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Exercising at home is a great way to make progress toward your fitness goals while avoiding crowded gyms, sidestepping inclement weather, and saving money on memberships—on your own schedule. And adding the right equipment to those at-home workouts can help keep your routine fresh and challenging.
Since there’s a good chance your home gym isn’t the same size as your local Crunch Fitness or Equinox, you’ll need to pick and choose the machines and accessories you plan to include in your setup. According to fitness experts, identifying the best home gym essentials for you is a personal exercise. “The most effective pieces of home exercise equipment are the ones you’re going to use, and use appropriately,” Kiersten McCartney, DPT, a certified personal trainer and physical therapist based in Delaware, tells SELF. “Simply having the equipment in your home won’t make a difference if you don’t use it—just ask any treadmill that’s become a clothing rack over time.”
Whether you have an entire room to fill or just a corner to spare, you can find some highly effective gear to fit your home gym setup—and our testers have you covered with recommendations for the best of the best options.
Top picks for the best home gym equipment
- Best Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial 1750
- Best Exercise Bike: Assault Fitness Assault Bike
- Best Rowing Machine: Hydrow Wave Rower
- Best Elliptical: Horizon EX-59 Elliptical
- Best Dumbbells: ProForm Adjustable Dumbbells
- Best Kettlebell: Bells of Steel Adjustable Kettlebell
All the best home workout equipment
Below, we’ve highlighted the best exercise machines, weights, gadgets, and gear available—for weightlifters, runners, yoga lovers, and more—according to our testers, who score each item on factors like durability, value, versatility, and customer service to give you the best recommendations for stocking up your home gym.
Jump to:
- Treadmills
- Exercise bikes
- Rowing machines
- Ellipticals
- Walking pads
- Smart home gyms
- Dumbbells
- Kettlebell
- Resistance bands
- Medicine ball
- Wearable weights
- Jump rope
- Yoga mats
- Massagers
- Foam roller
- Suspension trainer
Also in this article
- The benefits of at-home workout equipment
- What to look for when shopping for the best at-home workout equipment
- How we test this equipment
- FAQs: The TL;DR digest for fast facts
The trusty treadmill is a staple of home gyms, so it makes sense that there are tons of models to choose between, including super-connected smart treadmills and portable folding treads with just the essential features. The NordicTrack 1750, for instance, is an extremely sturdy machine with techy bells and whistles like streamable classes via iFit and an HD touchscreen—a feature our testers loved. “[This model is] on the higher end, being around $2,000, but I definitely think you get what you pay for because of the screen and built-in programming,” they say.
Horizon’s T101 treadmill is another favorite among SELF’s tester squad. It doesn’t have as many added features as the NordicTrack, but it costs less and provides a reliable run with several preset programs. Because of this, one tester thinks this treadmill would be a great fit for beginners. “The T101 wouldn’t be intimidating. Everything is pretty straightforward with the speed and incline and all the console settings,” they say, highlighting easy-to-find program buttons on the console.
Finally, if walking workouts are your priority, consider Sunny Health & Fitness’s SF-T4400 model, which won a 2023 SELF Home Fitness Award thanks to its comfortable belt and smaller size. Worth mentioning: All three of these picks fold upright to save space when not in use.
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Read more: Best Treadmills; Best Folding Treadmills; Best Walking Treadmills
A stationary bike is a highly useful piece of equipment if you want to add low-impact cardio to your routine. Though it’s a bit of a splurge, the SELF Certified Peloton Bike+ truly lives up to the hype. One person who tested the bike for SELF says it’s “super comfortable” and easy to use, and she notes that the on-demand and live classes are comparable to an in-studio experience: motivating, immersive, and fun.
But you don’t have to spend a ton to get in a great at-home cycling workout. For example, consider the Assault Fitness Assault Bike, which offers just as much of an intense workout as its (honestly pretty aggro) name implies. Our testers say the bike’s moving arms and fan-powered flywheel will have you full-blown sweating (and maybe even crying) from the intense cardio workout.
