Equipment that will help you train your best at home

A practical guide to home gym equipment, from the bare minimum to the long-term setup.

You can start strength training at home with very little. If you have a pair of dumbbells in a closet from a 2019 New Year’s resolution, we can start there. The program will be built around what you actually have, not around what a magazine says a home gym should look like.

That said, here’s the honest part: as you get stronger, you’ll outgrow your equipment. That’s a sign of progress, not a flaw in the plan. This guide walks through what you need to start, what you might already own that we’ll use, and what to add as you go.

What you need to start

This is the genuinely workable starter kit. If you have most of what’s on this list, you’re ready.

Dumbbells, in any form

If you already own any dumbbells, even a single pair of neoprene 8s or 10s, bring them out. We can start there. If you’re buying new, you have three good options:

• Neoprene or vinyl dumbbells up to 20 pounds. The cheapest option. Easy to find, easy to store. Fine for the first few months.

• A few pairs of hex dumbbells in a range. Best if you have the floor space and a small budget. Look for something like 10s, 15s, and 20s to start.

• PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells. The cleanest answer if you want a wide weight range without a rack. They collapse a whole set into a small footprint.

Resistance bands

A small set of loop bands and a longer tube band cover most of what we’ll use them for. Cheap, versatile, and they take up no space.

A foam roller

A standard-density foam roller. We'll use it before workouts to loosen up the muscles that get tight from sitting, driving, and everyday life. Think of it as the warm-up before the warm-up.

A step-up box or sturdy bench substitute

A real plyo box works. So does a sturdy bench, a low coffee table, or the bottom step of your stairs. We’ll use it for step-ups, elevated work, and seated exercises.

A mat and floor space

Enough room to lie down with your arms extended. A yoga mat or any non-slip surface.

Equipment you may already own that we’ll use

Many clients already have fitness equipment at home. If any of this is in your house, we’ll work it into the program.

Peloton

If you love your Peloton, keep using it (I know I do!) We’ll fold it into the program as your cardio. The classes you already enjoy stay where they are. The strength work is part of a separate, structured plan.

Tonal

If you have a Tonal, we can use it as a programmable resistance source. You use Tonal’s custom workouts feature to dial in the exercise and weight, and we’ll often pair it with dumbbells for supersets. It replaces the rack you’d otherwise need to fit in your house.

Treadmill, bike, or rower

Strength is the foundation. Cardio supports it. If you have a treadmill, an exercise bike, or a rower, we’ll fit it into your plan.

Any weights at all

Old kettlebell from a CrossFit phase? Single 25-pound dumbbell? A weighted vest? Whatever you have, we can use.

What you’ll want within a few months

Once you can do twelve clean reps with the heaviest weight you own, your body is telling you it’s time to add more. This is normal. It’s also the point where most starter sets stop being enough.

• Adjustable dumbbells or a heavier set. PowerBlocks are still my pick if space is tight. If you have a corner of a garage, a few pairs of fixed hex dumbbells in heavier weights work too.

• An adjustable bench. Opens up a much wider range of exercises. It’s the best purchase I made early on in my training journey.

• A kettlebell or two. Useful for swings, goblet squats, and carries. One moderate-weight kettlebell goes a long way.

• A larger band set. Heavier resistance bands for assisted and accessory work.

• A stability ball. Allows you to progress exercises from a bench, chair, or the floor to build core strength and stability.

How I work with what you have

Every program I write is built around the equipment you currently own. Your first session includes an honest look at what’s in your house and what’s realistic to add over time. I’ll tell you when it’s time to upgrade something. I won’t push gear you don’t need.

If you’re wondering whether what you have is enough to start, the answer is almost always yes. Bring it out! We’ll go from there.