5 Pieces of Home Exercise Equipment Everyone Should Have
You set some goals for health and wellness and you’ve been pretty consistent. You’re thinking of taking things to the next level by building a home gym. Whether you have a dedicated room in your home or a corner where you can keep your equipment, there are a few things we think every fitness enthusiast should have.
Treadmill or Elliptical
The choice is up to you, but we think you should have at least one good piece of cardio equipment, whether it’s a treadmill or an elliptical. A treadmill is excellent for those who enjoy running and don’t have to worry as much about high-impact exercise (though most treadmills have great cushioning these days). Ellipticals are good for those who need a lower-impact but still high-intensity exercise – and you can get a bit more of an upper body workout at the same time.
Home Gyms or TRX Equipment
We know a home gym is a bit much, especially for a beginner or someone on a budget; but if you’re really interested in strength training and want to keep your workout area compact, a home gym like the Precor FTS Glide Functional Trainer or the Inspire M1 would be the perfect addition to your collection. If you’re looking to be functional but far smaller, consider a TRX Home Kit you can suspend in a doorway or from a basement beam. You can do a ton of strength exercises with far less equipment.
Heart Rate Monitors
If you’re serious about working out at home, grab a heart rate monitor so you can make sure you’re in your target heart zone for different types of exercises. Polar makes several great options that pair watches with chest straps for incredibly accurate monitoring. Polar even makes an activity tracker you can use with your chest strap, eliminating the need for an extra piece of equipment.
Kettle
bells and Free Weights
You don’t need to start with an entire rack of weights. Grab yourself a few dumbbells or kettlebells in just a couple of different weights to get started. Kettlebells are particularly great because of the compound cardiovascular and strength workout you get when you use them. You only need one or two at a time so you can slowly but surely grow your collection.
Foam Rollerheart rate 
monitor
It’s silly, but it’s true. A foam roller is an incredible addition to any gym. Why? Recovery. Once you’ve had a session on a foam roller, which can also be used for core work, you’ll understand the benefits of rolling away muscle tension to increase circulation between workouts. They’re versatile and worth the very small investment.
Not sure where to get started? Stop by one of our stores and we’ll help you get your home collection started. Don’t see something you’d consider top-5 on the list? Leave a comment and let us know what you can’t live without and why!