The Best Home Fitness Equipment [Starting at $9], According to People Who Stick to Workouts

Gym memberships aren’t always cheap, and trekking to get a workout in isn’t always convenient. That’s part of what makes home exercise equipment so appealing: You can accomplish the same quality of workout in the comfort of your own living room, for a fraction of the cost. 

Still, it can be overwhelming to figure out which home exercise equipment is worth the investment. To help you navigate the process of choosing cost-effective and workout-efficient exercise equipment for your home, we talked to some personal trainers and at-home workout aficionados. Here’s what they recommend.

A Twist Stepper

Want to get more steps in but have no plans to leave the house? Professional organizer Annie Draddy says she gets a lot of use out of her twist stepper, which allows her to easily work out at home between clients. The twisting action makes for a great cardio workout, while the attached resistance bands strengthen the upper body.

Buy: Sunny Health & Fitness Twist Stepper, $69 on Amazon

Loop Resistance Bands

Sarah Adler, a personal trainer at DIAKADI in San Francisco, is a fan of loop resistance bands for a cost-effective and ultra-versatile workout option. Not only are resistance bands easy to store; they’re also great for a number of workouts, including rows, presses, and glute exercises. At home, Adler likes to use them as an add-on to dumbbells for a tougher workout. “I only have dumbells up to 50 pounds, so sometimes to increase resistance I’ll attach a band to the weight,” she says.

Buy: Telustyle Set of 5 Fitness Resistance Bands, $8.94 on Amazon

Adjustable Dumbbells

Jennifer Fidder, a personal trainer with Jennifer Alice Training & Coaching, says when she works out at home, she uses adjustable dumbbells from Bowflex for several different kinds of workouts. “They’re a bit pricey, but they can pretty much be considered a one-time investment that will last a lifetime,” she says. “With a range from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds they can be used for a variety of exercises and every fitness level.”


Buy: Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells, $279 on Amazon

A Pelvic Clock 

If you work at a desk for hours every day, you might know the havoc prolonged sitting can wreak on your lower back. Melanie Breitman’s friend recommended the Pelvic Clock, which she uses for lower back strengthening, stretching, and even massaging her feet. “It’s also super portable and compact, so I can use it in my small Brooklyn apartment and take it with me when I travel,” Breitman says. “Its design is so cool that it looks like it’s from the MoMA shop,” she says. 


Buy: Pelvic Clock, $79.99 on Amazon

Kettlebells

Kettlebells are like a one-stop strength and cardio workout. According to Tyler Sellers, a personal trainer and CEO of Total Shape, almost every muscle in the body is active when you workout with kettlebells—plus, you’ll boost your heart rate in the process. For maximum effect, Sellers suggests squats and presses with a set of at-home kettlebells.


Buy: Yes4All Vinyl-Coated Kettlebells, $22.50 on Amazon

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