Home Gym Equipment: What to buy for any budget

Since many clients and friends are now working out at home because of Covid, people have been asking me what they need to set up their home gym.

I have managed a big gym with a fairly large equipment budget, and have also designed smaller commercial personal training spaces, but here’s my comprehensive list of things for a home gym that I have found to be useful, broken into separate budget categories.

You can find a lot of these items on Amazon, and at sport retailers but I’ve linked the items listed here to a Quebec fitness equipment distributor, Tonic Performance, because I believe in supporting local when possible.

My general advice for larger ticket items is buy the best quality equipment you can afford, because you want it to last and it will need less repairs (also be aware that repairs and maintenance should be a part of your long-term plan).

Make sure your floor is level and solid if you are planning on installing cardio equipment or larger equipment for weights. Also, check your ceiling height. You can do some exercises in a tall-kneeling position if your overhead reach hits the ceiling, but if you are planning to do lower body plyometrics it could be a problem. And if you live in a multiple unit dwelling (apartment/condo) be aware of what kind of noise/vibration your potential equipment might make. You might want to take slam balls off your list...

This list by no means covers every aspect of home training but it’s a jumping off point for anyone looking to set up, or add to their existing equipment.

BUDGET GYM

1. Yoga Mat - Yes you can lie on the floor or a towel, but a mat will protect your knees and spine so if you have vertebrae that are sensitive invest in a thicker mat

2. Foam Roller - Useful for rolling (obvs) and other core/balance related exercises

3. Stability Ball - Good for core exercises and to throw some variety into your bodyweight work, ie. push-ups, pike handstands and so on

4. Mini-Bands - 1 light, 1 medium, 1 heavy - Great for the glutes (squats, bridges), and arm exercises (ie. rotator cuff, rows)

5. Long Bands - 1 mini (thin), 1 medium, 1 heavy - Bands are fantastic for adding tension, travel easily and don’t take up much space if your “gym” is the corner of your bedroom

BUDGET WITH A FEW EXTRAS (all of the above +)

1. Gliders - Small, and don’t make noise so if you’re an apartment dweller you can do exercises like mountain climbers without your neighbours hammering on their ceiling

2. Speed Jump Rope - excellent for cardio & coordination

3. Ab Wheel - Cheap and challenging

4. Medicine Ball (Soft) - 1 mid-weight, 1 heavy - squat, lift, throw, carry, do abs - the options are endless

5. Balance Disk - Low cost, great for both balance and stabilization

MID-TIER (all of the above +)

1. Adjustable Dumbbells - Space saving, and cost effective

2. Kettlebells - 1 mid-weight, 1 heavy, for swings, unilateral training, etc.

3. TRX (with door loop or ceiling attachment) - Suspension trainer to add tension and complexity to your bodyweight regime, great for core strength

4. Aerobic Stepper - Use it for step-ups/down, heel raises, and as a makeshift bench

5. BOSU - Very versatile for balance work & proprioception, both lower and upper body exercises

SOLID PERFORMANCE (all of the above +)

1. Bench - Go with flat (cheaper) or adjustable (more expensive) but use it to press, step up onto, etc.

2. Barbell - Olympic bar, 45lbs, the best one you can afford for a quick whip unless you’re just going to deadlift with it

3. Weight Plates - Minimum - 2x: 5, 10, 25, 45 (if you are fairly strong grab more 45’s). I like black, the colours are pretty too

4. Squat Stand - Use with your bench and/or for squats, inverted rows, etc.

5. Chin-Up bar - Good for chin/pull ups, but also pull downs with band, hangs, use to attach your TRX, etc.

6. Plyometric Box - Multi-height (make sure your gym space has enough head clearance first!)

FULLY EQUIPPED (all of the above +)

1. Barbell Floor Anchor - For all Landmine exercises (get rotation into your workout) and can also anchor a Battle Rope

2. Battle Rope - Great for conditioning and stamina

3. Rower - Excellent cardio machine, low maintenance in terms of repairs

4. Rubber Flooring - Extend the life of your joints, and your gym equipment

5. Mirrors - Good for watching your form. You might as well see what’s going on ;)

6. Manual Treadmill - I prefer non-motorized treadmills because they are the closest thing to running outside - the faster you run, the faster they go and vice versa. But manual or electric, if you live east of the Rockies, some of your winter is going to be snowbound and you’re going to do some of your exercise inside. Remember you don't need to just run - you can walk or skip sideways - try to change up your movement. Some of the fancier manual treadmills like the Woodway Force include resistance for pushing and reverse drags

7. Ski Erg - Challenges your whole body but the upper body really gets worked

8. Assault Air Bike - There are many ways to die doing HIIT (high intensity intervals), this is one of the best slash worst, which makes it the best