Best Home Gym Equipment: What You Need

Have you decided to build a home gym? Not sure which pieces of home gym equipment you need to get started? Let’s review the top 10 items you need for a home gym.

BEST HOME GYM EQUIPMENT

1. RACK

Every great gym has a stable and secure rack. A power rack allows you to safely execute the big compound exercises such as the back squat, deadlifts, and rows.

When looking for a rack for your home gym equipment, you’ll generally have two options based on sides of support. There’s a cost-effective rack with a two-sided support base. This will get the job done, but if you’re looking for the more secure option, we recommend paying a bit more and opting for the four-sided support base rack. Both of these options will give you a free-standing option or attachments to be secured to the floor.

2. BENCH

Another staple for home gym equipment is the bench. It’s the cornerstone for the bench press, Bulgarian split squats, and a variety of core exercises. Combined with a rack, you’ll be able to go after those new personal bests in a safe way with or without a spotter.

Regardless of whether your goal is to throw around big plates, we recommend investing in a bench that has a four-sided foundation and is able to be adjust to decline and incline positions. If you have to choose one over the other, go with incline.

3. THICK BARBELL

A strong and sturdy barbell will be your ticket to squats, deadlifts, bench presses, rows, and dozens more exercises.

You can get an Olympic-style barbell that weighs the standard 45 pounds but if you want to take your training to the next level, we recommend thick barbells.

Thick barbells have been shown to significantly increase grip strength and overall weight lifting results. If thick bars are out of your price range, you can use thick grips. These home gym equipment accessories wrap around a standard barbell and provide the same thick grip training benefits.

4. EZ CURL BARBELL

To complement your traditional barbell, we recommend purchasing an EZ Curl barbell as well.You can easily recognize these barbells since they are W-shaped. EZ Curl barbells are ideal for isolation exercises such as barbell curls, triceps overhead extensions, and upright rows. They are also fantastic for anyone who has wrist pain and isn’t able to use a straight barbell without an issue.

5. WEIGHT PLATES WITH STAND

If you want to boost that strength and muscle mass, you won’t get very far without additional weight. There are two types of weight plates you can invest in: old school and rubber. The old school metal plates will chip and flake over time; however, they are cost effective. The rubber coated weight plates are a far better option if it’s in your budget. They are extremely durable, yet safer for your floors if you have tile or hardwood.

6. THICK DUMBBELLS OR KETTLEBELLS

Barbells give you the most bang for your buck when it comes to compound movements, but dumbbells or kettlebells are essential for isolation exercises.

When you are going after the smaller muscle group such as the biceps, triceps, and calves, dumbbells are a must. If you want to isolate the chest, back, or quadriceps to increase vascularity or make those muscles pop, dumbbells are the way to go. For example, you can’t perform flies with a barbell, only with a dumbbell.

Again, if you have the money, invest in thick dumbbells. If not, you can use thick grips. Simply wrap the thick grip around the handle of the dumbbell and you’ll immediately notice a difference. Try it for a few weeks and you’ll be amazed at your grip strength.

7. RUBBER FLOOR MATS

Speaking of barbells, weight plates, and hardwood flooring, if you’re serious about a home gym, we highly recommend investing in rubber mats.

Customer-focused rubber mats are ideal for protecting your flooring even if you have carpet. The best rubber mats lock together to provide a secure foundation for your bench and rack to sit on.

If you can’t afford rubber mats for your floor, try an abdominal mat. You can place this beneath you during heavier sets. Even if you do drop your weight, it’ll land on the mat so you won’t have to worry about your flooring.

8. BATTLE ROPES

Battle ropes are popular in CrossFit and cross training gyms but you’re starting to see them popping up in standard commercial gyms as well because they are a great cardio and strength workout.

You can use battle ropes in place of a cardio day or as a supplement to arms, shoulders, and chest day. They come in different thicknesses and weights, allowing you to buy the one that’s ideal for you. Make sure you have something in your basement or backyard to loop the battle rope around so it’s stable.

9. BOXES OR JUMPING PLATFORMS

For those looking to focus on sports training, endurance, or agility, boxes or jumping platforms can be a huge help.

Focusing on fast-twitch muscle fibers in the transverse plane of movement requires jumping. Leaping on to boxes provides a unique challenge that can skyrocket your results. Best of all, as you progress you can incorporate your dumbbells and battle ropes in an obstacle course-style workout.

10. ACCESSORIES

Now that you have all of the home gym equipment you’ll ever need, it’s time to think small. Home gym equipment accessories can help to improve performance and protect you from injury. Here are several accessories that we recommend every home gym should have:

Weightlifting Belt: Provides a wall for the abdominal muscles to push on during heavy-loaded exercises such as the squat.

Squat Pad: Protects the back of your neck while squatting.

Knee Wraps: Ideal for powerlifter or those with knee issues.

Knee Sleeves: A great preventative measure for healthy knees.

Wrist Wraps: Help you get through the toughest workouts even if you have previous wrist issues. Make sure you know how to use your wrist wraps correctly.

WHAT HOME GYM EQUIPMENT WILL YOU BUY?

Which of the following items will you buy to build your home gym? Is there any home gym equipment that we didn’t mention? Tag us in your home gym photos on our Instagram.