From skipping ropes to Swiss balls: personal trainers on the best home gym kit

You don’t have to spend a fortune on gym membership, or need loads of space, to get into shape. From the best basics to larger equipment for more complex workouts, here’s the home workout kit loved by fitness professionals, along with equipment I’ve personally put through its paces.

The best home gym equipment

Affordable basics

FitBeast resistance bands, set of five

These are versatile, enabling you to do a lot of exercises for just £20. The lighter resistance bands (yellows and reds) don’t tend to last as long – the thinner the band, the more likely it is to break – but the purples and greens last for ages. They’re also easy to pack and keep things ticking over while you’re on holiday. Andy Griffiths, personal trainer

Lululemon 5mm exercise mat

It’s better to invest in one good mat than buy loads of poorly made cheap ones. The things to look out for are non-slip qualities and a good grip with the skin. I have a lot of experience with Lululemon’s 5mm mat: it has a nice thickness, good grip and rolls up neatly. Maiken S Wrighton, coach, Equinox Kensington

Freyja Fit dumbbells, 4kg pair

Dumbbells are great to have at home as they’re versatile – you can do entire workout plans with just one pair, and they’re not too big to store under the sofa. It’s hard to pick the right weight if you haven’t used weights before, but you should aim for 8-10 repetitions – like a biceps curl – with correct form. I would recommend that a beginner starts with a pair of 3kg or 4kg ones. The Freyja Fit dumbbells aren’t too expensive but are good quality. Charlie Launder, founder, Bumps & Burpees

Gravity Fitness gym rings

Unlike a fixed bar or machine, gym rings move independently, meaning your shoulders, scapulae, and core must stabilise through every rep, which dramatically improves control and resilience. They can be hung from a range of sturdy overhead anchor points, including pull-up bars if already in place, ceiling beams or joists. Or you can use them outdoors in the summer and just hang off a tree. Simon King, founder and performance coach, Cre8 Fitness

Wolverson Fitness kettlebell

Kettlebells are mostly used for swinging and dynamic movements, but you can get a lot of other exercises out of them. Also they take up little space. The Wolverson kettlebells are easy to grip, made of cast iron and will last a long time. Maiken S Wrighton

Decathlon door-mount pull-up bar, 70cm

Pull-ups are an excellent, high-intensity exercise for building grip strength, which is a key, science-backed indicator of longevity, metabolic health and lower mortality risk. This one from Decathlon can be mounted on a door frame, takes up almost no room and is easy to set up. Simon King

Everlast skipping rope

Skipping improves cardiovascular fitness, coordination and foot stiffness, as well as strengthening the skeleton, with minimal space required. For a beginner who hasn’t skipped before, it’s best to start gradually, as the calves and achilles tendons usually fatigue quickly. Try two sessions a week, keeping the sessions at about 5–10 minutes in total. Begin with simple intervals, such as 30 seconds of skipping followed by 30–45 seconds of rest, for 8–10 rounds. Focus on relaxed wrists, small jumps, and staying light on the balls of the feet. As coordination and tolerance improve, you can gradually increase the duration of each round, and reduce rest periods. Simon King

Pure2Improve Swiss ball

A Swiss ball, or just an exercise ball, can serve a good purpose if you know how to use it. The unstable surface forces your body to work a bit extra. I sometimes use it for plank movements for an extra challenge – and it can add a level of difficulty to body weight movements, making the muscles work harder without the use of additional weights. Plus it doesn’t cost much, is easy to inflate, and when not in use can be deflated and packed away. Maiken S Wrighton

Mirafit Core workout sliders

Floor sliders are deceptively powerful. They’re brilliant for hamstring curls, moving planks, mountain climbers and sliding lunges, all of which demand strong core engagement and hip control. They’re also cheap, portable and versatile, and are an excellent way to challenge and stimulate the muscles using just your body weight. Simon King

More advanced equipment to splash out on

Yoleo adjustable bench

When you combine an adjustable bench with a set of dumbbells, you gain a wider variety of exercises, as well as more options that offer better control and a greater range of motion. For example, there aren’t many dumbbell-specific exercises that can target your chest, but add a bench and you can perform a classic chest press to achieve the optimal range of motion (with your elbows able to dip below the torso and stretch your chest, unlike when lying flat on the floor). The inexpensive Yoleo bench is great because you can fold it up and store underneath a bed. Andy Griffiths

Blk Box squat stand

During Covid, the first thing I bought myself was a squat stand. It’s great if you’re focusing primarily on strength and it gives you the versatility to do heavy compound movements without having to worry about lifting a bar on to your shoulders first. The two stands can be tucked away somewhere when not in use. Arby Keheli, performance coach

Mirafit 2in barbell

Mirafit bumper plates, set of two

The barbell is the most iconic tool in strength training for a reason. Every major compound lift involves one, and it can be loaded up with eye-watering amounts of weight. The plates determine how quietly, safely and precisely you can train. Bumper plates protect floors and joints and I would always recommend them for their versatility. Arby Keheli

Wahoo Kickr Core 2 turbo trainer

A turbo trainer transforms your outdoor bicycle into a stationary one, letting you spin and slog away from the comfort of your own home. This model from Wahoo is easy to set up if you know your way around an Allen key. Installing it on your bike is as simple as removing the back wheel and slotting the remainder of your bike on to the trainer (if this sounds daunting, there’s a step-by-step tutorial online).

I’ve used it for pretty much everything from two-hour rides to short, sharp Hiit sessions, and it’s a great way to do specific workouts that can be hard to emulate in real-life conditions. Compatible with most road, hybrid or mountain bikes, it also takes up less space when not in use than a traditional spin bike. Charlie Allenby

Read our guide to the best exercise bikes for home workouts

Mirafit Concept2 Rowerg rower

Rowers allow precise intensity control and integration into circuits – where you use the rower in between strength exercises like push-ups or squats. It can also be used in some Hiit workouts, or you could do a lower-intensity aerobic workout with it. Also, the sliding seat means it can be used like a reformer too, so I’ll do hamstring curls on it and plank variations, using it like an abs wheel. Arby Keheli

Therabody Theragun Mini 3.0 massage gun

Although a luxury item for a home gym setup, a massage gun can become an essential tool in your workout and recovery armoury if you’re regularly hitting the weights or cranking up the cardio. This travel-size option from Therabody might be the cheapest model in its range, but it still packs a vibrating punch, and is great for easing soreness and even activating muscles ahead of a session. Charlie Allenby