I enjoy getting out of the house and to a track, park, or gym after working from home all day, but sometimes that’s not an option. Don’t let time constraints or pandemics stop your workouts.
Pick up gear as needed or scoop up everything on this list for around mid $400’s (depending on some of the variable costs such as the medicine wall ball and kettlebell options). This comes out to an average of around $37 per month for one full year which is cheaper than my current monthly gym membership (we have a family plan).
Here’s my favorite home workout gear that’s cheaper than most annual gym memberships and that you can fit in small spaces:
1.) Resistance Bands
Who would’ve thought you could carry an entire gym around in your gym bag? I was skeptical at first, but you can hit up all the muscle groups with resistance bands, and I relied on these to get me through the pandemic when gyms and most public spaces were closed.
Some people swear by resistance bands alone. I personally prefer to mix them in my schedule with traditional free weight training days; when I can’t make the gym, I use the bands at home. I also revisit bands when coming back from an injury.
Bands use variable resistance where the tension increases as you near the completion of a rep as opposed to free weights where you have the same constant tension throughout a rep. Bands may allow you to handle more weight near the end of a repetition when more of your muscles are engaged.
There are many band options on the market including complete sets with a bar and weight plate. Regardless of which route you go, I highly recommend using layered latex bands; they are typically more durable and provide higher variable resistance compared to tubes and nonlayered options.
Pick up a set that comes with multiple bands of varying thicknesses allowing you to choose a resistance tailored to you for each lift.
Undersun Fitness Resistance bands are a great place to start your resistance band journey:
Sugar.Fit and X3 offer complete setups with a footboard, bands, and bar if you’re open to investing a bit more in your home gym. There are some DIY versions out there too if you’re a bit handy.
2.) Pullup Bar
It’s hard to replace good ole’ fashioned pullups, and you can use the resistance bands to provide assistance in doing pullups.
I prefer door mounted options that don’t require drilling holes in walls. They take seconds to setup and seconds to take down. Here’s a challenge for ya: leave your pullup bar up and do a pullup every time you walk under it throughout the day. Let us know how many you complete in the day in the comments below.
You can add some core workouts while hanging from a pullup bar as well.
I prefer this multi-grip option with elevated grips as opposed to dropdown grips:
3.) Adjustable Kettlebell
I’ve seen home gyms complete with racks of dumbbell weights. I don’t have the space or money to invest in that kind of setup. A great alternative is an adjustable kettlebell such as The Burden, made in Maine, USA. Their tag line sums it up well: Fill it. Lace it. Lift it.
Here’s a quick adjust option here if you find yourself frequently changing up the weight between workouts:
4.) Medicine Wall Ball
Great for explosive workouts that you’ll be missing out on with resistance bands. I use this for “wall balls” (doing a squat and throwing these up in the air, catching it, and repeating; I don’t have a wall high enough to toss these against). You can incorporate them with a variety of core workouts.
We like this burstproof option that can take some abuse; rated 4.9 stars.
5.) Box Jump 3-in-1
Coming in at a whopping 30″x24″x20″, this is the largest item on this list. It can double as a stool if you’re real tight on space. Great for explosive moves, core, and cardio. We prefer this one with cushioned edges which are a bit more forgiving than wood and steel. You’ll thank us later if you slip up and bust your shins.
6.) Yoga Mat
Remember to stretch! Great in the morning, afternoon, and/or evening. I imagine it helps counteract sitting in a chair all day too. The Manduka PRO Yoga Mat is a fan favorite.
7.) Sandbag
My personal favorite is the sandbag. Similar to the kettleball above except they’re larger, have multiple grips, and can replace most barbell movements. If I had to choose one piece of equipment from this list, it would be the sandbag. It is the most expensive on this list but also the most versatile.
Pro tip: Check out bruteforcetraining.com for free daily (well… I think it’s technically six days a week) workouts.
I went with one Sandbag 2.0 and one lighter simple sandbag to scale down for the tougher workouts or when I’m gassed. You can do these workouts at home, in the garage, or easily load the sandbags up in your vehicle and head over to your favorite track or park.
8.) Speed rope/jump rope
Don’t forget about cardio! I consider most of the sandbag workouts to be HIIT workouts, and some of the workouts call for double unders (with alternative toe touches if you’re without a jump rope). A jump rope is the smallest piece of equipment on the list and can be easily stored in most areas. I hang mine on a nail in the garage. I’ve had this one for a few years now:
