When building a home gym, it’s not complete until you’ve outfitted it with some important accessories. Accessories for a home gym include everything from a yoga mat to a jump-rope, and are essential if you want to get the most out of your workout.
Important Accessories For Working Out
While power racks, ellipticals and treadmills are the mainstays of any home gym, there are a large variety of smaller accessories that can add a lot to the gym you’re building. One of the most important types of exercise is strength training. When attempting to build muscle mass throughout your body, dumbbells and kettlebells are essential accessories that you should add to your gym.
Dumbbells, in particular, allow you to vary the types of movements and exercises that you incorporate into your exercise routine. Consider purchasing several dumbbells of different sizes for added variety. For a high quality dumbbell, consider the CAP Barbell Hex Dumbbell. These dumbbells range in size from 5 pounds to 50 pounds.
Kettlebells are just as important as dumbbells to a home gym. Though much of the exercises that can be done with a kettlebell can also be completed with dumbbells, there are some unique movements that can only be completed with kettlebells. The Yes4all Kettlebell set is among your best options for an entire set, and comes with a comfy vinyl coating on the handles.
A barbell is practically essential for any home gym. If you have smaller hands, look for a bar with a smaller diameter. This accessory really helps to add stability to your workout routine. The CAP Barbell Olympic Bar is among the best in class, and offers a huge weight capacity of 1,000 pounds. For your barbell, make sure to also obtain some weight plates. Plates that range from 2.5 to 25 lbs. are your best bet, though you can go higher as you develop more muscle mass.
If you expect to practice yoga or meditation in your home gym, an essential accessory is a yoga mat. Unless your home gym is outfitted with plush carpet, consider splurging for a denser mat that will allow for longer yoga sessions without getting sore. The Manduka Black Mat Pro is one of the best options on the market for a high quality mat.
No exercise routine or home gym is complete without some accessories that stress cardio. Cardio workouts improve your heart health, metabolism and your overall health. It’s also a great option for anyone that’s looking to lose some of their weight. One of the very best accessories that helps with cardio exercise is a jump rope. Jumping rope is amazing at helping you burn calories, and will drastically improve your coordination over time. When you’re just starting with jumping rope, practically any rope will do. One of the better jump ropes is the Plastic CrossFit Jump Rope.
The best accessory for core strengthening exercises is a simple medicine ball. A medicine ball is extremely versatile when it comes to its uses in exercise routines. Whether you’re throwing it, performing abdominal exercises with it or just carrying it around, it works wonders for the body. Medicine balls come in all sizes, so choosing the one that’s best for you can be a bit tricky. If you’re going to be using a medicine ball primarily for carrying around and throwing, you may want to consider a lighter ball of around six pounds or so. If necessary for your routine, 20 lb. and 40 lb. balls are also available. The Valeo Medicine Ball is among the best around.
Resistance bands are another very useful accessory that can help with anything from strength training to losing weight. These bands can be used among several different areas of the body. The Black Mountain Resistance Band Set should have everything you need when just getting started with this type of accessory.
If you have an elliptical or treadmill in your home gym, chances are that you will already have a built-in pedometer that tracks numerous metrics as you workout. However, a portable version of this tool can be hugely beneficial when attempting to track the goals you’ve set for your workout routine. Pedometers are rather inexpensive. One of the more reliable pedometers is the 3D TriSport Pedometer, which tracks everything from calories burned to total exercise time.
Important Non-Workout Accessories For the Home Gym
It’s also important to equip your gym with several accessories that make working out in that specific room more convenient. The first of these is a stereo system or an MP3 player. An MP3 player is a great way to have your songs with you at all times, as it’s extremely portable. With headphones or earbuds placed in or around your ears, no one else in your home will be distracted from the music.
As for a stereo system, its benefits largely lie in the issues with an MP3 player. While and MP3 player is very portable, it can be difficult to listen to when lying on your back at a barbell or doing stretches. With a stereo, there are no cords to mess with during your exercise routine. For an MP3 player, consider the iPod Nano. The Samsung MX-J630 is a powerful stereo system that will be right at home in your gym.
A very important accessory for your home gym is a towel. Working out invariably produces a lot of sweat. Any towel can be used to wipe yourself off after a strenuous workout, but consider the PackTowl Personal Towel, which is designed specifically for these situations.
Injuries caused by exercise are all too common, particularly strains in various areas of the body. When you overwork a muscle or stretch a tendon too much, it’s recommended to have cold-hot packs on hand. A Re-usable Gel Pack is your best option for these scenarios.