Top 10 Home Gym Essentials

The home gym and garage gym market has exploded since the 2020 coronavirus pandemic forced everyone to stay home and start considering alternative ways to exercise outside of commercial gyms. Are you also looking for a list of home gym essentials to set up your own garage gym?

For those starting their first home gym, garage gym, or outdoor gym, there are all sorts of options. However, there are really only a few essentials that are absolutely necessary, especially if you are doing resistance training at home.

This list is for those who are interested in resistance training. And resistance training has been shown to increase positive health outcomes and has tremendous benefits for longevity, quality of life, and avoiding various diseases. Owning a home gym and performing resistance training weekly is especially important for older adults who want to reduce their risk of health complications.

List of Top 10 Home Gym Essentials

• Adjustable Dumbbells
• Adjustable Kettlebells
• Olympic Barbells
• Olympic Barbell Plates
• Barbell Collar Locks
• Adjustable Bench
• Squat Racks
• Assault Bikes
• Stable Mats

1. Adjustable Dumbbells

Dumbbells work all muscle groups, from biceps and triceps, back and shoulders to core, hamstrings and quadriceps. If you are new to resistance training, adjustable dumbbells are a great way to build total body strength, muscle tone, build muscle and lose weight.

Most adjustable dumbbells adjust in 5-pound increments, from 5 pounds all the way up to 50 pounds, which is more than enough for most people. As you get stronger, you can increase the weight of these dumbbells. Most adjustable dumbbell sets also allow you to add weight over time. So even if the dumbbell only has a maximum weight of 50 pounds, some allow you to continue to add weight, sometimes up to 150 pounds!

This type of adjustable dumbbell allows you to use “standard” barbell plates (i.e., plates with a 1-inch hole in the middle) and add them to the dumbbell handles in 5-pound increments. Standard weight plates are usually less expensive than Olympic weight plates with a 2-inch hole in the middle.

Companies like Bowflex, Ironmaster, and Nuobell all make excellent adjustable “quick-lock” dumbbell sets that are easier to use than the standard weight plates listed above, but they are more expensive and offer essentially the same functionality with quicker weight changes between workouts.

If you’re just starting out, a set of standard adjustable dumbbells should work well for you!

2. Adjustable Kettlebell

Kettlebell exercises can tone, tone, and strengthen your core. And with so many ways to do them, it’s hard to exclude kettlebells from the top 10 must-haves for your home gym.

If you want added versatility, try an adjustable kettlebell. This gives you the flexibility of purchasing 1 kettlebell that you can adjust it to different weights. Just like adjustable dumbbells, you can add additional weight plates to your kettlebell. Most adjustable kettlebells can weigh up to 50 pounds.

You can try an adjustable kettlebell with standard kettlebell plates, like this one, but you’ll need to buy standard kettlebell plates with a 1-inch hole in the middle to use with the kettlebell. While an adjustable kettlebell with standard weight plates takes time to change the weight, it’s a good value for a home gym.

3. Olympic Barbell

A barbell is a straight bar with a rotating “sleeve” that you can apply weight to for different types of exercises like squats, bench presses, and deadlifts.

There are hundreds of barbells on the market, but any basic barbell will work. When choosing a barbell, make sure not to buy any “bare steel” products, as these will rust and corrode quickly. Black oxide, zinc, chrome, or high-end stainless steel coatings are best. Also, unless you are doing Olympic lifts like the clean and jerk, snatch, or front squat, it is best to use a barbell with bushings. Bushings are ball bearings in the sleeve/collar of the barbell that allow the end of the barbell to rotate freely when lifting weights.

If you are just starting out, choose a barbell that you feel comfortable with, or buy a used barbell and experiment until you feel like you know how to perform resistance training with the barbell in your hands.

4. Olympic Plates

There are almost as many barbells on the market today as there are Olympic plates. Olympic plates come in cast iron, machined, polyurethane coated, and “bumper” plates (or rubber coated), each with different benefits. These types of plates work well for all weightlifting and resistance training exercises. It really comes down to personal preference and what you want in your home gym. Also, unless you are doing Olympic lifts like the clean and jerk, snatch, or front squat and throwing the barbell to the floor, you don’t need “bumper” or rubber coated plates.

First, you can shop for Olympic plates on most online marketplaces like Facebook, OfferUp, and Craigslist to get an idea of ​​what type of Olympic lifts you prefer in your home gym. Any plate will do, as this is just a starting point. You can always upgrade your plates later!

If you absolutely want to buy new plates, try these cast iron plates. They are high quality plates with a ±3% weight tolerance and should last a long time if cared for properly.

5. Barbell Collars

Most beginners probably forget to buy the barbell collars when purchasing barbells and weight plates. They’re super useful to prevent the plates from sliding off the end of the barbell. The barbell collars clip onto the barbell sleeve and act as a safety mechanism to prevent you from getting hurt while lifting.

There are a few different types of barbell covers, but the most common are metal spring covers and traditional plastic covers. Both have their own advantages, and most of the differences come down to personal preference. Plastic covers generally seal the barbell cover more tightly; metal spring covers are generally more difficult to slide in and out of the barbell, while barbell covers are easier to use.

With metal spring covers, you have to squeeze the handles to slide the cover onto the barbell; with plastic covers, you simply use a lever mechanism to unlock the cover and then slide it onto the barbell without squeezing. Which cover you prefer is up to you.

Most covers are inexpensive and come in a variety of colors, and you can find hundreds on Amazon or any online marketplace. Pick one, use it, and if you want to upgrade to a better cover in the future, you can do that.

