A Look at Home Gym ‘Must Haves’

When discussing a list of home gym ‘must haves’, you are bound to get several different opinions on what the basic equipment should be. The list will depend on how much you are willing to spend – at first – because you will continue to add to your gym as your needs become apparent.

Where to Begin

Starting a list of ‘must have’ fitness equipment will include some basics that will serve three needs: strength, flexibility, and cardio. For example, some basic home gym necessities might include a set of free weights (i.e., dumbbells) for strength conditioning, a yoga or exercise mat for flexibility, and a jump rope for aerobic and cardio training.

If you are planning to start small with free weights and eventually build up to a full home gym of ‘must haves,’ these are the items to include:

• Bench: A Flat/Incline/Decline Bench is a standard investment. It should be wide enough to be comfortable and sturdy enough to hold you and the weights you are pressing. This is one piece of equipment you don’t want to skimp one. Get a good one.
• Dumbbells: You can invest in a rack of fixed weights, or get a set of adjustable weights that will save money and room. These free weights are excellent for getting the widest range of motion when working the muscle groups.
• Weight Bar & Weight Plates: These are necessary for squats, benches, and dead lifts. The plates come in weights of 5 lbs, 10s, 25s, and 45 lbs so that you can add weights as your strength progresses. A bar and set of plates is included in the home gym of ‘must haves’ if you are serious about weight training.
• Power Rack: For the bench press as well as other lifts, a rack with safety spotters is a must if you are going to lift alone. There are many good designs of Power racks that cost between $300 and $500. Some even include a chin-up bar such as the Powertec Workbench rack system.
• Exercise Mat: Great for stretching and floor exercises such as crunches, planks, bridges, push-ups, etc.
• Jump Rope or Heavy Bag: If you can’t afford a treadmill or a stationary bike, you need an affordable way to do weekly cardio sessions. You can go for a run outdoors, or opt for a jump rope (about $20), or get a heavy bag for a grueling cardio workout!

Get an All-in-One Gym

Multi home gyms are a convenient way to work all the muscle groups of the body including the upper body, back, core, trunk, legs and arms, as well as enhance flexibility and cardio conditioning. Multi-gyms come in different styles, for example:

• A gym that uses resistance bands or rods, such as the Bowflex machine.
• A plate-loading multi-station gym such as the Powertec Leverage System.
• A single glideboard with pulley system such as the Total Gym, which uses your body weight as the resistance. The board can be inclined to increase the resistance.
• A gym with a selectorized weight stack & cable pulleys such as Body Solid home gyms.

A multi-gym can save you money in the long run. You won’t need to buy any other equipment since all you need will be incorporated into a self-contained gym that offers up to 40 different exercises. Just one gym fulfills the needs of any home gym ‘must haves’ list, plus they are safe and easy to use. For well-designed models under $1,000, look at Body Solid and the Total Gym systems.

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