What Are Some Must-Haves For My Home Gym?

Why Build a Home Gym?

Having your own home gym is a fantastic way to get the best out of your training. The benefits of which are endless.

1. The convenience of having a gym at your own home means no more commuting time, having a gym ready for you at any time, any day of the week. If you only have 15 minutes to squeeze a workout in, you no longer have to struggle with the choice of going to the gym or not.
2. Building a home gym works out to be incredibly cost effective. Yes, equipment can appear costly at first, but over a long period of time the investment pays more than what only seems like a minor monthly gym membership.
3. Your gym, your rules. You pick the music, your layout, and other preferences.
4. It also opens up opportunity to train with friends and family also as a social activity that doesn’t cost, and can become an enjoyable, regular catch up.
5. Hard day at work? Exercise has been proven to be a good stress reliever, and after a long day of work or any other stresses – hitting the iron can improve your mood dramatically.

Must-Have Equipment For A Home Gym

This is a comprehensive list of some must-have equipment for your home gym. Depending on your training goals, budget, space constraints, and other factors, you may find you require all or only part of the equipment.

Power Racks

Starting off is a power rack. One of the most important home gym equipment for any weightlifting, CrossFit, powerlifting, or bodybuilding program. There are some programs such as Starting Strength, or Stronglifts 5×5 that exclusively can be done in or around power rack.

Power racks are great because they have so much to offer in terms of versatility of exercises, and while they may be costly, a quality power rack will last for decades with proper maintenance. You could also consider a squat rack or half rack, but points go to the power racks from a safety standpoint, although they offer more in space and are generally cheaper. Power racks also have many options for added attachments and accessories, such as gym rings or dip bars.

Best Exercises: Barbell squat, overhead press, bench press (barbell & dumbbell), snatches.

Barbells

A barbell will maximise your training through dual movement, meaning no need for single arm or alternating movements, saving time during exercises and programs. A majority of movements require a barbell, and a barbell is required with nearly every training program.

A 15kg (33 lb) or 20kg (45 lbs) barbell is ideal for fitting into power and squat racks, with a 320kg (700lb) weight capacity best to a starting to intermediate level. Short and EZ bars, and cambered bars are more wants than needs when starting a home gym but might be priority for your training.

Best Exercises: Barbell squat, overhead press, deadlifts (conventional and Romanian), barbell row

Dumbbell or Kettlebells

Dumbbells are essential for any home gym due to their versatility and the wide range of exercises they support. Unlike barbells, dumbbells allow for unilateral training, which helps in addressing muscle imbalances and improving overall stability and coordination. They are perfect for isolation exercises as well as full-body workouts.

Adjustable dumbbells are space-efficient and can be a cost-effective choice for home gyms, allowing you to easily change the weight without needing multiple sets. Fixed weight dumbbells, offer durability and ease of use, especially for quick changes between exercises.

Kettlebells are excellent for functional fitness and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Kettlebells can be used for both ballistic and explosive exercises.

Best Dumbell Exercises: Dumbbell bench press (flat or incline), dumbbell shoulder presses (standing or seated), dumbbell row, dumbbell lunges, bicep curls, and tricep extensions.

Best Kettlebell Exercises: Kettlebell swings, kettlebell snatch, kettlebell clean and press, and goblet squats.

Weight Plates

Weight plates are fundamental to any strength training setup. They are used with barbells for a wide variety of exercises, from squats to deadlifts and bench presses. Weight plates come in standard and Olympic, with Olympic plates being preferred choice for home gyms due to compatibility with standard Olympic bars.

Investing in a range of fractional and heavier weight plates, allows for progressive overload for muscle growth and strength. Bumper plates are a good option for home gyms as they are designed to be dropped safely, making them ideal for Olympic lifts and CrossFit style workouts.

Weight plates are also great for weighted ab exercises such as crunches or on used with attachments such as T-bar rows, or weighted dips, pull ups, or chin ups.

Best Exercises: Barbell squat, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, barbell row, and weighted ab crunches.

Bench

A quality adjustable bench is indispensable for a home gym. It allows the range of exercises for different angles, such as incline, decline, and flat positions. This versatility is crucial for targeting different muscle groups and adding variety to workouts.

When choosing a bench, look for one that is sturdy, has a high weight capacity, and offers multiple adjustments to cater to various exercises.

Best Exercises: Bench press (barbell & dumbbell), shoulder press, incline press, decline press, step-ups.

Cardio Equipment

Cardio equipment is essential for cardiovascular health, complementing strength training. Treadmills, stationary bikes, rowing machines, and ellipticals, each offer unique benefits with options resistance and your own personal preference being the purchase decision.

Treadmills and stationary bikes are popular effective yet low impact cardio. Rowing machines are excellent for full body conditioning, while ellipticals offer a smooth, joint-friendly workout.

It’s important to choose the equipment that best suits your fitness goals, space, and budget.

Best Exercises: Walking, jogging, running, cycling

Home Gyms for Different Training Types

What’s important to consider when you pick your home gym equipment is the program or training you’re looking to do. There’s no point in starting with an assault bike if your main goal is to increase the amount of weight you squat.

Consider the above equipment and some programs/training to get a good starting point.

Consider Space

Have you thought about where you are planning on storing your home gym equipment? A garage? Outdoor enclosed area such as a patio? A spare room? What’s your square meterage or footage?

These are the questions you need to ask yourself before you go splurging on equipment. For example, choosing a power rack is most likely going to mean your space will be filled, not to mention access to weight plates and movements outside the rack, such as overhead presses, barbell squats etc.

Considering the dimensions, equipment storage, and other features such as foldability (i.e benches, treadmills), and cubby like spaces are all things to be thought of before purchasing home gym equipment.

Get Started With Your Home Gym Equipment

It’s an exciting step when you can invest in your own home gym with quality equipment. With minimal drawbacks, and plenty of equipment to choose from – it’s never been as easy to get started on your own fitness from home.

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Narissa Thelo

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