Best Home Gym Equipment for Initial Set-Up Reviewed For The Best Start

Hollow Core Design

There is a bit of a debate among foam roller users as to whether hollow-core designs or solid-core designs are superior. Both options have their benefits, naturally. But when it comes to the TriggerPoint GRID roller, its hollow-core design absolutely sweeps the competition. It has a 500-pound upper weight limit which greatly reduces the risk of the interior tube cracking. And the hollow interior is the perfect storage spot for other equipment rolled into a towel or folded yoga mat for those who take their roller on the road or to the gym with them.

Free Online Videos

Foam rollers seem easy to use but everyone who tries it for the first time has a learning curve ahead of them. Some positions are easy enough to get the hang of, but others require a little more balance or coordination than is initially expected. In situations like these, a tutorial video can come in handy and while YouTube is sure to have a few dozen, there is nothing quite like a product-specific video to get the information across. TriggerPoint offers access to brand-specific tutorial videos to all of its customers to help them speed through that learning curve and get the hang of their new foam roller in no time.

Cost and Value

The GRID is a little more expensive than similarly-sized products on the market but the slight price bump is more than made up for in the quality and value that the product brings to the table. Foam rollers are an ideal way to treat sore muscles at home and can help prevent sore muscles if they are incorporated into a cool-down routine. They can also add a little more challenge to body-weight workouts once users get the hang of using their roller, which brings a little more versatility into the mix. There are, unfortunately, a few fakes on the market so consumers need to be sure that they're buying from TriggerPoint in order to get the best possible product.

Multiple Positions

This product's biggest asset is the number of positions into which it can be configured. Escape's designers took a basic bench and added in the ability to transition into a seated incline, a general incline, and a supine bench in addition to a platform for step aerobics. The included manual suggests a few other additional uses and, when the deck is not in use, it can be folded flat for easy storage beneath a bed or cabinet.

No-Slip Top Mat

Half of this product's configurations would be of no use to users who were at risk of slipping off the deck altogether. Escape built its product with a no-slip top mat to help keep its customers steady throughout their workouts. The mat also includes a few pre-marked "zones" so that users can get the right footing at-a-glance so they can keep up their rhythm.

Cost and Value

Escape's fitness deck is the most expensive item on this list but that does not mean that it isn't a bargain compared to other products on the market. There is one small catch, which is the deck's 242-pound upper weight limit which rules it out as a bench for anyone using a loaded barbell. Anyone working up to that point will get plenty of utility out of this product, however. Escape even developed an app to work in conjunction with the deck in order to help their customers reach their goals more quickly. It's a product with a whole lot of value packed into one easy-to-store item.

Multiple Band Weights

This kit is ridiculously affordable, especially when the multiple included band weights are taken into account. The bands are color-coded so that users can grab the right band at a glance once they have learned the code, each band providing a little more tension than the last so that users will continue to feel challenged as they grow stronger.

Lifetime Guarantee

Tension bands have a relatively high risk of breaking due to the way that they are generally used. It is actually recommended that users stop working out with their tension band if cracks or worn-out spots appear in the latex. At that point, Fit Simplify's customers can reach out to the company and take advantage of their lifetime guarantee, which is backed by fantastic customer service.

Cost and Value

This band set is probably one of the most affordable projects on this list of the best equipment for home gym and it is also one of the most versatile. Users can find band-specific workouts on sites like YouTube or the bands can be used to add an extra burn to other workouts such as dance routines, yoga, and pilates. All bands have an unfortunate tendency to roll at some point though Fit Simplify seems to be better about this than most. It is a small annoyance, however, given the utility that these products provide.

Double Neoprene Coated

j/fit's weights are coated in not one but two layers of neoprene which is a material similar to rubber that is water-resistant and almost entirely impervious to weathering. This coating not only protects the metal core of the weights but also the user's hands as well as the floor of the gym, as the neoprene will help soften any dings or scratches if the weights are dropped.

Multiple Weight Options

These weight sets start out with the lightest weighing in around three pounds and the values increase from there. The company offers several sets so that users can find one with a suitable value range for their capabilities and goals. j/fit also sells individual weights and pairs of weights so that users can customize the values they keep on-hand.

Cost and Value

These weights might seem like they're a hefty investment but they are a steal compared to the cost of buying each piece of the set separately. The only real downside is that some users might find that the weight values currently offered are too low to fit their needs, but the majority of people are likely to find exactly what they need with j/fit.

Water-Resistant Foam

ProSource's foam tiles are designed to be water-resistant which is ideal for any room in which someone is going to be sweating, carrying a water bottle, and using cleaning sprays to keep their equipment clean. It also means that the tiles aren't going to suffer any damage if they are put down on top of a somewhat damp base floor after it has been cleaned.

Non-Skid Surface

Some foam tiles have a somewhat slick texture on the top which is likely there to make it easier for rubber-soled shoes to cross the floor. This may be helpful in a classroom or general area but it can be a hindrance to a gym where people need to have a solid footing in order to avoid injury. ProSource opted for a slip-resistant surface that gives users a little more traction so they can move through their workout with confidence.

Cost and Value

Each set of these tiles is affordable for most budgets and is comparable to other products on the market. The product's price can add up, unfortunately, since many home gyms are likely to need more than one set if the owner wants to cover the entire floor. The water-resistant and slip-resistant nature of this product will make the investment worth it to most people, as will its versatility since the tiles can be easily moved from room to room as the need arises.

