Our Top Picks

Is something keeping you from hitting the gym? Do you have a packed routine where finding time to travel to the gym and back doesn’t seem like a feasible idea? Those are no reasons to neglect your health or skip on your workout. We bring you some of the best home exercise equipment recommendations in this guide so you can stay active, build strength, and boost your energy levels without leaving your home. You can work out whenever you want, without having to deal with crowded gyms or expensive memberships. And with so many different options available, there’s something for everyone, no matter what your fitness level or space constraints. We’ll cover everything from cardio machines to strength training equipment, so you can find the perfect fit for your workout goals.

Looking for an easy way to get a full lower-body workout at home? This home exercise equipment is basically a stepper, which is a great little machine that will help you get fit without taking up a lot of space. Its standout feature is its high-resistance hydraulic system that will give you a solid workout in just 30 minutes. You’ll burn fat, strengthen your legs, and tone your core, all without making a lot of noise. It’s also compact and ready to use right out of the box, so you can squeeze in a quick workout anywhere at home. And it’s sturdy and durable, supporting up to 300 lbs, so it’s perfect for a wide range of users.

Rated 9.9 based on 10

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Pros & Cons

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✙ Provides a high resistance workout

✙ Compact & lightweight design

✙ Versatile workout options

– Not suitable for long-term intense workouts

This exercise bike is built to last. This baby’s got a smooth, stable, and quiet ride – thanks to its 30 lbs flywheel and belt-driven system. What we loved about this home exercise equipment is that it’s perfect for everyone in the family since it features adjustable handlebars and seat to fit riders from 4’8″ to 6’1′. And with a built-in LCD monitor to track your stats and a tablet holder for entertainment, you’ll never get bored.

Rated 9.6 based on 10

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Pros & Cons

✙ Sturdy built with heavy-duty steel frame

✙ Convenient features like a tablet holder

✙ Comes with all necessary tools

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– Limited adjustability might not be suitable for taller individuals

This smart home gym is a clear winner for those early morning or late night exercises when you don’t want to wake anybody up, thanks to its silent and smooth magnetic resistance. You can work out hard and then put it away with ease thanks to its collapsible design and strong 350 lb weight capacity. Make your training easier with built-in Bluetooth connection and app compatibility. Stay updated on your progress in real time and gain valuable insights. Your exercise routine will remain simple and efficient thanks to the LCD panel that displays all relevant parameters.

Rated 9.5 based on 10

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Pros & Cons

✙ Smooth and quiet magnetic resistance system

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✙ Foldable design saves 70% storage space

✙ Supports up to 350 lbs capacity

– The LCD could have more features

This home exercise equipment will let you get a full-body workout in minimal time. This machine creates vibrations that stimulate your muscles, helping you burn fat and tone up faster than running. Plus, what really caught our attention was how perfect this equipment is for weight loss or rehabilitation. It boasts adjustable speed settings enabling you to customize your workout. Moreover, it comes with extras like Bluetooth connectivity, a magnet health massage, and resistance bands. And it’s super compact, so it’s easy to store.

Rated 9.2 based on 10

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Pros & Cons

✙ Effective full-body workout

✙ Comprehensive package with all essentials

✙ Includes a detailed manual for guided workout

– Vibration may feel intense for beginners

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This one’s a versatile workout machine that can do it all. It is perfect for toning your glutes, sculpting your abs, and engaging in strength training. This home exercise equipment has a customizable squat assist that allows you to adjust the motion to match your fitness goals, and you can sync it with a connected fitness app for access to 1000+ workout videos. Plus, it has adjustable resistance levels and a comfortable design. This one enables you to enjoy a well-rounded home workout experience.

Pros & Cons

✙ Multi-functional workout trainer

✙ Adjustable resistance levels

✙ Easy setup and foldable

– Resistance levels may not be challenging enough for for advanced users

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This home exercise equipment won’t disappoint you for a full-body workout that’s nothing less than what you’d get at a gym. This professional-grade workout equipment has everything you need for a detailed workout, including specialized leg exercises – thanks to its unique pedal design. We also appreciate how sturdy it is since it’s built from thick steel, which makes it super durable. Plus it’s easy to set up with detailed instructions and a video tutorial.

Rated 8.8 based on 10

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Pros & Cons

✙ Wide range of exercises

✙ Compact & space-saving design

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✙ Adjustable resistance levels

– May require ample space due to the size of the equipment

This unique system combines a push-up board, ab roller, resistance bands, and a Pilates bar into one compact package. That’s why it’s one of our favorite portable gym equipment. With its color-coded push-up board, you can target specific muscle groups more effectively. Plus, it’s adjustable to suit all fitness levels, so it’s perfect for everyone from beginners to advanced athletes. And it’s super portable, so you can take it anywhere.

Rated 8.7 based on 10

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Pros & Cons

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✙ Versatile workout system

✙ Includes comprehensive accessories

✙ Portable & compact

– Lightweight design may not be suitable for intense workout

FAQ

Q: What should I consider when buying home exercise equipment for limited spaces?

