Must-Have Home Gym Equipment 2022 – Which Fitness Equipment is Best for Your Home
It has been two years since the “you-know-what” happened. Many of us have been exercising at home. Now, more gyms are open and we have more options now than ever. We can go back to the gym, use the big equipment and attend classes. The other option is to exercise at home, with equipment like the Peloton bike, Tonal Home Gym, or the simple dumbbells or ropes.
There are many choices. What should you do? With the New Year coming up, how should you rekindle your exercise routine? What should you do to prepare for the task ahead?
Because of the uncertainty heading our way, this blog article will talk about my must-have home gym equipment for 2022. All but one piece of equipment is a machine; the rest is small and affordable for anyone to purchase.
With that, let us jump into this article to prepare your home gym equipment to start 2022 on the right note. The pictures in this blog are my very own home gym best unless stated otherwise because I cannot keep the area clean. ~(￣▽￣)~
None of the home gym equipment recommendations below are sponsored. I love using the pieces of equipment here to exercise and keep myself strong. That is why I am writing about them.
Summary
Must-have Home Gym Equipment #1: Loop Exercise Band
My most favorite essentials home gym is a loop exercise. As you can see in the picture, it is just a loop of resistance band.
They have different resistance, from light colors being the easiest to darker colors being the more intensive. With my strength, I am only using the black loop exercise band for all of my at-home exercises.
I love the loop exercise band for putting around my legs and doing exercises such as squats, lunges, clamshells, and more variations. Most of my loop exercise band exercises are for leg days since I use the normal resistance band for my upper body.
Related post: How to Start Exercising
Must-Have Home Gym Equipment #2: Resistance Band
Resistance bands are basically loop exercise bands but with handles. It is my favorite home gym equipment for upper body exercises.
All I really need to do is put the band over a leg of the table and start working out. Resistance band exercises save my shoulders. I can do rows, straight-hand pulls, reverse biceps curls, shoulder abductions, and more.
The biggest drawback with using any type of resistance band is that their hardest resistance intensity is at the end of the stretch, which is a little different from how our muscles function.
Instead of fuzzing over this small inconvenience, think of it as a way to level up your strength, not a push-back. Remember, something is better than nothing.
Wanting to start an exercise routine that works with your schedule AND your new equipment? Take the quiz below to find out! (^人^)
Must-Have Home Gym Equipment #3: Foam Roller
We have been talking a lot about strength exercises. Let us switch our gear into flexibility. I use foam rollers for the dynamic part of my flexibility program.
It can be painful at the beginning but foam rolling can certainly help you stretch out the tight knots, especially around your iliotibial band (the tendon starting from hips and stretching down to your knee).
I used these two videos to start learning about how to use the foam roller. You might find foam rolling an annoying thing. It certainly does not work for EVERYBODY, but it does for me.
Must-Have Home Gym Equipment #4: Exercise Mat
Another great item for your home gym ideas is a good-quality exercise mat. It really helps with any bodyweight exercises you decide to use.
A good exercise mat is light to carry around yet accommodating for your body weight and does not break under normal pressure as you exercise. You should be able to do all kinds of strength and stretch exercises without worrying about the mat.
I really like the Gaiam yoga mat. It is not the cheapest mat but the brand produces durable mats that work and last a long time.
Must-Have Home Gym Equipment #5: Dumbbells
Strength exercises are required for everyone. No matter how weak or how strong you are, or even what your fitness goals entail. You need strength exercises. At-home workouts can be even more fun when you use dumbbells.
Of course, you can always do bodyweight exercises. But as you get stronger, dumbbells can help you progress along and not stay stuck in one place.
You do not need big dumbbells as they can be pricey. Go for a pair of 1.5 pounds, 5 pounds, 10 pounds, and 15 pounds. These four pairs of dumbbells should be good to serve you over a long time as you become active.
Must-Have Home Gym Equipment #6: Elliptical (Not Peloton)
Now, now. Yes, I have been preaching about buying affordable at-home equipment for your home gym ideas. It is that I cannot walk, or rather, I really hate walking. ◑﹏◐
Peloton bike or treadmill is not an option either since I do not like biking or the unnatural feels of a treadmill. (nothing wrong about the Peloton equipment though)
Cardio exercise is still a major part of any exercise routine. It is not what you are thinking about when doing more repetitions. Cardio exercise has to be rhythmic and may take over a longer period of time.
What you are thinking about is more endurance training. To understand the differences, check out this article HERE where I go deep into different types of exercises so you can create a routine that serves your fitness goals.
Related post: My Footcore MAX Review
Must-Have Home Gym Equipment #7: Footcore MAX
This equipment is an essential part of my home gym setup but you might not need it. The thing is, I have flat feet, which can contribute to tons of pain now and knee or ankle problems later on in my life.
To combat this unfortunate inheritance, I need to focus on the intrinsic muscles underneath my feet. I try to use this device every day but sometimes I forget.
If you do have flat feet and want to know more about Footcore MAX, check out this blog article HERE where I wrote a full review of it. It seriously improves my leg strength and performance over just three months of use.
Conclusion
The best home gym equipment is a set of equipment that you will use constantly, not fun objects to collect dust. Do not fall prey to the shiny-object syndrome. You do not need that brand new
It is completely acceptable to start with small equipment. You will be able to figure out what you truly need as you go along in your fitness journey.
Take it slow and be patient with your own body. There is no need to speed up or compare yourself to anyone else. You do not know their backgrounds.
If starting to exercise is something you need help with, I can help! Click the button below to check out more details.
