If you’re just starting a fitness journey, you might be hesitant to spend your hard-earned cash on workout gear. But investing in some of the best home gym equipment can help you double down on your commitment to yourself, serve as a visual reminder to fit it in, and put you into the right headspace when breaking a sweat at home — no gym membership required.
Still, as a beginner, it can be tough to know where to start. “It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of sparkly, massive home gyms,” says Amanda Capritto, a certified personal trainer and our BarBend expert reviewer. But the reality is that you really don’t need anything extensive to get a quality workout in at home. Take these pieces of best home exercise equipment for beginners — our expert testers have tried them out for you and give you just the insights you need to make your purchases easy. Our expert team has tested and approved them all and thinks they’re just the thing to kick-start your home workout routine.
The Best Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners of 2024
How We Tested and Chose the Best Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners
The BarBend team is full of fitness experts, certified personal trainers, and athletes — but believe it or not, we were all beginners once, too. We’ve tested hundreds of pieces of home exercise equipment across multiple categories, from treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes to squat racks, rowing machines, and cable machines.
To give you a full picture of each product, we follow a rigorous equipment testing methodology that includes analyzing and scoring each item from 1 (not great) to 5 (great) on key factors like workout experience and tech capabilities. We combed through our data to find the best home exercise equipment for beginners based on the following markers, which we think are especially important for this category:
- Accessibility: For beginners especially, fitness equipment should feel welcoming: there should be low barriers to entry, like a small-enough minimum resistance on strength equipment, a high weight limit for cardio workout equipment, and beginner-friendly workouts on streaming platforms and apps. You might be keeping in mind pieces that can get your heart rate up in small spaces, too, so we did, too. We kept all that top of mind when looking for the best home exercise equipment for beginners (and really, users of all fitness levels).
- Ease of Use: No one wants a headache from an overly complicated manual — and typically, you want a full-body workout from using your favorite all-in-one equipment, not assembling it. When selecting the following products, we looked for equipment that’s easy to use with minimal instruction and offers a simple user experience so beginners can jump right in.
- Durability: If you’re just starting your fitness journey, the equipment you buy now could become instrumental in helping you build a base and progress over the next many years. You’ll want high-quality equipment that grows with you, not breaks down. We kept an eye on versatility, warranties, materials, and stability of all the pieces we tested.
- Value: There’s a good chance you don’t yet know which type of training you like in your home fitness journey — and so you probably don’t want to spend tons of money on home workout equipment you won’t use. We judged each piece of equipment based on its price relative to features and quality offered.
[Related: Best Dumbbell Sets]
Best Dumbbells for Beginners: REP Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells
REP QuickDraw Adjustable Dumbbells
REP QuickDraw Adjustable Dumbbells
These REP Fitness adjustable dumbbells are extremely user friendly, as the adjustable mechanism is simple and easy to use. Plus, these are relatively inexpensive compared to other products.
Specs
- Price: Starting at $279.99
- Available Weights: 5-30lbs, 5-40lbs, 5-50lbs, 5-60lbs
- Shape: Round
- Plate Material: Cast iron and steel
- Replaces: Up to 18 pairs of dumbbells
Pros
Large weight variety in a single package
Easy-to-use safe-locking technology to switch weights
Super durable cast-iron with a lifetime warranty
2.5lb microplates and 10lb add-ons for precise loading
Flat bottom to prevent rolling
Cons
End locking triangle can get in the way
60lbs may not be enough for stronger lifters
When you start strength training, it can take a while to understand how much weight you can reasonably lift with each move. That’s where the best adjustable dumbbells, like these ones from REP Fitness, come in. With one pair, you have a wide variety of weights, offering you plenty of room to experiment without lots of bulky dumbbells crowding your home gym.
“Adjustable dumbbells are the solution for people who want to work out at home with dumbbells, but don’t have the space to dedicate a portion of their floor to a dumbbell rack,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT. “With adjustable dumbbells, an entire set of weight takes up maybe 2 square feet of space.”
We think these are the best dumbbells for beginners thanks to their easy-to-change Lock-N-Load mechanism and wide range of available weights: 5 to 60 pounds, plus 2.5-pound micro plates to help you slowly progress. Our tester was very impressed with the cast iron and steel construction, ease of use, and comfortable knurling (the crosshatch pattern on the handle that makes it easier to grip), scoring them a 5 out of 5 for overall experience. “These dumbbells are simple to change, and there’s a nice clicking sound that confirms the weights are locked in and you’re ready to go,” our tester says.
