Fitting out a space in your home as a gym is always a great decision. Not only does it make you more likely to actually use the equipment because it’s so convenient, you never have to hang around waiting for your favorite machines to be free, share showers with strangers, or worry about (gross alert) wiping someone else’s sweat off anything.  

So the benefits of converting that unused garage or spare room into a home gym is overwhelmingly positive, but the real trick to making it work for you is to fill it with things that you will get lots of use out of. Now there’s an awful lot out there to choose from, so here we look at the best exercising & fitness equipment you can get for your home.

Before you start buying

• Look critically at the space you have available. There’s no point in ramming every inch of the room with equipment you can’t then use properly. You may need to prioritise and invest in just one or two major items to help you meet your goals.
• Identify your needs. The three main areas of fitness training focus on aerobic activity, building strength, and improving flexibility, Figuring out which are your priorities will help you decide what to buy.
• Try before you hand over cash. Not everyone likes using all the equipment, and this is especially true for aerobic items. If possible try everything so you can learn if you prefer an upright or recumbent exercise bike, a rowing machine over a treadmill, and so on.

Reviews of the best exercising & fitness equipment you can get for your home

For aerobic training

The best treadmill: the 3G Cardio Elite Treadmill is a well made, robust treadmill that those who like, or want to try, running will find invaluable. It has a 62-inch platform so needs some serious space, but if you can manage it this is a great buy. The suspension is amazing, it has a max incline of 15%, and the choice of eight programs if you want to use them. For the high-end price tag of around $3,300 you also get lots of extras, including: a cooling fan, built-in speakers,  a heart rate monitor which works wirelessly, and a connection for your MP3 player or smartphone.

The best stationary bike: the Exerpeutic folding upright bike has 8 levels of resistance so it serves all levels of fitness fans, along with the basics like speed, distance covered, speed and calories burned which are essential. Being robust with a large, padded seat this is a comfy rode for bigger folk too.

Other items: check out the best rowing machines around if you want something to provide a good all-round workout. Another piece of workout equipment that would add value to your home gym is a vibration plate. The vibrations of the plate cause muscles to contract and relax super fast. These contractions will leave you feeling as if you’ve just exerted yourself physically and force you to use your muscles to stabilize yourself.
It is believed that 10-15 minutes are effective enough to tone your body and develop the muscles. 

For strength training: Bowflex SelectTech 552 (pair of) adjustable dumbbells

These dumbbells are top class and so easy to use. Simply dial in the desired weight, from five pounds to fifty-two, take the dumbbells out and go. 

The best flexibility and balance training item: URBNFit Exercise Ball. A bargain at just $17 (depending on size) this handy to store ball is great for yoga, balance and general fitness, and highly rated by thousands of buyers.