Must-Have Home Gym Equipment for Beginners

If you are starting out in fitness, you might be looking for home gym equipment for beginners. A gym may be a popular workout place, but it’s certainly not the only suitable venue for a productive exercise session. In fact, a lot of people feel that a home workout session is far more feasible. You don’t have to match other people’s schedules or have to compete for equipment. You also don’t have to worry about germs or what you’re wearing. It also means not having to spend your hard-earned money on a gym membership. With a home gym, you are in charge! You can manage your time according to your chores and create a comfortable environment that allows you to focus on your fitness goals without any distractions.

Dumbbells

Among the best pieces of home gym equipment for beginners are a good set of dumbbells. They come in sets of different weights, allowing you to vary the weight for each exercise and gain strength. The dumbbells coated in vinyl material make their texture smoother, give them a non-slip grip, and also make them resistant against rust. They can be easily cleaned and sanitized. You can use a lighter set of dumbbells for shoulders and arms. For lower body exercises such as lunges and squats, get a heavier set. The exercises you can do with dumbbells are endless, hence their purchase is totally worth it for your home gym.

Kettlebells

A lot of people are of the opinion that kettlebells are not essential because their movements can be done with a dumbbell as well. But you must know that there are certain kettlebell movements that are unique, while some movements work better and are more challenging when performed with it. They are perfect for swings, squats, clean and jerks, or as a means to add difficulty and weight to your standard row or lunge. When purchasing kettlebells, go for the ones with big smooth handles.

Punching Bag

A punching bag is one of those home gym options many people don’t pay attention to. Mixing up your fitness workout approach with sports training is always a good idea. And you can simply do that with the help of a punching bag at home. It is set up easily in a few seconds and you’re good to go for a long time. A good free-standing bag will help reduce your stress levels, improve body shape, build confidence and strength, while also taking care of your cardiovascular workout. Besides, you could also learn about and practice self-defense and boxing techniques.

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands may look like simple gym equipment, but incorporating their use in your exercise routine has tons of benefits. Resistance bands are flat, sometimes looped bands that come in different sizes, lengths and intensities, ranging from light to extra heavy. You can use different resistance levels for different exercises or even combine multiple bands to increase the challenge. These simple inexpensive exercise tools are particularly useful for strength and toning workouts. There are a variety of exercises you can use them for. These include chest press, tricep extensions, bicep curls, and assisted pull-ups. They offer great support for post-workout stretches.

Medicine Ball

A great tool for core strength and plyometric exercises, a medicine ball is an essential item for home gym equipment. There are a variety of ways in which you can make use of it. You can carry it, throw it, do abdominal exercises, and burn out your chest and abs by performing a push-up on it; the options are endless. When purchasing it, look for a softball so that it doesn’t hurt when doing exercises that involve catching and throwing.

Jump Rope

A jump rope is one of the best home exercise equipment for cardio. Jumping rope can burn up to 600 calories in 30 minutes, which is more than most other cardio exercises burn. Besides being an excellent aerobic workout, it increases muscle engagement and helps build endurance. It also improves your sense of balance and coordination. So get an adjustable rope, choose an area away from furniture, windows and doors (outdoor is recommended) and get started with skipping. It’s a lot harder than it looks, but its advantages are enormous. As you get better at jumping rope, you’ll develop and better other skills, like speed, agility, and boxing.

Treadmill

With a treadmill at home you can rack up serious mileage without having to leave the house. You can run, walk or mix it up with intervals. It is very useful for cardio. When looking for a treadmill for your home gym, choose a sturdy frame for support, emergency shutoffs for safety, and user-friendly controls to modify speed, resistance, and incline.

Exercise Bike

Having an exercise bike at home means you don’t ever have to worry about rain, wind, or traffic. The exercise works wonders for your leg muscles and is great for your cardiovascular system. When shopping for this piece of equipment, it’s wise to look for specific features such as wide pedals, a comfortable seat, and adjustable resistance levels and handlebars.

Foam Roller

It’s great to have a foam roller at home to stretch with. Foam rolling is good to perform both to warm up or cool down, before and after a workout. By slowly rolling over different areas of your body, you can speed up the healing process. A foam roller can be used to loosen up common areas of tightness such as the upper back, quadriceps, and outer thighs.

Yoga Mat

A yoga mat is extremely important for at-home exercises, even if you are not interested in yoga. They create a comfortable cushioned workout floor which is essential for exercises that involve getting on the floor. The extra padding between the ground and yourself protects your sensitive body parts like knees and wrists against heavyweights and hard surfaces. When not in use, you can store it, or if you have kids you can leave it out for them to play on.

Final Word

A complete home gym is a rather hefty investment, but now you know it’s not necessary for an effective workout session. This is especially true if you’re just starting your fitness journey. The home gym equipment for beginners is actually quite affordable.