They may cost more than the best dumbbells on their own, but you’re getting 12 pairs in one (not counting the micro adjustments), which is why our tester gives them a 4.5 out of 5 for value. Plus, you get a lifetime warranty from REP — not that you need to worry. “These dumbbells are tanks,” our tester says. “We tried dropping them from different angles and heights to see how they would hold up, and they’re relentless. We have yet to see any damage on them.”
If you start with a lighter pair and surprise yourself with your gains, you can always buy 10-pound add-on weights to enure you can keep building strength — a nice feature for beginners who may continue to use these dumbbells as they get stronger.
Best Barbell for Beginners: Iron Bull Competition Barbell
Iron Bull Competition Bar
Iron Bull Competition Bar
This barbell can withstand endless reps, thanks to its durable steel build. Plus, for those shopping on a budget, this is one of the cheapest options on the market.
Specs
- Price: $225
- Weight: 20kg
- Tensile Strength: 200,000 PSI
- Diameter: 28.5mm
- Coatings: Black Zinc
- Knurling Marks: IWF, IPF
Pros
Multipurpose for many types of lifting
Good spin and comfortable knurling
Cons
Not suitable for super heavy loads
Black zinc coating is durable but not indestructible
Barbells might not strike you as a beginner-exerciser necessity, but they’re a versatile piece of equipment you can count on to stick with you for the long-haul. “Having a barbell in your home gym means you can do almost any type of strength training exercise possible,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT. “They are so versatile, lending themselves to continual progression. Plus, barbells are generally considered durable pieces of equipment. A good one will last a lifetime with proper care, making them a stellar investment for your health and fitness.”
This 20-kilogram (44-pound) Iron Bull Competition Bar is suited for all the above, making it a great budget-friendly starter option, as it’s versatile and cheaper than most of the best barbells out there. “This is a solid bar at an affordable price that will work well if you’re not lifting too heavy,” our tester says. They score it a 4 out of 5 for knurling and 5 out of 5 for spin, based on its comfortable grip and solid performance during cleans and snatches.
One area where this bar is limited is in the amount of weight it can handle. The steel core has a tensile strength of 200,000 PSI, which should be plenty, but our tester seemed to find the tipping point. “I put 535 pounds on this barbell, and it started to bend. Now, there’s a slight curve in the middle of the bar,” our tester says. So, not the most heavy-duty. For beginners, though, you should have sufficient room to play before going near the bar’s weight maximum (which, for the record, the brand doesn’t disclose).
Otherwise, you can count on this bar being durable for typical home gym use. “The shaft has held up really well despite being thrown around our warehouse for several months, and it’s survived drops from overhead with bumper plates,” our tester says. “The sleeves are showing a little scuffing where you slide the plates on, but otherwise, the black zinc coating is doing its job.” If you’d like an even stronger protective coating, you can opt for another finish, including Cerakote and Stainless Steel.
Best Exercise Bike for Beginners: NordicTrack S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
NordicTrack Commercial S22i
The NordicTrack Commercial S22i is high-tech and high quality, featuring both advancements like a 22” touchscreen display, and solid specs like 24 levels of quiet magnetic resistance.
Specs
- Price: $1,999
- Product Dimensions: 61” L x 22” W x 58” H
- Product Weight: 205lbs
- Weight Capacity: 350lbs
- Resistance Type: Magnetic
- Resistance Levels: 24
- Display: 22” Smart HD touchscreen
Pros
Integrated with iFIT, offering 17,000+ streaming workouts
Incline, decline, and resistance automatically adjusts
22” HD touchscreen pivots for non-cycling classes
24 levels of smooth, silent magnetic resistance
Cons
iFIT membership ($39/month) required for best experience
Expensive even for a smart exercise bike
This is, admittedly, not a budget exercise bike. But what the NordicTrack S22i lacks in affordability, it makes up for in features, offering such a great workout experience, it’s sure to keep you coming back. And if you’re a beginner exerciser, finding a workout you truly enjoy is key; research shows that enjoying your workout boosts adherence, meaning you’ll actually keep using the piece of equipment you buy (and boosting your wellness as you go). (1)
The NordicTrack S22i consistently makes it onto our lists of best exercise bikes because it’s just that good; it has 24 levels of silent magnetic resistance and a 22” HD touchscreen that allows you to stream workouts from iFIT, a streaming platform with more than 17,000 on-demand classes and scenic rides. “I really enjoy having both virtual rides and studio classes at my disposal, as it makes the entire training experience more engaging,” said our tester says, scording the dynamic programming a 5 out of 5. “You can essentially escape to some of the world’s most beautiful locations and pedal through the scenery without leaving your abode.”
