Home Gym Equipment That Saves Space & Will Actually Get Used

Jan 24, 2024

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It's not quite the 2020 home workout boom anymore, but there are still plenty of people who love to sweat it out at home instead of in a workout studio or gym in front of strangers. We don't blame you for investing in a little home exercise equipment if you enjoy a living room exercise sesh.

But sometimes that stuff just takes up too much real estate in your home, whether it's a fancy expensive bike, a treadmill with a fancy incline or a heavy-duty weight bench — that only months later becomes a place where you leave backpacks, coats and miscellaneous stuff. Or, better yet, it's just a big bulky thing that lives in your living room and you sometimes stub your toe on it. Either way? It's not the vibe.

That doesn't mean you need to abandon your dreams of having a at-home space to move around, get your heart rate up or lift to your heart's content. It just means that maybe you’re looking to invest in the kind of pieces that complement your home more than they take over it and acquire the kind of things that are compact as they are useful.

Luckily, we’re living in an age where this kind of home exercise equipment is on the rise. Read on and discover a few of our favorite space-saving exercise must-haves and start building out the home gym (but not like that) or at-home workout space of your dreams.

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If you’ve been missing the gym, the idea of a gym in a box feels pretty enticing — so the FITT CUBE Compact Mult-Gym might be the thing you’re aching for. With 100 exercises for beginners, dabblers and more advanced fitness enthusiasts, you’ll never get bored or be at a loss for an engaging exercise that will make you feel challenged and pretty dang strong. Your box doesn't just contain the gear but is the gear — including a neat little mini-stepper inside and numerous other configurations for the sweat sesh you’re craving.

Beloved by folks who are into Barre, HIIT and dance cardio workouts for a reason, we had to include Bala Bangles in this list. They’re a simple and not-hideous way to add a bit more intensity to whatever kind of movement you’re into. Stylish, easy to throw in a drawer or closet when company's coming and available in numerous pretty colors, you’ll be obsessed with yours too.

While it is a little redundant given the other weights I’ve already mentioned on this list, my YBell Neos are a set that I consistently reach for anyway. Quadrupling duty as a dumbell, a kettlebell, a push-up stand and double-grip medicine ball, these bad boys are versatile and compact enough to stack in the corner and forget about 'til you need them again.

This one feels gimmicky a little bit, but for folks who want the joy of playground fun in their movement but can't exactly trust their coordination with a rope in their livingroom (there's usually some breakable stuff in there), a rope-free jump rope is a really cool space-saving (and safe for your space) option.

Conveniently, APLUGTEK's Jump Rope can't get tangled or whip around and smack an innocent bystander in the eye but can give you the weight and resistance you need for that sweet, sweet cardio.

Yoga mats are a tried and true piece of equipment that you can do tons of different floor-work exercises on. There's nothing ground-breaking here, a good one can be compact, portable and provide some extra protection to your joints as you do those exercises (mind your knees, people!).

We love this one from Gaiam for those reasons — plus, it's really pretty.

It's not quite the 2020 home workout boom anymore, but there are still plenty of people who love to sweat it out at home instead of in a workout studio or gym in front of strangers. We don't blame you for investing in a little home exercise equipment if you enjoy a living room exercise […]