The Best Home Exercise Equipment, According to Professional Trainers

Create the ultimate fitness spot at home with these efficient workout essentials.

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December 18, 2023

Our Experts' Top Home Exercise Equipment Picks

Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, stay in good physical shape or lose weight depending on your fitness goals. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, regular physical activity can combat and prevent health conditions and diseases, improve mood, boost energy, promote better sleep, help control weight and simply, add years to your life. While heading to the gym is great, it can be challenging to find a spare hour to spend out of your home. Enter: Home gyms! Even if you don't have space in your home for a full setup, investing in one or two pieces of good exercise equipment can kickstart your fitness goals and make it easy to be consistent, which is key to reaping any exercise rewards. Whether you're in the market for a stationary bike, weights or muscle therapy tools, we asked four personal trainers for their best recommendations for at-home workout equipment.

Ready to get started? Make it easier to keep up your fitness routine with our favorite home exercise equipment that's easy to use and storeno matter the size of your space.

How We Picked

To present you with the best of the best home exercise equipment, we consulted four health and fitness professionals for their insight and experience-based recommendations. We spoke with exercise physiologist and well-being expert Dr. Chris Mohr, pre and postnatal exercise specialist Lauren Seib, personal trainer Greg Nichols and strength and conditioning coach at Quinnipiac University, Meghan Collins.

Read on to explore their recommendations, get the 411 on each item and learn how to incorporate them into your exercise regime to reach your health and fitness goals.

$2,495 $2,095
On Sale!

“Rowing is a fantastic, full body workout,” says Mohr. “Hydrow has done a great job offering world class locations and instruction, with ‘live’ on the water rows with expert instructors. The ability to enjoy the scenery from locations around the world makes this a unique and effective piece of equipment that, if someone has the space and budget for, should certainly be considered."

Each Hydrow machine features a patented technology that achieves a realistic water-rowing experience — sans the H2O — and includes thousands of immersive at-home workouts on a 22” display. The machine connects with Bluetooth and heart rate monitors, syncing your progress within your devices. Bonus: The Hydrow offers an optional upright storage kit to make stowing your rower a breeze between workouts.

$2,499 $1,999
On Sale!

Treadmills are a cardio day mainstay and a cornerstone for many home gyms because of their versatility and adaptability. That said, there are endless treadmills on the market and narrowing down the best investment for your family can be tricky.

“I've done a ton of research on this because we are actually about to embark on our home gym remodel,” shares Seib. “With my small space, I need something that can fold up, so I will be buying the NordicTrack Commercial Series.”

Easy storage is far from the top selling point for this treadmill. The NordicTrack Commercial Series treadmill features built-in speakers, a 12% incline, a -3% decline, a pivoting touchscreen monitor, hands-free adjustments, trainer-led workouts from across the globe and cross-app connectivity for tracking progress.

$749 $697
On Sale!

“I recommend a stationary bike rather than other cardio equipment because it has far less impact on your joints and is safer for most individuals,” says Collins. “I would recommend the Assault Air Bike. Air bikes work both your upper and lower body and the harder you pedal, the more resistance you feel.”

The Assault Air Bike is top-rated with 4.7 stars and offers unlimited upper and lower body resistance. It includes motivational stats like your heart rate and allows you to set unique goals posts for each workout, including calories, distance and time.

$279.95 $209.96
On Sale!

Suspension systems are a must-have for the avid traveler, apartment dweller or teenager looking for full body workout gear that doesn't demand too much space. The TRX PRO4 System checks out.

“This piece of equipment works head to toe and can be securely installed into your gym wall/ceiling yet can quickly be taken with you for sweat seshes on the go amidst work trips, family vacays, the works! Yes, I brought mine on my honeymoon,” shares Seib.

Each TRX PRO4 System includes everything you need to sculpt and strengthen your body anywhere, including the suspension trainer with adjustable foot cradles and patented rubber handles, a door and suspension anchor, a pro-grade locking carabiner, an extender and a mesh travel bag.

From $139.99

'Adjustable kettlebells to double your kettlebell inventory in seconds with magnetic chip weights,” says Mohr. “Like adjustable dumbbells, the Pro Kettlebells make it simple to adjust weights without buying an entirely new kettlebell, which takes up space and costs money."

Each cast iron Pro Kettlebell features a magnetic center cavity that coordinates with the patented Pro Kettlebell magnetic chip weight plate, allowing you to increase the intensity of your workout with ease. The adjustable kettlebells are available in six unique weights: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 or 24 kilograms.

From $18.51

“On a budget? Consider the Amazon Basics kettlebells,” says Seib. These tried-and-true kettlebells boast a 4.8-star rating, 13,480+ glowing customer reviews and start at under $20 a pop. The cast iron kettlebell features a grip-friendly handle, sports an inky enamel finish and comes in five weights: 10, 20, 35, 40 or 45 pounds. Our advice? Start with the 10-pound kettlebell and add to your collection as you grow stronger overtime.