When you’re taking a guided workout, you can also take advantage of the S22i’s cool Auto-Adjust feature, which automatically changes your resistance, incline, and decline to match the instructor’s cues. Yes, this bike also has +20% incline and -10% decline — a rare feature for a stationary bike.
In terms of hardware, the S22i is solid, with two-sided pedals (SPD clips and toe cages), an inertia-enhanced flywheel, dual water bottle holders, a fan, and a 350-pound weight limit. Our tester finds the bike to be quite durable overall, rating it a 4 out of 5 on that metric. “There’s no wobbliness across the profile when taking on high-intensity workouts,” they say.
You don’t need an iFIT membership ($39/month) to use the bike, but it’s essentially required to make the most of its features. The good news is that you can pivot the touchscreen or cue up the iFIT app on your device to take classes off the bike, which can ultimately help you build and follow a more well-rounded workout routine.
Read our full NordicTrack S22i Exercise Bike Review.
Best Kettlebell for Beginners: REP Fitness Adjustable Kettlebell
REP Fitness 16kg Adjustable Kettlebell
REP Fitness 16kg Adjustable Kettlebell
This adjustable kettlebell uses a quick and simple weight adjustment that spans 8 to 16 kilograms. While the bell is made from cast iron, it has a rubber bottom that can help protect floors.
Specs
- Price: Starting at $149.99
- Weight Range: 8-16kg, 16-24kg, 20-40lbs
- Handle Diameter: 34.6-35mm
- Material: Cast iron shell, matte powder coat
- Adjustment Mechanism: Dial
Pros
6 kettlebell weights in one
Solid cast-iron shell in classic kettlebell shape
Affordable compared to buying individual bells
Cons
Weight adjustment mechanism is plastic
Some noise from plates when moving
Adjustable dumbbells may be more popular, but the best adjustable kettlebells can also be a terrific addition to a home gym, especially for a beginner wanting to build functional strength. “Adjustable kettlebells provide greater access to kettlebell training with less money and less space compared to a full set of fixed kettlebells,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT. “In terms of physiological benefits, kettlebells are fantastic tools for building grip strength, coordination and stability, and explosive strength.”
This one from REP Fitness is available in three different weight ranges — 8 to 16 kilograms (17 to 35 pounds), 16 to 24 kilograms (35 to 53 pounds), and 9 to 18 kilograms (20 to 40 pounds) — each one with five different weight increments. “It’s pretty much the same size as your traditional kettlebell, but it’s going to replace six individual kettlebells, which is really nice,” our tester says, scoring it 5 out of 5 for weight rage. Using the dial on top, you can quickly change between weights and get back to squatting or swinging without sacrificing much time. Another big plus is that it’s the same shape and handle as a classic kettlebell (unlike some competitor models) which makes for more ergonomic training; our tester scores it a 5 out of 5 on ergonomics, as well.
The shell and plates are made from solid cast-iron, but our tester wonders about the durability of the plastic adjustment mechanism over time, scoring it a 4.5 out of 5 for durability. They also noted: “As you’re swinging it, you’ll hear a little bit of the rattle of the plates, but it has not affected me negatively whatsoever during my workouts…It’s not knocking me off my flow or movement pattern or anything.”
Spending $150+ on a kettlbell may sound like a lot when you’re first setting up your home gym, but remember that you’re getting six weights in one — compared to the 20 to 40-pound adjustable bell, it’d cost over $120 more to buy the equivalent kettlebells individually from REP. That’s why our tester scores this adjustable kettlebell a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 for price.
Read our full REP Fitness Adjustable Kettlebell Review.
Best Resistance Bands for Beginners: Titan Fitness Light Resistance Bands
Titan Fitness Light Resistance Bands
Titan Fitness Light Resistance Bands
This bundle of latex superbands provides four resistance bands, ranging in resistance from 2-15lbs up to 25-80lbs. Loop these around a pull-up bar for assisted pull-ups, or attach them to your barbell to add resistance or assistance throughout your lift.
