Notable Features: Total footprint less than 5.1 square feet. accessories included; free lifetime membership to the Speediance platform with purchase
Small equipment
Best Adjustable Dumbbells: Bowflex SelecTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
Three of our expert judges named them one of their home gym essentials, and for good reason: While they’re a pretty big investment, they can replace 15 pairs of dumbbells. (Each dumbbell is adjustable from 5 to 52.5 pounds.) We especially recommend them if you share your home gym space with multiple exercisers of varying fitness levels.
Best Dumbbells: Rep Fitness Rubber Coated Ergo Hex Dumbbells
Parker has been using rubber coated hex dumbbells for over 14 years. And of all the ones he’s tried, Rep Fitness pairs consistently come out on top. Now he has his own set and trains with them three to five times a week. “These dumbbells are built solid and the rubber coating is durable with minimal odor out of the box,” says Parker. Rubber coating is also useful for anyone wary of damaging their floors. (Though we’d generally recommend dropping them on a mat or some sort of rug at least.)
Best Kettlebell: BowFlex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell
This adjustable kettlebell is so good that we’ve crowned it the winner two years in a row. Kettlebells can quickly get expensive, take up a lot of space, be heavy to lug around your house…you get the picture. So if you’re building a home gym, we don’t think you can do any better than this: With the quick turn of a dial, you can get this kettlebell from 8 to 40 pounds in literally seconds. “The best part is that you can have it for a long time, even as you gain weight and get stronger,” said one tester.
Best Resistance Band Set: Bodylastics 5 Band Set
This five-band set from Bodylastics features traditional resistance bands—big, elastic bands that, unlike the mini bands you used to wrap around your thighs or ankles, aren’t wrapped around. They’re great for a number of reasons: They take up minimal space in a home gym, they’re generally inexpensive, and they challenge your body differently than dumbbells or kettlebells. Expert judge Asher Freeman says this set is usually the first thing they recommend customers buy to keep at home—the five bands provide enough variability for exercisers at any level to complete a challenging full-body workout.
Better Resistance Band for Big and Tall: Fixed HP The Better Band Plus
Two of our expert judges – Francine Delgado-Lugo and Lauren Leavell – said the Better Band Plus stands out in the realm of inclusive fitness equipment. With an adjustable hook, it is easier to put on and take off, adaptable to your body, comfortable (no painful digging into your skin) and gives you more control over the volume. Whether you find standard mini thongs too small to wiggle your legs around, too tight to wear, or simply uncomfortable for whatever reason, give this one a try. “I was introduced to this band by another plus size coach,” says Leavell. “It’s perfect for home workouts and really adds resistance. I have also used it with clients of different fitness levels.”
Best Resistance Band Set: Centr by Chris Hemsworth Fabric Resistance Bands
You too can now work out like Thor…using a set of his own reasonably priced, good quality mini bands! Yes, Chris Hemsworth has a line of fitness accessories (along with his own app), and our testers say the mini bands are actually pretty cool. With three soothing colors—each corresponding to a different level of tension—and an internal handle, the thick, fabric bands stretch beautifully, feel comfortable, and stay in place. One tester put it best: “I’d definitely give up my tires for these.”
Best Jump Rope: BCG Sprint Jump Rope
Rope: Not just for the schoolyard, people! It is a highly effective cardio and strength training tied into one. The perfect combination of lightweight and durable, this basic BCG jump rope received high marks from our tester—a lifelong jumper—as well as her two teenage sons. This rope is 9 feet long and is not adjustable, but should be a workable length for anyone from 5’3″ to 6 feet tall.
Best Yoga Mat: Manduka X Yoga Mat 5mm
We tested a handful of Manduka yoga mats for this year’s Home Fitness Awards, and while they all performed exceptionally well, we recommend the X model for its nice affordable price. Yoga mats should fit snugly to support your joints while keeping you in contact with the ground. The grip of the surface is also key to prevent slipping and sliding, as well as any rogue movement on the floor. This Manduka mat uses a crosshatch texture to help it (and you) stay in place.
Best mat for big and tall: Lululemon The Big Mat
Everyone deserves a mat that supports their entire body to avoid contact with the cold, hard and sometimes rough floor. Many gyms and studios don’t take this into account—but your home setup might! Delgado-Lugo uses the Big Mat for weight training, bodyweight workouts and yoga flows. So basically, this thing does it all. “Because it’s wider, longer, and thicker than other yoga mats, it protects your body (and the floors!) really well,” says Delgado-Lugo. Additionally, despite its larger size (28″ x 84″ and 7.05 pounds while Lululemon’s standard yoga mat it’s 26″ x 71″ and 5.24 lbs), it’s not much harder to roll, store, clean or transport.
Best Gym Mat: Technogym Exercise Mat
After a few frustrating experiences where pieces of yoga mat ended up around her apartment, one tester told us she was eager to find a more durable, all-around exercise mat. So we sent her the Technogym Exercise Mat and she was thrilled to report that it covered all her home exercise needs — and then some. “I’m 5’8″, so I like its length (70.9 inches),” he says. “It’s really grippy (both on the floor and for my hands and feet) and, at 4mm thick, it’s quite soft that I don’t feel pressure on my knees or elbows, but not so thick that it’s bulky and difficult to store.” It’s not cheap, but thanks to its quality construction, it should last you and your home gym a long time.
Best Low-Tech Fitness System: TRX Home2 System
Our expert reviewers all love the TRX Suspension Trainer — and we’ll let one of them tell you why: “First and foremost, it’s effective for both assisting and enhancing bodyweight strength, flexibility and mobility” , says Harrison. “That means you can use it to make some movements more intense and others more accessible.” Don’t be intimidated by its configuration: TRX has an extensive library of free videos, demos, and workouts for users—and that’s in addition to everything you’ll find on YouTube and social media. You can easily hang it over a door and use it anywhere in your home or even in the park, gym or other public places.
