Best home gym equipment | Tom's Guide

Find the best home gym equipment for your home workout

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The best home gym equipment can be as big and expensive or as small and budget-friendly as you want. From the best adjustable dumbbells and treadmills to yoga mats and resistance bands, it doesn't matter if you live in a spacious home or a small city apartment.

Any space can benefit from choosing the best home gym equipment to suit your budget and needs. Although home gyms initially feel like a big spend, they save money and travel over the years, and give you access to much more flexible workouts.

Besides, it beats paying hundreds of dollars for a gym membership when you could use the best workout apps instead to roll out your exercise mat and do your own thing at home.

We've tried and tested many brands and products across the years, installing them in our homes where possible, or testing them in our dedicated test center, to bring you only the best products we believe are worth purchasing. Bank the essentials on a budget and build your gym over time with the best home gym equipment.

Here's the best gym equipment you can buy right now based on our testing. Scroll down for in-depth reviews.

Best exercise bike

The Sunny Health & Fitness has a 49-pound weighted flywheel and holds a max weight of 275 pounds. It's one of the most affordable we've tested and the best value. The seat can adjust to four settings and the caged pedals include clips but you don't get a screen.

Read more below

Best treadmill

The Peloton tread will set you back, but it's a brilliant piece of kit, and the classes are second to none. It's more compact than many other popular treadmills and has a large, 23.8-inch HD touchscreen.

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Best rowing machine

The Aviron Impact Series Rower has a snazzy 22-inch touchscreen, 16 challenging resistance levels, and oodles of interactive features, but the $25 monthly membership stings for some. That said, the rower stows away easily to save space.

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Best dumbbells

The Bowflex SelectTech 552i adjustable dumbbells replace 15 sets of weights and adjust in 2.5-lb increments, with just the twist of a dial. No need to remove and add on plates! Plus, you can use the Bowflex SelectTech JRNY training app to track your progress and get personalized coaching.

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Best ankle weights

The All Pro adjustable ankle weights feature trademarked contour foam, making them among the most comfortable we tested. The padding protects ankle bones to prevent rubbing from the 10 iron bars encased in each weight.

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Best kettlebell

An adjustable kettlebell should be your go-to if you enjoy weight training at home. The Bowflex SelectTech 840 adjustable kettlebell offers weight ranges between 8-40lbs and 6 settings.

Our expert review:

The affordable equipment from Sunny Health & Fitness is one the best exercise bikes and has a 49-pound weighted flywheel that can hold a maximum weight of 275 pounds. The leather band resistance system is designed to mimic the feel of a real road. The seat can adjust to four settings and the caged pedals include clips to keep your feet in place. While the bike doesn’t come with a screen, there is a bottle holder and assembly takes about 10 minutes.

We found to be a very solid, sturdy bike, with nice, large toe baskets. And it produced a quiet ride. However, those who are a bit shorter may find the bike a bit uncomfortable. And, because there's no display or any guided fitness programs, you'll have to be self-motivated to use it. Overall, though, it's a great bike for beginners who don't want to spend thousands of dollars on something they might not use again.

Read our full Sunny Health & Fitness exercise bike review.

Our expert review:

Our Fitness Editor put some of the most popular treadmills to the test and one stood out from the crowd as a clear winner — the Peloton Tread. Sure, it's expensive, but it's a brilliant piece of kit, and the classes are second to none.

The treadmill is much more compact than several other popular treadmills on the market — at 173cm long and 84cm wide, the Tread easily fits in a spare bedroom, or gym garage conversion (if you are putting it upstairs, you'll want to chat to Peloton first, as like all treadmills, this might not be recommended if you live in an older building). It is also super easy to use. The speed and incline wheels on the arms of the treadmill make it easy to pick up the pace, without having to reach out and try and stab at the touchscreen while running.

The thing that makes the Peloton stand out from a very crowded market is the classes. The large, 23.8-inch HD touchscreen displays your instructor, as well as a leaderboard of other Peloton runners, and makes running on a treadmill the best it can be. There are hundreds of classes for every level of runner at the swipe of a screen.

See more of our picks for the best treadmills.

Our expert review:

Featuring a snazzy 22-inch touchscreen, 16 challenging resistance levels, and oodles of interactive features to keep you on your toes, the Aviron Impact Series Rower has a lightweight, foldable design that’s accessible to athletes of all ages, sizes, and skill levels. The $25 monthly membership makes for a predictably premium product, but when it comes to upgrading your home gym with an equal balance of work and play, this smart rowing machine is unlikely to disappoint.

We were impressed by how easy the machine was to fold out of the way when it's not being used, and loved how it felt when in use. Aviron’s dual air and magnetic resistance system is meant to mimic that authentic on-the-water experience, and each stroke felt smooth as butter in my testing. The Whisper Nylon belt — designed to operate under 60 decibels — is noticeably quieter than other rowing machines I’ve used in various gyms. With noise-canceling headphones in, the whooshing sound of each stroke was practically imperceivable.

The downsides? There's no live classes, yet, and like a lot of home gym equipment these days, the machine requires a monthly membership to be able to use it.

Read our full Aviron Impact Series Rower review.

Our expert review:

The Bowflex SelectTech 552i replaces 15 sets of weights and adjusts in 2.5-lb increments, with just the simple twist of a dial. No need to remove and add on plates! That makes it incredibly easy to move through your resistance training workout, from tricep curls to chest presses to squats. Plus, you can use the 552i with the Bowflex SelectTech JRNY training app to track your progress and get personalized coaching.

One Amazon reviewer wrote, “I've been using these for over a year now and they have served me very well.” A Walmart reviewer praised the 552i as “Easy to operate and a pleasure to use. The proper equipment makes for a quality workout. An excellent investment if you want exceptional equipment.” However, it's worth noting that BowFlex has filed for bankruptcy and while the company isn't planning to discontinue products or access to the app, you should be aware this may impact future purchasing.

Read our full Bowflex SelectTech 552i review.

See more of the best adjustable dumbbells.

Our expert review:

These ankle weights have a lot going for them — the trademarked contour-foam that encircles your ankles when you strap these on makes the All Pro variety among the most comfortable of the styles we tested. The padding keeps the weights away from all seven of your ankle bones, so you don’t feel any rubbing from the 10 iron bars encased in each weight.

If you put the weights on according to the enclosed instructions with the All Pro logo facing front, they have an ingenious little notch right above the heel in the back so they don’t clank into your Achilles tendon while you work out. This is a major bonus if you wear these while doing anything more cardio-centric like aerobics or kickboxing.

The heavy-duty Velcro almost all the way across the weights helps keep them securely in place. However, if you have particularly thin ankles, you may still struggle to get these quite as tight as you’d like, which could lead to some shifting of the iron bars.

Speaking of which, the iron bars are removable and allow you to customize the ankle weights. The 5-lb. pair we reviewed (2 ½ lbs. on each ankle), had 10 iron bars in each weight. That means each bar comes in at ¼ lb. You can remove bars if you want to make the weights lighter. The heavier All Pro ankle weights (5-20 lbs.) follow the same principle, but each individual iron bar weighs more. This versatility makes it like you’re getting several weights in one.

Originally created by an occupational therapist, these ankle weights are intelligently designed and heavy on the function. As for the aesthetic, these aren’t horrible looking — they’re just extremely utilitarian in nature. But quite frankly, that’s a good thing — especially if you’re looking for ankle weights you’re really going to use a lot for rehab or functional fitness.

Verdict: If you want a high quality, comfortable ankle weight with good flexibility for a decent price point, you just can’t go wrong with the All Pro brand.

Take a look at our best ankle weights guide here.

Our expert review:

Lululemon’s The Mat 5mm is extremely versatile but a little heavier than others of its kind.

