With the current range and quality of home gym equipment on the market, it’s no longer required to have a gym membership in order to get a good workout. We can now enjoy a good sweat session from the comfort of our own homes.
It is important, however, to do your research and ensure you kit out your home gym with gear that is both high quality and will also fulfil your workout needs.
In this article, we discuss how to find fitness equipment that meets both of these criteria, and are suitable for achieving a wide variety of goals.
JX-DS913 Home Gym
One way to cover yourself for a wide range of exercises is by purchasing a good quality home gym.
The JX-DS913 is not only reasonably priced, but it is also of exceptional quality and from a brand you can trust.
The best thing about this machine is how many features, attachments, and functions it has, which open up a world of possibilities for your home workouts. These include:
- Bench press
- Butterfly press
- Pec dec
- Leg extension
- Arm curl
- Low rowing
- Triceps press
- Shoulder press
- Chest press
- Lat pull down
These options allow you work on all of the major muscle groups all in one compact system.
One downside is that it may not be best suited for a more advanced trainee, as variations in setup and positioning are somewhat limited.
Pros
- Can perform exercises for nearly every muscle group
- Saves space
- Great way for beginners to become introduced to strength training
cons
- Quite expensive for those just starting out
- Limited functionality for those who are more experienced in weight training
Morgan Ab Wheel
No, this isn’t some fancy 90s commercial gizmo, it’s an ab wheel! This often underrated piece of equipment doesn’t get its fair share of love.
The great thing about ab wheels is their portability, convenience, and best of all, variation. The vast amount of variation this allows you to put into your ab training program is tremendous.
Ab training can get quite dull due to how limited the number of exercises you can directly hit it with are. But this adds a plethora of options for you to target those abs from all different angles!
What we like about this particular ab wheel is that is has neoprene grips so that your hands stay comfortable during the movement, because often times other brands have such uncomfortable handles that our hands tire out before our abs do!
Lastly, it’s double-wheeled, so it’s much sturdier than your traditional ab-wheel.
Pros
- Portable
- Adds variation to your ab training
- Comfortable handles and very sturdy
cons
- May be too difficult to perform for novices
Freeform F20 Treadmill
Of all cardio equipment, treadmills are king. They’re also often the most affordable piece of cardio equipment on the market due their simpler design compared to other options.
What we like about this treadmill in particular is that you can adjust its speed on the hand grips. This makes it much safer than having to reach for the front of the treadmill, particularly when you are already in the middle of exercising at high speeds.
It also comes with two built in speakers that you can plug your phone into and listen to music, which is a nice added bonus.
While this is no doubt a great piece of equipment, one thing to be wary of is that an entry level treadmill may be too basic for those looking for some excitement from their workout.
Higher end models provide various training programs that guide the exerciser through different aerobic programs, such as interval training.
Pros
- Can adjust speed on handgrips
- Can perform various cardio exercise protocols on it
- Comes with sound system that you can plug your phone into
- Relatively inexpensive compared to other treadmills
cons
- More expensive than other basic home gym equipment
- Does not come with more advanced features such as a TV and more complex pre-loaded training modes
50CM OLYMPIC DUMBBELLS
Adjustable dumbbells are one of the most important pieces of strength training equipment that you could ever own.
This product consists of two heavy-duty empty bars that you then have the option to buy plates for. In this way, they’ll take up much less space than if you were to buy actual fixed sets of dumbells.
As you progress in strength, you can simply purchase more and heavier plates (which don’t take up much room at all) so that these dumbbells essentially grow with you.
Pros
- Saves space
- Can purchase additional weights as you get stronger
cons
- Empty bar still may be too heavy for some beginners
FORCE USA SUPER BANDS
One often overlooked aspect of fitness is recovery. Many people don’t stress enough importance on warm-ups and cool-downs, even though we all know we should. That’s where resistance bands come in.
What we like about this particular brand of bands is that they come in such a vast array of resistances and sizes, so they can easily accommodate anyones strength level.
The quality of the materials is very high, so you don’t have to worry about them snapping or bending out of shape.
Also, the great thing about bands is that they are super convenient and you can take them anywhere. This allows for ease of transportation ,as well as being able to workout nearly anywhere.
In addition to your warm-up and cool-down routines, bands can be used in place of more traditional pieces of resistance such as dumbbells and machines.
Pros
- Sturdy materials
- Various types of bands allow for continued progression
- Convenient to take with you anywhere
cons
- May be too many options of bands for somebody just starting out
Choosing Home Gym Equipment
Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to decide what you even need in the first place. Here are a few things to consider when looking for your home gym equipment.
Purpose
By purpose, we mean how does this equipment help you achieve your fitness goals. What aspect of health/fitness does it cover?
Here are some examples:
- Resistance Training
- Cardio
- Recovery
For your home gym it’s best to purchase items that cover a broad range of categories. This will provide you with a more well-rounded workout and means you’ll be better able to replicate the offerings of an actual gym.
Home Gym Essentials
The type of equipment in your home gym will largely be dependent on your personal fitness goals. However, here are some items that are generally considered great pieces of equipment for a home gym:
- Medicine Ball
- Ab wheel
- Dumbbells
- Kettle bells
- Weight Plates
- Rowing Machine
- Treadmill
- Elliptical Cross Trainer
Of course, you don’t need every item on this list to start your home gym. The key is to get a range of gear that will allow you to design well-balanced workouts.
Brand
What’s the reputation of the brand you’re buying from? Is the equipment of reliable quality?
This becomes especially important when purchasing bigger ticket items such as home gyms or treadmills. You’re home gym equipment is an investment and you want to make sure you educate yourself before diving in.
RELATED: The Best Exercise Bikes in Australia
Verdict
Now you have a general idea as to what products exist out there that should satisfy a vast array of fitness goals.
As previously mentioned, everybody is looking to achieve something different. Some want to build muscle, some want to lose body fat, and some want to increase their speed on the football field.
Our favourite product on this list is the JX-DS913 thanks to its reasonable price tag and the sheer number of exercises you can perform on it.
Whatever your reasoning behind wanting to get in better shape, these aforementioned items will likely help you in achieving those goals.
