A home gym setup has multiple types of exercise equipment combined into one station. These compact workout stations can be set up anywhere, even in the garage or basement. These are ideal if you want to focus on full-body workouts, and you can work out according to your convenience without having to travel to the gym. Though the initial costs of setting up a home gym could be high, the spendings are for the long run. Another plus of having a home gym setup is hygiene, as only you and your family will use it.
Home gym equipment
Home gyms typically include multiple components for strength, resistance, and weight training and for improving flexibility.
- Adjustable bench for you to sit or recline on and perform your exercises
- Pulldown bars
- Stacked metal weights
- Press bars
- Leg extensions for quadriceps
- Leg curl extension
- Seated cable row system
Types of home gym setups
- A combination of multiple small and portable equipment
Some home gyms combine basic portable equipment like a workout bench with dumbbells, resistance bands, and ab workers. These are ideal if you’re a beginner, even if you’re training without the help of a trainer. - A home gym setup with bands and cords
These are suitable if you want to take up resistance training. Many such home gyms use composite or steel bands and cords. - Stacked weights home gym
If you’re looking at weight training, this home gym setup is a popular choice. It has a cable and pulley mechanism with stacked weights. All you need to do is move the peg to the desired weight and begin your workout. - Free weight home gym
This setup has equipment for heavy-duty usage, making it ideal for athletes and bodybuilders. These home gym setups contain adjustable benches and power racks that hold barbells, dumbbells, and plates. In some setups, you can manually fit the round weights to the barbell extensions. - Total gym
This kind of home gym setup has an adjustable height, inclined bench, and sliding seat platform that facilitates using your body weight to increase resistance. - Smith machines with multiple combinations
These gym setups combine Smith machines with additional attachments like pull-up bars, leg developers, and crossovers for a multifunctional, versatile workout station.
Home gym for beginners and light exercises
Comprehensive home gym setups can be complicated and risky without awareness or prior training, but some machines can help you get started. If your goal is general fitness, light exercises, muscle tone, or flexibility, you should set up a home gym with dumbbells, a set for squats and lunges, a fitness ball, and an exercise mat. You can also add resistance bands and tubes to your home gym equipment. The Body Solid EXM is a multi-gym available for less than $1,000, or you can opt for the Weider Advantage for around $500.
Home gym for intermediate trainers
You should set up a home gym with an exercise bench, barbells, dumbbells, and plates if you’re an intermediate trainer, which means you’re already working out and understand how to use gym equipment independently. This setup will also work if your goals are muscle development and strength training. An advanced multi-gym can cost around $1,000-$1,500, or you can opt for free weights and get a more affordable multi-gym, like the Weider or Bowflex band system, for a combination setup costing less than $1,500.
Home gym for advanced trainers
Many brands design home gym equipment for serious trainers like bodybuilders or athletes, and these pieces of home gym equipment are ideal for multiple exercises. Smith machines, Lifeline MYSPOGA, and Powertec workbench are some of the more advanced multi-gyms you can choose from.