What gym equipment should I buy for home training?
As a Personal Trainer, I visit clients’ homes and take them through programmes in their kitchen/sitting room/garden/garage. There’s often not much space, and I take all my kit with me, so each piece of equipment I use has to be versatile, easy to store, affordable and transportable. These same principles apply to buying your own kit for personal use, so here are my top 5 home gym toys.
Double grip medicine ball
The great thing about these is that they come in various weights, and the fact that you can grip them with both hands makes them extra versatile. Use them with both hands for chest and shoulder press, single handed for curls, swing them like a kettlebell, throw them for power moves, or just hold onto them to add extra resistance to a squat or lunge.
Medicine ball overhead lunge & Medicine ball squat.
Resistance bands
These come in various thicknesses and therefore, levels of difficulty. They’re not very expensive (but go for good quality so they last longer and won’t snap), and you can get them with handles and grips for even more versatility. Put them around a (sturdy!) bannister or door handle for pulling moves, stand on the end for bicep curls, shoulder press or lateral raise, or hold both ends for reverse flyes.
Band row & Band single arm shoulder press.
Stability ball
The obvious use for these is in balance exercises but you can use them as a bench by getting in a bridge position, squats against a wall, elevated press ups, or lie prone for shoulder and back exercises. Make sure you buy the correct size so if you’re up to 5″5 tall you’ll need a 55cm, up to 6″ you’ll need a 65cm and over 6″ you can get a 75cm. Be sure to blow them up to the correct size!
Kneeling on stability ball. Feet on stability ball press up.
Power bag
These come pre-filled in specific weights, or you can buy them empty with separate filling, and have them whichever weight you like. They also come with different handles and grips, so you should be able to find one that meets your needs. Use them to pick up, deadlift, carry and add resistance to walking, stepping, squatting or lunging.
Power bag bent over row. Power bag step ups.
Dip bars
Don’t be fooled by the name – as well as dips you can use them for body rows, knee ups, or to add elevation to a press up. If possible, buy the adjustable ones so you can increase and decrease their height to suit your size and abilities.
Dip bar knees to chest. Dip bar bodyweight row.
Whatever you decide to buy, make sure you use it safely and take advice from a personal trainer or gym coach on how you can integrate them into your fitness regime. Good luck!
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