Read more: Best Exercise Bikes; Best Peloton Alternative Bikes
Part cardio, part strength training, a rowing workout is crazy efficient—which is exactly why a rower (or erg) is a great all-around piece of equipment to add to your home gym. For a high-tech option, consider the SELF Home Fitness Award–winning Hydrow Wave. Its companion app (which runs $44 a month) comes with thousands of live and on-demand classes that stream through the console and should appeal to both beginners and more experienced users. As one SELF contributor shares in her review of the full-size Hydrow Rower (the Wave is a more compact machine, at about 30% of the size), the app’s library of content is a “great way to ease in.” Plus, she adds, membership grants you more than just rowing classes you can use on any of the brand’s machines; you’ll also get workouts focused on strength, yoga, stretching, and more.
Then there’s the long-standing industry standard, the Concept2’s RowErg, which coaches and pros swear by for a solid, somewhat “old school” workout. Our testers love the RowErg, not only naming it the gold standard for rowing machines, but even crowning it as one of the “best pieces of fitness equipment” they’ve ever tried, thanks to its ergonomic design, great workouts, and durability.
Read more: Best Rowing Machines; Best Foldable Rowing Machines
An elliptical is another great option for low-impact cardio, especially if you want to do something akin to running but easier on your knees. Our expert testers recommend both machines featured here, which differ mainly in terms of price and features.
The NordicTrack FS14i is what our testers consider a three-in-one machine—an elliptical, a stepper, and a treadmill. It comes with iFit capabilities, Bluetooth, speakers, and more. It’s truly the Swiss Army knife of workout equipment. The Horizon EX-59 doesn’t have a touchscreen or high-tech features, but our testers consider it a “solid elliptical” for a great price.
Read more: Best Ellipticals
Working a desk job doesn’t have to mean staying stationary all day. Sunny Health & Fitness’s expert-approved, handle-free walking treadmill offers a surprisingly high-quality cardio workout that you can do when you’re on the clock. It’s our top pick to use with a standing desk, and our experts think it’s a perfect fit for day-to-day use in small spaces.
We also love WalkingPad’s A1 Pro, which—though pricier than Sunny Health’s snack-size machine—won over our testers for its reliable durability and app connectivity. It may skew a little loud, though, so it’s probably best used for walking meetings where you’re mostly on mute.
Read more: Best Cardio Machines; Best Walking Treadmills
What exactly is a smart home gym? This innovative piece of equipment usually features a tall mirror or screen that streams classes and fitness instruction. Some systems come with exercise equipment like a mat and weights, and you can typically expect an all-in-one, metric-tracking, trainer-led home workout (that, admittedly, can cost a pretty penny).
One SELF tester and Home Fitness Awards judge appreciated the tailor-made workout experience she got from Tonal, noting that, as she gained strength, it automatically adjusted its weight and resistance settings to keep her challenged. Tonal requires a 12-month membership in order to access its class library, which costs $60 per month or $720 for a year. Another option, Tempo, uses free weights (compared to Tonal’s weighted cable system) and has a storage compartment attached to its freestanding digital display. Its membership costs $39 per month.
Read more: Best Smart Home Gym
Why waste precious space on a rack of dumbbells when you can opt for an adjustable set, like this expert-recommended set from ProForm? They’re not only easy to use (just drop the dumbbells in their case, select your desired weight, and lift) but they also come with the option to purchase an iFit membership, which gives you access to various at-home workouts for $39 per month.
If you have space to spare—or just prefer a more analog vibe—Rep Fitness’s Ergo Hex Dumbbells have a solid, durable feel that won over SELF experts in our Home Fitness Awards.
Read more: Best Dumbbells; Best Adjustable Dumbbells
In the same vein as ProForm’s adjustable dumbbell, the Bells of Steel Adjustable Kettlebell prevents clutter with its wide selection of weight options, which range from 12 to 20.5 kilograms (about 26 to 45 pounds). No wonder our testers rave that this is a competitive kettlebell for a “competitive price.”
Read more: Best Kettlebells
While light resistance bands can assist with active recovery and stretching, heavier ones can supplement your strength training for muscle groups in your lower and upper body. In other words, this piece of gear is super versatile—not to mention travel- and apartment-friendly, especially if you don’t have a lot of space. Our experts recommend a good set of mini bands (like Te-Rich’s Home Fitness Award–winning ones) as a helpful workout buddy.
SELF’s product testers also recommend the Living.Fit Resistance Bands to use during a more extensive, full-out workout. They work well for everyone—from beginners to experts—and come in a set that ranges in resistance levels from 5 to 200 pounds (depending on which set you buy), so the exercises you can perform are theoretically limitless.