The rubber base is made from natural rubber and the polyurethane top layer is super grippy while absorbing moisture and sweat. Plus, the mat has an antimicrobial additive to prevent mold. You get 5mm of plush cushioning and beautiful pastel colors to choose from (typical, Lulu).

It's quite heavy duty at 5.25 lbs but stays put once rolled out and feels seriously luxurious to use, hence why it won our Tom's Guide Awards 2024 "Best yoga mat" accolade.

Check out our picks for the best yoga mats.

Our expert review:

The best resistance bands for full-body fitness are the Bodylastics resistance bands. This kit has it all: in addition to the exercise bands themselves, it comes with a variety of useful attachments, including handles, ankle straps and a door anchor. The durable, anti-snap latex bands range in resistance from 3 to 30 pounds, and can be used together for a total resistance of 404 pounds, depending on which kit you buy. Everything comes in a tidy carrying pouch; the whole package weighs less than 5 pounds total, and it’s easy to toss the kit in a backpack, lickety-split.

The best thing about these bands is the patented anti-snap technology, designed to prevent overstretching and snapping during those more intense workouts; in the case of any nasty snaps, the internal cord prevents that dreaded “whipping” effect across your body or face.

For more, here's our guide to the best resistance bands for workouts.

Our expert review:

The innovative design and integrated app are what make the Crossrope Get Lean the best jump rope. The Get Lean comes with two interchangeable ropes, weighing 4 and 8 ounces respectively, which click firmly into the handles and allow you to easily diversify your routine. The handles are another big highlight — slim enough to fit in smaller hands, but big enough to get a firm grip.

But beyond the great design, the Crossrope’s biggest plus is the app, available for iOS and Android. You can spend a bit more money for a premium membership ($79.99 annually or $9.99 per month), but there’s plenty of content offered in the free version. You’ll find tutorials, challenge groups, and lots of workout programs using various combinations of ropes.

See more of the best weighted jump ropes.

Our expert review:

The Lululemon Double Roller is the best foam roller on our list, as it’s one of the most versatile foam rollers on the market. Its interlocking design is made up of a softer exterior roller that provides appropriate pressure to overworked muscles in the arms and legs, and a denser interior roller that digs into tougher-to-treat spots in the back.

While plenty of foam rollers can be used on thicker tissues in the hips and lower body, it’s not so often you’re able to find a great roller for the upper body. That’s where the slightly grooved, moderately dense outer roller really shines.

The wavy texture of the inner roller is great for targeting stiff muscles in your back, but it’s also a useful tool to address tense spots in your quadriceps (the muscles in the front of the thigh) and hamstrings (muscles in the back of the thigh).

All in all, its a brilliant two-in-one product that can help you target all the different areas of your body.

See more of the best foam rollers

Our expert review:

If you’re looking for an affordable walking treadmill to add to your home office, the Bluefin Fitness Task 2.0 Treadmill might just tick the right boxes. It’s affordable, super-easy to install, and has a handy handlebar to make running on the treadmill feel a little safer than most under-desk treadmills. With a top speed of five miles per hour, you won't be able to train for a marathon on this treadmill, but you could do a light jog between meetings.

During testing, we found the treadmill was pretty simple to use — there’s an LCD screen at the top of the treadmill that shows you your pace, calories, distance walked, and time, plus you can connect the treadmill to your phone via Bluetooth and the Kinomap app. The treadmill can be controlled by its remote, which comes on a wristband that you can wear as you walk, or by the phone app. There are also six pre-set programs you can choose to follow, but we found these a little confusing, and all very similar.

The downside with this treadmill is the smaller belt, which might not be suitable for taller users. Our tester was 5 foot 2 and found, that when she wasn’t concentrating on walking, she tripped on the side panels once or twice, so taller users might need to look elsewhere.

Check out the best under-desk treadmills here.

