Our Fitness Experts Tested and Selected the Best Equipment for Your Home Gym (2024)

Fitness experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly test dumbbells and hand weights for their durability, grip comfort and stability. We also take into account their practicality and how they may look stored in your home.

CAP Barbell was the top performer in our tests: It's well-designed with a durable build and available in sizes ranging from 10 pounds to 70 pounds. Though each dumbbell is sold individually versus being sold as a set, the price is still budget-friendly. The heads are made from iron and are joined together by a steel chrome handle with a molded grip that felt comfortable in our hands even after a long lifting session.

One of the biggest benefits of these dumbbells is the hexagonal head that is ideal for workouts ranging from traditional strength training to bodybuilding. The rubber coating on the heads can help reduce damage to flooring during your workouts, and it won't tear up any exercise mats, which is especially important in any home gym. The dumbbells are easy to stack too, if you have multiple pairs.

RELATED: 8 Best Dumbbell Sets, Tested by Experts

Adjustable dumbbells are space-saving, making them perfect for apartments and small home gyms. In our tests, the SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells by Bowflex ranked at the top of our list and can be purchased as a set or as a single dumbbell.

In general, adjustable dumbbells aren't as solid as regular dumbbells and they can move or shift a bit during workouts. But their compact design makes them appealing to many people — especially those who don't have space for multiple individual sets of weights.

We especially appreciate how easy it is to transition between weights with the dial. The weight distribution is decent, the grip is comfortable, and we found the dumbbells to feel relatively solid during traditional strength training exercises as well as more intense cross-training movements such as snatches and cleans.

They have 15-weight increments ranging from 5 pounds to 52.5 pounds to accommodate any workout. You have to line them up in the storage base in order to change the weight, but that is relatively standard for most adjustable dumbbells. You can also download the JRNY app to connect your dumbbells with the motion tracking app.

Few pieces of workout equipment provide the full-body benefits that a kettlebell does. Many kettlebell movements work multiple muscles at the same time, allowing for a total-body workout. Kettlebell training requires a ton of technique and control, but when done properly it can help you build up endurance, stamina and strength.

This kettlebell from Yes4All has over 22,000 reviews on Amazon and an overall 4.8 out of 5-star rating. Reviewers liked that the comfortable yet sturdy handle is wide enough for a two-handed grip (perfect for kettlebell swings), and our experts agree.

A top pick in our kettlebell tests, this option comes at a good value with sturdy construction. One of the reasons our fitness pros specifically like this kettlebell for home gym spaces is because of its vinyl bottom coating that can protect flooring in your home gym. It also comes in a variety of sizes from 5 pounds to 50 pounds.

RELATED: 15 Best Kettlebell Exercises

Resistance bands are one of the most underrated pieces of workout equipment. When used correctly, they can completely transform your exercise regimen. Affordable and compact, these small but mighty bands are lightweight, portable and barely take up any space.

This popular set on Amazon has over 124,000 reviews and an overall 4.5-star rating. We love that it comes with five bands ranging from extra-light to extra-heavy resistance and that it also stores neatly in a small carrying pouch. Plus, it includes an instruction guide.

Those looking for even more resistance can try a fabric resistance band. Not only are these exercise bands super portable, but they can be used for upper- and lower-body training exercises.

Those especially limited on space will appreciate a suspension training system like this one from TRX. Not only is it compact and portable, but it can provide an efficient total-body workout in minutes. Whether you're looking to build muscle, burn fat or increase your range of motion, a suspension training system can be a versatile piece of equipment to add to your home gym.

This all-in-one set can be used so long as you have access to a doorframe, tree or wall studs. And because you are using your own weight as resistance, workouts can easily be customized to your fitness level. Our tests proved it was super-quick to set up and offered a full-body workout allowing you to perform over 300 different exercises.

Suspension training — with any brand's equipment — can take some getting used to and requires proper instruction. TRX has a training app that you can use for expert guidance, and you can also check out the TRX YouTube page for some demo videos on using the system.

Jump ropes are compact and a fantastic addition to any home gym because they can completely transform your workouts. Crossrope is continually a standout in our tests for its high-quality materials, ergonomic handles and overall sleek design.

Although this system is on the pricier side, you get two different rope weights that our experts say are very easy to change out, thanks to the system's fast-clip connection. If you're worried about damaging flooring at home or outside while you jump rope, the brand has a handy jump rope mat that we love. For an even more connected experience, you can swap out the handles for their AMP handles which count jumps, power output, streaks and more.

