22 Best Home Gym Equipment Items to Shop This Year, Tested By Us

Best Premium Dumbbell

SMRTFT NÜOBELL 80lb Classic

Best Premium Dumbbell

SMRTFT NÜOBELL 80lb Classic

ConsExpensive

SMRTFT’s Nüobell is the perfect ultra-durable adjustable dumbbell I need for home workouts. It can easily be five pounds, perfect for warmup work, or 80 pounds, enough to challenge me on heavy leg moves, Eric Sung, C.S.C.S., a member of the Men’s Health Strength in Diversity initiative and trainer at Performance Lab in New York City, told us.

These adjustable dumbbells give you the convenience of 16 sets of dumbbells all in one compact footprint. They’re easy to use and offer superior durability thanks to its machined steel weight plates. If you’re starting a home gym from scratch or live tight confines with little room to spare, consider these a must have. Few items pack as much versatility and return on investment in such a small package.

REP Fitness AB-3100 Adjustable Weight Bench

Best Adjustable Bench

REP Fitness AB-3100 Adjustable Weight Bench

ConsSmaller home gym spaces might want to look for a slimmer bench

This one’s sturdy, and it gets especially high marks for comfort. Laying back on it for incline presses or chest-supported rows it’s nearly couch-comfy while still offering the support I need to dominate both exercises with heavy load. Few weight benches combine sturdiness, comfort, and versatility like this one from REP Fitness, which offers six different incline angles and a three-post design, anchoring it to the floor no matter the exercise.

The Ab-3100’s adjustment mechanism is smooth, transitioning from fully flat to a 90-degree incline with minimal effort. The 77-pound frame isn’t light, but it’s stable enough for exercises with a lot of weight transfer, like step-ups. The alloy-steel bench is rated to up to 700 pounds—more than enough for novice to intermediate lifters. It’s a great accompaniment to any home gym, whether you have a power rack or a set of dumbbells.

REP FITNESS 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box

Best Plyo Boxes

REP FITNESS 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box

ConsTake up a lot of space (especially if you own more than one)

Plyo box workouts can be incredibly effective, but the boxes themselves can take up space. This one from Rep Fitness has 3 vinyl-covered plyo boxes (16 inches, 20 inches, 24 inches) that are soft but sturdy.

The vinyl covering is saves your shins if you accidentally catch your toe on a jump, and dampens the sound of impact, too. You shouldn’t use it on a smooth floor, though (think wood, tile, or smooth concrete), as it needs some grip to avoid slipping out from under you. (We’ve made that mistake before. Ouch.)

CAP Barbell THE BEAST Olympic Bar

Best Value Barbell

CAP Barbell THE BEAST Olympic Bar

Now 13% Off

This seven-foot Olympic barbell has been one of our favorite barbells for home use (and an Amazon’s Choice best seller) for years. The 15″ sleeves are designed with snap clips to accommodate any 2-inch Olympic plates. It’s built of 110,000 PSI tensile strength cold rolled Japanese steel with a black oxide finish, so it’s plenty durable. Durable enough, in fact, that it’s rated to 1,000 pounds. While that won’t quite accommodate powerlifters, it’s more than enough for beginner to intermediate home lifters.

Most reviewers report that it feels great in the hands (even without the knurled grip), although some reviewers complain of more bending than expected when lifting 350 pounds or more. But, at roughly half the price of most premium alternatives, it’s an incredible value, especially for any moderate weightlifters looking to upgrading their home gym without spending a small fortune.

Best Value Bumper Plates

CAP Barbell CAP Barbell Olympic 2″ Rubber Bumper Plate

Best 2-in-1 Foam Roller

Lululemon Double Roller

Credit: original photoConsRequires free floor space to use

Pricier than your basic foam roller, this Lululemon choice radiates durability and versatile functionality. We also think the modern design looks great, and is perfect for urban dwellers or anyone who wants their roller to blend into their decor seamlessly when it’s not being used.

The inner roller is solid as a rock with ridges that get deep in the muscles to deliver a deep massage. The inner roller is my go-to for taming the back and thighs. The outer roller is a gentler and slightly softer, making it a good choice to reach for when your muscles are a tad more sensitive. It does cost a pretty penny, but these added features and the sleek aesthetic make it worth the full price. The outer roller must be used with the inner roller still nestled inside (meaning you can’t use them separately at the same time). But we’ve never found that to be an issue when using it.

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