If you want to get some home workout equipment in the hopes that you’ll use it and be able to skip the gym, these ideas are some that I actually find helpful. I don’t like the whole process of going to the gym, and I’d rather have some equipment that I can use when I feel like it, but I also don’t want to spend a lot on things that will end up being drying racks. These ideas are simple to use, cheap to buy, and are the basics that even beginners will be able to use without complicated instructions or tutorials.
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A jumprope.
This is something that’s cheap, easy to store, and will give you a good workout that you can do while you’re watching tv. My personal guideline is “can I do this while watching tv?” If the answer is yes, I might actually keep up with it. A jumprope works.
A hula hoop.
This isn’t something that’s just for kids, there are classes that you can go to to do entire hooping workings now. It’s fun and more challenging than you think, and it’s another thing that you can do while you’re watching tv.
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Balance equipment.
If you want to try something that’s fun as will help you get stronger and improve your balance, there are a few options. Yoga is good, but unless you want to go to a class you need to make sure that you’re following a tutorial online to keep your form right.
A Slackboard.
An alternative to yoga is balance equipment, which you can get in a few forms. I have a Gibbon balance slackboard, which is fun and can help you improve your balance and muscle strength. I’m standing on one foot on it as I type this because you can use it at a standing desk. You end up with a little leg and core workout without really knowing it because you’re distracted. I love mine, and you can get one on Amazon here: Gibbon slackboard (affiliate link). I would recommend that you get the one that you can convert from two to one strap, because the one with two gives you more stability when you’re starting out with it.
A balance beam.
Yes, you can get a home balance bean that’s designed to help you develop stability and strengthen your leg and ankle muscles. They use them in physical therapy for some people’s recoveries from surgery and injuries, and it’s fun to mess around with, too. You can see them on Amazon here: Home balance beam (affiliate link)
A Bosu balance ball.
This is another balance “toy” that’s fun to use, and it gives you a good workout while you’re playing with it. It’s basically an exercise ball on a platform, so you stand on the flat part and balance as the ball moves under you. If you practice with it you’ll be able to do all kinds of wild stretches and poses on it while you’re balancing, and you can also use it for upper body exercises. Get them on Amazon here: Bosu balance ball (affiliate link)
A quick list:
Here’s my full list of home workout equipment on Amazon: Affordable home workout gear (affiliate link)
A yoga mat.
Yoga mats aren’t just for yoga, you can use them to give you a stable non-slip surface to stand on if you’re using free weights or other stretches. We have a lot of customizable yoga mats in our Zazzle shop, so get a cute one to inspire you to actually use it;
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Non-skid socks.
Get a pair of socks that have little non-skid bumps on the bottom to help your stability when you’re doing yoga, pilates, or anything else where you want a little grippiness on your feet.
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Music or ebook subscriptions.
Not really workout gear, but if you want to go outside and take a walk, you’ll keep it up longer if you have something to listen to. I go out walking in my neighborhood and I listen to podcasts to keep me distracted from the fact that I’m exercising, so if you want to get a good distraction for yourself, check out a music or ebook subscription.
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Free weights.
My husband has a set of dumbbells that he uses for a home weight workout. You don’t need to buy an entire set, either, get some really light ones to warm up with, then start with a light-ish weight and only buy more when you work your way up. This is the kind of thing that you might be able to find on Facebook marketplace for cheap, or you can get a beginner set on Amazon here: Weights (affiliate link)
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A weighted vest or wrist weights.
Adding weight to yourself while you’re exercising is an easy way to increase the resistance and the weight that you have to move, which will help with fitness and calorie burning. I got a weighted vest to wear when I walk, and you can get wrist or ankle weights for doing any of the other things I’ve listed here. See my weighted vest on Amazon here: Bagail weighted vest (affiliate link)
Large workout equipment.
If you have the room, I would say that large workout equipment can be a good thing, but most people won’t use it past a certain time (like a month after you get it.) Because of that, though, you can probably find some good deals on Facebook marketplace when people give up and need the space for their next workout thing that they won’t use either.
I bought a treadmill on Facebook marketplace, it stays in my garage, and it was totally worth the money. I walk on it when I can’t go outside because of the weather, and because it’s a good brand and really sturdy, you can also can run on it. You can’t do that as easily with cheap ones, but the cost of buying a good one secondhand isn’t nearly as bad as buying one new.
Check out your local marketplace page to see if you can get a secondhand treadmill or other equipment, or you can also check with secondhand sport equipment stores in your area. It’s worth getting this kind of thing secondhand if you use it, and if you don’t, you can always resell it for close to what you spent for it.