If you're looking for a more affordable option without all the bells and whistles, our experts also recommend WOD Nation Speed Jump Rope for beginners.

A foam roller is an affordable and efficient piece of equipment that you can use pre-workout to warm up and post-workout to cool down and recover. It can help relieve muscle tension and soreness while also increasing muscle length and improving range of motion. What's more, research suggests that massage is one of the most effective methods of reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and perceived fatigue post-workout — and a foam roller can be a great self-massage tool to assist with that.

Available in a variety of colors, this textured, multi-density foam roller has a durable construction and is comprised of a foam exterior over a rigid, hollow core that maintains its shape and integrity even after prolonged usage. Our experts like the grid texture that allows you to target certain areas like knots and tight muscles as well as the fact that it's both lightweight and portable. Keep in mind that because it's hollow it won't get as deep as a solid, textured foam roller.

From lat pull-downs, machine flys and chest presses to preacher curls and leg extensions, you can perform countless exercises on this multifunction system — and for a reasonable price. It comes with an upper and lower pulley system, dual-action press arms and a leg developer so you can perform full-body workouts.

Adjust the weight stack (that provides resistance for all the stations of the home gym) from one to 14 in approximately 10-pound increments, with a 150-pound max stack. The adjustability means the whole family can use it and personalize their resistance to their own ability.

The machine has an exercise chart printed directly on it, so you can get some workout inspiration and see how to perform each move with proper form. The equipment includes a lat bar attachment and ankle strap attachment, which you'll need for certain exercises, like upright rowing or leg kickbacks.

It is worth noting that you will need to assemble the machine, which reviewers and testers said takes two and a half to six hours. It's made of premium, heavy-duty steel, with a maximum user weight of 300 pounds.

A quality weight bench can assist you through a wide variety of strength training exercises, from chest presses and flys to elevated split squats and more. But you'll likely want an option that folds for storage when not in use.

Our experts like this pick from Flybird that has a sturdy frame, high-quality leather, eight backrest positions and three seat adjustments. According to the brand, the bench has a weight capacity of 800 pounds. The best part is that it's lightweight, easy to move and it folds in half for simple storage.

One tester appreciated that it came mostly fully assembled with the exception of adding the lower leg piece. "It was a huge time saver that it was already set up." We found the bench stable and noted that it stayed in good shape even after repeated heavy use. But it is available in black only.

If you have the space, a treadmill can be a fantastic addition to your home gym setup. Of course, you can train by jogging or running on the machine, but it also can serve as a great way to get in some extra steps at the end of the day or during bouts of inclement weather.

NordicTrack treadmills have performed well in our previous treadmill tests, and the Commercial 2450 has all the special features you'd want in a premium treadmill. The machine is foldable to help save space when not in use, but it still manages to hit running speeds of up to 12 mph and has incline and decline capabilities to simulate outdoor terrain.

You'll also get access to thousands of iFIT workouts with this machine (30-day trial included, with a $39/month charge after that for access to iFIT), including scenic runs through breathtaking destinations around the world. But the real standout is the 22-inch rotating touchscreen that you can spin away from the treadmill platform so you can complement your runs with strength training exercises for runners and other classes off the machine. You're paying a high price, but you'll essentially get an entire home gym in one piece of equipment.

RELATED: The 5 Best Treadmills for Your Home Gym

A barbell, dumbbells, weight plates (three and five pounds), a jump rope, 20-pound resistance band, 30-pound resistance band, 10 to 20-pound booty band, 25 to 45-pound booty band, workout mat, mini cones, table/phone mount, and bluetooth speaker are all included in this home gym. Plus, it comes with a case to carry it all in!

The Entire Gym is a great option for anyone looking to get a variety of workouts in at home, and who has the time to take out and set up the equipment as well as put it away after (you can choose to leave it out, but the case makes for easy storage in small spaces).

We found all of the equipment to be well-made and durable and could stand up to intense CrossFit WOD-like workouts. It's also a good option for families as each person can personalize their weights and resistance.

While the wheeled carry case is convenient, it is worth noting that its quite heavy, so don't plan to carry it up any stairs — and you might need help loading it into a vehicle if you plan to take it with you on-the-go.

If you're a fan of cable machines that allow you to perform numerous exercises but don't have the space for a full machine at home, look no further. This small piece of equipment can replace a full cable stack. Simply use the strap mount to anchor the base unit, connect the handle attachment and twist on the resistance plates to either side of the unit and voila — cable system created!