Specs
- Price: $74.99
- Bands Per Bundle: 4
- Available Resistance: 2-15lbs, 5-35lbs, 10-50lbs, 25-80lbs
- Band Style: Superband
- Band Length: 41”
Pros
Affordable and easy to store
Four bands offer 2-80lbs of resistance
Versatile and handy for beginner strength work
Cons
Likely will need replacing within a few years
Resistance maxes out at 80lbs
If you’re looking to smart small with home exercise equipment, the best resistance bands should be your first buy. This four-pack of Titan Fitness Light Resistance Bands offer up to 80 pounds of resistance, cost significantly less in terms of price and space compared to the equivalent in free weights, and should be plenty to help you gain strength across all your muscle groups as a beginner.
“For people who don’t have the space for regular home gym equipment but still want to exercise at home, compact items provide a solution. Even for people who do have ample space, compact home gym equipment can keep your gym feeling clutter-free and organized,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT. Resistance bands are the perfect mainstay. “I live in a camper van, and resistance bands provide me with a form of resistance training (and the regularly whip my butt, I might add),” she says.
Each of these loop bands is made of latex, 41” long, and offers a different range of resistance: 2 to 15 pounds, 5 to 35 pounds, 10 to 50 pounds, and 25 to 80 pounds. Though that may not be enough for more advanced athletes, they’re a great starting place for beginners, whether you’re looking to improve your upper body strength, lower body range of motion, or your resistance push-up prowess — all without leaving the space of your yoga mat.
Our tester scores them a 5 out of 5 for functionality and portability. “They’re small and lightweight, so keeping the bands permanently in my climbing bag isn’t a pain at all,” they say. The bands don’t have handles, but are a continuous loop. That means you can use them for assisted pull-ups and rehab work, among many other things. “I just held onto the end of the loop for a few sets of rows, presses, lunges, biceps curls, and interior/exterior rotator cuff work,” our tester adds. These aren’t your best friends for HIIT workouts, but they enable the type of suspension training and Pilates work that will strength your whole body.
One downside is that resistance bands generally don’t last forever. You’re covered by a warranty from Titan Fitness for the first year, but you may need to replace these after a few more. Even if you’re ready for big dumbbells by then, we’ll bet you won’t retire this classic tool from your routine.
Best Online Personal Trainer for Beginners: Caliber
Caliber
With two coaching subscriptions to choose from (one group oriented and one individualized), Caliber can be an excellent tool for guiding your fitness journey. The prescribed workouts can be tailored to your available equipment, and you’re in constant communication with your personal trainer through the app’s chat feature and video call capabilities.
Specs
- Price per month: $19 for group coaching, personal training starts at $200
- Equipment Required: Bodyweight, Home Gym, Commercial Gym
- Coaching Type: Strength, Cardio, Nutrition
- Available On: iOS, Android
Pros
Personalized coaching on strength, cardio, and nutrition
Data-driven programs with emphasis on strength work
Direct, 24/7 contact with a human coach
Free app access and cheaper group coaching available
Cons
Caliber Premium is quite expensive at $200/month
Workouts are self-guided, not follow-along
Main focus is strength training
When you start exercising, it can feel like entering an alternative universe. There’s so much lingo and technique to learn and almost too many possibilities for structuring your routine. That’s where one of the best personal training apps like Caliber can help.
Caliber is like having a trainer on speed dial. After an initial questionnaire about your ability and goals, you’re connected with a coach who creates an individualized workout program for you. The app delivers this with all the instruction you should need, using an extensive exercise library of over 500 moves. You can also send videos of your form directly to your trainer for feedback. “My coach would record videos and send them to me through the chat function,” our tester says, giving the app 5 out of 5 for instruction and accountability. “The content would outline my week’s progress, offer up advice and tips where necessary, and lay out new training goals based on my progress.” That’s loads better than hopping aimlessly with your jump rope or tossing around a medicine ball with no direction.
Caliber technically includes cardio and nutrition guidance, but there’s a real focus on resistance training. Based on your workout data, it even gives you a strength score and strength balance report. “I really like this metric for beginners, as it paints a good picture of your potential weaknesses and where you should be focusing your training,” our tester says.
