As I write this during the pandemic, if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s to make sure you have the right home exercise equipment, just in case the gym closes down. And I have a good supply of home exercise equipment, but it made me think about what is essential for a home gym.
The best at-home exercise equipment to lose weight will include weights or bands for resistance training, it should allow you to get the heart pumping, and the equipment needs to be accessible and it shouldn’t cost a fortune. For me that equipment is the TRX suspension training system. It provides everything you need to lose weight and add muscle definition
If you’re just starting out you really don’t need much. The items below will fit everyone from beginner to fitness enthusiasts that are looking to outfit their home gym.
Basic Home Exercise Equipment
Doing a home workout will save you time, money, and stress compared to hitting the gym. You can still get a killer workout in with some basic tools. I’ve put together a list of items that will assist you in outfitting your home workouts. Here is a simple and inexpensive list of what to have in a home gym.
A Speed Jump Rope
1) Jump rope – did you know compared to jogging, jumping rope burns more calories? Using a jump rope for an hour can burn over 1000 calories! Granted, using a jump rope for an hour is pretty difficult, but it’s great for getting warmed up or as a workout itself. It’s completely portable so you can take it anywhere, and improves coordination. Jumping rope also increases strength in the muscles surrounding your ankle and in your foot, decreasing the chance to injury in those areas. This is particularly helpful for anybody that is already active (hiking, running, tennis, basketball, etc..)
Features and Benefits:
- Compact and easy to carry
- Minimal storage space at home
- Easy to use
Amazon Basics Foam Rollers
2) Foam roller – using a foam roller on a regular basis has many benefits. It will help prepare muscles for the workout ahead as well as post muscle recovery. They break up scar tissue and adhesions between the skin, muscles, and bones. Simply put, it helps with tight muscle soreness and increases muscle health. I try to use these before any high-intensity workouts and post-workout as well.
Features and Benefits:
- Reduces muscle soreness
- Great for strengthening, flexibility, and rehab exercises
- Increases muscle flexibility
Walito Resistance Bands
3) Workout bands – one of the most versatile, convenient, safe, and effective tools you can use for home workouts. They are cost-effective and won’t leave a dent in your bank account. They come in a variety of resistance levels, so you can continue to adjust the amount of resistance. Bands also allow you to add variety or modify familiar exercises. Your body is smart, and over time it will find the most efficient way to work. This is good, except for it the world of fitness. You need to adjust your workout, even if it’s only marginal to prevent the body from becoming complacent. This will work your muscles in a different way, which is great for toning and strengthening.
Features and Benefits:
- Compact and easy to carry
- Inexpensive
- Easy to use and build muscle with
- Works for a variety of exercises
Ab Roller
4) Ab wheel – the core muscles in your body should be a major focus of energy. The core muscles are mainly made up of the abs, side obliques, and back muscles. We use these muscles every day and should be engaging them in a majority of the workouts we do. A strong core will support the spine and prevent back pain down the road. If you’re just beginning, start with some easier ab workouts, and progress to the ab wheel. You’re defined abs will thank you. Ab wheels also strengthen your arms and shoulders. What I really like about this ab wheel is the super-comfortable handgrips.
Features and Benefits:
- Easy to use
- Takes minimal space
- Inexpensive and can work the entire core
ProSource Pull-up Bar
5) Pull-up bar – Ask a personal trainer their top 3 exercises for the upper body and a pull-up will undoubtedly be one of them. The pull-up is a compound exercise, meaning they engage several muscles all at once. Trying to mimic the effects of this one exercise would entail doing something like 7 different exercises all at once. They are convenient, do wonders for grip strength, can easily do a variety of them, and burn a lot of calories so good for weight loss. A must need for any home workout gym and easily one of the best pieces of at-home exercise equipment to lose weight.
Features and Benefits:
- Great for total upper body workout
- Easy to install and use
- Great for ab workouts too
- Can be moved around, so no permanent fastening
Amazon Dumbbells
6) AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbell Hand Weights – Any home gym should have a set of dumbbells. They’re easy to use, don’t’ take up much space, and you can work the entire body with them. Add resistance training to your workouts with the AmazonBasics 20-pound dumbbell set. Resistance training not only builds strength, but can also help burn calories, increase energy levels, protect bone health, improve mood, and more.
Features and Benefits:
- Multiple weight sets available
- Weight stand to keep them organized and clutter-free
- Neoprene coating making them easy to grip
Fitbit Smartwatch
8) Smartwatch – I struggled with where to place this in my list. I realized it’s not budget-friendly compared to the home exercise equipment above, but if you’re a beginner a smartwatch can help track all sorts of vital stats. And people want to be informed about their workouts. They want to feel like they are receiving a benefit for all the hard work they are putting into a regular exercise regimen. Having a smartwatch will help see those results and improvements you’re making. It will help to motivate you to continue working hard to reach the goals you’ve set.
