release tools
:: Yoga mat
:: Adjustable Bench
:: A cardio piece like a rower, treadmill or bike
And if you’re looking to really go all out and never set foot in a commercial gym again, you could also add:
:: Squat Rack
:: Barbell & 300-500 lbs of bumper plates
All of this really depends on how elaborate you want your home gym to be, how much space you have and obviously what your budget allows for.
Happy training, my friends 💪.