We found the Ancore to be a good and durable piece of equipment — and it cost a lot less than other similar products on the market. We do recommend not leaving the handle attachment connected when you're not using the device though, as it can pull and stretch out the cable string.

If you don't have anything secure enough to anchor the device to, the company offers multiple mount options, like the sliding track mount, to choose from.

Our Good Housekeeping Institute engineers fell in love with the original Peloton bike when it first debuted in 2014, thanks to its large touchscreen mounted on a high-performance bike that enables you to livestream studio classes. The bike monitors calories burned, power output, distance traveled and cadence (pedaling rate).

You can ride with the motivation of top fitness instructors, or take a virtual scenic ride on the bike for a leisurely cruise. We also love the corresponding Peloton Digital app that offers a ton of off-bike fitness classes (think strength training, yoga, HIIT) to help you become a well-rounded athlete.

The newer Bike+, though pricey, features a larger screen that rotates, optimized audio and auto-follow capabilities that allow the resistance to automatically adjust to what the instructor recommends. Our experts found that the high variable magnetic resistance resulted in a quiet belt drive and a very smooth ride. Live rides, monthly challenges and milestone badges make this choice motivating and interactive for your home workouts.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Everything You Need to Know About the Peloton Bike

This wall-mounted smart gym uses an electromagnetic resistance system for strength training. The device can track and evaluate your exercise ability and capacity. It automatically sets the resistance and suggests the number of reps you should perform for each exercise, taking the guesswork out of the equation. It also adjusts in real time if it detects that you're struggling to push out those final reps. (You can also manually adjust the weight if needed.)

The Tonal is investment at $3,995, plus a membership of $59.95 per month, with a minimum 12-month commitment that is charged upon device activation. That said, instead of needing multiple pieces of equipment, this one machine allows you to perform countless exercises including squats, lat raises, rear delt flys, wood choppers and more.

Our testers who live in small apartments appreciated being able to replace many pieces of equipment with just this smart gym. Plus, the membership gives you access to classes you can follow along with as well.

The Tonal comes with the main machine that has the adjustable arms intact, but you can choose to also buy smart accessories like a bar attachment, bench, mat, rope attachment and smart handle attachments.

Rowing has been shown to engage over 85% of your muscles in a workout, providing more of a whole-body experience than a treadmill or bike offers on its own. This connected rowing machine from Hydrow features an integrated touch monitor where you can follow along with live or on-demand classes taught by world-class athletes.

Not only is the library of classes robust, but our tech pros appreciate the smooth motion from magnetic resistance. And the high-quality scenic footage is filmed on real bodies of water. Our experts like that you get unlimited profiles for the entire family and that there are fun milestone rewards to celebrate achievements too.

But this model is somewhat large, and it is an investment. If you're looking for something a bit more compact, the brand recently introduced Hydrow Wave at a lower cost. It's designed to be moved around more easily, and it can be stowed upright along the wall with the additional vertical anchor accessory.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Everything You Need to Know About the Hydrow Rower

Bring the squat rack experience out of the weight room and into your living room — along with a personal trainer.

The Tempo Studio Fit Pro workout suite comes equipped with a stainless steel barbell, two adjustable dumbbells, weight plates (two 45-pound, two 25-pound, four 10-pound, four five-pound, four 2.5-pound and four 1.25-pound), weight collars (to keep the plates in place), a kettlebell attachment that’s compatible with the plates, a mat, a foam roller, folding workout bench and squat rack, 42-inch touch screen and weight storage cabinet.

With your TempoFit membership (which is included for 12 months in the $2,400 price, and then costs $39 per month), you’ll have access to unlimited on-demand workouts and the ability to get expert on-screen, real-time guidance from a virtual trainer. The trainer can personalize workouts based on tracking from your previous workouts, so you’ll always know when to do when you step up to the bar.

We love that the suite includes a barbell and a foldable bench and squat rack that easily folds up when not in use — perfect if you’re limited on space.

A winner in our GH Fitness Awards, FightCamp is a complete connected boxing system that comes with a high-quality punching bag, trackers and quick wraps. You'll have to pay an additional fee of $39 per month for access to the corresponding membership, but you'll instantly get access to thousands of incredible classes for a full-body workout.

At-home testers appreciated that the system came with everything they needed. They rated the instructors highly, with one tester noting that it was "very inspiring to work out with real fighters." The whole family can get involved too, since you'll be able to register unlimited users on your account.

Our experts point out that you don't have to be a boxing pro to take advantage of the system — you can start with their introductory Level 1 boxing and kickboxing paths designed for beginners.