Home Gym Essentials: What Equipment to Buy First

Start a home gym with adjustable dumbbells, an adjustable bench, a set of resistance bands, a doorway pull-up bar, a jump rope and a mat. That covers strength, cardio and core for most people. Add a squat rack, barbell and plates later if you have the space and want to lift heavier.

What should I buy first for a home gym?

These give you the most training for the least money and space:

1. Adjustable dumbbells. They replace a whole rack of fixed dumbbells and cost less and work better over time. Get a set that goes heavy enough to grow into.
2. An adjustable weight bench. Flat, incline and seated work for presses, rows and step-ups.
3. Resistance bands. Inexpensive, light and useful for warm-ups, assisted pull-ups, glute work and travel. Good sets can get a bit pricey but they save a lot of space.
4. A pull-up bar. The best kind for most homes hooks into a doorframe without tools or installation.
5. A jump rope. A must-have and one of the easiest forms of cardio.
6. A yoga or exercise mat for anything on the floor.

What should I add for core training?

• An ab wheel. Inexpensive and very effective.
• Ab sliders. Another low-cost, easy way to train the core, and they double for hamstring curls and lunges.
• A stability ball. Good for core work, hamstring curls and as a bench substitute.
• A Bosu ball. Nice for core and balance work, but optional.

If you want to understand what you are training, read what is the core.

What should I add once I get serious?

• An adjustable squat rack paired with your bench. Together they let you squat, bench and press heavy and safely.
• A barbell and weight plates. These can get expensive over time, but they are worth it.
• Battle ropes or an Inertia Wave for conditioning. The Inertia Wave is a more compact take on battle ropes, though traditional ropes work well too.
• A kettlebell or two for swings, goblet squats and carries.

Do I need a treadmill or bike?

Not to start. Walking outside, jump rope, ropes and kettlebell circuits cover cardio. If you buy a machine later, read treadmill mistakes to avoid first.

What can I do with only dumbbells, a bench and bands?

A full body plan, three days a week:

• Goblet squat or split squat
• Dumbbell Romanian deadlift
• Dumbbell bench press or push-ups
• One-arm dumbbell row
• Pull-ups or band-assisted pull-ups
• Dumbbell shoulder press
• Ab wheel or plank

3 sets of 8 to 15 reps each. Add reps, then weight. Strength training like this has health benefits well beyond looks (Westcott, 2012).

For more, read increase your life expectancy by lifting weights and grocery shopping for dummies. If you want a home program built for your body type, take the XPL quiz.