Try different, more affordable collars before committing to a more expensive version. These affordable locking collars are available on Amazon and on our website!

6. Adjustable Bench

Sometimes free weights simply won’t do the trick, and you need some home equipment that can work different muscle groups. The angle of an adjustable bench can help you work specific muscles, whether it’s your back, triceps, biceps, chest, legs, etc.

There are hundreds of ways to use an adjustable bench, but if you already have dumbbells and kettlebells, an adjustable bench can give you more flexibility in your workouts, expand your range of motion, stabilize your body on a flat or inclined/declined surface, and target the exact parts you want to strengthen.

Ideally, an adjustable bench should allow you to adjust the back of the bench to a right 90-degree angle and decline slightly when fully extended. Some benches even come with preacher curl or leg curl/extension attachments, allowing you to do both upper and lower body workouts on the same bench.

This bench can be used fully upright, flat, and slightly inclined. It has a strong weight capacity and sturdy construction. This is a great entry-level bench.

If you want to upgrade later, there are plenty of other brands (like RepFitness, Rogue, Titan) that sell sturdy adjustable benches. However, for someone just getting started with resistance training, an entry-level adjustable bench like this one will suffice.

7. Squat Rack

Squat racks are extremely versatile and are a must-have piece of fitness equipment in your home gym. Not only do they allow you to bench press and squat, but with multiple attachments, you can also do overhead presses, deadlifts, store weights, connect cable systems, and perform a variety of assistance exercises on the same rack.

A squat rack is usually a 2-post or 4-post assembly with additional brackets. It includes different types of attachments, such as a protection bar or protection arm, which protects you and acts as a safety mechanism while you squat or bench press. Additionally, these types of racks may also include Olympic plate storage so that you don’t have to buy a separate barbell rack or barbell rack.

Just like Olympic barbells and plates, there are hundreds of racks to choose from. Just about any squat rack will get the job done as long as it’s appropriate for your strength level. But make sure the rack can handle whatever weight you load it with. Any squat rack or power rack from Walmart or Amazon will do. Just make sure the rack has a safety bar, protection arm, or some kind of safety lock so that if you fail to lift a weight, the rack will catch it before it accidentally falls on you.

Remember, the squat rack doesn’t make you a better lifter, it’s your commitment to training that counts.

8. Assault Bike

Once you have a squat rack or power rack, you may decide to incorporate conditioning and cardio into your workout routine. In addition to keeping your heart healthy and active, cardio and conditioning are necessary to increase the amount of work you can do between resistance training sets and reps. If you don’t like running, assault bikes are a very popular, convenient, compact, and inexpensive option. Assault bikes are a great choice for all fitness levels because the fans adjust to your strength level, but make sure you choose the right equipment for you!

These assault bikes may also come with a monitor to help you track calorie burn, distance, and effort. The seat can also be adjusted to different heights. You can buy these types of classic/vintage assault bikes for cheap on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Offerup. Additionally, you may decide to include a Ski ERG, rowing machine, treadmill, or other type of cardio or conditioning fitness equipment in your home gym, depending on space constraints. All of these options are perfectly acceptable.

As with all fitness equipment, first determine your fitness goals, then get into the equipment aspect, gather what you need, and then worry about the rest. You can always buy more fitness equipment, but it’s important to make sure you’re committed to the process, doing resistance training regularly, and committing to regular exercise first. Don’t rush through these steps, and you’ll find that your home gym is attractive, fits your lifestyle, and meets your needs.

9. Stable Mats

Another piece of home gym equipment that is often overlooked is the gym floor. In order to properly protect the floor from damage and cracking during resistance training, you need to lay a sturdy layer of rubber or protective material on the floor. This is where stable mats are particularly effective. This is an affordable flooring solution. For most home gyms, stable mats or quality gym flooring are the ideal solution to protect the floor during weightlifting.

Stable mats typically come in 4-foot x 6-foot blocks and are 3/4-inch thick. Thinner mats are not recommended for home gyms or garage gyms because the risk of damaging the floor by dropping something on a thinner mat is much higher.

You can find stable mats at any Tractor Supply, Fleet and Farm Supply, or farm store in your area.

Also, be aware that these stable mats will “gas” (or smell) for a few months after use. Due to the material they are made of, this smell will linger for a while and will go away after a while. You can speed up the process by periodically wiping the mats with a cleaner or simply opening the garage door, windows, etc. to ventilate. The smell is non-toxic and not harmful, it is just a little strong at first but will fade over time. In most cases, if the mat is placed in a garage or basement, you probably won’t even notice if the door is closed, as the smell shouldn’t waft into your home.

10. Heater/Fan Combos

If you want to avoid freezing to death in the winter, or getting sunburned and passing out in the summer, especially in a garage, sunroom, or unheated space, buy a heater/fan combo unit. Not only will a heater/fan combo prevent you from overheating or overcooling, but it will also psychologically make you more likely to use your home gym. If it’s cold in the mornings, and you know your home gym is going to be cold, you’re less likely to get out and work out if you have a nice, warm space.

Instead of installing separate dedicated air conditioning units and heater units in your home gym, a heater/fan combo allows you to have 1 compact climate control unit, which reduces the space you need when working out.

Want advice on which heater/fan combo to buy? Try any of the highly rated heater/fan combos on Amazon.

If you live in an area with particularly hot weather year-round, just use air conditioning. For areas with cold weather year-round, use a dedicated heater unit and eliminate the need for a fan.