Build A Versatile, Affordable Home Gym With These 5 Things

Choosing The Right Yoga Mat

When selecting the right yoga mat for you, consider the thickness, material, and stickiness depending on your preference.

• Thickness: 1/8 inch thickness is standard, providing decent knee and joint support without being too bulky to carry around. Bump up to 1/4 inch mat thickness if you like a little bit of extra support!
• Material & Stickiness: PVC material mats are inexpensive, durable, easy to clean, and your best bet in terms of stickiness, which will limit slippage during workouts.

For a more eco-friendly option, consider recycled rubber, jute, or cotton mats that are a bit pricier but are available with the similar thickness and comparable stickiness. If you have a larger, more dedicated work out space, you may want to consider foam or rubber cushioned flooring.

For a basic, starter gym, we’d recommend:

Choosing The Right Jump Rope

When it comes to finding a jump rope that’s right for you, material, weight, and length are the most important selection criteria.

• Material: For a great workout in your indoor gym or outdoor space, PVC or beaded jump ropes will be the most budget-friendly, durable, and come in adjustable models.
• Weight: 4.8 – 6 oz is a great, mid-weight rope range for a beginner jump rope. Lighter ropes are great once you’ve mastered your jumping skills and are ready to kick up the speed, and heavier are used for more weight and resistance training
• Length / Sizing: Select a jump rope length based on your height, or you can pick up an adjustable rope that can be used by you and other household members.

For a basic, starter gym, we’d recommend:

Choosing The Right Dumbbells

Dumbbells come in many weights, materials, and shapes. Here’s what you’ll want to consider when selecting the perfect set of dumbbells.

• Weight: While everyone will be different, the general starting dumbbell weights for strength training are as follows:
  • the average woman can start with a set of two 5- to 10-pound weights, and
  • the average man starts with a set of two 10- to 20- pound weights.

    Want to make sure you’re starting with the right weight? Visit a nearby gym or exercise area with a variety of dumbbell weights and take this dumbbell test.

• Material: Adjustable and / or cast iron dumbbells are the most expensive but usually built to last – you’ll often see these in commercial gyms. Rubber-ended or neoprene coated weights are more affordable and convenient for a starter home gym. A contoured or neoprene handle will provide the most comfortable grip, and neoprene or rubber weight ends have coating that protects your floor and dumbbells against dropped weights.
• Shape: Dumbbells are usually rounded or hexagonal (aka hex). Hex dumbbells prevent weights from rolling, and they allow you to do complete a variety of floor-based movements that require dumbbell stability – like a dumbbell push-up – for example.

For a basic, starter gym, we’d recommend:

Neoprene Dumbbells

Hex Dumbbells

Choosing The Right Kettlebell

• Weight: Experts agree that for most kettlebell exercises –
  • 15- to 25-pound weight is an ideal starting weight for many women, and
  • 25- to 35-pound weight is an ideal starting place for most men.

    Unlike most traditional, isolated strength training with dumbbells, kettlebell exercises involve multiple muscle groups and full body movements, so you’ll start with a different weight as compared to dumbbells. Select a weight from the range above based on your current activity and strength level. If you’re still not sure which weight best suits you, a good rule of thumb to follow is that you should be able to easily press the kettlebell weight overhead 8-10 times.

• Material: A traditional, competition-style kettlebell is made of steel, but there are also cast-iron and vinyl coated options available, with the latter two being more affordable. Cast-iron generally allows for more flexible grip during movements.
• Handle Shape: A smooth, curved, and wider handle will allow you to grip the kettlebell in multiple ways and with both hands, which will give you a lot of exercise options. There are also triangular and square-shaped handles, but those are generally not recommended because of the limited grip and movement.

For a basic, starter gym, we’d recommend:

Choosing The Best Resistance Bands

Consider the band type and design as well as tension level when picking out your new resistance bands.

• Band Design: Resistance bands come in all shapes and sizes, with many serving very different and often specific fitness purposes – therapy, loop, clip-tube, fit-tube – the list goes on! For example, a loop band is flat, less than 2 foot long, and designed for lower body exercises. A clip-tube resistance band, on the other hand, is more a flexible option with handles and clips at the end of the bands to easily change tension level and band size. Keep it simple and select a band or band system that gets you the most bang for your buck with full body workout flexibility – a clip-tube is a great way to start!
• Tension Level: Select a band or set of bands with a variety of tension levels, allowing you to vary your exercises and work many different parts of your body. Clip-tube sets come with multiple different, stackable band tensions, ranging from 5 – 35 pound resistance to give you the customization that you need for your home gym workouts.

For a basic, starter gym, we’d recommend: