Home gyms have become a popular option for many fitness enthusiasts of all fitness levels. There are many benefits that derive from owning a home gym. While putting together a home gym requires a lot of time and effort, the result is worth it.
In this article, we will be discussing the essential gym equipment you should have for a home gym, regardless of your fitness level, for general fitness. If you are training for a specific sport, like powerlifting or bodybuilding, your essential gym equipment list will vary slightly. I would highly recommend searching on the second-hand market for majority of your equipment, if possible. The second-hand market is a great place to accumulate quality gym equipment for incredible prices. Some second-hand markets include: garage sales, Offerup, Letgo, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist. I personally have had the best luck with Craigslist. Keep in mind, purchasing on the second-hand market requires patience for good deals. I will discuss how to find good deals in an upcoming article.
If you are on a budget, and limited in regards to space, you can still set up a functional home gym that will enhance your training. One of the most versatile piece of exercise equipment would be the kettlebell. With the kettlebell, there are endless variations of exercises you can do to train most major muscle groups. Some exercises include: kettlebell swings, kettlebell snatches, goblet squats, weighted calf raises, lunges, single arm rows, curls, overhead presses, and so much more. The kettlebell is such a useful tool that could supplement major lifts, such as the squats and deadlifts. When I initially started out, I could not figure out how to properly hip hinge for squats and deadlifts. After incorporated the use of kettlebells, I have significantly improved my strength and form with my squats and deadlifts. Kettlebells have a wide range of prices and quality. Walmart often has sales on generic kettlebells, and weights, but the quality may not be as good as some other better known brands. REP Fitness has some great prices on quality kettlebells. Ironmaster also offers adjustable kettlebells as well if space is an issue and you would like to have weight variation.
Another versatile piece of equipment would be gymnastic rings or a pull/chin up bar. These two pieces of equipment do not take up any floor space and provide a great way to train biceps, back, abs/core, and shoulders. There are many variations to the pulling movements to target specific muscle groups. There are doorway pull/chin up bars available, but I highly recommend that you avoid these because they typically dig into your door frame. I would recommend using mounted pull/chin up bars such as the ones offered by rogue or titan fitness. If you are on a tight budget, you can attempt to try a DIY version of the pull/chin up bar out of piping. If purchasing is not an option, you can go to local parks and do your pulling exercises there temporarily.
Regarding cardio, a jump rope would be the most cost effective and space efficient piece of exercise equipment, aside from walking or running outside. However, not everyone is able to have accommodating weather, which is why the jump rope is such a great tool. You can perform jump rope routines almost anywhere and it requires minimal space compared to treadmills and other large cardio equipment. Be mindful of the length of the jump rope and make sure you have enough clearance around you to remain safe.