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With the January fitness wave just around the corner and gyms full of beginners trying their hand at strength training, you can expect to join the queue for heavy-duty equipment like squat racks, free weights, benches and rowers. The alternative? Get ahead of the masses and collect the best in home gym equipment with a piece of kit for every muscle group.
The majority of workout fanatics made good headway with their home fitness equipment in nearly two years of sporadic gym closures, with sales for garage-friendly kit such as punching bags, stationary bikes and weight lifting platforms at an all-time high. Those operating from small spaces, meanwhile, benefited from more compact additions to their routine such as resistance bands, dumbbells and kettlebells, opting instead for compact, folding iterations of cardio staples like treadmills and bikes.
Whether you're working with a spacious loft room or a London flat share of limited square footage, the best home gym equipment will keep fitness goals on track while saving you a £150-per-month direct debit going towards a gym membership. Not sure where to start? Six3Nine’s Dan Price has been training clients virtually with varying states of home gyms since early 2020, so he knows a thing or two about what works...
What's the best home gym equipment?
The beautifully-designed Hydrow Wave is 30 per cent smaller than the original, with a handy vertical folding design for easy storage. It's also got a Full HD screen for more immersive workouts, taking your cardio sessions to a whole new intense level.
Easily capable of being adjusted in increments from 5-32.5kg, these dumbbells offer great value for money if you compare them to the cost and space required by individual sets and/or a gym membership. Pair with a weight bench for maximum effect, and you'll be sorted for years to come.
Resistance bands are an amazing way to get your workout fix on the go without having to carry around any bulky weights. This reasonably priced set features five bands ranging from 10lbs to 100lbs in resistance, with detachable handles and a door anchor for even more workout variety.
THE BEST HOME GYM EQUIPMENT AT A GLANCE…
- Best budget yoga mat: Reebok Studio Yoga Mat, £18.99. At amazon.co.uk
- Best budget exercise bike: Bluefin Fitness Tour SP, £229. At amazon.co.uk
- Best protein shaker: Shakesphere Tumbler, £54.92. At amazon.co.uk
- Best ab roller: Trideer Ab Roller, £7.99. At amazon.co.uk
- Best kettlebell: Bowflex SelectTech, £149.99 At amazon.co.uk
- Best skipping rope: Adidas Skipping Rope Set, £34.99. At amazon.co.uk
What’s the best home gym equipment for those short on space?
“When it comes to home gym equipment, a set of dumbbells offer the most versatility for full-body training. They allow us to target all the muscle groups of the body in a variety of compound and isolation exercises. While bodyweight-only training can be effective, it can be very difficult to target pulling muscles (such as the back and biceps) unless you have access to a pull-up bar or suspension training bands. Resistance bands can be useful for targeting pulling muscles, though slightly less so for loading leg exercises or heavier pressing movements.
“A gym bench or step can also be a really useful addition to add further exercise versatility, allowing a greater range of motion on upper body chest exercises such as bench press and chest flys, as well as offering a stable base for your dumbbell rows. That said, remember that household items such as chairs, sofas and tables can also be used creatively to keep things under budget.”
What are the best machines for a home gym?
“Exercise bikes, treadmills, ellipticals (aka cross trainers) and rowing machines can all make great additions to your home gym. From a practical standpoint, the rowing machine is a piece of equipment offering a training style you can least easily replicate by just going for a run or bike ride. It’s also a low-impact full-body workout that can help build upper- and lower-body muscle as well as improve cardiovascular fitness.
“If you’re a keen runner or cyclist and can’t always rely on the Great British weather, workout equipment like treadmills and exercise bikes both offer a variety of settings, resistance and inclines to help you get a great cardio workout at home. All three of these bits of kit can also be used as part of bodyweight or dumbbell circuits if you feel like mixing it up with a 60-second sprint in between sets of squats.”
Any tips on how you might set up your home workout space to aid a virtual personal trainer?
“When it comes to virtual personal training, the most important thing is that both you and your trainer can hear and see each other clearly. Aside from some of the obvious points, such as a well-lit room and stable internet connection, there are a few other things to consider.
