There’s a simplicity that goes along with getting in great shape exclusively from home. With just a few essential pieces of home workout equipment, a lot of guys can turn a spare room into the ultimate home gym. Or, if that isn’t possible, there’s a great many garage gyms out there that have all the essentials to build some impressive muscle, or shed some amazing amounts of fat.
So what’s really required to transform so you can look ripped every day of the year?
There’s no simple answer to this question because it all depends on the type of training you are planning to do. While there are quite a few people who prefer the benefits of bodyweight training, for some advanced bodybuilders who need heavier weight loads to elicit more muscle stimulation for growth more equipment will definitely be needed.
So if size matters to you, we’re going to list the more common home work equipment for helping you get bigger muscles and functional strength.
For Those Looking to put on Some Serious Volume
Okay, the first thing we’re going to touch on is: do you need one of those late-night workout systems that’s gets you pumped built within 6 weeks? Hell No! But you’re going to need items to push your routines over the edge.
To put on some serious muscle, here’s the list of essential gear that will help get you on your way to building the ultimate home gym setup.
Olympic Barbell
Probably the most single piece of home workout equipment you can start a home gym with is an Olympic Barbell. Even if you’re not planning on getting serious with weight lifting this is still a great investment. The standard bar weighs in at 45 lbs and is designed to handle quite a weight load.
The thing you should know is that an Olympic bar can only use Olympic plates. So, you can’t just go out and buy whatever kinds of weight you want. But, in the end you’re never going to have to worry about replacing these puppies. They can stand the tests of time…or some serious training routines.
Dumbbells
Aside from the great benefits of using a barbell in your training, dumbbells are considered just as important home workout equipment.
This is a fancy set of dumbbells, but it’s not a “must-have” purchase ====>
Adjustable dumbbells are a great solution if you can’t buy a whole set at once, and since you’ll have the Olympic weights a set of Olympic dumbbell handles makes to the most sense to include.
The amount of weight you need will only be determined by your training needs. But you’re going to need a mix of lighter weighted and heavier weighted dumbbells.
A good starting point would be 10 lbs worth of weight. The set pictured here typically runs between 5-120 lbs with each weight moving up in 5 lb increments.
The Bench
There’s no doubt that a bench is practically going to be in ever single home or garage gym. It’s such an overlooked and simple necessity that it gets left out of a lot of lists.
Power Rack
While this many seem like a lot of money to shell out on one piece of home workout equipment, it’s actually going to be worth every dollar. One of the great things about the Power Rack is that you can probably spend your entire strength workouts using it. It’s real equipment for real muscle.
If you’re still not sold on it’s importance then here’s a short list of exercises to help you change your mind:
- bench presses
- bent over rows
- curls
- dips
- hanging leg raises
- incline presses
- lockouts
- lunges
- military presses
- pull ups
- shrugs
- squats
This is an impressive list, but is only just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a ton more exercises you can accomplish with just the power rack if you’re thinking about workout exclusively with weights.
Secondary Home Workout Equipment
Here’s a list of other helpful gear that can assist the essentials that are listed above:
- Heavy Rope
- Kettlebells
- Medicine Balls
- Stability Ball
Heavy Bag
I’m including this one because it’s always been a favorite of mine. Who wouldn’t love to just unleash a day’s worth of frustration and build a pretty strong upper body in the process?
There’s no need to have a fancy stand like the one pictured here. But if you can’t mount a bag from the ceiling or don’t have a beam to hook it up on, then this is probably your best option.
Just make sure you get a nice pair of heavy bag gloves before you start punching away. It’s always important to protect those knuckles and wrists of yours from any sort of injury.
While there’s a ton more home workout equipment on the market, but in reality they can’t really beat what’s been listed above.
But we didn’t discuss cardio equipment!
For most home-geared gyms adding in a treadmill or stationary bike just isn’t practical. And if you’re looking for a great cardio workout a simple jump rope can really get that heart pumping and help you burn those calories.
Learn More Home Workout Equipment Tips and Build A Better Body From Home
