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Canceled My $200/Month Gym Membership
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items Let's have a totally honest conversation about the reality of home workouts. For the longest time, my "home gym" consisted of a single dusty kettlebell and a yoga mat that my cat used as a scratching post. I was so tired of driving 20 minutes to a cr...
Sections
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Space-Saving Cardio Essentials
Adjustable Free Weights & Strength Hacks
Resistance Bands & Booty Builders
Aesthetic Yoga & Recovery Tools
Compact Benches & Structural Staples
Space-Saving Cardio Essentials
Cardio at home used to mean a massive, loud treadmill taking up half of your bedroom. Now, there are so many sleek, foldable, and whisper-quiet options that you can literally slide under your couch when you're done. These are my top picks for getting...
This is the ultimate work-from-home hack! I slide it under my standing desk to get my steps in during boring Zoom meetings, and then fold it completely in half to hide it behind my sofa when guests come over. It is shockingly sturdy for a folding tre...
WalkingPad R2 Foldable Treadmill
Rowing is a full-body workout that absolutely humbles me every single time. Yes, it’s a bit longer, but the fact that it easily breaks into two pieces makes it so easy to store in a closet. It’s gym-quality equipment that will probably outlive me.
Concept2 RowErg Rowing Machine
I know it’s an investment, but the rotating screen on the Bike+ changed the game for me. I can do a 30-minute cycling class, swivel the screen around, and immediately jump into a yoga or strength class on the floor. It is basically a boutique fitness...
Peloton Exercise Bike+
I completely refuse to buy those ugly, bulky sandbag ankle weights. These are incredibly aesthetic, come in gorgeous neutral colors, and I literally wear them while vacuuming the house or doing Pilates to add a little extra sneaky resistance to my da...
Bala Bangles
Adjustable Free Weights & Strength Hacks
You absolutely do not need an entire rack of iron dumbbells to build serious muscle at home. Adjustable weights are the ultimate cheat code for small spaces. They give you the flexibility to do heavy lower body leg days and light upper body shoulder ...
If you only buy one thing from this entire list, let it be these. They saved me so much space! The clicking mechanism is so satisfying and makes supersets super easy because I can drop the weight for drop-sets in literally two seconds.
BowFlex SelectTech 552i Dumbbells
Kettlebell swings are my favorite way to fire up my glutes, but buying five different kettlebells is so expensive. This one locks together so securely that it never rattles, even when I am doing aggressive snatches or goblet squats.
Adjustable Kettlebell Set
Okay, if you are a serious lifter and hate the chunky plastic feel of most adjustable dumbbells, these are for you. They feel exactly like the heavy steel dumbbells at a commercial gym and the weight transition is ridiculously fast.
SMRTFT NUOBELL 100lb Adjustable Dumbbell
They look like little bricks, but the balance on these is incredible. I actually prefer the flat edges for doing renegade rows because they don't roll away on the floor. Plus, knowing I can buy expansion kits later as I get stronger is a huge bonus.
PowerBlock Elite EXP Adjustable Dumbbells
Resistance Bands & Booty Builders
If you think resistance bands are just for stretching, you haven't tried the right ones. Fabric glute bands and heavy-duty pull-up bands are incredible for adding progressive overload to your home workouts when you don't have access to heavy barbell ...
I have thrown away so many cheap latex bands that snapped or rolled up my thighs. These fabric ones stay perfectly in place during crab walks and hip thrusts. They absolutely set my glutes on fire!
Arena Strength Fabric Booty Bands
I loop this over my bedroom door, and suddenly I have a full upper-body cable machine. It relies entirely on your body weight, which engages your core constantly. I always pack this in my suitcase when I travel, too!
TRX Home2 Suspension Training System
This is essentially a portable cable tower. Using the door anchor and the handles, I can do tricep pushdowns, chest flyes, and bicep curls exactly like I would at the gym. It is the best $20 I’ve ever spent on fitness gear.
Gritin Resistance Bands
When I want to mimic a lat pulldown or a heavy deadlift without a barbell, I use these. You can anchor them under your feet or loop them around a sturdy pole. The amount of tension you can create with these is honestly shocking.
UNDERSUN Fitness Resistance Band Set
Aesthetic Yoga & Recovery Tools
Recovery is just as important as the workout itself, and honestly, a cheap, flaky foam roller just doesn't cut it anymore. I wanted mats and recovery tools that looked beautiful left out in my living room so I'd actually use them. These pieces comple...
Regular yoga mats hurt my knees when I do lunges on hard floors, but this 8mm thickness is like working out on a supportive cloud. Plus, the pill shape is so incredibly chic, I actually leave it unrolled in my living room all day.
Bala The Play Mat
After a heavy leg day, my hamstrings scream at me. This little mini massage gun is so powerful but easily fits in one hand while I watch Netflix on the couch. It melts the knots right out of my calves and shoulders.
Therabody Theragun Mini 3rd Gen
If you sweat a lot or do hot yoga at home, this is the Holy Grail. The more you sweat, the grippier it gets. I used to slide all over the place during downward dog, but my hands stay locked in place on this mat.
Lululemon The Reversible Mat 5mm
Foam rolling hurts in the best way possible. This specific one doesn't lose its shape or get squishy over time like the cheap styrofoam ones do. The textured grid pattern gets deep into my IT band and instantly relieves lower back tightness.
TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
Compact Benches & Structural Staples
Doing chest presses on the floor only works for so long. Eventually, you need a solid foundation to support heavier lifts and increase your range of motion. These benches and structural pieces are sturdy enough for serious lifting but fold away or lo...
I absolutely did not have room for a permanent weight bench. This one is insanely sturdy (it doesn't wobble at all when I’m lifting), and when I’m done, I just pull the pin, fold it flat, and slide it right into my hall closet.
FLYBIRD Adjustable Weight Bench
Having a decline option is amazing for hitting lower chest and doing core work! What makes this bench elite is that you can stand it straight up vertically in a corner, so it only takes up a tiny footprint when you aren't actively using it.
BowFlex SelectTech 5.1 Stowable Bench
If you have the budget and want the absolute pinnacle of aesthetic home gym equipment, this is it. It looks like a high-end modern furniture piece, but it hides all your weights and bands inside it. It completely elevates the vibe of my space!
Technogym Bench
This is the most versatile piece of equipment I own. I use it flat for cardio step-ups, angle the backrest up to use it as an incline bench for dumbbell presses, and even store my resistance bands inside the hidden compartment!
Escape Fitness Deck 2.0