Features and Benefits:
- Tracks your exercise
- Helps analyze sleep
- Helps you stick to workout and reach goals
That rounds out the best at-home exercise equipment to lose weight. Again, most of these are easy to use, inexpensive, and can help you increase your muscle density while losing some bodyfat.
Next, I want to show you some home equipment that can provide a complete full-body workout at home.
Total Home Exercise Equipment For Weight Loss
The previous list included some basic home exercise equipment but now I want to cover some home equipment that can work the entire body. You’ve probably heard of most of these, and for good reason. They can provide the same workout as your gym without the monthly membership fees.
There is a higher barrier to entry cost associated with the items below, but over time, you’ll get the results you’re looking for and they can pay for themselves. Especially, as gyms and facilities are charging close to $100 per month in membership fees.
TRX Suspension Training
1) TRX training basics kit– TRX is a user-friendly piece of equipment made of high-quality nylon capable of holding 1400 pounds, with handles on the end. One of the best features of TRX is, that it’s portable; you can set it up anywhere. It’s a complete training system that allows you to do exercises that target the chest, arms, back, legs, and especially the core. If you’re looking to decrease your bodyfat and add some definition to your body the TRX suspension training system is ideal. This TRX kit is small, compact, lightweight, and will allow you to do just about any kind of workout you want. Check out my full breakdown of TRX here.
Features and Benefits:
- Provides a total body workout
- Made from premium material
- Mesh travel bag for on the go workouts
- Manufactured by a reputable brand
- Easy to set up and use immediately
Bowflex Blaze
2) Bowflex Blaze – The Bowflex Blaze might be the culmination of the Bowflex company. There are others, and over time, they have improved, but to date, the Blaze is probably the best value for the buck. The Bowflex Blaze is larger than your basic home gym equipment, but the nylon and steel components make it a durable product. The padding is comfortable and resilient to wear and tear, making it last for years. The power rod technology is no joke. It’s easy to use and changing weights and exercises is quick and easy. You can check out my full review here.
Features and Benefits:
- A highly reputable company manufactures this total gym
- Provides a full body workout
- Only home exercise equipment to use power-rod technology
- Several different options available
Total Gym XLS
3) Total Gym XLS – The Total Gym XLS is famous for its celebrity spokesmodels, but it’s also a fantastic piece of home gym workout equipment. It uses your bodyweight for resistance making it great for a low and moderate-intensity workout. But don’t be fooled, you can burn some serious calories by pushing the intensity. The adjustable board allows you to dial in the perfect amount of resistance. You can read about my in-depth analysis of Total Gym here.
Features and Benefits:
- Easy to assemble
- Access to over 80 workouts
- Up to 6 levels of resistance
- Low-impact workout
Marcy MWM-988 Home Gym
4) Marcy Home Gym – This complete system is constructed from heavy-duty 14-gauge steel and offers a variety of functions for a total workout. Features include a 150-pound vinyl-coated weight stack, dual-function press arm, lat bar, adjustable preacher curl pad, and comfortable roller pads. It also offers an adjustable butterfly attachment and leg developer for an easy way to change up fitness routines! What I really like about this is, it’s great for short or tall users.
Features and Benefits:
- Provides a complete body workout to burn calories
- Can be easily assembled by one person
- Small footprint, so you don’t need a lot of room
- Has a workout chart on the equipment providing guidance
That wraps up the total body home gym exercise equipment that I would recommend and thousands of customers have provided similar sentiments.
Home Cardio Equipment for Weight Loss
Some people love working up a sweat on a treadmill, stationary bicycle, elliptical machine, and some people would rather get poked with a stick. Regardless, you know that if you can stick to a regular routine involving a calorie-burning cardio workout, you’re going to lose some weight and decrease your bodyfat.
Use the tool below to help estimate your calories burned.
Here are some popular and well-received home cardio machines that can fit anybody.
Nordic Track Treadmills
1) Nordic Track T Series – Nordic Track is the premier brand in the treadmill industry. They have a suite of treadmills that could fit your needs. If you’re a runner or would like to get into running but would like to do without the outside elements, Nordic Track has a treadmill for you. As the most reputable brand out there, Nordic Track can help you burn calories and shrink your waist. With over 13,000 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars, you can be sure you’re getting what you pay for.
Features and Benefits:
- Access to live interactive training
- New daily workouts
- FlexSelect Cushioning so easy on the joints
- A 10-year frame warranty
- iFit coach ready
If you’re looking for a treadmill that is a bit more budget-friendly and compact, check out my review of 5 of the best compact treadmills.
