Thinking about cutting your gym membership?
I get it.
Gyms cost money. They take time. And they can be intimidating.
So what do you do instead? Use the money for home exercise equipment!
Here’s my short list. It’s gear I currently use, that I’d buy first, and what I’d add later.
On this page:
- The one piece of gear I’d buy first, and why it costs about $20
- Why you don’t need a big room to get started
- The 4 pieces you can skip on day one, and the mistake that wastes money
My home gym is in our spare bedroom, a small spot between the bed and closet. You don’t need much room.
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- If you need help with how to workout at home, I use a system that focuses on progressive overload to build home workouts for my clients and myself that you can check out here.
Start Here: The First 4
These are cheap. They fit in a small space. And you can do all the basic moves with them.
1. Resistance Bands
A good set comes with a loop. Hook it over a door. Now you can do pulls, rows, chest flies, and core twists. Stand on the bands to do curls.
A set with different weights costs around $20.
- Two ways to use the same band: hooked on a door, or under your feet (stand on it for curls, sit on the floor for rows)
- How to go up in weight each round without buying anything new. Just switch to a heavier band.
2. Yoga Mat
A mat gives your body some support.
If you don’t like working out on a rug or carpet, a mat makes a good barrier. It also helps your knees on the floor.
3. Kettlebells
I did a full unboxing of this set. Watch the kettlebell unboxing.
It has a 5, 10, and 15 pound kettlebell. It costs about $30. All three showed up in one big box.
4. Dumbbells
When you’re ready for heavier resistance training, get dumbbells.
A simple set does the job. Start light. Buy heavier ones later.
- When to buy heavier weights: when the light ones feel easy. Not before.
Add Later: 4 More
You don’t need these on day one. But once you’re sticking with it, they make your home gym easier to use.
5. Foam Floor Pads
Pads cover more floor than a mat.
They give you a soft place to stand, kneel, or lie down.
And they protect your carpet from sweaty workouts.
6. Dumbbell Rack
A rack keeps your weights in one spot and off the floor.
7. Workout Bench
A bench gives you a seat, a place to lie back
8. A Step for Step-Ups
Step-ups work one leg at a time. Step up. Step down. Switch legs.
Where I’d Start
- If you only buy one thing, buy the bands. They cost the least, and one set does a lot.
- If you don’t like working out on carpet, add the mat.
- If you want real weight, add dumbbells.
- The mistake that wastes money: buying everything on day one.
- You want consistency; dumbbells and bands cover all the movement patterns. The rest you can add as you go.
What’s Next
Want to put this gear to work?
Grab the workout builder template that I use for my clients and myself that shows you how to build a workout in five minutes.
Take care.
Chuck