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Read more: Best Resistance Bands; Best Mini-Bands for Larger Bodies
Speaking of versatility, David Harvey, CPT, a trainer and yoga instructor based in Texas, tells SELF that a medicine ball is a dependable piece of weight-training equipment to have on hand: Whether you’re working your arms, legs, or core, you can add one to a variety of exercises to up the intensity. This Prosource ball is made to be easy to catch and grip, plus it’s available in several different weights.
Read more: Best Medicine Ball
Wrist and ankle weights can make various exercises—including walking—a little more challenging (but still approachable). “I like to recommend them to my friends who are intimidated by weights but still want to ramp up their workout routine,” Christine Choi, a certified personal trainer in Atlanta, tells SELF. Both Bala and Tosamc sets are available in one-, two-, and three-pound sizes, with the former offering a bevy of color options, in case that’s your thing
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Read more: Best Ankle Weights
If you want to get a challenging cardio workout in minimal space, you may want to try a jump rope. SELF exercise experts tested Sonic Boom’s speed rope, which won a 2022 Home Fitness Award for its adjustable length and comfortable, grippy handles.
Read more: Best Jump Ropes
A good yoga mat will cushion your joints while you stretch and flow, provide a stable base during balance poses, and keep you from slipping and sliding when things get sweaty. Manduka’s Pro Yoga Mat—described as the “Rolls Royce of yoga mats” by one instructor—can do all that and more. It’s heavy-duty, easy to clean, and just thick enough.
SELF testers also like The Big Mat from Lululemon, which brought home the award for best mat for big and tall folks in 2023’s Home Fitness Awards. “Because it’s wider, longer, and thicker than other yoga mats, it protects your body (and floors!) really well,” one tester noted.
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Read more: Best Yoga Mats; Best Yoga Mats for Hot Yoga; Best Travel Yoga Mats
We can’t stress the importance of workout recovery enough, and using a massager can help make those off-days from exercising feel especially restorative. The SELF-expert-tested, Home Fitness Award–winning Theragun Mini is small enough to operate with one hand, but it still has plenty of power for kneading out knots and breaking up tightened fascia around your muscles. But if you’re looking for another option, Hyperice’s Normatec Go boots use air compression to massage your calves after a run, and come recommended by SELF’s director of fitness and food, Christa Sgobba, CPT.
Read more: Best Massage Guns
A foam roller is another recovery essential, and the Triggerpoint is a solid SELF-tested option. Its dense, textured grid has long, smooth sections for rolling out sensitive areas that need a gentler touch, as well as smaller spikes to dig into deeply set knots. Hot tip from the Triggerpoint’s Home Fitness Award review: “Opt for the bright orange or neon green option and let it act as a visual reminder that you should probably be foam rolling more often.”
Read more: Best Foam Rollers
“If used correctly, the all-in-one TRX system can be the only piece of equipment that you need,” Victoria Nolan, an ACSM–certified personal trainer based in Houston, tells SELF. The Home2 System, in particular, won a SELF Home Fitness Award for its low-tech setup, ease of use, and ability to provide a truly challenging full-body workout with minimal fuss. “It’s effective for both assisting and amplifying bodyweight strength, flexibility, and mobility,” one judge explained. “That means you can use it to make some moves more intense and other moves more accessible.”
The benefits of at-home workout equipment
Having your own home gym can make it much simpler—if not straight-up easy—to stick to your fitness goals. “If you’re in a season in life where you're unable to make it to the gym, need to be home, or just don’t want to join a gym, having your own equipment is the way to engage in the benefits of fitness from the comfort of your own home,” says Dr. McCartney.
It’s the worst when you need to pause your workout flow to awkwardly loiter near a row of occupied machines while you wait for one to free up. Or maybe it's late enough that you don’t want to leave your house, but you’re awake and antsy, so you want to blast loud music and blow off some steam on the treadmill. Either way, a home gym solves those problems and more.
Having your own setup lets you break a sweat any time of day, for as long as you want to, without needing to commute to a new location or worry about hogging a machine for too long. It’s your space, and you get to make your own rules.
Whether you’re dipping your toe into the workout game for the first time in a while or trying a new-for-you modality your friend told you about, privacy can be a treat that allows you to experiment freely—i.e., dance as if no one is watching, figuratively or literally. With your own home workout setup, you can get to business when and how you want, without other gym goers watching over your shoulder.