Size Adjustable

Unlike most jump ropes that can be bought in stores, this product requires a little bit of adjusting before it can be put to use. Customers will receive their jump ropes unassembled so that they can use the included instructions to find the best length for their frame. The instructions cover the suggested lengths for adults of all heights as well as most children which makes this a viable product for the entire family.

Spare Cord Included

Jump ropes have a tendency to break after extensive use, either at the point where the cord meets the handle or at the point where the rope hits the ground. WOD Nation is a company that specializes in jump ropes and is naturally aware of this issue. Their solution was to include a second cord with the purchase of this jump rope, effectively doubling the lifespan of their product. Additional cords can also be purchased which allows customers to use the same handles even if their cord breaks.

Cost and Value

This product might seem a little pricey considering the low cost of jump ropes in most brick-and-mortar stores. Those jump ropes are not designed for high-speed use, however, and they cannot be adjusted to the ideal length based on the user's height. They are also not built with replaceable cords which means that using them for cardio and fitness can quickly rack up a higher bill than this product would have led to.

Standard Sizing

Barbells have a deceptively simple appearance. Most people just see a metal pole with two reinforced ends that are meant to hold weighted plates. In reality, there are several different designs for the body of the barbell and two widths for the endcaps: standard and Olympic. Standard plates have a narrower opening in the middle, which is an important detail to keep in mind when buying plates for this particular barbell. Standard is also easier to find which makes them ideal for home gyms.

200 lb Capacity

Unless someone is setting up a gym in their home so that they can power lift more than their gym is comfortable with, 200 pounds is more than enough weight for any one person to be able to lift. The bar itself is several pounds which will give users a good starting point from which they have plenty of room to grow before they hit this bar's limit.

Cost and Value

Barbells can be prohibitively expensive but CAP is all about affordable quality. Their barbell is affordable on most budgets which leaves their customers with plenty of wiggle room to add on any extra weight plates that they may want. The bar is available in several lengths and is designed with several grip points, adding a little versatility to a classic gym staple.

Comes with Accessories

This bag might seem like an intense investment but the price tag does not cover the bag alone. It covers several accessories that allow the user to dive right into using their bag, whether they've spent time with one before or not. These accessories include wrist wraps and thin gloves to help protect the fine bones in a user's hands and wrists from boxer's breaks. A bungee cord is also included which can be used to increase the resistance a user feels when they hit the bag. These are valuable additions that many boxers purchase separately but Everlast chose to include with their bag for the convenience of their customers.

Adjustable Height

Everyone has their sweet spot on a punching bag. Unfortunately, this sweet spot may not be the point on the bag that is intended to take the most abuse, which is right in the middle. Everlast designed their bag with an adjustable height option to combat this issue. Users can use a chain to raise or lower the bag so that each user gets the best experience possible from their purchase.

Cost and Value

Everlast's name adds a little bit to the price tags of their products but it also adds a fair amount of value to the product in terms of construction quality and customer service. A company would not get as big as Everlast if they did not do right by their customers and this heavy big kit just reinforces that idea. And while a heavy bag might not seem that useful for the home gym of a non-boxer, practices like aero boxing are becoming more and more popular, proving that a heavy bag can help with cardio, strength training, and balance all at the same time.

1/2 Inch Thick

The popular idea of a yoga mat is a thin rubbery rectangle that may have small bumps on it to keep users from slipping. These mats provide little cushioning and no place to take a firm grip if a particular pose or exercise calls for one. Sivan's mat is a slightly more versatile version of these more common mats. It is a full half-inch thick which provides ample cushioning as well as several thick points users can grab onto when the need arises.

Dual Surface

Not only is this mat thicker than average but it also boasts a dual-surface design. One side is smooth which is ideal for workouts that will leave the mat in need of a cleaning. The other side is ridged to provide more traction for positions such as downward-facing dog and exercises such as planks and pushups.

Cost and Value

This mat costs only a few dollars more than the thinner mats that are so common in big box stores at the moment. That small additional investment can turn even concrete or wood floors into comfortable spaces for yoga and floor exercises that would otherwise be unnecessarily harsh on a person's knees. Some users may be frustrated by the integrated strap that serves as a closure mechanism when the mat is not in use, but this can be tucked away and is a small inconvenience for such a versatile product.

Enamel Coating

Traditional weights and kettlebells are usually made of exposed iron that might have been painted to protect the metal underneath. Newer models often feature a slightly thicker coating which in this case is enamel. And while this does tend to give the weights a more finished appearance, the enamel serves several key purposes. The coating prevents the metal from causing serious scratches to the gym floor while at the same time creating a smooth surface on the weight that is both easy to handle and easy to clean.

Multiple Weights Available

One of the best things about kettlebells is that they can be purchased at almost any weight that can be carried by hand. The more extreme weights have to come from specialty companies, but the weights that best suit the majority of people are all available from CAP. Heavier weights tend to cost a little bit more because they have more material in them, but it is an investment that will last as the user become stronger and more toned.

Cost and Value

Kettlebells do not come cheap but there is a reason that this product is the first on this list. This sort of equipment is incredibly versatile, particularly when they are coating like the ones CAP offers. Kettlebells can help with bodyweight exercises, stand in for dumbbells and even play a part in pushups and planks if more than one is available. They are not limited to one or two exercises and that makes them invaluable to a home gym, particularly one that is short on space.