Fitness & Exercise
Best Home Gym Equipment You Need (for Under $100)
Jul
You’ve finally committed to creating your own, private, designated workout space at home. Woohoo! Now, you just need away to personalize it with exactly what you need (there’s no room for worthless junk). Good news: you don’t have to break the bank for good gear. Here’s my quick hit list of the best home gym equipment you need (everything on this list list rings in under $100).
For all of my fitness junkies and friends of fitness junkies out there looking to create a space they LOVE to workout in, this is for you!
**Don’t skip my bonus list at the end…this is the non-gymming equipment that I think turns a “space where I store my gear” into a home gym that you love!
Best Home Gym Equipment You Need to Crush Your Goals (for Under $100)
In putting together, I thought about the equipment that I use weekly, if not daily. I got creative to meet the budget. And I promise that this combination of home gym equipment give you all that you need to crush your fitness goals.
Foam Roller
Everyone should own a foam roller. Foam rolling, also called self-myofasical release (SMR) is basically self-massage. It’s useful for relieving muscle tightness and soreness, to increasing range of motion and improving muscle imbalances, to reducing inflammation and improving blood flow.
There are three main factors when choosing the right foam roller for you:
- Size – Most foam rollers are about 1-2 feet in length, and 5-6 inches in diameter. Big enough to handle larger muscles – like glutes and quads. Small enough to be portable.
- Density – Foam rollers range in density. If you are a beginner, have acute pain or sensitivity, or simply prefer softer rollers, choose low density. If you’re a seasoned gym vet or have some serious tightness, you can probably handle a higher density roller.
- Texture – You’ll notice that some foam rollers are smooth, while others have a grid design that mimics everything from soft rolling hills to gear cogs. These designs are meant to mimic the hands and/or tools of a massage therapist. It’s all about personal preference here.
Both of the below brands provide high quality products that come in a variety of sizes, densities and textures.
CORE by TriggerPoint is a soft-to-moderate density, texturized roller.
Gaiam Restore is a great starter option.
Jump Rope
I’m obsessed with jumping rope. It’s fun. Nostalgic. Portable. Great for toning your calves. Low impact. And it’s a great cardio alternative!
My favorite rope by far is the Rogue SR-2 Speed Rope. It has an adjustable cable so that you can fit it to your height. The ball bearing swivel allows for seamless, uninterrupted movement. It’s light, fast and durable.
Mini Bands
There are two kinds of mini bands that I think of automatically: traditional loop bands and woven glute bands. Neither are super expensive but if you only want to choose one set for now, the choice comes down to what you want to use it for.
Traditional loop bands offer lighter resistance (although some sets get up to 40#) and more flexibility. They’re great for a wide variety of exercises and stretches including lateral walks (glute medius), Y-raises (shoulders), and glute bridges.
Woven glute bands are really specifically designed to target the lower body with a significant amount of resistance. Movement is much more restricted so these are really best for exercises like clam shells, bridges and squat pulses. Though less versatile than traditional loop bands, woven bands build the burn faster. I bought these 3 years ago and they still haven’t lost their resistance!
Monster Bands
Monster bands, or resistance bands, are super versatile and bonus: they’re portable! I use monster bands for warm ups, mobility drills and strength training with time under tension. They’re great for your home gym because they’re light weight and take up very little space.
My favorite brand is Rogue and they actually have a couple of options for under $100. I recommend buying the set. Add them to your compound lifts for extra resistance. Take them on vacation with you. Nail your first pull up!
P.s. you can also opt for tuba bands with handles, which are particularly useful for upper body resistance movements. These also come in a variety of colors and densities. I like this package because it comes with alternative straps, handles and a bag to keep it all organized!
Kettlebell
Kettlebells belong in your home gym! KBs build strength but they provide so much more than dead weight. They’re design allows for more maneuverability, more power movement and more mobility with every swing, lift, push and carry. Fantastic for stability, core strength and functionality, I’m inclined to say a kettlebell offers more benefit per single piece of equipment than a dumbbell.
You can find highly rated kettlebells on Amazon for a reasonable price.
Don’t be shy when choosing a weight. 15 up to 35 pound KBs are useful across the board. Think about all of the exercises you can do!
- Kettlebell swings
- Figure 8s
- Shoulder presses
- Chest presses
- Rows
- Snatches
- Cleans
- Squat
- Deadlifts
The list goes on!
