Whether you’re looking to build muscle and get shredded (recreationally or professionally) or simply want to add an extra layer of challenge to your regular workouts, building a home gym is an excellent choice. But balancing space and utility is key, as you don’t want to end up with a truckload of equipment that takes up your entire apartment or condo. We’ve rounded up the best home gym equipment items to help you build an efficient and effective workout routine.
Adding a smart home gym to your collection of fitness gear can make your workouts more fun and engaging. The Tempo Studio is a good example, as it’s essentially an intelligent weight machine that can game-ify your strength training sessions. It uses a motion-sensing camera to analyze your form during each exercise and provides feedback to help you improve, which is similar to apps from competitors like Tonal, Mirror and Vault. The machine also has a built-in speaker to play music during your workouts and can connect to other smart home gym accessories, including TRX bands and dumbbells.
A comprehensive workout mirror is a must-have for anyone who wants to up their training game, and this model from Lululemon looks stylish when it’s not in use. It’s loaded with features, including a wide-angle display and sleek metal accents, and it can track your workout performance over time. The most impressive feature, however, is that the mirror can connect to your phone and tablet, giving you access to thousands of fitness classes from companies like AARMY, Y7 Studio and celebrity favorite DOGPOUND, plus workouts designed by renowned personal trainers.
One of the more versatile options for home gyms is a multi-trainer, and Rep Fitness’s SR-4000 Squat Rack is a solid option for any bodybuilder or powerlifter. It’s less than 4.5 feet wide and only 3 feet deep, so it can fit in most spaces, and its 29 attachments can take the place of a Smith machine, leg press, lat pulldown and more. It even has a suspension trainer ring, so you can perform core exercises or hook up TRX bands for extra shoulder and back work.
Bowflex’s Max Trainer M9 is another multi-trainer that’s a great addition to any home gym, as it offers a variety of extra features that go beyond traditional resistance training. In addition to its sleek design, it has a motorized incline range up to 20 percent, Comfort Tech deck cushioning and SoftDrop folding systems. It also comes with a year of JRNY, which includes access to an extensive library of cardio workouts from world-class trainers.
For a budget-friendly addition to your home gym, this basic exercise bike from Sunny Health and Fitness has an LCD monitor that tracks time, speed, distance and calories burned during your workout. It also has an adjustable seat and handlebars, a water-bottle holder and a weighted flywheel with quiet belt-drive system for a smooth ride. It can support up to 220 pounds.
Milena Estêvão is a YouTuber passionate about sharing her experiences (challenges, successes and motivations) in the fitness activities she is involved in.
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