“Most laptop webcams and front-facing phone cameras use a narrow lens angle, which is great for a clear headshot but less useful for trying to see a client perform a squat without losing either the top or bottom half of their body. You’ll end up constantly pointing the camera up or down depending on which body part is deemed most important to see – not ideal. If you don’t have the luxury of space on your side for a full-body shot, consider investing in an attachable webcam with a wider lens angle (Logitech C930-E, £99. At amazon.co.uk) or, alternatively, you could invest far less in a clip-on lens (Apexel clip-on wide lens, £25. At amazon.co.uk) to put over your phone or laptop's existing lens.
“Using a laptop rather than a mobile phone will give you a much clearer view of both you and trainer and it can also be useful to keep a full-length mirror handy so that you can check your form while listening to your trainer's cues.”
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Shop GQ's pick of the best home gym equipment you can buy…
The rowing machine
Hydrow Wave Rower
The Hydrow Wave takes everything we love about the original Hydrow, and places it in a swanky new, more compact and redesigned package. Available in four alluring colours — River, Forest, Sunrise and Sunset — it can easily stand out as a room decoration without the usual functional gym aesthetic ruining your interior design vibes. More importantly, it's 30% smaller than the original and is quickly and easily stowed away thanks to a nifty vertical folding design. With a Full HD screen for immersive workouts, it's the perfect blend of form and function. £1,395. At hydrow.com
JTX's take on core fitness equipment offers high-quality kit at excellent value. Its rower offering boasts all the intensity of the Concept-2s you use in the gym, with air resistance to replicate the river-bound real thing, plus nine-point resistance to emulate the weightiness of your boat. £749. At jtxfitness.com
The exercise bike
Peloton's new Bike+ improves on the massively popular original model with all sorts of fancy features. These include a new ‘Auto-Follow’ resistance system that scales based on your target metrics, automatically adjusting itself based on what your virtual instructor is telling you to do. There's also a huge 23.8-inch swivelling HD screen, for switching between cycling and floor-based workouts. It plays nicely with Apple Health too, and all of its components from the seat to the handlebars are adjustable for the most comfortable ride possible. From £1,995. At onepeloton.co.uk
You can still get a very capable bike for a lot less than a Peloton, albeit one without all the associated bells and whistles (like a giant swivelling screen). Still, Bluefin Fitness' bike serves up plenty of bang for your buck, with an impressively heave 25kg flywheel, multiple levels of resistance, sports pedals, and all the adjustment options you need for a comfortable ride. It's compatible with the Kinomap app, too, letting you virtually ride with other users and follow recorded training sessions for a more immersive, motivating workout. £499 £229. At amazon.co.uk
The treadmill
Pair the MyRun with Technogym's companion app and there's a wealth of built-in training programmes that really justifies an indoor 10K over the park alternative. Other smart features to justify the premium price tag include turning on when you're in close proximity, coaching you on technicalities such as running gait and sourcing music in tune with your running rhythm. £3,450. At technogym.com
Catering to beginners and advanced runners alike, JTX's Sprint-5 is a durable treadmill that easily folds away for small space convenience, using a hydraulic assist lift that makes sure you won't be adding a workout onto your workout. And with 43 workout programmes to choose from, it promises to keep cardio as engaging as the most picturesque of real-life run routes. £899 £849. At jtxfitness.com
The bench
A gym bench will seriously increase the range of motion you can perform such compound moves as chest presses and bent-over rows, and can also provide a sturdy base for dips and crunches when you're not lifting weights. For the state-of-the-art gym standard, go with Technogym – it feels super sturdy and is easy to roll out of the way when your session is through. £1,250. At technogym.com
Easily adjusted for laying down and seated exercises, Flybird's take on the gym bench boasts extra support at your feet and can be folded down and stowed in cupboards or under beds when not in use. £199.99 £129.99. At amazon.co.uk
The Squat Rack
Bulldog Gear's incredibly robust squat rack was designed specifically for elite sports teams and strength and conditioning facilities, so you can rest assured you're in safe hands when you step up to the barbell. With a quick and easy J Peg adjustment system, you can mix up heights in an instant, and it looks the business too, thanks to a very serious all-black paint job. £595 £446.25. At bulldoggear.com
This more affordable heavy-duty squat rack is still capable of handling loads up to an impressive 250kg, with 13 different rack heights on offer for ensuring you've got the perfect foundation for each and every squat/bench press rep. There are even a pair of dip handles for additional chest/tricep-busting exercises. £129.99. At amazon.co.uk
