8 at-home workout tools I use in my daily life after testing tons of gear over the past few years

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It’s likely that I’ve tried more at-home workout tools than the average person as a result of my job at Insider Picks.
Below, I rounded up my all-time favorites, plus a bit about why I like them. If you’re concerned about versatility, storage space, and convenience, then they may be a fit for you too.
Picks include a wide range of gear, from adjustable dumbbells to ankle weights.

For better or worse, I hate being idle. If I’m watching TV, sitting at my office desk, or on the phone catching up with my mom, I’d prefer to be moving. Call it internalized Midwestern sensibility, but repose always feels like a missed opportunity to me.

This, plus my job as a member of the Insider Picks team, has made me the unwitting tester of more at-home exercise gear than any one New Yorker has any right in owning. In all my time researching, testing, and deliberating what gets to stay in my shoe-box apartment, I’ve also become a much more discerning shopper.

Below, I’ve rounded up the eight at-home workout tools I personally believe are most worth the money, and which I use frequently. However, as with any workout, the key to finding the right at-home gear is figuring out what your own needs are, and which recurring roadblocks to staying active you can address with products. For me, my main priorities are storage space, convenience, and the versatility to go from light and mindless workouts that complement a Netflix marathon to very challenging ones.

In general, the simplest tools are the ones that reliably work the best — and they’re the ones you’ll find yourself picking up most often, which may amount to more effectiveness than what gives you the biggest bang for your buck. There are a few hidden treasures on the internet, camouflaged by cheesy photos of what look like standout gimmicks — but, by and large, the classics are what will age the best.

Below, I’ll walk you through my personal favorite at-home products, plus why I like them — and why you may too.

These are the home workout tools I personally love most, and why:

The TRX system

TRX Training

TRX All-In-One Suspension Training System, $149.95

If I could only buy one home gym system, it would be the TRX. It’s a portable, highly-effective (not to mention storage- and travel-friendly) workout that was built by a former Navy SEAL as a way to stay in peak physical condition whilst traveling without access to designer gyms. The TRX system turns your body into your own ideal workout tool, and it’s now used widely by supermodels, pro athletes, Ivy League college sports teams, and the US army.

You can find more details in a personal review here, but the idea is simple: leverage your body’s weight and a full range of motion to increase its overall flexibility and strength. All you need is a door jam, tree, wall stud, or the rafters in a garage and you can begin using it.

Plus, similar to rolling around in a pool, your range of motion is more fluid and complete, so you can build lean muscle while simultaneously gaining flexibility and mobility — like you would be able to do with yoga and pilates exercises, just a bit more drastically.

There’s also an app to help you find new and challenging workouts (free for 14 days, $4.99 per month or $39.99 for a year after).

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A great jump rope

Amazon

Rx Jump Rope, $47

Budget option: Survival and Cross Jump Rope, $10

It can be difficult to find room to jump rope in an NYC apartment (there was enough trouble finding room for a nightstand), but I try to use a jump rope as often as possible for a fun, effective workout.

Just jumping rope is one of the best cardio exercises, if not the best, that anyone can do. It torches calories quickly, works your entire body, and a widely-cited study found that 10 minutes of jumping rope is as effective as a 30-minute jog. The Rx Jump Rope ($45) with its multi-directional swivel has been recommended by celebrity trainers, but you could just get this $10 version with over 4,000 five-star reviews.

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Adjustable dumbbells

Bowflex

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells, $299

They may seem ridiculously expensive, but Bowflex Dumbbells are worth the hype for their versatility and efficacy. It’s basically 15 sets of weights combined into one adjustable set, minimizing your costs and storage space considerably.

Each dumbbell can adjust from five to 52.5 pounds (going up in 2.5-pound increments up to the first 25 pounds) with the turn of a dial.

You can find much cheaper dumbbells, but you’ll probably need to commit to either one stagnant weight (which may not translate to as many workouts, or which you may outgrow) or buy multiples and deal with the storage.

Read more:

A personal trainer shares 5 at-home workout tools you should own

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