Working is exhausting and there is nothing better than coming home and relaxing on the couch. However, if you are like most people you want to get some exercise in before you settle in for the night. Having a gym membership might be too expensive, too far away, or you might just not feel comfortable going to one. That is why setting up a home gym in your apartment is perfect. We will cover the perfect equipment to setup a home gym for an apartment without breaking the budget.
Just a note that this isn’t a list for professional weightlifters so we aren’t going to be recommending a squat rack- not that many apartments would allow that. We want to ensure you have the basics so you can build from there as you go through your fitness journey.
1. Pull Up Bar
Ikonfitness Pull Up Bar with Smart Larger Hooks Technology
This is a quick and easy equipment to purchase. This particular pull up bar does not require you to screw anything into the wall so you don’t have to worry about damaging your apartment. It is safe up to 440lb so you don’t have to worry about it bending or breaking. It has great reviews and lots of reviews talk about the ease of installation.
2. Ab Roller
Fitnessery Ab Roller for Abs Workout – Ab Roller Wheel Exercise Equipment
We know abs are the focus of many workouts. Sometimes doing crunches and planks can get boring so use this little roller to help you really focus on those abs. It requires more than ab stabilization and requires you to activate a lot more muscle groups. You do want to ease yourself into using the roller as it does target your abs very well and it can be difficult at first especially if you are a beginner.
3. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are perfect for everyone. It’s very inexpensive and provides a great workout. They are extremely versatile and provide a multitude of workouts that can be performed. Great for beginners or even more seasoned veterans. The 5 varying resistance bands allow you to increase difficulty as you gradually get stronger.
This is good for not only strengthening your legs, but your upper body as well. Don’t let their small appearance fool you on the workout they can provide.
4. Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands
Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper with Resistance Bands
This is perfect to workout your legs and your upper body. You can focus just on the lower body and legs if you prefer but the resistance bands offers a nice addition to focus on your upper body. It’s doesn’t have a large foot print and it’s not to heavy for the workout you can obtain from using the machine. It’s a very easy machine to use and very intuitive. Great to get a good sweat and burn going!
It comes with an LCD monitor to measure the steps, time, total and calories, making your exercise more reasonable and effective. It has height adjustment knob adjusts the step motion height, for either short bursts or long steps . It has large textured foot plates ensure a solid non-slip footing for safety. The max weight supported is 220 lbs.
5. Exercise Ball
URBNFit Exercise Ball (Multiple Sizes) for Fitness, Stability, Balance & Yoga
Exercise ball is neat piece of equipment. Great for abs and whole body workouts. You can even use this to sit on if you are working from home. Great way to work getting better posture. It’s great for stretching and improving balance.
The ball is made from high quality material so it won’t pop on you. Many reviews have given it 5 stars for its durability and ease of use. It comes with a hand pump that is quiet and quick to use. The ball is perfect for use with yoga, pilates, or for general strengthening & balance
Here is the sizing guide for which size ball to buy.
55 cm (21″) 4″ 11″ to 5′ 3″
65 cm (25″) 5′ 4″ to 5′ 10″
75 cm (29″) 5′ 11″ and up
6. Jump Rope
You might be thinking really a jump rope?! Hear us out – it’s the perfect thing to get you warmed up or even get a good sweat going. Try jumping rope consecutively without messing up and you will see quickly how exhausting it is. This is why you see many boxers in movies use this to warm up. It’s a great way to get your conditioning up fast and it requires your to be nimble.
You might be thinking that jumping rope will make a lot of noise in an apartment, but that is not true. If you are landing lightly on your toes in a controlled manner you will be barely making any sound. This requires your to focus on your form, while still maintaining you agility as you jump rope. This is a great inexpensive addition to any home gym for an apartment!
7. Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer
Sunny Health & Fitness Squat Assist Row-N-Ride Trainer for Squat Exercise and Glutes Workout
This is perfect for toning your glutes and lower body. If you really want to workout your butt then look no further. It is relatively light weight (24.5 lbs) so it’s perfect for a home gym in an apartment. while really helping isolate your lower body muscles.
Many of the reviews give it 5 stars from seeing results after using the machine. They love how easy it is to put together and use. They talk about the great workout and the ability to isolate certain muscle groups. It’s a must have if you really want to tone your legs and glutes at home.
8. Dumbbells
BalanceFrom GoFit All-Purpose Dumbbells in Pair
Dumbbells are pretty much the first things people think of when thinking about a gym. They are versatile and easy to use. You can do both upper body and lower body workouts with them. We suggest you shop around and find the right weight range you prefer. You don’t need a ton of dumbbells maybe 2 or 3 pairs with varying weights.
They are great for doing curls, back workouts, and lunges. You can always check if your local brick and mortar store has a cheap set to buy.
9. Recumbent Exercise Bike
Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike with Resistance
Now this is on the bigger side of fitness equipment. If you want to focus on your legs and exercise while you watch TV this is a perfect recumbent exercise bike. It is pretty inexpensive and not that large so you can fit it in most apartments. However, we would suggest this more for houses or garage gyms, but if you want to splurge or have the space then definitely invest in the bike. Just note that it is a bit heavy – 300lbs.
We love how it doesn’t take up too much space and that all you need is a door frame to fit this workout equipment. It’s very simple and anyone can use it.
Set Up A Home Gym For An Apartment Conclusion
Setting up a home in an apartment doesn’t have to be expensive or extensive. You just need a few crucial peices to get started and then you can add more as you see fit. We suggest you start with body weight exercises and then move into buying a few pieces of the above mentioned items. Buy one at a time and incoropate them into your workout. There is no point in buying a lot of equipment and letting it sit around unused cluttering up your space.
We like the list above as many of the are very small and inexpensive, but if used properly can give you great results. You can really get a beach body going in no time. Remember that fitness is a journey and not something done over night. Keep giving it your best and never give up!
If you are interested in getting a good lower body workout or want to focus on just legs check out The 5 Best Home Small Exercise Equipment For Legs