Our expert review:

The best kettlebells allow you to adopt strength and conditioning workouts from home. You can use them during technical workouts, mastering the basics, or as a tool for cardio and strength training, depending on how you like to exercise.

If you're short on space, an adjustable kettlebell should be your go-to at home. The Bowflex adjustable kettlebell offers weight ranges between 8-40lbs and offers 6 settings. It's the most versatile and storage-friendly model we’ve tested, allowing us to switch up the weights without messing around with plates — all you have to do is place the weight in the tray and turn the dial.

Despite the news that Bowflex filed for bankruptcy, products are still on sale and you still get access to the JRNY Mobile-Only two-month membership, giving you access to motion tracking, exclusive trainer-led workouts, and exercise content via the Bowflex SelectTech app.

You might need some chalk or grip gloves to enhance your grip, but the ergonomic handle is a top feature, and the composite material makes cleans and holds easier on your arms and hands. Adjustable kettlebells are also a little chunky for overhead movements and cleans, but if you’re short on space and looking for a 6-in-1 solution, this should be your pick.

When buying the best home gym equipment, the main factors to consider are the type of workout, size, space and price.

If you prefer cardio, you may want to consider an exercise bike or a treadmill. If you want to engage in strength training, then dumbbells, resistance bands, and kettlebells are popular home gym equipment. For full-body workouts, a rowing machine or elliptical targets multiple muscle groups and gets your heart rate up.

Size is something to think about, as well, since you might not have a lot of space for home gym equipment. Consider machines that fold up and stow away and come with transport wheels. Resistance bands and ab rollers are two items that are small, portable and easily stored.

Lastly, price plays a huge role in what kind of home gym equipment you get. Luckily, there are more choices out there, whether you're on a budget or can afford to splurge. Cheap items like a yoga mat and a jump rope are versatile and useful in all kinds of workouts.

It depends on your goals.

For most people, maintaining a small calorie deficit can help you lose weight (burning off more energy than you consume), but the good news is that you can still tear through energy lifting heavy weights and doing cardio, so this actually gives you more freedom with how you exercise.

We recommend looking at how you most enjoy exercise and investing in the best gym equipment for that style of workout.

Again, this depends on how you like to train. If you enjoy strength training and have plenty of space, you might decide on a range of gym machines, calorie machines, dumbbells, TRX, or kettlebells. An exercise mat is a staple as is an adjustable workout bench.

Think about accessories you might use, like resistance bands, jump ropes and ankle weights. Pilates kits often come with a Pilates ring and a stability ball, while yogis may need straps and blocks.

If you can house a barbell and some plates, you'll open up a whole wealth of workouts you can do, but adjustable weights are a great option if you are on a budget and need to save space.

It's entirely dependent on how you train, but anything that allows you to be functional and train the major muscle groups will be the most effective and efficient. A workout bench, pull-up bars and free weights like barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells are brilliant go-to's, but if you have more space, a machine like a treadmill, rower, spin bike, or ski-erg will allow you to improve cardio and work most muscle groups.

Smaller accessories like bands, jump ropes and balls are great to have on standby and work well for rehab, Pilates and yoga-style workouts.

Start with a few affordable pieces if you're unsure and explore various workout styles. As you begin to find what you enjoy, then you can invest accordingly.

Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!

Sam Hopes is a level 3 fitness trainer, level 2 reiki practitioner, and senior fitness writer at Tom's Guide. She is also currently undertaking her Yoga For Athletes training course. Sam has written for various fitness brands and websites over the years and has experience across brands at Future such as Live Science, Fit&Well, Coach, and T3. Having worked with fitness studios like F45 and Virgin, Sam now primarily teaches outdoor bootcamps, bodyweight and calisthenics, and kettlebells. She also coaches mobility and stretching-focused classes several times a week and believes that true strength comes from a holistic approach to training your body. Sam is currently in training for her next mixed doubles Hyrox competition in London this year, having completed her first doubles attempt in 1:11.

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