Best Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners

When it comes to not exercising, most adults face the same issue: not enough time. When can you go to the gym, when you have a job to do, a family to take care of, and friends to see? There are simply not enough hours in the day to also go to a fitness centre and back. That’s why many either train once or twice per week or just get rid of the idea altogether.

However, one way to solve the time problem is by ensuring you can exercise at home, and thankfully, nowadays, that’s easier to do than ever before. By simplifying getting a few fitness accessories and storing them in your living room or a spare room that you have, you can get effective daily workouts that require no more than 30 minutes to an hour, and that will make you stronger and healthier in the long run. 

To help you figure out which are the must-need pieces of equipment you need and why you have to get them, we’ve prepared this short article in collaboration with our friends from Warm Body Cold Mind. And you can be sure to count on their advice as they’re all professional athletes and trainers in weightlifting and other strength sports.

 So now, without keeping you waiting longer, let’s get started. 

What’s the Best Exercise Equipment for Beginners? 

If you believe the ads you see online, you will end up thinking that every single accessory is a must-have item when the reality is that you only need around five pieces of equipment to be able to get good workout sessions at home. Let’s see what they are. 

Mat 

Let’s kick things off with the basics – exercise mats are a must-have item, as many of the movements you will be doing, both for the upper and lower body, require you to lay down on the floor in some capacity. You want to avoid doing that on your bare floor or on a carpet, as it’s uncomfortable and can lead to scratches. Typically, even the high-quality exercise mats aren’t incredibly expensive, and you can get a pretty decent one for around $15-20 from Amazon – the only things you have to look for are thickness and a non-slippery material so that you don’t end up sliding up and down the floor. 

Dumbbells 

It’s fairly obvious why you need dumbbells for your home gym – they’re a way to add extra weight to your strength workouts, making them more effective and more challenging. As you will likely keep progressing over time, it’s a good idea to go for adjustable dumbbells. Even though they’re more expensive, they’re easier to store than three different sets of dumbbells, and they can be used by other members of your family as well. 

Resistance Bands 

Resistance bands are another fantastic way to make your workouts harder and challenge your muscles. They come in several strengths and forms, and our advice would be to get both the looped ones and the longer ones, as they serve different purposes. The first ones you use for lower body workouts and the longer ones are good for adding resistance to both core and upper body movements. 

Kettlebells 

Even though we already mentioned dumbbells, kettlebells are another must-have fitness item, as they provide a different kind of challenge for the body. With kettlebells, the weight is not evenly distributed, so essentially, you have to maintain balance as you perform various exercises – something you don’t get to do when using a dumbbell or a barbell. Here, again, it’s a good idea to opt for an adjustable kettlebell, even if you have to spend more money, as you will be able to use it longer and for more movements. 

Cardio Machine 

Finally, it’s good to consider a cardio machine – if you have a way to isolate the noise or you simply live on the first floor of your building, the treadmill is the best choice. However, if you want not to disturb the neighbours and the entire household, you may go for something like an elliptical or a spinning bike – both great options that will get you sweaty in no time and will help you improve your overall endurance. 

In Conclusion 

As you can see, you don’t need that much to make your home a suitable place for workouts. By having just these five simple pieces of equipment, you will be able to do strength, cardio, and occasionally even some yoga training without having to waste time going to the gym and back. Over time, if you have the space and need for it, you can add more items, such as barbells and weight plates, but even if you never do, these five basic items will be enough for you to have challenging and interesting workouts for years to come. 

References:

• Warm Body Cold Mind. Warm Body Cold Mind: Guides, Product Reviews, News
  https://blog.warmbody-coldmind.com/
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023. April 29). Strength training: Get stronger, leaner, healthier  – https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/strength-training/art-20046670 
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023. Nov. 18). Aerobic exercise: Top 10 reasons to get physical  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/aerobic-exercise/art-20045541