When it comes to at-home fitness, carving out a dedicated space for movement can make the difference between a workout completed and a workout skipped. As a personal trainer and a lifelong athlete, as the writer of some of Wirecutter’s fitness guides, I know first-hand how powerful (and empowering) it can be to exercise in your abode.
It is possible to create a decent home gym—and you don’t need a fleet of gym equipment to do it. An in-house starter kit (kept all in one place) can be a simple collection of basics that will help establish your intentions, initiate healthy habits, and foster consistency. Then you can spend less time searching for your exercise accessories and more time actually exercising.
Here are five cheap(ish) things to help you transform a corner of your home into a spot where fitness goals can take shape and be realized.
A sturdy, comfortable yoga mat
This squishy ¼-inch (6.2 millimeters) PVC mat is a bargain—and it’s usually on sale. It’s 6 inches longer than your average cheapie, too.
The signal to yourself that workout time is about to begin can be as simple as rolling out a yoga mat. Make it a good one. Wirecutter recommends the lofty and roomy Yoga Accessories 1/4″ Extra Thick Deluxe Yoga Mat. It is thick, providing ¼ inch (6.2 millimeters) of squishy yet supportive PVC foam to ground your poses or exercises. (Like most mats in this price range, it will compress more than denser, more expensive models, but it should still be adequately supportive for most.) At a generous 74 inches long—a full 6 inches longer than a standard yoga mat—it offers plenty of room for whatever yoga flow you’re feeling, while remaining a manageable weight (3.6 pounds) to tote around comfortably.
Space-saving adjustable dumbbells
These weights have a comfortable grip and adjust in seconds, making them easier to use than the competition.
Cardio alone won’t cut it: Strength training is an essential part of a well-rounded fitness strategy. (The US Department of Health and Human Services(PDF) urges healthy adults to complete a minimum of two muscle-strengthening sessions per week.) To get as much as possible out of your strength training, the load you lift needs to increase as your strength improves. Opting for the Core Home Fitness Adjustable Dumbbell Set —our top pick— over a full suite of dumbbells is a great space-saving solution. Though the set has a hefty upfront cost, it’s wise to view it as a long-term investment that will serve you (and your goals) efficiently over time. Adjustable between 5 pounds and 50 pounds, in 5-pound increments, this set is easy to use (a twist of the handle adjusts to the desired weight in seconds), comfortable to grip, and efficient for both upper- and lower-body exercises.
A set of resistance bands
For rehab or prehab, these mini bands are of higher quality and offer greater utility than the competition.
To supplement strength training, these Perform Better Exercise Mini Bands, a Wirecutter favorite, are compact (I store them in a cosmetics bag) and handy for a host of different exercises aimed at prehab (injury prevention) and rehab (injury recovery). They have a folded length of 10 inches (2 inches shorter than most), which makes for a tighter fit. This is helpful when you’re using them to add resistance to bodyweight movements like lateral steps or hip bridges, which have you place the band around both legs. As a personal trainer, I found that this set of four bands—in color-coded resistances ranging from yellow (lightest) to black (heaviest)—worked the best for me and my clients.
A device stand
This conveniently small stand, which is compatible with tablets, e-readers, and smartphones, has grippy material and a weighted base that makes it more stable than similar-size competitors.
Keeping your workout time as distraction-free as possible is often easier said than done, so don’t let a slipping phone or a toppling tablet be your downfall. Whether you use a device to stream a workout, to refer to exercise descriptions, or to keep up with Netflix, it should be anchored securely. Wirecutter likes the small-but-stable Stump Stand, a 4-inch-wide single piece of silicone that’s loaded with an internal metal weight, which lends heft and stability. This stand also offers three viewing angles and fits cases up to a half-inch thick.
A foam roller
The AmazonBasics roller provides the firm density experts recommend—with a slight surface texture to prevent slipping—at an affordable price.
There isn’t loads of scientific evidence backing the use of foam rollers (yet), but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming fixtures in gyms. (Most experts agree that if foam rolling feels good, you should keep doing it.) The AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller is an efficient pick for self-myofascial release (SMR)—self-massage that’s focused on breaking up knots in connective tissue called fascia, and easing tight muscles. Its firm density is effective, and it comes at an affordable price, which is why it’s the top pick in our guide to foam rollers. Its subtle surface texture helps prevent it from slipping out from under you, and its 36-inch length allows for rolling techniques that smaller rollers don’t. You may find it too firm if you’ve never used a foam roller before, but we think it’s still one of the most versatile options out there.