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A: When space is limited, opt for compact, foldable, or multi-functional equipment like resistance bands, foldable treadmills, or compact rowing machines. Look for items with transport wheels or those that can be easily stored under furniture. Be sure to check the dimensions of the equipment to ensure it fits your space.

Q: Is it better to invest in one expensive piece of equipment or several cheaper ones?

A: It depends on your fitness goals. One high-quality machine, like a treadmill or multi-gym, may offer durability and long-term benefits. However, for a varied routine, several affordable items like dumbbells, resistance bands, or kettlebells can provide versatility without breaking the bank. Expensive machines often come with better warranties and support.

Q: Can home exercise equipment replace a gym membership?

A: Yes, home exercise equipment can replace a gym membership if you choose items that align with your goals, such as cardio machines or strength training gear. Modern equipment with smart features and virtual classes can replicate a gym-like experience. However, it may lack the social environment some people enjoy in a gym setting.

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Q: What are the benefits of using resistance bands over traditional weights?

A: Resistance bands offer portable, adjustable resistance and engage stabilizer muscles better than traditional weights. They provide constant tension throughout movements and are ideal for joint stability and rehabilitation. Resistance bands are also safer for beginners and take up less space than weights.

Q: How do I choose home exercise equipment if I have joint issues?

A: For joint issues, choose low-impact equipment like ellipticals, stationary bikes, or rowing machines. These machines minimize joint strain while offering effective workouts. Adjustable resistance and smooth-motion machines further reduce stress on your joints, and accessories like foam rollers can aid in stretching and recovery.

Article Contributors

JPost Advisor Team

The Jpost Shopping team offers expert picks and insights, helping you find lifestyle-enhancing products. Independent of the newsroom and reader-supported, our team of writers and product enthusiasts also use AI to ensure product dimensions, availability, and pricing are accurate.

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Sign up for CNN’s Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts.

CNN
 — 

Exercise doesn’t just help you lose fat. It could also promote healthier fat, according to a new study.

“Living a physically active lifestyle, exercising regularly over time, makes our fat tissue a more accommodating place for extra energy under conditions when we do gain weight,” said senior study author Dr. Jeffrey Horowitz, professor of movement studies in the school of kinesiology at the University of Michigan.

To see how exercise impacts fat tissue, researchers compared fat tissue just under the skin from two groups of 16 people with obesity: those who reported exercising at least four times a week for at least 2 years, and those who did not exercise regularly, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Metabolism.

Those who had a history of regular exercise had fat cells that showed characteristics that increase how much fat they can store — the amount of blood vessels, protein composition and fewer inflammatory cells, Horowitz said.

It is important that the fat tissue under the skin has a greater capacity so that if a person does gain weight, it can go there instead of more dangerous places, such as the heart or liver, he added.

“Unfortunately, most of us, even regular exercisers, gain weight as we get older,” Horowitz said.  “If we have a greater capacity to store that in our fat tissue, less of it’ll go to our liver, less of it will go to our heart, less will go to all these other places that in excess can be really problematic.”

This study shows that researchers need to learn more about fat tissue and how it is connected to metabolic health and lifestyle changes, said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver. Freeman was not involved in this study.

“Just being overweight may not be the whole story,” he said.

Many people have an immediate negative reaction to the word “fat.” But that isn’t always helpful, Horowitz said.

“Fat tissue itself is very, very important for health,” he said. “It’s actuallyan important reservoir of our extra energy.”

The tissue used to be understood as only functioning to store energy, but researchers are just starting to learn it has many functions, Freeman said. “It makes sense to have some degree of fat so you have some reserve, but not to the point that the typical American has,” he said.

The goal isn’t more fat tissue, but better capacity to store it, Horowitz said. Fat tissue is supposed to be stored under the skin, and if it can’t go there it’s going to go other places such as your liver, heart or pancreas, he added. More fat in those organs impede how well they function, Horowitz said.

They key takeaway of the study is that healthier fat storage is just another good reason to live a physically active life, Horowitz said.

“We’re not changing therecommendation, but we’re expanding the understanding of why it is helpful to exercise,” he said.

If you want to start, Freeman recommends trying out exercise first thing in the morning.

“It works as a natural stimulant, just as well as coffee in many cases,” he said. And you don’t need to worry about getting to or paying for a gym.

“There are so many ways to exercise, and figuring out a way to make it part of the daily routine so it becomes a habit, is the most critical of all,” Freeman added.

Getting 30 minutes daily of breathless activity where you are working really hard is the goal, but you can start even by walking around your block, he said.

“Of course, you should check with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe,” Freeman said.

This doesn’t mean going from zero to 100 — we know it’s not sustainable in the long term. What is sustainable, however, is building from scratch with short and simple exercise routines.

Meet our fitness instructor

With a background in dance and ballet, Emma Barry Murphy has had a passion for movement since she was three. After moving from Cork to Dublin, she began to sample other activities, such as pilates and boxing, but she was drawn to barre, given how similar it was to ballet.

