The Best Home Gym Essentials, Including Editor Favorites
16 Home Gym Essentials to Elevate Your Workouts, Including Editor Recs
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Building the perfect home gym can be tricky. Most of us are at least somewhat constrained by space, so we need home gym equipment that's storable. The cost of equipment can also get expensive fast, so we're always looking for affordable but well-made products that we've either tested ourselves or that come with rave reviews. Whether we're looking for a foldable treadmill for cardio, resistance equipment for strength training, or a mix of both, it can be hard to figure out what home gym essentials to shop.
This list of editor-approved home gym equipment is a great place to start. We've got everything from an exercise mat that will cushion your joints during your workouts to a 3-in-1 resistance band kit that will take you through every workout to a suspension trainer system that'll leave you dripping in sweat. Plus, we found the cheap home workout equipment picks that'll save you money while you build your dream home gym. Whether you're building out a brand new room or just looking to set up some space in your studio apartment, this is the fitness gear you're going to want to shop. So, get ready to get sweaty.
Best Core Sliding Discs
PopSugar Core Sliding Discs ($12)
With the help of these sliding discs, you can strengthen your core and target muscles throughout your entire body. Each side features a different material, so they work on both carpet and hardwood floors.
Best Jump Rope
PopSugar Jump Rope ($14)
If you're looking for a jump rope with a secure, comfortable grip, we've got you covered. This one features a flexible rope and smooth swivel for an easy, effective workout anytime.
Best Gym Towel
Aurora Athletica Gym Towel ($16)
When you're working out at home, a good towel is an essential piece of home gym equipment — you don't want your drips of sweat to mess up your hardwood floors or sink into your carpet. We love this gym towel, which has a luxe feel and is good for sensitive skin.
Best Resistance Bands
PS Fabric Hip Bands ($16)
This pack or two hip bands are designed for lower-body exercises, and they're genius: because they're fabric, they won't roll up mid-move or dig into your skin uncomfortably. They stay in place, without hurting you, so you can focus on getting the best burn possible.
Best Wrist and Ankle Weights
PopSugar Flex Wrist/Ankle Weights ($20)
Burn more calories while toning arms and legs more efficiently by sliding these one pound weights onto your wrists or ankles. The compact size makes them easy to store and travel with and the closure adjusts for a customized and comfortable fit.
Best Kettlebell
PS 8lb Soft-Shell Kettlebell ($22)
A kettlebell is a real workhorse piece of equipment, so it makes a ton of sense to invest in one as part of your your home gym essentials. This periwinkle option has a soft coating, so it won't rip up your hands while you're doing kettlebell swings, shoulder presses, or other kettlebell exercises.
Best Resistance Tubes
PS 3-in-1 Resistance Tube Kit with Interchangeable Tubes ($25)
You'll get light, medium, and heavy strengths with this kit, and the hands are padded to feel comfortable on your skin as you perform tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, and more. If you're not sure about investing in dumbbells, tubes are a fantastic alternative, as you can perform many of the same strength moves and even get a full-body workout — and they save so much space.
Best Step-Up
PS Step Deck ($33)
You heard it here first: step aerobics is back in a big way. These workouts are so much fun — you might not even notice how hard you're working (but you definitely will the next day, when your lower body will be intensely sore). Plus, they can be adjusted to be low-impact if that's a concern. This stable step deck is a must have if you're interested in trying out a step-up workout, and it can be used in your everyday routine for knee-ups, split squats, and more.
Best Weight Vest
Centr Weight Vest ($65)
The 20lb adjustable weight vest from Centr, a fitness brand founded by Chris Hemsworth, is designed to enhance your workout by adding extra resistance for increased intensity. With its customizable weight settings, it provides a comfortable and secure fit for a variety of exercises. There are 16 removable sand bags (weighing 1.25 lbs apiece) allowing you to swap out the weight, depending on the exercise. It's even great for just walking (aka, rucking).
Best Foam Roller
TriggerPoint GRID Patented Multi-Density Foam Massage Roller ($75)
No home gym would be complete without a foam roller for recovery. This one is one of the highest rated on Amazon. People love it because it's firm enough to really get the kinks out, but the padding is soft enough to avoid feeling like a torture device. This 15-minute foam roller routine is a great place to start.
