Discover 9 Items to Include in Your Home Gym Setup
A lot of people find gyms intimidating. They see all the buffed guys and fit girls and start to feel embarrassed, frustrated and confused. Sometimes people don’t have the time to take that long trip to the gym or find it expensive in the long run. But there’s a solution to this problem. Set up your home gym and reap the benefits of a healthy body. It doesn’t have to be a big investment in the beginning. Buying just the essentials can be a good start.
Adjustable Bench
Adjustable benches are also known as FID benches because they can be adjusted and set into 3 different positions, Flat, Incline and Decline. By doing this, you can focus on various muscle groups without having to move around too much. You can use the adjustable bench to do some reverse flyers, bench presses, shoulder presses, chest-supported rows and much more.
Compared to flat or Olympic benches, the adjustable ones are a bit more fragile because they have more moving parts than the others. They will wear out over time if you don’t take good care of them. They need proper maintenance once in a while and you’ll have them for a very long time. These pieces of durable and essential home gym gear bring versatility to the table.
Keep in mind that these benches are bulky and heavy. They’re hard to move around, especially on your own. So, if you’re not planning on moving around too much, settle the bench on a permanent spot. Find a place where it won’t get in the way but still have enough space around it so you can move around freely.
Some of them have wheels on one side to make moving the bench easier. If you are considering purchasing this bench, it’s important to thoroughly inspect the locking mechanisms. They should be strong and sturdy enough to hold in position. Also, check the weight tolerance and see if it can hold you and the weights you’ll be lifting.
Racks
A lot of people find the rack-buying part to be the most fun of them all. They’re excited to have one in their home gym because it always gives them an extra boost of confidence and motivation. Always go for the rack that you’ll use the most. If you’re a functional fitness athlete or a CrossFit fan, you should get an adjustable rack. It can handle different types of weights and you can do some pullups.
A wall-mounted folding rack, half rack, or commercial power rack would all be excellent choices as well. Bodybuilders and powerlifters will also need a similar setup. This is a very versatile piece of equipment that’s easy to accessorise and doesn’t take up a lot of space. Power racks are a very common choice for home gyms. They have good safety mechanisms and lots of storage and attachments.
Half racks are also an option. They’re a smaller version of the power rack. It takes up less space but still offers the same benefits. The J-hooks, pull-up bar and safeties are just some of the available attachments. Wall-mounted racks are perfect if you have a very small home gym. They have a pull-up bar and can handle pressing movements and squats easily.
Barbell
You should pair your racks with some barbells to get a complete set of exercise tools. Out of all the types of barbells, you’ll need the multipurpose one for your home gym. It’s also known as a general barbell. They’re great for beginners and experienced athletes who work on bodybuilding or general fitness. There are also Olympic, powerlifting, weightlifting and specialty barbells.
Dumbbell Sets
Having some dumbbells as part of your home gym gear means you’ll have the possibility to target specific muscles and muscle groups. This will help you build up your general strength. There are adjustable dumbbell sets that are very practical. They will let you increase and decrease the weight as much as you need.
Some of the exercises you can do with the dumbbells are biceps curls, overhead presses, hammer curls, lateral raises, triceps extensions, dumbbell rows, lunges, floor presses, goblet squats and much more. Overall, a very versatile and practical piece of gear to have in your home gym.
Kettlebells
The kettlebells are the most practical Russian piece of exercise equipment for people of all skill levels. They come in different kinds of weights that are suitable for any person, beginner or experienced. It gives them countless exercise alternatives such as carries, presses, swings, snatches, deadlifts, cleans and much more. They’re a very durable piece of gym gear that will easily fit into your home fitness gym.
Mats
Having gym mats in your home gym is very important. They provide good cushioning and a safe space to be in. They will act as a comfortable surface when you do your stretching and floor-based exercises. Look for mats with a good grip on the floor. This way you’ll prevent slips and falls that can cause serious injuries and prevent you from exercising. You can use them to do some planks, push-ups, yoga poses and much more.
Fit Ball
Fit balls engage your core muscles and enhance your balance by adding an element of instability to your routines. These balls come in many different sizes and can be used for squats, planks, leg lifts, Russian twists, stability hamstring curls and many more. They will add a nice variety to your workout routine and make it fun.
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are great to have in your home gym because of many reasons. They’re good for resistance training, rehab exercises, as strength accessories and with assisted body-weight training. You can find them in several thicknesses, all with a different resistance strength. They’re often colour-coded when you buy them in a set. To get you started, you can buy just a few. They’re also lightweight and easily portable so you can carry them around when you need to.
Plyo Box
Plyo boxes will help you train some functional moves such as step-ups and box jumps. They will also be a great assistant in doing some strength training like weighted step-ups and box squats. These boxes come in several sizes so choose the one that’s most suitable for your height and exercise regime.