She qualified as a barre teacher in 2017 but did not begin teaching classes until 2019, starting with her colleagues at work.

Like many other fitness instructors, she transferred her classes online during the covid lockdowns, and continues to grow her content (@barrebyemma), while working full-time.

She also works as a brand ambassador for Lululemon and with Vogue Williams’ Bare by Vogue self-tan brand.

Barry Murphy “prioritises” fitness and health. She makes a point of snacking on nuts or rice cakes and getting in a workout between calls or at the end of her working day.

Balance in everything is her mantra. She eats chocolate every day and has the odd alcoholic drink, but movement has always been part of her life. “It’s constantly scheduled into my week, no matter what. It’s been like this since I started dance.”

Barry Murphy says she can feel guilty when sitting down, especially as her job requires sitting at a desk all day. There are a few days when she doesn’t feel like exercising, and it’s more than getting physical exercise.

“I really need movement to satisfy my mental health. My day doesn’t feel right without it. For me, ten minutes is better than nothing,” she says.

When it comes to her favourite foods, it’s Asian salads with dumplings, noodles, and vegetables. She has recently got into fish after stopping for a few years. She tries not to eat much meat and supplements meals with protein shakes to ensure she is getting enough essential nutrients. Eggs are often her go-to for a quick, nutritious lunch. An easy dinner encompasses her love of Asian tastes. “For a quick healthy dinner, throw a lot of veg into a pan, and a lot of soy sauce. If you have chicken or prawns, anything like that is helpful.”

Feelgood fitness

Barry Murphy’s four-week challenge takes just ten minutes daily. Designed for all ages, fitness levels and strengths, participants get to work on their strength, stability, breathing, and fitness.

“Some might think it’s easy, but it’s supposed to be,” she says.

Each Friday until the end of the month, a new routine will be published in ‘Feelgood’ with an accompanying step-by-step video. Any equipment required can be found in your house. Simply practice the 10-minute workout daily for a week and continue with the following week’s routine.

It’s important not to see the exercise programme as a panacea, says Barry Murphy: “During the challenge, readers need to be aware that ten minutes of exercise daily will not fix everything. The basic principles of health and fitness still apply. You’re not going to lose [a lot of weight] – that comes down to the rest of your lifestyle.”

However, the programme will encourage “healthier habits by avoiding barriers such as equipment, too high an impact, or pressure”.

Barry Murphy says while it’s normal for our motivation to wax and wane, the incremental gains will pay off. “When you’re finished with the challenge, you can say to yourself, ‘Over the last four weeks, I made ten minutes for myself, ten minutes for movement. Can I increase that? Can I build a routine where I do longer workouts every second day?

“As well as the movement, the added discipline could encourage you to make healthier eating choices, such as reaching for a piece of fruit rather than a bag of crisps.”

Ten-minute programme

Week one focuses on dynamic stretching and mobility, core and glute activation, and the demi-plié in first position.

Part 1: Dynamic stretching and mobility

Cat/Cow: Kneel on the floor in an all-fours position, keeping your knees below your hips. Put your hands on the floor in front, keeping them shoulder-width apart. Taking a deep inhale, lift your chest, tailbone, and eyeline while dropping your belly and relaxing your abs (cow). As you exhale, round your lower back, and tuck your chin to your chest. Draw your belly button to the spine, tilting your pelvis up (cat). Repeat three times.

Low runners lunge with rotation each side: On all fours again, step your left foot outside your hands into a low lunge stance. Your left leg should be in a 90-degree angle, keeping your knee above the ankle. Your back knee can be on or off the mat but make sure you feel a stretch in your hip. Turn your torso 180 degrees before turning back and repeating the routine with your right foot forward.

Part 2: Core and glute activation

Tabletop hover: Lift the knees an inch off the floor as you exhale (draw the belly button to the spine and maintain a neutral pelvis). Drop the knees as you inhale, bracing the core. To start, aim for eight reps of each.

Bird-dog: Place your hands under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Extend your right leg behind you and reach your left arm out in front, parallel to the ground. Hold for two seconds, then repeat on the other side.

To start, aim for eight reps of each. Increase the reps when you feel more confident about your form and positioning.

Part 3: Intro to the demi-plié in first position

Standing tall, maintaining a neutral pelvis with shoulders over your hips, rotate your legs into a ‘V’ position. Everyone’s degree of turnout will be different and your turnout is controlled by your outer glute muscles. You need to turn out from the tops of your legs, instead of your feet, and the rest of your legs follow suit.

From here, again, keeping a neutral pelvis, softly bend your knees while keeping your knees over your middle toes as you inhale (again, held back by your outer glute muscles). Keep your heels on the floor to start and straighten the legs to stand back up, squeezing your thighs and glutes and bracing your core as you exhale.

To start, aim for eight reps of each. Increase the reps when you feel more confident about your form and positioning.

• See Emma Barry Murphy’s online video above to follow the class step by step. 
• We’ll have another routine next week, so stay tuned. The best of luck.