Best Foldable Mat
Stakt Foldable Yoga Mat ($94)
With a multi-purpose design in mind, the Stakt foldable mat is a unique pick for any fitness enthusiast. Featuring a non-slip surface, the mat can be folded during a workout session or for easy storage. Portable and lightweight, this foldable mat from Stakt is perfect for small spaces and home gyms. To learn more, read through our former health and fitness staff writer's review of the Stakt Mat here.
Editor Quote: "Overall, I enjoyed the unique, foldable design of the Stakt Mat and its versatility. As soon as I took it out of the box, I was surprised at how lightweight it was, and hyped about how quickly it could be folded up. And the Stakt Mat is clearly functional, as proven both by my test drive of the mat and also by the reactions of other people who've spotted me using it. The latter have included literal gasps of delight and extremely enthusiastic questions like,"Where did you get that!?" and 'I want one, too!'" — Jade Esmeralda, former health and fitness staff writer
Best Adjustable Hand Weights
Stakt Adjustable Hand Weights ($108)
The Stakt Adjustable Hand Weights offer a convenient and versatile solution for strength training. Each hand weight clocks in at two pounds, but comes with two, two-pound screw-on attachments, meaning you can turn them into four- or six-pound weights too. The compact, ergonomic design makes them perfect for a variety of exercises, from low-impact classes at home to full-body conditioning. For more details, read our former health and fitness staff writer's Stakt Hand Weights review. (PS, we love the four color options too.)
Editor Quote: "I really like the simplicity of the design. Adjusting the weight is straightforward, and they're easy to use during workouts. They're small enough to be portable. They're also aesthetically pleasing, and the color way matches perfectly with the corresponding Dune beige Stakt Mat." — Jade Esmeralda, former health and fitness staff writer
Best Home Suspension Trainer for Resistance Training
TRX Strong System Workout Kit ($150)
This suspension trainer from TRX is a versatile tool, designed for everyone from complete fitness newbies to elite athletes. This kit comes with a suspension anchor (it can be used with a ceiling mount or other anchoring points) and a door anchor, and allows you to add extra challenge to your bodyweight workouts, mobility workouts, and even cardio.
Best Compact Recovery Tool
Theragun Sense from Therabody ($300)
For post-workout recovery, percussion-based modalities have been rising in popularity. Theragun Sense massage gun from Therabody even offers guided breathwork sessions through an app. Read our shopping director's Theragun Sense review for more details.
Editor Quote: "What makes the Therabody Theragun Sense different from all other massage guns on the market is the ability to practice breathwork through guided sessions on the app. The Sense uses vibration cues to guide you through the breathwork sessions, and will show your minimum heart rate post-session to show you how much you relaxed. The breathwork is particularly great for those of us who easily get distracted while meditating. It removes the stress of having to close your eyes and block out the rest of the world, which, personally, put me more at ease." — Sarah Wasilak, shopping director
Best Folding Treadmill
XTERRA Fitness TR Folding Treadmill ($678)
Foldable treadmills got so popular over the past few years, with people using them to get their steps in while working from home. This particular model is our favorite because it folds up small but goes fast enough to actually let you run, not just walk, making it especially versatile.
— Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman, Jade Esmeralda, and Angela Elias
India Yaffe was an associate editor on the Shopping team at PS for five years. She focused on curating the best fitness, fashion, beauty, and home products on the market for the PS audience.
Mirel Zaman (she/her) is the former health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.
Jade Esmeralda (she/her), MS, CSCS, is a former health and fitness staff writer and a strength and conditioning specialist. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise science and strength and conditioning from George Washington University.
Angela Elias (she/her) is a contributing editor for PS Shopping, where she reviews everything from beauty products to kitchen gadgets, curates can't-miss sales, and creates "best of" shopping roundups. In her former roles at PS, she led the relaunch of its Latine identity and family-focused verticals, directed its Home vertical, and hosted shopping segments. She has nearly 15 years of experience working in the lifestyle space as a writer, editor, content strategist, director, on-camera talent, and publicist.
