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There’s something to be said about working out in comfort of your own home. There’s no one around to hog the best machines, no leftover sweat to wipe down, and the commute time can’t be beat! Although having a gym full of the best home fitness equipment and accessories might seem like something only the rich and famous can afford, it may be more economical than you think! In fact, when compared to the price you’d otherwise pay for a gym membership, you’ll probably be getting a better deal!
If you have the extra room in a spare bedroom, basement, or a garage, creating your own personal gym is a great use of space and an even better way to stay on top of your fitness. We’ve selected the best machines to help you reach your health goals in the new year.
Making the decision to invest in your fitness and health is the first step to keeping your wellness in check. But there’s no point buying a machine that will just end up gathering dust in the corner. That’s why it’s important to take your workout habits into account. If you hate cycling, for instance, that stationary bike you’ll only avoid will be of little use. Those that don’t like walking or running might nix the treadmill in favor of a heart rate-elevating elliptical machine. Alternatively, if you’re one to get bored easily, there are plenty of multi-purpose machines that will help you switch things up, so your exercise regimen never gets stale.
Whether you choose to buy a single gym apparatus or are looking to add to your existing collection with a stationary bike, rowing machine, or something else entirely, we’ve ferreted out 11 top essential pieces of home gym equipment that offer up something for everybody.
With your very own home gym just a few steps away, you’ll be able to keep those extra holiday pounds at bay and stick to a workable fitness routine. Keep scrolling for FIRST for Women’s picks for the best home fitness equipment.
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Best Home Workout Battle Ropes — FireBreather Training
Beoved by cross-fit enthusiasts and celebrities alike, including supermodel Naomi Campbell, Victoria’s Secret model Josephine Skriver, and singer Ciara and husband Russell Wilson, battle ropes offer up a superb full-body cardio workout, allowing you to lose weight, tone up, and burn fat with just a few minutes of at-home action each day. These 30 to 50-foot ropes from FireBreather attach to your wall via an included anchor set and come with extra-long heat-shrink handles that are guaranteed not to break. They also come with an eBook to get you started.
While you may think that rowing machines are only for your upper body, in reality, they provide a fantastic full-body workout that'll have you breaking a sweat in mere minutes. Additionally, this handy piece of equipment, which comes equipped with 12 levels of resistance and an electronic monitor for tracking your gains, provides a great cardiovascular workout. Not only does it elevate your heart rate on a level equivalent with running or cycling, it burns up to 15 percent more calories! Rowing is also safer and easier on the knees.
Amazon customer Deana wrote, “This thing is amazing… I have lost 10 pounds in two weeks… this is the best workout machine I have used and it’s fun to work out on."
Where to buy: From $154.99 (Originally $199.99), Amazon
Exercise bikes — like this No. 1 best-selling Marcy recumbent bike boasting more than 3,300 reviews — have long been considered one of the most effective ways to get a good cardiovascular workout from the comfort of your own home. As with the rowing machine above, cycling is a great exercise for weight-loss, since it works to increase your heart rate. This particular apparatus is one of the best on the market due to its comfy padded seat, easy-to-read screen, and versatile resistance (choose from eight levels).
One buyer wrote, “This bike is fantastic for the price! It's easy on the back; nice on the eyes; and gives a good workout.”
Another raves, “Very comfortable and when put at the correct setting, I sweat like crazy. Awesome price… It is quiet, too.”
The MaxiClimber is a body-sculpting and weight-loss exercise machine that’s fun and simple to use — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy! It utilizes the same muscles you would if you were rock-climbing, engaging the upper body, lower body, and the core simultaneously to give you a strong and svelte physique. Be prepared to sweat after just a couple of minutes: As one of almost 2,000 positive reviewers writes, “This simple looking machine will kick your butt [and] give you a run for your money."
Nothing makes you feel quite like you’re in a gym environment than a big, multi-purpose workout bench. This Olympic-grade apparatus, complete with squat rack, costs less than $150 and makes us wonder why on Earth we ever payed such extortionate gym fees. So what exactly does it do? Well, just about everything! It's got a six-roll leg developer, an arm-curl yoke, and various bench positions (flat, incline, and decline) that make it perfect for lifting weights. Weights are not included with this bench, but not to fret: We’ve got you covered with our pick for the best set below.
Top fitness trainers, athletes, and even physicians agree that lifting weights is better than cardio when it comes to weight loss, burning fat, shaping up, and building muscle. Cardio may burn more calories per workout, but once the activity stops, so does the fat burning. Weight training keeps your muscles active for trimming fat long after you workout session has ended — even during rest! This bar and weights set from XMark Fitness is a great pick for beginners (though they have a whole range of weight sets if you’d like to up the ante). Alternately, should you need to work your way up to the allotted 45-pound weight, we recommend trying a set of dumbbells first: Prices for this j/fit set start at just $34.88.
Amazon’s choice for a top spin cycle bike comes in the form of this Sunny Health & Fitness Pro pick, which will get you sweating just like the Peloton at one tenth of the price — literally! With its sturdy chrome flywheel, a dual resistance system that enables you to either come to an abrupt halt or steadily slow down your pedaling, adjustable ergonomic handle bars, and an adjustable seat, Sunny's top-of-the-line model has your comfort taken care of. That means all you'll need to worry about? Is feeling the burn.
The elliptical machine — also known as a cross-trainer — was first released by Precor in 1995 as an alternative to running or cycling with one major advantage: It decreased the chances of possible impact injuries. Today, these machines are still an easy-to-use, extremely safe way to get your sweat on with zero impact on the joints. They're also a Godsend for anyone who doesn’t enjoy running or biking. ncient's well-reviewed machine stands out from the crowd with eight resistance levels that will allow you to switch things up with ease. It's also got a digital display to track your pulse rate, time, speed, distance, and calories burned, plus wheels at the front to help you move it around your home. It features non-slip pedals for added safety and supports weight up to 250 pounds.
Pilates is a low-impact exercise method that yields high results, not dissimilar to yoga. It’s ideal for people with back pain or bad joints, and you don’t need to be drenched in sweat to see a result. Kate Hudson is a huge fan, but she doesn't need to hit the gym to get her tone on thanks to the Pilates reformer machine she keeps in her at-home collection. While the original Pilates Reformer is priced in excess of $5,000, this AeroPilates machine from Stamina Products comes at a tenth of the price and is equivalent to the approximate cost of a monthly Pilates reformer membership. It features a stand for more advanced exercises, a wall chart to keep track of your progress, and a DVD to guide you through your workout.
By far the most popular and easy-to-use piece of at-home workout equipment is a treadmill — you literally just step on it and go! If simplicity is a priority for you, this is definitely the machine for you. We’re loving Amazon’s treadmill of choice, the NordicTrack, in particular, thanks to its 300-pound weight capacity and 20 built-in workout options. Bonus? An iPad, phone, or Kindle can rest easily on the main console, so you can catch up on all your favorite TV shows while you're getting in shape, making your workouts fly by.
If you’ve decided to go all out on the home gym front with the ultimate system, you won't be disappointed by the Bowflex PR3000. This total-body machine offers more than 50 different gym-quality exercises, including 26 different strength exercises alone. Weight resistance ranges from 5 pounds up to 210 pounds and can be upgraded to a staggering 310 pounds for heavy lifters. You won’t need to change cables in between sets, and this machine is quiet enough to use without disturbing the rest of the household.
“Building the athletic type body is perfect with this machine,” wrote one reviewer. “I'm in best shape of my life. The heck with the gym and germs, [and] the waiting in line. I have it all right here.”
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