Home Gym Set-Up: 5 ‘Must Haves’ In Your Perfect Home Gym Set-Up
All too often – the most important home gym items are overlooked or misunderstood. The result is a shabby home gym set-up – and of course, shabby results for all the people who are supposed to be getting in shape. Here is my list of 5 “must haves” for the ideal home gym set-up – if you’re serious about getting great short term results and improving on them for the rest of your butt-kickin’ life…
1 – Time tested and proven, small exercise items.
Most home gym fitness people are not aiming to be the next Mr. Universe or the next Ms. Olympia. But they do want to achieve their best body, and optimal health. There are several small exercise items which are very conducive to these goals. I list these as a result of time tested, hands on use in my in-home and travel personal training business.
A – Medicine Ball(s)
B – Floor/Exercise Mat
C – Resistance Bands
D – Ab/Core Roller/Wheel
E – Adjustable Utility Step
2 – Adjustable dumbbells.
While the newer adjustable dumbbell sets are very safe and convenient – some people can get away with several pairs of the ‘old-school’ style, light dumbbells. 3’s, 5’s, 8’s, 10’s, 12’s and 15’s are great for beginners and most women. For the guys we’d have to go up to at least 30 or 35 LBS. The benefit of opting for an adjustable set is they take up much less space than a full line of dumbbells.
3 – Floor space for multi-purpose workouts (functional training, sports conditioning moves, core, pilates, etc..).
One of the most valuable items in any type of home gym is open floor space. Whenever I do on-location training for traveling clients – or I consult on a new home gym design – one of the first things I make sure we account for is some open floor space.
Ideally this open floor space is enough for 2 or 3 people to lay down on and perform certain exercises and conditioning movements.
A home gym set-up without some open floor space is a home gym that is lacking in a critical fitness tool.
4 – Safe and secure anchor points for all types of resistance band training.
Atlas Anchor for Resistance Bands
We already know resistance bands are a key tool in the perfect home gym. But it’s equally important to have the right selection of anchor points for your bands. Sure the doorway is ok but that’s not what your doors were made for. And attaching them to a couch leg or a desk may work for some exercises too – But there are a few more ways to do this…
One way is to have a carpenter install a dozen heavy duty hooks or steel loops on one of your gym room walls. A job of this type, done properly, will cost between $400.00 and $2,000.00 depending on where you live and what type of materials he is working with.
Another way is to buy a home gym system which includes multiple anchor points for resistance bands. Ideally the anchor points should run from the floor to the top of the gym system. The anchor locks should also be sturdy enough to withstand the hardest forces from the strongest type of user – while at the same time being quick and easy to change.
5 – Versatile bodyweight fitness training equipment.
Most people immediately think of the classic chin and dip stand when I first mention this. But for the average home gym enthusiast it simply isn’t enough because it’s extremely limiting.
Don’t get me wrong – I think the basic chin/dip stand is a great value for the money – but only a small fraction of advanced fitness people can use it properly. Most average men, women and kids need a bodyweight gym system which offers more adjustability, more exercise options and more workout programs.
The chin/dip stand only offers a handful of exercise options for the upper body. The ideal bodyweight home gym set-up should have a system which offers exercises, and exercise variations, for the entire body – including; legs, thighs, glutes, core, abs, back – and, of course, the entire upper body.
So, there you have the list of 5 “must have” items for your ideal home gym set-up. Stay tuned as I’ll be bringing you my list of Home Gym “Should Haves” in the next few weeks…
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