What to look for when shopping for at-home workout equipment
When you’re shopping for home gym essentials, you’ll probably narrow down your search based on a few key factors: how much cash you’re willing to spend, the kind of equipment you like to use (or would like to try), and your personal fitness goals. To help guide you in answering those questions for yourself, we have a few tips you can consider.
According to Franco Calabrese, DPT, a physical therapist based in Chicago, “cost and size are the two biggest factors when it comes to finding the right piece of equipment for home.” The upfront expense of building a home gym could give you sticker-shock, but when you consider the costs of a gym membership, transportation to get there, and other fees, you might realize you’re setting yourself up to potentially save over time.
Many gym equipment brands offer discounts and financing options; plus, according to our expert-vetted list, some of the best home workout equipment is less pricey than you might expect, like the Horizon Fitness EX-59 elliptical and the Sunny Health treadmill, which each cost less than $1,000 (that’s a little over 3 months at Equinox).
Depending on your needs and space, the sky can be the limit with what you get to outfit your home gym. But “if your space is limited, I would look for smaller and more versatile and quality items,” which can suit various workouts, Dr. Calabrese says: “Kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands are the most effective since they don't take up a lot of space and they can be moved with ease from room to room or from inside to outside depending on your preferred workout area.”
Obviously, your equipment needs to be able to fit in your home gym. If you’re working with a smaller area, like a one-bedroom apartment, aim for compact equipment like the Sonic Boom jump rope or the ProForm dumbbells. You can also narrow your shopping search to target compact equipment or smart home gyms, both of which can save space compared to heftier options.
Okay, bad news: There’s no magical piece of equipment that’ll work for everyone’s individual fitness preferences and goals. But some products target lots of different muscle groups in a single workout, and we think they’re worth considering for your new space. “Tonal offers amazing pieces of equipment that allow you to perform a wide array of exercises to target muscles throughout the entire body,” says Dr. Calabrese. For another versatile heavy hitter, Dr. McCartney says rowers are a great piece of equipment to include in a home gym.
How we test fitness equipment
If you could take a peek behind the curtain, you’d see that a lot happens to make sure we’re really picking the best home workout equipment. To find these products, SELF’s vetted team of testers tries hundreds of fitness products and tests for various performance criteria, including durability, the “ACE” factor, and footprint. (For a detailed breakdown of everything we consider, check out our full fitness-testing methodology.)
Durability: When you’re shopping for the best home gym equipment, you want it to last! For that reason, we push each piece of equipment past its limits (think: loading a barbell with 1,000 pounds and dropping it from 6 feet high to see if the equipment gets damaged) to test how much the products can take.
The ACE Factor: This refers to “adjustability, customizability, and ergonomics,” all of which are important factors in making sure a product works for as many people as possible. We want to know if a product can accommodate different body sizes, if it’s personalizable, and if speed or other specs can be changed easily.
Footprint: Home gym equipment should ideally be easy to move around. We included some products that are lighter weight, easy to store, and foldable. Basically, we don’t want future-you to have to ping everyone in your group chat for help when you want to rearrange your gym.
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FAQs
TL;DR? We get that sometimes you just want fast facts to help you make a quick choice. To summarize some of the most important info about picking the best home workout equipment, we’ve shared some of the most frequently asked questions; if you skip everything else, read this.
Dr. Calabrese recommends kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands for basic home gym equipment because they’re small, easy to move, and cost effective. We recommend the Bells of Steel kettlebells, Rep Fitness dumbbells, and Living.Fit resistance bands [links for all] above.
Dr. McCartney recommends rowers as the most effective home exercise equipment because they provide a full-body workout; research has found that they can target around 80% of the body’s muscles at a time. Our testers like the Hydrow Wave and Concept2 RowErg. Dr. Calabrese says smart home gyms like the Tonal can also be efficient pieces of equipment, given that they offer workouts that can target multiple muscle groups at a time.
The cost for a full home gym can vary from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars depending on what and how many pieces of equipment you’re buying. But whether your gym includes a jump rope and a yoga mat or a treadmill, rower, and elliptical, the most important piece of the equation is whether or not you use it. When it comes to exercise, “consistency is the key,” says Dr. Calabrese. “The ability to have something in the convenience of your own home will definitely increase the chances of staying consistent.”
With reporting from Jasmine Lynn Seales
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