Home workout essentials

Home workouts have become very popular recently due to their convenience. Anyone can start working out at home with minimal effort.

Though many will say it is suboptimal and people should go to the gym, the statement does have its flaws. Yes, the gym is a place that is built explicitly for doing exercises. However, the main concern should be doing exercise rather than where you are doing it. In that aspect, home workouts are a great alternative.

Coming back to the topic, there are some essential items that you will need to have in your arsenal to make your home workout optimal. Does that mean you cannot do home workouts without any equipment?

The answer is certainly yes. You can do it without any equipment; we will briefly discuss it in another article. However, to make working out at home more effective and efficient, you should have some pieces of equipment that will enhance its effectiveness to a great extent.

We are suggesting you get the mentioned pieces of equipment so that you can have a proper home workout.

A set of resistance band

Resistance bands can be considered the “OG” home workout partner. You can train every muscle by using resistance bands in a certain way.

Resistance bands can be used in both spectrum. It can make your exercises more challenging and also assist you in various exercises.

Put resistance bands under your feet and over your shoulders to make push-ups harder. The extra resistance will make the exercise more challenging. On the contrary, you can make pull-ups much easier if you put the bands under your feet to get extra support.

Many resistance bands are available, depending on the size and pressure they can produce the cost may vary.

Pros

The benefits of resistance bands:

1. 1. They are portable; you can carry them everywhere as they do not occupy much space.
   2. They are comparatively cheap. You can get good-quality sets of resistance bands without emptying your wallet.
   3. Every muscle group can be trained using a resistance band and can be used for stretching or increasing mobility, so it is a no-brainer when you are doing home workouts.
   4. Everyone can use it, as the learning curve is very low, which is best for beginners.

Cons

There are a few problems with resistance bands:

1. 1. The common problem is getting smacked by the resistance band. Sometimes, the band slips in the stretch position and hits you right back.
   2. The durability is low. However, buying a good-quality resistance band can fix this problem.
   3. Overtime progression is a big challenge with resistance bands. That is why it is used as a go-to solution.

Dumbbells

Who does not like to pump iron? Dumbbells are the ambassadors of the Pumping Iron Club. When we think about working out, one of the first pieces of equipment that comes to mind is dumbbells.

One of the best things you can have for working out at home is a pair of dumbbells. There are two types of movements done in exercises:

• • Pushing Movements &
  • Pulling Movements

You can do both of them by using dumbbells. There are many kinds of options available; we would suggest that if your budget is low, go for dumbbell bars with detachable weights so that you can attach or detach weights according to your preference. On the other hand, if you have some budget to spare, you should go for adjustable dumbbells. If you have a gripping issue, then hex dumbbells are the best.

Pros

The benefits of dumbbells are:

1. 1. It is easily progressable. One of the core principles of muscle growth is progressive overload, which can be easily achieved with dumbbells by adding weights over time.
   2. Does not occupy much space.
   3. A variety of exercises can be done just by using dumbbells.
   4. Dumbbells are affordable and pocket-friendly.
   5. It helps solve muscle imbalance, as almost all the exercises done with dumbbells are unilateral.

Cons

The problems with dumbbells are:

1. 1. Beginners need to learn how to use them. As all the exercises using dumbbells are free-movement exercises, a beginner needs to know how to move or perform them using dumbbells.
   2. For some specialized exercises, barbells or machines are a better option. For example, deadlifting is best accomplished using barbells.

Adjustable Weight Bench with Barbell

If you have some money to spare, investing in an adjustable weight bench will be a good investment. The adjustable bench allows you to perform many compound workouts that are considered good for muscle growth. You can do various exercises, such as different variants of chest presses, triceps exercises, back exercises, and so on.

Many weight benches also come with a preacher curl pad and leg extension mechanisms, which can almost guarantee a perfect workout. You will also get a barbell, which you can use in various exercises.

Pros

The benefits of an adjustable weight bench are:

1. 1. Progressive overload can be quickly done by just adding some extra weight.
   2. Using a barbell is less fatiguing as you do not need to train each side at a time; you can train overall muscle.
   3. Workouts can be adjusted as per your needs.

Cons

The problems with an adjustable weight bench are:

1. 1. It is comparatively on the expensive side.
   2. Occupies a good amount of space. Some foldable benches can solve this problem.
   3. If you lift more weight than you can, your chances of injury are slightly higher. Dumbbells can be safely dropped into the sides, but barbells do not have this flexibility.
   4. Buying more weight plates is a recurring cost as you get stronger over time.

Wall-mounted Mounted Pull-up and Dip Bars

This will cover the overall spectrum of your home workout. Pull-ups and chin-ups are considered “goat” exercises for back development, especially your lats. Using the bars, you can also train your abdominal muscles by performing hanging leg raises.

You can wrap your resistance band around it to do various exercises. A dip extension can be used to train your triceps and chest muscles.

Pros

The benefits of a wall-mounted pull-up and dip bar are:

1. 1. As they are wall-mounted, they do not occupy room space. Some are detachable, which is a huge benefit for a home gym.
   2. It helps to build grip strength.
   3. You can train various groups of muscles with just one piece of equipment.
   4. It is affordable; it will not create a hole in your wallet.

Cons

The problems with a wall-mounted pull-up and dip bar are:

1. 1. Pull-ups and dips are comparatively challenging exercises, so beginners need to spend a lot of time learning the proper form and technique.
   2. If the quality of the bar is not good, then there is a high chance of injury. Some low-quality pull-up bars handle spins, which makes the exercise experience terrible.

Floor padding and Mirrors

Many of you might be surprised by this last choice. Everyone will tell you to buy yoga balls, kettlebells, or stability balls. However, as per us, they are not necessary or must-have items for a home workout. You can buy them, but we would not recommend them. You will eventually get most of the benefits by purchasing the other stuff we suggested.

Floor padding and mirrors are must-have items. Who wants to destroy their house floors?

Floor padding will help you prevent floor damage and also give you a sense of security, as you can get a bit careless while dropping the weights. Mirrors will help you increase the mind-muscle connection. If you can see the movements of your muscles through a mirror, it helps you focus more.

According to us, having floor pads and mirrors only has advantages, as they will take your training to the next level.

There are also many pieces of equipment, but we did not include them in our list because, as a beginner, you do not need to spend unnecessarily on expensive equipment without even learning the basics. We tried to give you an honest review because we had no idea what to buy when setting up our small home gym, so we do not want you to suffer from the same problems we went through.

If you liked the article, please leave a comment. You can also contact us if you have any particular questions related to the topic.