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The multi-gym
If you'd rather skip the scattergun approach of building a comprehensive workout kit collection, a multi-gym could be your best solution. Exigo's gargantuan eight-station multi-gym is an indulgence with state-of-the-art appeal. It'll cost you in terms of money and space alike, but it's built like a tank and has every muscle, upper and lower, covered. £19,194. At bestgymequipment.co.uk
If square metres are at a premium in your garage, this slightly less space-consuming option may not be quite as attentive in its stations but offers a not-to-be-sniffed-at selection of kit to press, pull and curl, all without ever leaving your seat. £429.99. At amazon.co.uk
The Workout Mirror
The future of fitness is now. Forget phone and laptop cameras: a workout mirror provides a comprehensive home workout fix whether you’re into weight lifting or barre. Vaha's is a best seller in the UK, offering you the chance to pick out a personal trainer to guide you through ‘Operation Beach Bod’ from your living room. And when you're not sweating it out, you can browse the web for new gym gear and use it for your Zoom meets. £1,995. At uk.vaha.com
The dumbbells
If you plan on going hard on dumbbell workouts, you can save a tonne of money and space in the long run by investing in an adjustable set like this one from MuscleSquad. Capable of being adjusted in increments from 5-32.5kg, they'll last even veteran lifters a long time, while growing with beginners as they progress and get stronger. £475. At amazon.co.uk
According to Six3Nine’s Dan Price, “The wider variety of weight increments you have in your weights collection, the more closely you’ll be able to replicate a typical gym experience.” He notes, however, that a full spectrum of dumbbells is not cheap, so it's worth either investing in one light set and one heavier set or the more convenient option of an adjustable dumbbell set that'll cater to different weights and progress. York's is one of the most popular out there, the brand having been in the weight-making game for more than 80 years. £69.99. At amazon.co.uk
The kettlebell
Bowflex's adjustable kettlebell saves you from the hassle and cost of filling up an entire section of your room with different-sized weights. Adjustable from 3.5-18kg, you can easily dial in your perfect weight depending on the workout you're doing, letting you easily progress as you get stronger too. There's a 12-month JRNY app subscription thrown in as well, letting you participate in on-demand trainer classes for even more motivation. £229 £149.99 At amazon.co.uk
It might look a little more basic than the more expensive Bowflex option above, but this HomeFit adjustable kettlebell does practically the same job for a lot less, with 3-18kg of adjustable weight at your disposal. With a large handle for an easy grip, it's a great way to save space (and some cash), if you want to get into more in-depth kettlebell routines. £99.53 At amazon.co.uk
The resistance bands
Offering the perfect blend of quality, sturdy design, and a reasonable RRP, Amazon's Eono own-brand resistance band set is one of the better options around. Offering five bands ranging from 10 lbs to 100 lbs in resistance, you can tweak the amount you use to increase or decrease resistance as you see fit. The included handles open up a whole new world of exercises too — as does the door anchor attachment for even more workout options. £24.99. At amazon.co.uk
The workout mat
Lululemon's yoga mats have a cult following of sorts, and this particular one from its range is up there with the very best that money can buy. Its specially designed 3D texture lets you position yourself correctly without even looking, acting as a reference point for different poses. It's also made from sustainably sourced natural rubber, which is also a doddle to clean after even the heaviest of sessions. And, for what it's worth, it looks great too. £118 £99. At lululemon.co.uk
Reebok’s studio yoga mat is a superbly-priced, reliable option that will get the job done with years of use ahead of it. Designed to prevent slipping, it lets you focus more on your positions and poses with minimal distractions and worrying about falling over. This is a premium yoga mat that does the job well. A veritable steal at this price. £18.99. At amazon.co.uk
The pull-up bar
There's a limit to how much progress you can get with back exercises solely focused around pulling dumbbells. Pull-ups will hit the lats in a way that weights simply can't. And, as pretty much every home has a doorway, a pull-up bar is a very accessible piece of kit (just mind your head on low ceilings). Umi's requires no screws or drilling and can handle up to 200kg of weight. £59.99. At amazon.co.uk
The ab roller
Mixing up your crunches and planks with an ab roller is a sure-fire way to really get the core burning, bringing in plenty more muscles and increasing stability areas such as the lower back. At 3.2 inches wide, this one is especially stable and comes with a knee pad to keep the movement comfortable. £7.99. At amazon.co.uk
