Home Gym Equipment
What I Use, What I Recommend and How to Build Your Collection Sensibly
There's a broad range of home gym equipment available. From the cheapest to the most expensive, from the simplest to the most complicated. With so many options, knowing where to start can feel genuinely overwhelming.
My advice is always the same: start with your bodyweight and a small number of versatile pieces, then build from there. The best home gym equipment is the equipment you actually use consistently. Here's a guide to everything in my home gym.
What makes this equipment worth having
Functional
Most of the exercises I perform with this equipment mimic real movement patterns: squatting, hinging, pushing, pulling, rotating and carrying. These are the primal movement patterns your body was designed to perform. Training them makes you stronger and more capable in daily life, not just in the gym.
Space-saving
Most of the equipment listed here requires minimal space. A 3 metre by 3 metre area with a 2.5 metre ceiling height is sufficient for most of it. You don't need a large garage gym to have a genuinely effective training environment.
Affordable
You can start with nothing and build gradually. Begin with bodyweight, add a pair of dumbbells, then a pull-up bar or TRX. Buy new or second-hand but don't compromise on safety and buy the best quality you can afford within your budget.
Versatile
Most of the equipment I own allows me to perform many different exercises. A single kettlebell can provide a complete full-body workout. A TRX can cover push, pull, core and lower body in one session. Versatility per square metre is the metric I use when choosing what to add.
Choosing the right equipment for you
Some equipment is easy to use from day one. Some requires more balance, stability and coordination. If you're new to resistance training, start with your bodyweight and a pair of adjustable dumbbells. Build strength, fitness, balance and control before adding complexity. Having a few well-chosen pieces makes the exercise possibilities genuinely endless.
Where to buy home gym equipment
There are many places to buy new and used equipment, such as gym equipment stores in your city, online stores, online and local classifieds and garage sales.
It all depends on whether you want to spend money on new or used equipment. I bought some of my new equipment through reputable online stores because I didn’t want to compromise on quality. I also bought some used equipment through my local classifieds and garage sales.
Browse the equipment guides
Click through to any piece of equipment below for a detailed guide covering what it is, why it's worth having and how to use it.
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Bodyweight training No equipment needed. The foundation of everything. |
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Adjustable dumbbells The most versatile piece of equipment for any home gym. |
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Barbell set Essential for heavy compound movements like squats, deadlifts and bench press. |
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Kettlebell training An all-in-one strength and cardio tool that trains movements, not just muscles. |
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Resistance bands Versatile, portable and excellent for adding variety or assisting movements. |
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TRX suspension trainer One of my favourite pieces of equipment. A full-body workout from a single anchor point. |
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Exercise ball Builds core strength and stability by creating an unstable training surface. |
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Jump rope One of the best cardio tools available. Cheap, portable and genuinely effective. |
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Pull-up bar The single best upper body strength tool. A staple of my training. |
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Battle ropes An upper-body focused conditioning tool I use as part of my training regularly. |
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Medicine ball Adds power, coordination and functional movement to your workouts. |
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Sandbag training Builds functional strength with an unstable, shifting load. More challenging than it looks. |
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Tyre training Builds strength, power and conditioning. Usually free to acquire. |
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Power rack The centrepiece of a serious home gym. Safe, versatile and built to last. |
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Gym bench Multiplies the exercise options available from every other piece of equipment. |
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Punching bag Builds upper body strength, coordination and cardiovascular fitness. |
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Foam roller Essential for recovery, mobility and keeping your body functioning well. |
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Exercise mat The foundation of any floor-based workout. Don't skip this one. |
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Health should feel like your best life, not a break from it.
Marco ☕
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About Me I'm Marco Asnicar, personal trainer, nutrition coach and founder of Vitality Marco. I didn't discover the Mediterranean method. I grew up living it, shaped by Italian roots, real food and movement as a natural part of daily life. I coach men and women aged 35 to 55 to do the same. No restriction. No fads. No giving up the life you love. Just a way of eating and living that genuinely feels good and gets better every year. Want to know more about my story and approach? Read my full About Me page → |