While many people are venturing back into their old gyms and public fitness spaces, many others aren’t ready to give up the glorious comfort that home workouts provide. There’s something about not having to leave the house (and drive and park or take public transportation) that makes the whole process that much more appealing. Home gyms come in all shapes and sizes, from a small corner of an apartment living room to a full studio in a finished basement or garage. No matter what your workout space looks like, you’ll find something on this list that makes exercise more enjoyable and effective.
How we test
We bring together men and women across the spectrum of fitness levels and home gym setups, ranging in age from 32 to 60. Among the five, the group used each item for multiple training sessions per week over the course of two months. As we put each item to the test, we focused on how easy it was to use, how well it fit into our homes, and how well we exercised using it. We also consider how each item compares to other products we’ve used in the same category.
tester statistics
Testers: 5
Tested products: 10
Trial weeks: 8
Workouts per week: 10+
Number of hours in the gym: 40+
Reviews: The best home gym equipment of 2023
NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells ($599)
Adjustable dumbbells are a lifesaver for anyone training in a small space. This set adjusts from five to 50 pounds in five-pound increments. Dialing in your desired weight takes seconds—just plug in the 17-by-19-inch docking station and turn the dial in the middle to select the weight you want. If you’re an Amazon Alexa household, you can use voice commands to make adjustments remotely. Fancy technology aside, the dumbbells themselves also got top marks. The metal grips felt comfortable and just the right size in the hands of several testers; both men and women thought they were easy to hold. And the dumbbells are square with rounded corners, making it easy to do exercises with the dumbbells flat on the floor (like push-up rows) or anything that involves gripping the ends (like a triceps press).
Bottom line: Perfect for anyone who wants a variety of dumbbells but doesn’t have room for a full rack of weights.
Trango Rock Prodigy Natural Board ($100)
Wood boards tend to be more skin-friendly than plastic models. This is made of high-quality beech wood, with smooth and well-machined edges that make training more comfortable. Easy-to-read labels on the holds help you accurately record workouts and replicate the same training protocols at home or in the gym. Installing the rails over a door frame or beam is simple (although you do need to pre-drill holes) and the mounting system allows you to slide the two halves of the board horizontally, so you can adjust them to align with the width. from your shoulders
Bottom line: A skin-friendly tool for training finger strength for climbing
Bowflex VeloCore Bike ($1,799–$2,199)
The Velocore offers one of the smoothest rides we’ve ever had on a stationary bike. A “lean” mode allows the bike to lean from side to side, simulating real-world riding. makes a top workout engaging your core and providing a realistic feel, especially when you’re following one of the scenic drives (think: Australian beaches, Philippine countryside, or Utah parks). It offers 100 levels of magnetic resistance, the same as a Peloton bike, and tracks metrics including time, distance, cadence, resistance, heart rate, and calories burned. You can use this information to guide your own training, or opt for the algorithm-based adaptive training mode, which uses your training stats to automatically adjust your running intensity as your fitness improves. Testers also appreciated the bike’s phone mount, two water bottle holders, a set of three-pound dumbbells, and versatile pedals that have regular shoe straps and cycling shoe clips. A large console (16 or 22 inches) displays guided workout videos or streaming services, an easy-to-use touchscreen dashboard makes it easy to navigate your workout stats, bluetooth connectivity lets you pair a heart rate strap and the built-in radio comes with curated playlists by genre.
Bottom line: A smooth-riding stationary bike that provides a realistic feel and has all the technology you need to take your workouts to the next level.
Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill ($999)
The 7.0 AT looks like a standard, no-frills treadmill, but Horizon’s affordable folding model has a few understated features that elevate the user experience. While it doesn’t have a video screen, it does come with everything you need to get a quality workout. The 20-by-60-inch heavy-duty belt has shock-absorbing technology that adjusts cushioning in relation to the force of each step and operates at a standard maximum of 12 miles per hour and a 15-percent incline. The 325-pound maximum is low compared to luxury treadmills, but high for a folding model. Convenient slots to store a phone, tablet and water bottle, and easy-to-use controls further enhance utility. The 7.0 AT also connects to your smartphone and heart rate strap via Bluetooth, allowing you to sync with fitness apps like Zwift, or play music or a podcast through the built-in speakers. Best of all is the ease with which it folds: all you have to do is lift the bottom of the deck and the hydraulics take the weight out of your hands almost immediately, locking the base in place once it is upright.
Bottom line: A treadmill that saves space and money while maintaining critical performance.
FightCamp ($499 + $39/month membership)
This Bluetooth-enabled punching bag gamifies boxing, making it easy and fun to do sparring workouts alone at home. Sensors in the gloves monitor your movements and sync with the Android and iOS compatible app. This allows you to track stats like hitting speed, hit rate, and power output, and work to get faster and more powerful over time. The app also connects to Bluetooth heart rate monitors to track intensity zones and calories burned. Not in the mood to hit things? In addition to kickboxing and boxing workouts, the app offers stretching and bodyweight strength sessions. The bag is self-contained, so all you need to do is fill the base with sand or water. It’s easy to set up, and once you do, it can take a beating and stay put; it didn’t budge even when our 200-pound tester was at his worst.
Bottom line: If boxing is your exercise of choice and statistics are a concern, this smart system gives you all the tools you need to simulate the ring in the comfort of your own home.
Bandit TRX ($50)
Simple yet effective, these handles easily attach to any resistance band to add a more comfortable grip (finally, no more bands digging into your palms). The large handles are covered in a rubberized material that makes them easy to grip for exercises like upright rows, overhead presses, and deadlifts. Setting them up takes seconds, so it’s easy to switch from one band to another mid-workout—just slide the band onto the handle and rotate it to lay flat. You can also put more than one band on the handle, if you need to double the resistance.
Bottom line: Do you like to use resistance bands? These handles are the small but noticeable upgrade you need.
ROLL Recovery R1 Massage Gun ($129)
Anyone faithful to massage guns knows how cumbersome these tools are to pack. This compact iteration of aircraft grade aluminum is a game changer. It measures five and a half inches long and weighs just 1.3 pounds, compared to more than two pounds and more than nine inches for most full-size percussion massagers. It’s also surprisingly simple to use: there are no complex apps or menus, just a button that toggles between 1,800, 2,200, 2,600 and 3,200 rotations per minute. The highest mode is faster than any comparable compact model, and the 40-watt motor, while quiet, is powerful enough not to lag even at the highest pressures. The R1 is easy to use on difficult muscle groups thanks to the short handle engraved with a textured pattern, making it easy to hold at any angle. Of the four assorted attachment heads, we prefer the firm foam ball and sometimes appreciate the deep fascia release of the hard U-shaped head. The brand claims this device lasts for seven hours of use per charging (uses a USB connector); we were able to use it for a full week of daily massages before recharging.
Bottom line: If you love your massage gun but don’t like to travel with it, this compact model will free you up to hit the road without compromising performance.
How to buy
Choosing the best products for your home gym depends on the type of training you want to do. Do you mainly enjoy cardio? Invest in a treadmill, bike trainer, or spin bike. Do you prefer strength training? Spend your money and available space on equipment like kettlebells, dumbbells, and a weight bench. Many sports require a combination of specialized equipment, such as hang boards or bike trainers, as well as tools for generalized strength training and recovery.
Next, you need to be aware of space limitations. In many cases, deciding which pieces of home gym equipment to invest in is a matter of identifying what will make the most of your available space. The good news: Whether you have an entire basement to work out in or are confined to a small corner of a living room, you can find great options for equipment and accessories to build your home gym.