I don’t mind running on treadmills, but I’ll freely admit that it’s not for everyone. If you’re looking for an indoor stationary bike, the JeeKee indoor stationary bike is what I would recommend.
JeeKee Recumbnet Exercise Bike
2) JeeKee Recumbent Bike – If you’re looking for a simple, affordable resistance recumbent bike, this is it. It’s lightweight and compact and is designed for maximum comfort. It’s designed for adults of all ages and seniors with its easy mounting and dismounting. It runs smoothly and quietly thanks to the external magnetic flywheel with great inertia and power and a dual belt-driven system. What I really like is the warranty on it. It comes with a year of warranty by the manufacturer that includes the free parts replacement for a year, 100% satisfaction, and 30 days money-back guarantee.
Features and Benefits:
- Advanced two-way external magnetic flywheel technology
- Produces only 20db of sound, so very quiet
- Pulse grip to track your vitals
- 8 levels of resistance
The final home cardio machine I would recommend to help lose weight and burn calories is a home rowing machine. The Joroto rowing machine averages 4.4 stars out of 5, and for good reason.
Joroto Magnetic Rower
3) Joroto Rowing Machine – A rowing machine can help you reduce fat, shape your body, enhance cardiopulmonary function, build muscles, and relieve stress. Compared to running machine, bike, and elliptical machines, rowing machines are much more efficient, because it engages all major muscle groups. Fifteen minutes of rowing can burn as many calories as 45 minutes of running. If you don’t have much time for exercise, the rowing machine is a good choice.
Features and Benefits:
- Provides 10 levels of resistance
- Built in wheels for ease of moving
- Adjustable non-slip pedals
- Ergonomic seat cushion
Schwinn A40
4) Schwinn A40 Elliptical Machine – The Schwinn A40 offers high performance at an affordable price, delivering a challenging workout in the comfort of your home. With easy-to-use features and a unique console design, get the best in fitness technology. If a premiere brand at an affordable price point is a critical deciding factor and you don’t need the bells and whistles of some of the others listed, this Schwinn might fit the bill. Check out my full breakdown of ellipticals here.
Features and Benefits:
- A large LCD console makes tracking your progress a breeze.
- 8 levels of magnetic resistance provide a variety of intensity.
- 7 pre-programmed levels, lets you hop on and go.
- Moving and fixed handlebars give you options and variety.
- Ergonomically placed grip heart rate contacts provide continuous updates on heart rate
If burning through some calories is your thing I hope one of the above-mentioned home cardio machines will help you get down to the weight you’re looking to achieve.
Tips to Lose Weight With Home Exercise Equipment
It’s no surprise that losing weight is difficult, so I want to provide some tips to make sure you achieve your goals. The strategies and tips below will help.
- Be consistent – Sticking to a regular routine will help you reach your goals. Over time you’ll actually start to feel guilty if you miss a workout, so stick to a routine.
- Enjoyable workouts – If you don’t like running don’t get a treadmill thinking you’ll be able to use it. If you can pick an exercise you already enjoy and stick with it. Exercise can be difficult so don’t set yourself up for failure by choosing exercises you don’t enjoy.
- Use music – I remember having to rely on radio stations or whatever the gym was playing. These days with all sorts of access to personalized music, crank it up and burn those calories.
- Grab a partner – I realize that when you’re working out at home, you’ll probably be yourself. But some of the equipment lets you be interactive. Having a partner or working out in a group will help you be accountable and will push you a bit.
- Morning workouts – It’s easy to be exhausted after a long day of work, and you’re more likely to skip your workout. If you can do your workout in the morning before your day begins and you’ll be less likely to skip it.
- Think long-term – Focus on the long-term goal. Most people give up too quickly because they expect to lose weight very quickly. Over the days and weeks is when you’ll start to see and notice progress. If it was easy, everyone would be their ideal weight.
- Eat healthily – You’ve probably heard that abs are made in the kitchen. It’s very true. If you’re going to exercise you might as well expedite the weight loss by fueling your body with protein, carbs, and healthy fats it needs. Focus on your nutrition as much if not more than your exercise routine and the results will be quicker.
- Start slow – If you’re just getting into home workouts, be sure to start slow. It can take a couple of weeks to listen to your body and understand what it can and can’t do. Preventing injuries and taking rest days are all part of being smart about your body.
Wrapping up Best Home Exercise Equipment
The best at-home exercise equipment to lose weight will be equipment that isn’t gathering dust in the corner. If you’re going to spend some money on furnishing your home gym, use it, and use it consistently. Belonging to a gym has its benefits, but having the right home exercise equipment will help you avoid skipping the gym, and achieve your workout goals. I hope this analysis of home equipment provides you with a good start to your fitness journey.