Seven pieces of equipment to kick-start your home gym
Gyms may have been allowed to reopen their doors again, having been shut since mid-December due to the UK’s lockdown restrictions, but that may not mean we’ll all be rushing back.
A regular fitness routine is, for many, important for not only physical health but mental wellbeing too and so we’ve found ways to keep ourselves moving over the past few months.
For some, the ease and flexibility of working out from home – not to mention bypassing hefty gym membership fees and queuing for the right set of weights – mean that home gyms could be here to stay.
Here are our top pieces of equipment to kick-start your home gym.
Exercise mat – Decathlon
Fitness mat from Decathlon
A simple exercise mat is a great place to start if you’re looking to kit out your own home gym to get fit from the comfort of your living room.
These are ideal for cushioning the impact of HIIT workouts, working your core to get abs of steel, or even for yoga and pilates sessions – so, at just £19.99, this Decathlon mat fits the bill nicely.
Resistance bands – Amazon
Resistance bands from Amazon
Another simple but highly effective piece of exercise equipment which takes up next to no space, resistance bands are a must for any home gym at just £7.99.
They range from light to extra-heavy, so you can challenge yourself effectively and progress as your strength and fitness improves. Search on YouTube for some excellent resistance band workouts.
Everlast 20kg dumbbell set – Sports Direct
Dumbbells from Sports Direct
The humble dumbbell is the perfect addition to a home gym, as it can be used for such a huge variety of exercises, whether you’re looking to strengthen your legs or readying yourself for ‘sun’s out guns out’ season, while they’re also handy for core and even cardio activities too.
This Sports Direct set is excellent value at £59.99, allowing you to decrease or increase the weight (up to 20kg per dumbbell) as you see fit.
Resistance tubes – Gymshark
Resistance tubes from Gymshark
Another staple for upper body workouts, this £12 resistance tube from Gymshark is handy to have available.
Also, resistance equipment is also useful for injury rehab, so if you overdo it you can turn to these to help get you back fighting fit.
FITT Cube – Argos
FITT Cube from Argos
Possibly our favourite piece of home gym equipment, the FITT Cube from Argos is an incredibly versatile piece of kit, allowing you to carry out more than 100 different exercises – not to mention it’s a useful space-saver too.
The FITT Cube incorporates resistance bands, steppers, a twisting platform, hand grips for push-ups or to lift the cube and a platform for plyometric jumps.
At £149.99 it’s not the cheapest, but when you consider the range of activities it facilitates, it’s well worth the investment.
BodyMax B1 Racer Indoor Cycle Exercise Bike – Powerhouse Fitness
BodyMax exercise bike
Even at the offer price of £229, you’ll want to be sure you’re committed to your home gym set-up, but once you’ve got this BodyMax indoor bike at your beck and call, you’re sure to be hooked.
No more getting up at the crack of dawn and heading out for a run or cycle in the pitch black and freezing cold – all your cardio can be done from the warmth and comfort of your front room.
Massage gun – Pulseroll
Pulseroll massage gun
The other thing you need to consider with any fitness regime is your recovery. And luckily, we’re not necessarily talking about ice baths or an agonising sports massage. Well, not quite.
This Pulseroll massage gun allows you to work through aches and pains at your own pace. It’s a bit of an investment at £224.99, but comes with four speeds, a rechargeable battery, carry case, and six different heads to target different muscles effectively.
Prices and availability all correct at the time of publication (7 June 2021).