Dumbbells
Full disclaimer on dumbbells: buying a full set gets pricey. However, when it comes to home gym equipment you need, there’s no argument to the usefulness of this particular piece of metal. And, you can slowly build your arsenal up over time.
Dumbbells are a super effective training tool. They cover exercises working your body from head to toe and work for every fitness level.
What you want to look for is durability. Hex dumbbells with a texturized metal handle and a rubber coating are great for comfort during the lift, and durability.
Medicine Ball
Medicine balls really came into their own as CrossFit rose to stardom. But they’re actually super functional piece of equipment that deserves recognition outside of that community, too. I’m a huge fan of using medicine balls for core strength, to provide instability and challenge, and for power. Oh, they’re great for releasing pent up aggression in a productive way as well.
There are a few varieties of medicine balls:
- “Slam” medicine balls – Super durable, filled with sand, quite heavy, has some give. This kind of MB is perfect for producing force without needing a rebound.
- Wall balls – Made of rubber, pretty bouncy. As the name implies, this type of MB is designed to bounce off of a wall (or floor, or target).
If your goal is cardio-focused opt for a lighter slam ball: something between 10-20 lbs.
If building strength and power are on your to-do list, a heavier ball, 20-30 lbs, is more suitable.Â
Yoga Mat
I realize that you probably already have a yoga mat. You can get them at every Walmart, TJ Maxx and Marshalls. But…Investing (just a bit), in a great mat can be the difference between a comfortable-yet-challenging workout and a “how many times do I have to fold this so my knees don’t hurt” workout.
Yoga mats are not just for yogis. Yes, they’re an obvious need for downward dog, cat cow and toe touches. But a good mat is also necessary for progressing pushups, repping out crunches and sweating through mountain climbers.
This non-slip, eco-friendly mat from Heathyoga comes with alignment lines to help you position your hands, feet and body during movement. It’s thin but still quite comfortable
If you’re looking for something with a bit more cushion for your joints (think knee pushups), the 1″ thick yoga mat from Retrospec Solana is a great option (and comes in so many colors!).
Physio Ball
Physio ball, stability ball, Swiss ball or whatever you call it – is a great piece of at home gym equipment. These balls provide instability which makes them fantastic for developing core strength. The one caveat is that they do take up some space to store and use.
I love incorporating physio balls into my core workouts, using them for exercises such as:
- Back extensions
- Crunches
- Knee tucks
- Pike ups
But you can just as easily use the ball as an unstable surface while performing traditional lifts like chest presses, flyes and shoulder presses. The instability challenges your core during the lift in a way that a sturdy surface just can’t compare to.
This Active Balance Ball comes with a bonus: resistance bands and an exercise book.
Doorway Pull Up Bar
Pull up bars that fit in your doorway are practical for two reasons. One, they’re simple to hook up and easy to put away – key for a small at home gym! Two, they require only body weight to use.
Pull up bars are not just for pull ups, though that’s the obvious use. They’re also used for chin ups, dead hangs, scapular shrugs, knee raises, leg raises and for the really motivated…toes to bar exercises. Wedge the bar into the doorway down lower and you can use your loop bands to do rows or tuck your feet under for sit ups.
Adjustable Workout Bench
You can get buy without a bench. But incorporating one into your workouts allows for a bigger range of motion, a variety of angles, comfort and height. Let’s talk about it.
Most traditional strength exercises can be done sans-bench. You can do chest presses from the floor. Shoulder presses from a chair. But an adjustable bench throws in a couple of benefits.
First, the height/distance from the floor requires force production in wider ranges of motion. It also allows for step ups, hip thrusts and Bulgarian split squats – incredible lower body strengtheners that you absolutely need an elevated surface for.
Second, a bench offers different angles. Chest presses can become incline presses. Curls can become incline curls. Pushups become incline or decline pushups. Reverse flyes and rows can become supported.
Third, benches provide a creative platform to increase power. Think box jumps. Deficit jumps. Incline mountain climbers.
Finally, adjustable benches can help you maintain proper form, especially as you start to lift heavier weights.
Honestly, the best adjustable benches are pricey. But if you are just getting started and realize the benefits of this particular piece of equipment, start here.
BONUS
Round out your space with these items to really make it your own:
- full length mirror(s)
- great speakers
- a fan
- good lighting
- motivational decor