The medicine ball
Slam your way to a strength and cardio workout with explosive results, thanks to this set of balls from Core Balance. Featuring a hard-wearing PVC shell and filled with sand, there's no chance of them rolling away or dangerously bouncing around when they're slammed down. A perfect choice for fun, high-impact, high-intensity workouts, like overhead throwdowns and more. From £16.99. At amazon.co.uk
The skipping rope
Whether you're using it as a playground pastime or you're looking to perfect the double-under, skipping isn't just good for cardiovascular health but can also benefit coordination and footwork, great for supplementary training to sporting pursuits from football to boxing. Adidas' is easy to carry around thanks to its neat carrying case: essential if you're working with low ceiling heights. £34.99. At amazon.co.uk
The bodyweight aid
Whether you can attach it to a ceiling beam in your house or a sturdy tree branch in your garden, the TRX Home 2 offers the tools to really take bodyweight moves to the next level without a dumbbell in sight. There's a whole catalogue of movements that can be elevated by suspension training, from jumping squats to abdominal pikes, with difficulty levels that can be varied by angle and strap length. Really, it's as space-saving as a multi-gym gets. £179.95. At trxtraining.eu
The massage gun
Therabody has led the massage gun rankings for quite some time now, having produced a plethora of percussive therapy devices from the bag-friendly Mini to the all-singing, all-dancing Pro above. Naturally, it's the best massage gun the company has produced to date, and it's smarter and quieter than ever. In fact, Therabody states that it's 20% quieter than its predecessor, which is an impressive feat. There's even a built-in OLED screen for displaying visually-guided routines, which syncs with the handy smartphone app. £549. At therabody.com
Considerably more affordable than the Theragun, Renpho's alternative offering might lack the fancy angles and sleek design of its pricier rival, but it makes up for it with solid functionality and, most importantly, a heated head attachment. Turn it on, massage away, and feel those knots and tension areas melt away for a cosy, blissful recovery. £74.99. At amazon.co.uk
The battle rope
Battle ropes might seem like unassuming pieces of kit, but spend more than ten seconds swinging one around, and you'll soon see what all the fuss is about. This offering from Amazon-own-brand Umi is available in 9m and 12m lengths, with durable rubberised grips and a protective sleeve for longevity and comfort. Its 38mm-thick diameter helps build grip strength, and it's an ideal choice for high-intensity interval training, with a two-year warranty thrown in for extra peace of mind. From £39.99 £34.99. At amazon.co.uk
The grip trainer
You can't pump those biceps all you like, but if you're lacking grip strength, it can leave you behind in certain activities like bouldering. This reasonably-priced set from GorillaGrips included grip trainers forged from hardy stainless steel, with knurled handles for a firm grip. Rated at different strengths, you can work your way up all the way to the seriously impressive 200lb-rated model. £29.99. At amazon.co.uk
The foam roller
At the slightly more manual side of muscle recovery, the foam roller predated the massage gun and remains just as good a way to limber up. Even the company behind the Theragun has released its take, which bolsters the deep-tissue massage with vibrations controlled via a smartphone app.£125. At therabody.com
Another tick for any comprehensive home gym kit is Nike's take on the foam roller. The small grooves accentuate the pressure this sleek design has on your muscles, making it especially good if you're recovering from an injury. £34.99. At amazon.co.uk
The smart scale
Finally, for those sticking to a strict training regime, a smart scale is an essential tool for tracking progress and seeing if all the hard work is actually paying off. Look to the major player in connected fitness, Garmin, for the best iteration to date. The Index S2 breaks down everything from weight to bone mass, body fat and skeletal muscle, with up to 16 user profiles to differentiate for households of The Waltons proportions. £129.99. At garmin.com
The post-workout shake blitzer
Your efforts in the gym will only go so far if you're not refuelling right. As they say, abs are forged in the kitchen, and you'll be wanting to supplement your workouts with protein shakes plumped out with plenty of fruits and greens. The Ninja Blender with Auto-iQ can handle that and so much more. At 1,000 watts, it’s a powerful personal blender and does a great job at creating super-smooth drinks for a single serving. £99. At amazon.co.uk
If you don't fancy any motorised blades, coil balls, or any other extra parts to keep track of and clean, then Shakesphere's sleek and cleverly-designed tumbler is the mixer for you. Its special capsule-like shape sends ingredients round and round inside, mixing everything without the need for any internal gizmos, with the added bonus of no nooks or crannies for bits to get stuck in. Clever stuff. £54.92. At amazon.co.uk
