With the world at the mercy of an unprecedented pandemic, the way we live our lives is changing each day. But, just like some of the most challenging people in history, we’re adapting the way we reach our goals, pushing ourselves harder at home, and training to hit next year stronger, fitter, and closer to our ambitions than ever before.

Weight lifters, marathon runners, yoga-pros, and fitness enthusiasts alike are all finding new and unique ways to maintain their health while steering clear of over-crowded or closed gyms.

But what happens when you become stronger than those big bottles of water, your shaggy rug doesn’t entirely give your back the comfortable surface it needs during stretching, and the never-ending push-ups start to get a little bit repetitive?

Train smarter

There are no magic shortcuts when it comes to transforming your body or furthering your fitness. Hitting targets and smashing challenges nearly always comes down to training harder than last time. But, while you’ll still need to put in the effort, there are ways for you to train smarter to meet your goals faster, and even a little easier.

By using the right equipment for your home workouts, you can specifically target your weaknesses, increase the load on muscle groups you previously struggled to hit with your bodyweight training, and turn those short, uncomfortable yoga and meditation sessions into peaceful moments of mindfulness.

Choosing the right equipment

With so many different pieces of equipment and a myriad of machines, benches, and accessories to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start when looking to make your first home-gym purchase.

We’ve put together a selection of some of our favourite home-workout essentials that’ll help you to step up your game and change the way you train at home, no matter what your goals.

Dumbbells

Dumbbells take the crown when it comes to versatility. In fact, if you were to categorise different pieces of equipment on a cost to exercise basis, it wouldn’t even be close. Chest, shoulders, arms, back, legs, even your glutes — you name it, there’s a dumbbell movement to target it.

And they’re not just for avid weightlifters looking to build size. There’s a whole range of dumbbell exercises and programs that focus on toning your body and HIIT cardio routines that utilise them for resistance or increased effort. There are even dumbbells in yoga, known as Iron Yoga, where the increased weights turn your standard poses into intense full-body workouts

Which dumbbells are right for me?

Dumbbells come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, some made of rubber, others of cast iron, and in weight increments starting as little as 0.5kg. If you’re new to weight training or you’re looking to add something extra to your yoga routine, then a mini vinyl dumbbell set could be the perfect option for you.

Looking for something a bit heavier? A soft touch dummbell is a perfect option for home workouts, with its flat edges preventing it from rolling around your living room or garage floor.

Jump rope

You’ve probably not touched a jump rope since you were a kid, but if you have, you’ll know exactly why it’s on this list.

Harder than it looks, a good jump rope is the ultimate tuck-away tool for cardio and endurance training at home. It helps to develop your coordination (it’s more important than you think), elevates your heart rate, and keeps you fit in even the smallest of spaces.

Which jump rope is right for me?

Whatever you’re training for, you’re going to want something durable. If you’re really focused on speed and timing, then a lightweight wire-style rope is your best bet. But if you’re looking to add a real challenge to your skipping sessions, a weighted battle rope will help you to build even more endurance.

Yoga mat or floor padding

If you’ve ever found yourself pressing your head against a cold hard floor or trying to balance your body weight as you trap one leg between you and the rock-solid surface, there’s no doubt you’ve already purchased yourself a comfortable Mat to practice yoga or stretches on.

But if you haven’t, then you’re probably going to want one. First of all, there’s the comfort factor. A good quality mat can make hour-long sessions comfortable with a soft-to-the-touch surface. Then, there’s cleanliness. While you’re at home, it might not feel like an issue, but if you’re training with a friend in the park, at their home, or maybe in a communal space, knowing you’ll only be touching your mat takes your mind off the potentially dirty floor.

And don’t forget safety. A grippy, non-slip mat will stop you from slipping on polished wood floors or tiles and potentially hurting your progress with an injury.

Barbell

You saw this one coming, right? If you’re a weightlifter or bodybuilder, your home gym isn’t complete until you own a barbell. Barbells, like dumbbells, provide more benefits than any imitation or similar-moving machine because of the stabilisation and coordination benefits they bring to each and every workout.

But owning a barbell comes with a caveat. If you’re looking to do bench press or shoulder movements, you’re probably going to need an adjustable bench. Trying to improve your squat? A Squat Rack or Power Rack is another investment you’ll want to make. And unless you’re new to the barbell, you’ll need to add Weight Plates, too.

Which barbell is right for me?

Like all gym equipment, there are some choices to be made here. If you’re an experienced lifter, then a high-quality Olympic Bar is the one for you. If you’re into strongman, then you might want to invest in an Axle Bar, or something a bit more specialist like a log bar. Or, if you’re a beginner or have limited space at home, then look for one of the shorter, more compact bars. Just be sure to check their max weight rating, as the thinner the bar, the less weight it can hold.

Resistance bands

Of all the equipment you can use at home, this is one everyone should have. Resistance Bands tend to be affordable, cost-effective, and have more than a few uses.

With the right bands, you can enhance your weight training by attaching them to your barbell, use them solo for resistance training, or even to assist with other exercises like pull-ups and dips.

They’re not just good during training, but they provide benefits in your downtime. If you’re injured, a good set of resistance bands could alleviate aches and pains as well as helping you to warm-up to lift safely.

Quality matters

Resistance bands are a non-expensive gym accessory, just make sure you’re not going too cheap. A non-snap construction is really important when it comes to choosing the right bands — believe us, you don’t want one breaking on you. Also, check to see what their resistance rating is, and make sure you’re not getting one that’s too tough, or too light, for your training purposes.

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Tags: Equipment > Bars & Weight Plates ; Equipment > Dumbbells ; Equipment > Resistance Bands ; Equipment > Skipping Ropes ; Misc > Gym Planning