Sounds amazing, right? It is. And that leads us to the downside — Caliber Premium starts at $200 per month. However, they offer lower tiers for those who don’t want or can’t afford personal training. Caliber Pro is their group coaching offering ($19/month), and they have a totally free version of the app with access to the exercise library, workout tracking, and the ability to build your own programs.
Other than the price, which our tester scores a 3.5 out of 5, the only other downside for beginners is that your workouts are self-guided; if you love classes and appreciate form tips and cueing in real-time (IRL or through a screen), this may not be the app for you. If that’s what you want, there are plenty in our list of the best workout apps that could do the trick.
Read our full Caliber Fitness App Review.
Best Weight Bench for Beginners: Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench
Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench
Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench
The Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench is among the more compact weight benches you'll find. It's also among the more budget-friendly weight benches, too.
Specs
- Price: $149.99
- Type: Flat bench
- Weight Capacity: 661lbs
- Product Dimensions: 17.3″ H x 44.4’’ L x 17.75″ W
- Product Weight: 37.2lbs
- Material: 14-gauge steel
Pros
Sturdy steel frame with powder coating
Lightweight and easy to move
661lb weight capacity should support most exercisers
Cons
2-inch pad offers OK cushioning
Doesn’t adjust to different heights or angles
Shorter length and width than a standard bench
If you have enough space in your home gym and plan to do plenty of resistance training, it may be totally worth it to invest in a weight bench. The Flat Utility Bench from Bells of Steel is basic but can come in handy for more strength moves than you may realize.
“A weight bench is more than just a bench for pressing weight… [it] can also be used for core exercises, seated shoulder press, incline/decline presses (if an adjustable bench), Bulgarian split squats, step-ups, hip thrusts, and more,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT. “They’re more versatile than they seem on the surface, and for that, they’re a great buy in my book.”
Bells of Steel Utility Flat Bench:
Our tester gives this Bells of Steel flat bench a 3.5 out of 5 overall and a 4 out of 5 for construction and durability. “Overall, I found this to be very stable, and I think it’s a solid bench for your basic lifting needs,” they say. “There was no noticeable shaking or wobbling when preforming a couple of different lifts, and even when I manually shook the bench there was little movement — so A+ on sturdiness.”
However, the bench also falls a little short (literally) on size. “The bench seemed a tad bit shorter in length than most (it is indeed 3-4 inches shorter than competitors), and the width is 10 inches, which is narrower than the industry standard of 11+ inches,” our tester says. “I’m 5’4”, and it felt slightly short for me, so taller athletes might have a hard time getting in a good position on this bench.”
A plus? Its small size comes in handy when you’re trying to move it; at less than 40 pounds, you can easily scoot this around your home gym, which can be handy if you hope to store your equipment outof sight. It also helps to keep the price down, which is low compared to the other best weight benches out there, so you can use that extra cash to buy more free weights.
Benefits of Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners
There are so many benefits of having a home gym. It’s private, open 24/7, completely customizable to your liking, and will probably save you money in the long run. When it comes to buying equipment, “there are so many options to suit so many different needs and budgets, and I think that exemplifies what’s so great about having a home gym: It’s yours, and you get to choose what you want in it so that it is affordable for you and leads you to your goals,” says certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto, BarBend’s expert reviewer. Building a workout space you enjoy using can go a long way in helping you stick with your routine and keep showing up. Here are some other benefits to investing in some solid home exercise equipment for beginners.
- They Progress With You & Provide Ongoing Challenge: Even if home exercise equipment is beginner-friendly, it’s not limited to newbies. For example, most products here will continue to challenge you, thanks to increasing levels of weight, resistance, or dynamic programming, meaning you won’t outgrow them even as you progress.
- Adaptability: Your home gym can be whatever you make it — and that can change from day to day or month to month. Turn your garage into a weightlifting paradise, your guest room into a yoga sanctuary, or your basement into a functional training cave, or do it all in the same space.
- Convenience: When you have the ability to work out at home, you can squeeze in a session at any time and even when you only have a few minutes. Nixing the commuting time and need to leave the house means you can reap the benefits of exercise even when you have to be at home while dinner’s baking or laundry is in the dryer.
[Related: Best Treadmills]
How Much Does Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners Cost?
