The best at-home strength training equipment for a home gym considers both space and utility. A home gym is a good option for people who don’t want to wait in line to use gym equipment, have busy lives, or are simply introverted. Home gyms are convenient, and take the travel time out of resistance training. The following 7 pieces of equipment are the only thing you’ll need for an effective home gym that’s mindful of space preservation. This gym setup is created for fitness enthusiasts who want to perform total body muscle building workouts.
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- Multi-Functional Power Cage
- Adjustable Folding Weight Bench
- Olympic Barbell and Olympic Plates
- Vertical Dumbbell Rack
- Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells
- Adjustable Kettlebell
- Heavy Duty Gym Floor Mats
Multi-Functional Power Cage
Also referred to as a power cage, a multifunctional power rack is a valuable investment for serious lifters. This is a good option for those looking to have a sturdy bench press or squat area at home, because once you go up in weight, you risk knocking a cheap one over. This particular rack comes with a pulley system, multiple attachments, a built-in pull-up bar, weight clips, and has bench and squat capabilities. You can use it for major lifts, and you can also perform common resistance training exercises like tricep pushdowns. One of the versions includes a bench, whereas one includes an olympic barbell.
Adjustable Folding Weight Bench
If you don’t choose a power cage with a bench, you’ll want to find an adjustable bench for a home gym. This way, you can perform both flat bench and incline bench. It can only be used for other exercises like bench dips, skull crushers, incline bicep curls, and Bulgarian split squats. This particular bench folds to make more space in your home gym.
Olympic Barbell and Olympic Plates
If you don’t purchase a cage with a barbell, you’ll want a high quality Olympic barbell, as well as plates. When choosing an Olympic barbell, you want to make sure it’s made of steel and not aluminum. This is the Olympic standard and will keep its shape with heavy weight. A good olympic barbell is typically 7 feet long, 2” in diameter, and weighs 45 pounds. You would use this for deadlift, squat, and bench. You can also use it for other exercises such as lunges and shoulder presses. High quality olympic plates that will last, also called bumper plates, will usually have a rubber coating.
Vertical Dumbbell Rack
Vertical dumbbell racks take advantage of vertical space unlike horizontal dumbbell racks which can be too bulky for a small home gym. Some things to look for in good dumbbells are durable materials, good grip, and some sort of coating that protects floors. This specific vertical dumbbell set is cast iron with rubber coating. They are also hexagon shaped which prevents them from rolling around.
Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbells
The most popular brand of adjustable dumbbells are from Bowflex. Adjustable dumbbells are meant as a replacement for a dumbbell rack. If you have no preference on the feel and materials and need to save money, space, or both, adjustable dumbbells might be more suitable. The main downside is it takes slightly more time to set them up between sets, and its difficult to superset them if using different weights.
Adjustable Kettlebell
Adjustable kettlebells, similar to adjustable dumbbells, have some benefits compared to a traditional weight set. They are cost effective if you are looking to have a variety of weights, and they take up minimal space in a home gym. This kettlebell adjusts up to 40 pounds, and is a cheaper alternative to name brand adjustable kettlebells.
Heavy Duty Gym Floor Mats
Gym mats are important for protecting the floor and your body. They reduce both impact and noise when dropping weights, and provide joint protection through shock absorption and traction. High quality floor mats will be heavier and made out of a more durable material like rubber, not foam. Foam is okay for yoga and stretching, whereas EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) and rubber are ideal for weights and longevity.
Review
Ultimately, a versatile home gym will allow you to reap all of the benefits of resistance training at home. You’ll want to invest in equipment that will last years to come for a high-quality home gym. Some things to consider are sturdiness, material quality (durability and grip), rubber or urethane coating to protect floors, and- of course- cost and size. The best strength training equipment for building total body muscle in a home gym are a multi-functional power cage, adjustable folding weight bench, olympic barbell and olympic plates, vertical dumbbell rack, bowflex adjustable dumbbells, adjustable kettlebell, and heavy duty gym floor mats.
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