If you have the space - and it doesn’t take much - a home gym can be a worthwhile investment.We are all busy people and most of us are pretty adept at finding reasons to not get back in the car and drive to the gym. 

If we only have to make it to the garage, life suddenly gets a lot easier! So, if you’re considering building a home gym, these indoor fitness equiments are good to you.

1. Withings Smart Scale 

Scales can do so much more than point out how many pumpkin lattes you've had in the past month. Withings’ offering is much more than a scale; it’s a “Smart Body Analyzer” that can tell you BMI, lean and fat mass, and even heart rate, in addition to the expected poundage. It connects to an iOS or Android app via Bluetooth, too. You can connect the scale directly to your Wi-Fi network and your My Fitness Pal account.

Once connected, you change and track your body measurements and progress via the Web or app. The scale is not just for one person, either — You can add as many as eight people to the mix. Step on the scale barefoot, and it recognizes you based on weight. For users who weigh nearly the same, the scale will show an image of the possible users, and let you choose a profile with a subtle shift in weight. With this wealth of features, the Withings Smart Body Analyzer is a good bookend for any daily workout regimen.

2. Dumbbells

With dumbbells you can pretty much do all kinds of exercises, you don't even need a barbell. You would get a barbell just as a variation. Of course at the gym you want to use both because they make your muscles work differently, but at home, jeez, we want the basic equipment. I did some research, and I have dumbbells and workout bench myself, and based on my experience I would suggest you to get adjustable dumbbells.

It's a pair of dumbbells where you change the weight with the turn of a dial. The second best solution is adjustable cast iron dumbbells where you change the weight by loading/unloading actual plates. 

3. Pull Up Bar

Pull up bars aren’t just for pull ups! There are a number of basic gymnastic exercises you can practice if you have a pull up bar installed at home. While you can get pull up bar systems built for doorways, ideally you would have an archway or part of a wall where you could mount a bar. If you can’t yet do pull ups, you’ll also want to buy some resistance bands for assistance.

4. Stereo System

Seriously, you have to rock good tunes while you work out. With these ten items and a little time spent on the internet, I am confident you could generate hundreds of excellent workouts for yourself. If you can’t see buying all 10 at once, slowly start building your gym, one piece of equipment at a time.

5. The Kettlebell 

It is one of the most functional pieces of fitness equipment out there! Since the center of mass is extended beyond the hand, this facilitates swinging movements. Done properly, Kettlebell exercises can engage your entire CORE building strength and endurance. Yet, learning how to use them properly is the difficulty. Always consult a professional when learning new exercises. Prices vary depending on the weight of the Kettlebell you buy, but you’re looking to spend between $20 and $180 per Kettlebell. 

6. Rowing Machine

The next piece to your home gym is one of the best if not the best piece of aerobic equipment. And no, it’s not a treadmill or an elliptical but a Rowing Ergometer! A Rowing Ergometer or “Erg” for short, resembles Watercraft Rowing; a low impact cardiovascular option that is safe on the joints and connective tissue. Proper form is crucial with this piece of equipment because low back injury is the most common injury when using the Rowing Ergometer. In addition to being low impact, this piece of equipment is a great weight loss option, which is a byproduct of the high fitness levels attained from its use. Prices can range from $150 to $1300. Another benefit to the Erg is its compact size and light weight frame.

 

7. Body Solid GFID225 Adjustable Weight Bench

Body Solid GFID225 is a commercial-rated adjustable weight bench that ships fully assembled and ready to use. It is space efficient, durable, and features an innovative seven-position adjustment system that accommodates a range of exercise motions. You can lay on it flat to do heavy bench presses. You can also create inclines to do Pilates or set up a backrest for additional support. The heavy-duty 2-inch by 3-inch oval tubing used to make it has a high weight capacity. Its foldable design and wheels ease storage and transport respectively, while the in-home limited warranty offered is a reflection of its high quality.

 

8. Punching Bag

The punching bag is one of the time-tested home gym equipments that has several health benefits. Being a fight-inspired workout, punching bag training helps in enhancing the level of conditioning and balance. Practicing several short five minute rounds of punching bag training burns fat and helps in shedding extra weight.

It helps in working and toning the arms, shoulders and hips and with regular punching bag training, it is also possible to develop muscles without even touching the dumbbells and barbells. It is a form of resistance training that enhances strength by gradual development of muscle fiber and which leads to increase in lean muscle mass.

 

9. Exercise Ball

Exercise ball or stability ball is one of the most versatile home fitness equipment that is widely used by conditioning training experts in order to develop balance and core strength. Regular use of stability balls helps in enhancing focus and concentration. Being unstable, it forces the body to balance itself by perfecting the spinal posture, thereby improving spinal health and relieving back pains. Stability balls can be used for stretching, crunches and other mini workouts.

Finally, the stability ball helps in improving balance and engages the core in a constant low-key abdominal workout which in turn strengthens the abdominal muscles.

So, if you are planning to set up your personal home gym or just preparing to buy some home exercise equipment then make it a point to include these functional exercise equipments in your list.

 

10. Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE ($1,337)

Not every piece of fitness equipment has to connect to the cloud. Bowflex’s home gym is a solid setup for the house with the variety of exercises it offers. With an angled lat bar and a leg extension, no part of your body is left out. The multiple pulley system means no changing cables for different workouts, or having to hassle while keeping your heart rate up during your routine.

The Bowflex is about as compact as a full home gym gets, but it’s still a hefty beast. It takes up an 8 x 6-foot area and weighs in at 185 pounds. Unless you have a really large living room, you’re going to want to put this behemoth in its own dedicated space.

Working out on your own isn’t for everybody. Some people would buy this equipment and never use it, because they actually find better motivation in group classes. But for those of you who are under a time crunch and are self-motivated, remember this – even if the initial outlay is more, if investing in a home gym has you actually working out on a regular basis, it’s a better investment than spending monthly dues on a gym you never attend!

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