The price of beginner exercise equipment depends largely on what, exactly, you’re buying. In general, the heavier or more high-tech you go, the more you’ll pay.
| Best Dumbbells for Beginners | REP Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells | $279.99 and up |
| Best Barbell for Beginners | Iron Bull Competition Barbell | $225 |
| Best Exercise Bike for Beginners | NordicTrack S22i | $1,999 |
| Best Kettlebell for Beginners | REP Fitness Adjustable Kettlebell | $149.99 and up |
| Best Resistance Bands for Beginners | Titan Fitness Light Resistance Bands | $74.99 |
| Best Online Personal Trainer for Beginners | Caliber | $200 and up |
| Best Weight Bench for Beginners | Bells of Steel Flat Utility Bench | $149.99 |
What to Consider Before Buying Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners
The cool part about assembling your own home gym is that you can make it whatever you want. The downside? You need to know what you want to make smart purchasing decisions — and that’s easier said than done when there’s so much exercise equipment out there. The following factors can help you home in on what you actually need.
Fitness Goals
When you’re thinking about building a home gym, “the best place to start is with your needs and fitness goals. What are you trying to accomplish?” says BarBend expert reviewer and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto. “My advice is to get clear on your goals and the required training protocols to achieve them. Then, you can begin selecting the items that best suit your needs.”
As a beginner, you might not have a great idea of your goals yet or simply want to get healthier and achieve better fitness overall. The good news is that it opens up the possibilities. What gets you excited to work out? Try starting there.
Training Preferences
If you know a little bit about what type of training you want to do, that’ll be a big help. Do you want to commit to strength training or mainly cardio? Yoga or boxing? (It’s OK if the answer is “a little bit of everything.” That’s the beauty of a home gym — you can try it all.)
Pick the training style that’s most important to you, and buy basic equipment for that modality, first. Getting gear to support the workouts you actually want to do (rather than what other people or the internet tell you to do) will help ensure you actually use it and follow through with your routine.
Available Space
Besides budget, this will likely be the most limiting factor as you’re shopping for beginner home exercise equipment. If you’re tight on space, you’re likely better off buying a foldable or easily stored exercise mat and some resistance bands or adjustable free weights.
If you have a little more room, you may want to invest in a piece of smaller cardio equipment, like a stationary bike, as well as some more free weights. If you have plenty of space to dedicate to working out, you can buy a weight bench, treadmill or rower, and, perhaps, a barbell setup and squat rack after you’ve built up some base strength.
FAQs: Home Exercise Equipment for Beginners
What is the best piece of home exercise equipment for beginners?
First and foremost, you’ll want to determine your goals. Are you cardio focused, or excited to start building strength with weights? That will determine whether investing in the adjustable weights we’re listing here or one of the cardio-oriented pieces of equipment might be best for you.
What type of exercise should a beginner start with?
There’s no one type of exercise a beginner should start with; it’s more important that, whatever type of training it is, you progress at the appropriate level and try not to do too much too fast. That said, it’s a good idea to include both strength and cardio in your routine to meet the recommendations set by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, plus at least two days of muscle-strengthening activity each week. (2)
What is the best home exercise machine for weight loss?
The best type of exercise for weight loss is the one you’ll do consistently. That means the best home exercise machine for weight loss — whether a treadmill, rower, stationary bike, or home gym machine — depends on you.
Overall, research supports doing both cardio and strength exercise for weight loss (in line with the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans), as the former can help you expend energy while the latter helps to maintain muscle mass, which keeps your metabolism humming. (2)
What equipment to buy first for a home gym?
What type of training do you want to do, and what are your goals? Those are the first two questions to ask yourself. The answers will help you figure out which piece of equipment you should start with. Otherwise, logistically speaking, if you’re setting up a comprehensive, dedicated home gym, it may save you a headache to handle the best home gym flooring first.
References
- Teixeira, Diogo S., et al. 2022. “Enjoyment As a Predictor of Exercise Habit, Intention to Continue Exercising, and Exercise Frequency: The Intensity Traits Discrepancy Moderation Role.” Frontiers in Psychology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8894246/
- Bellicha, Alice, et al. 2021. “Effect of Exercise Training on Weight Loss, Body Composition Changes, and Weight Maintenance in Adults with Overweight or Obesity: An Overview of 12 Systematic Reviews and 149 Studies.” Obesity Reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8365736/