From $45 (Set of 2)

Want to kick your body weight workout up a notch and look good doing it? Seib has just the home gym pick for you. “Add comfortable resistance to your mat Pilates or barre routines with a pretty aesthetic. With a plethora of colors to choose from and sleek design, the Bala Bangles will help you raise the ‘barre’ while feeling chic.” And, her go-to moves for incorporating the bangles? “Clamshell and all-fours glute work!”

Bala Bangles are steel wrapped in chic silicone and are available in three weights to suit your fitness goals: ½, 1 or 2 pounds. Each bangle features athletic elastic and fasteners for a custom-to-you fit that's comfortable every time.

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$20.95 $13
On Sale!

Resistance bands are inexpensive, easy to travel with and ultra effective at sculpting your body and elevating your body weight workout routine.

“A staple for targeted warm-ups/lifting prep, sassy finishers (as I like to call them) and classic thigh and glute routines in the barre world, loop bands are wildly affordable and easy to stow away.'' says Seib. And, in terms of materials, Seib plays favorites. “I prefer the ‘give’ and ‘stay put’ properties of a latex band versus fabric options.”

The Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise bands are a must-grab for your exercise arsenal. Each bundle includes five rubber bands ranging from extra-light to extra-heavy resistance to meet you and your household at all fitness levels. Bonus: Each best-selling set includes a carrying case for effortless travel.

“There are so many options for benches out there, but I would recommend the Titan Fitness Elite Series Adjustable FID Bench, as it gives you more options to train in multiple positions,” says Collins. The steel-forged bench is versatile and adaptable, includes wheels for easy mobility and offers 25+ flat, incline and decline positions to cater to weight lifting and bodyweight exercises alike.

$549 $428
On Sale!

"The best piece of home gym equipment I'd have to say would be adjustable dumbbell sets”, shares Nicols.“On the front end, they can seem pricey but they are invaluable to any home gym. They are space efficient, scalable and cheaper than alternatively purchasing a weight for each increment.”

The Boxflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells are Nichols’ pick. These best-selling weights boast a 4.8-star rating, 21,700+ positive reviews and offer weight ranging between 5 and 52.5 pounds. Simply turn the dial, and the dumbbell adjusts weight accordingly. Another plus? You enjoy a 2-month free trial membership for JRNY, enabling you to perfect your form, track your reps and receive weight adjustment recommendations from the comfort of home.

$499 $349
On Sale!

Whether starting your fitness journey from scratch or leveling up your routine – you’re bound to feel soreness as your body adjusts. Seib’s tip? Be proactive about your recovery.

“Sore legs, no more! The Theragun Pro Handheld Deep Tissue Massage Gun gets the kinks out and staves off injuries.”

The investment-worthy percussion gun features an ergonomic handle for minimal wrist, arm or hand strain and targets muscles 60% deeper than standard vibration massagers. Better still, this model connects to an app via Bluetooth, allowing you to create custom speeds and rehab routines based on your workouts.

$49.99 $40
On Sale!

“Exercise is fantastic. So is recovery, “ says Mohr. “A roller is an excellent way to help that process, not just for after or around a workout, but even after sitting all day, often in a hunched forward position, typing at a desk or looking down at a phone.”

Mohr recommends the Acumobility Back Stretcher for rolling out your aches and pains. The chiropractor-designed roller features four rows of patented foam bumps that massage your muscles and keep you steadily in place while in use. And, the best part? You can use the Acumobility foam roller to relieve tension all over your body, including your neck, abductors, quads and glutes.

$10 $9
On Sale!

Use this childhood classic to add some variety to your cardio routine, burn extra calories, increase endurance and promote a healthy heart. It's budget-friendly and super easy to store. The steel-forged Loocio Jump Rope is our top pick because of its durability, ergonomic non-slip handles and adjustable length making it a foolproof find for kids and adults of all heights.

$108 $81
On Sale!

“When it comes to your practice, you want consistency and reliability. I've had my Manduka Pro for nearly a decade without a hitch,” shares Seib. “It has a no-slip grip, is stiff with a touch of give and easy to clean.”

The top-rated Manduka Pro mat comes in two sizes and 11 eye-catching colors to suit your style. Each mat is handmade, features a high-density cushion to provide maximum support and stability for your floor routine and is certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.

$41.99

Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the whole fitness thing, there's a weighted medicine ball made just for you. Choose your slam ball by selecting from weights in a range that fits your fitness goals.

$54.99

The Step is a great home-fitness tool for beginners to experts and is customizable for a variety of aerobic and strength exercises. The original circuit-size platform features a 28.5" L x 14.5" W x 4" H stepping surface with a grooved, nonslip surface for added safety. Burn more calories the higher you step with 4" to 6" to 8" platform height options. Each platform and riser is made with four nonskid feet to prevent sliding or moving during exercise. These sturdy risers can be used on any type of indoor flooring, from carpet to concrete to hardwood, without leaving behind scratches.

$299.99 $180
On Sale!

This vertical climber is a great addition to your home because it boasts a durable, steel design and offers a low-impact exercise that you can complete while reading or watching TV. Bonus: The climber machine features easy-fold technology that tucks away until your next sweat sesh.

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