Shake That Weight ^™ • 26th March 2015 • 10 years ago

Create a home gym for less than £100!

No membership fees, prying eyes or sweaty benches, it will come as no surprise that those people willing and able to work out at home are much more likely to become fitter than those who just pop to the gym on their way home from work.

Creating a home gym could seem like a daunting experience, especially when you look at the price of certain exercise equipment like treadmills, cross-trainers and exercise bikes. However, with the top trending exercise for 2015 being Bodyweight Training, there is no need to spend any money to be able to work out at home.

Nevertheless, to add some variety to your work out we have put this guide together of 7 key pieces of home fitness equipment that you can buy for less than £100.

Dumbbells (from £20)

Fancy? No. But dumbbells are often voted the single most essential piece of at-home exercise equipment. The hex-shaped with rubber grip can be a better design to buy as they won’t roll away or get slippery when you sweat. Get at least two pairs (one light, one heavy) to cover your exercise bases.

Top tip: If you don’t want to spend the money on a new set of dumbbells, then grab some water bottles and fill them up. A 2-litre water bottle filled, weighs approx. 2kg and a 5 litre bottle approx. 5kg.

Resistance bands (from £10)

A deceptively simple bit of kit, resistance bands are a great way to tone you’re your upper and lower body. Inexpensive, and easy to combine with other gym equipment, they take up virtually no room. Small ones loop around your lower half to strengthen and slim your legs, hips, and butt, while bigger bands can make body-weight squats extra challenging or help with assisted chin-ups.

Chin-up Bar (from £30)

Body-weight exercises cover every basic movement—except pulling. Buy a bar that easily attaches to a doorway (and comes down scuff-free) so you can do chin-ups any time.

Jump rope (from £5)

While some people may dismiss the humble skipping rope as a child’s toy, it is in fact a space-saving fitness tool that provides an outstanding cardio workout, as well as honing your reflexes and coordination. You’d be surprised just how effective jumping rope can be – just make sure you have enough space to swing the rope before getting started.

Stability Ball (from £10)

Think of an exercise ball as the opposite of solid ground—a soft, unstable surface that challenges your core and helps you improve your balance and coordination. Used alone, it’s just about the best tool you can own for sculpting a six-pack.

Top-tip: While at first glance a big, inflatable ball may seem difficult to store between sessions, remember you can still tone your abs and improve your posture even while not actively “working out” – just sit on the ball while watching TV or using the computer to reap these added benefits.

Kettlebell (from £15)

This eastern-European import looks like a cannonball with a handle, but the ugly design is exactly why it’s so effective. Unlike a dumbbell, a kettlebell’s center of gravity shifts during an exercise, increasing the challenge and building coordination. And because it’s intended for total-body moves, it adds a cardio element to what is already an intense strength workout.

Yoga Mat (from £10)

Last but not least is the faithful yoga mat. Yoga mats are specially fabricated mats used as an aid during the practice of hatha yoga to prevent hands and feet slipping during asana practice. They are also commonly known as non-slip mats, non-skid mats or sticky mats.