Have you ever had a craving to squeeze a quick work out in, but not been able to make it down to your local gym?
If you’re finding it harder and harder to get to the gym on a regular basis, it could be a good idea to start creating your own gym at home. With that said, equipment can quickly add up to a hefty bill, so we’ve decided to create this list of 5 must-have pieces to get you started.
First things first though, you’re going to have to find some space to store the equipment that we’re going to be discussing throughout this post. A couple of good examples are the garage, spare room or even outside (as long as it’s under some form of cover).
Punching Bag
There’s a wide variety of different types of punching bags to choose from, such as heavy bags, speed bags, double ended bags and more… However, unless you’re an avid boxer, then I would suggest going for a heavy bag as they’re able to provide the best work out to everyday joes not trained in boxing.
When looking to buy a heavy bag, you’ll come across two different types – free standing or hanging. A free standing heavy bag uses a weighted base filled with either sand or water that keeps the bag standing upright when it is struck. A hanging heavy bag requires you to either mount the bag to a ceiling or to buy a heavy bag stand, which of course, will add to your costs.
Either way, having a heavy bag in your home gym is a great way to change up your cardio routine as well as practice those invaluable self-defense skills.
Rowing Machine
This is another awesome way to change up your cardio routine, as well as target multiple muscle groups across your body, all in one exercise. If you’ve ever looked at a professional rower, they tend to be incredibly well built.
One of the most crucial benefits that a rowing machine has to offer is that it provides a low-impact cardio work out. This is great if you’ve got joint problems and/ or are overweight, as it allows you to effectively work out, whilst not putting your joints at any added risk.
You may think that a rowing machine costs a tone of money, however, I’m happy to tell you that you can get a pretty solid rowing machine for a very reasonable price. Admittedly, it may not have all the bells and whistles of the high tech machines, but it will provide to the exact same effective workout.
Running Machine
Who doesn’t love a good run? Alone with your thoughts whilst indulging in some of that vital daily exercise. Of course, running outside is preferred, but not always possible, especially in the winter months. I’m all for a good run outside, but when that snow starts to fall, there’s a higher chance of pigs flying than me taking a run in the snow.
That’s where the running machine comes in. A decent quality running machine will allow you to adjust both the gradient and speed of your run, mimicking the feeling of running outside as much as possible (except, not having to battle against the weather).
Similarly to rowing machines, running machines tend to go for all sorts of prices depending on the quality and brand. That being said, you can get a pretty solid running machine for around $200-$300, even less if you can get one second hand (which there tend to be a lot of).
Dumbbells
Moving away from the cardio aspect of your home gym, next up is a set of dumbbells. You can either go for adjustable dumbbells, or even get yourself a set of different weights.
The best thing about dumbbells is their versatility. They allow you to work on a wide variety of muscles and can be implemented into an array of different exercises. Check out this article on Men’s Health that runs through 10 exercises that can be performed with dumbbells. Trust me, there’s a lot more you can do than these 10 exercises, but they’re a solid starting point.
The cherry on the cake here though is their price. This will undoubtedly be one of the cheapest, yet most used components of your home gym. In fact, even if you don’t want to set up a whole gym, getting yourself a running machine and a set of dumbbells will provide you with a pretty solid work out, all form the comfort of your own home.
Home/Multi Gym Machine
What better to have in your home gym that a home gym machine? These bad boys come packed full of different equipment that allows you to perform an array of different exercises, for example, lat pulldowns, leg raises and chest press.
Multi Gyms come in a tone of different shapes and sizes, some small, some ridiculously big. Of course, the bigger they are, the more expensive they tend to be, however, the larger ones tend to provide a more well-rounded workout.
Final Thoughts
Being able to work out from home really is a life changer. In the long term, it can save you money on a gym membership, whilst allowing you to exercise from the comfort of your own home.
Although sometimes costing a pretty penny, the benefits of a home gym really do make it a worthy investment.
