5 Essential Pieces of Gym Equipment
With so many pieces of gym equipment to choose from it’s easy to get a bit overwhelmed and just stick to what you’ve always used. Here we've selected some key pieces of kit that we think are pretty essential in any gym.
A Water Rower
A rowing machine is a truly great piece of kit because it targets your legs, arms, shoulders and core, all at the same time. The beauty of the water rower is that it copies the action of a scull on the water. So the fact that the water is 800 times denser than air means you don’t need any extra resistance that you will find in normal non-water rowers. In terms of your home gym the water rower machines are really well built and look beautiful so can be a design feature in themselves if you need to have it stored in your living area. A further plus point is the fact that they are so easy to store as they are all designed to stand upright taking up around 2 square feet.
Kettlebells
For many people kettlebells are really special kit. Why? In what way are they different from say dumbbells? The starting point is to talk about the kettlebell swing which combines resistance training and cardiovascular work in one exercise. This is because if you look at the design of the kettlebell it has the cannonball shape and handle which allows you to perform explosive movements with slow movements. This one piece of kit will allow you to strengthen and condition at the same time. Many report that they also see quicker results with the kettlebell so this also offers efficiency in your training. Also these are great to use at home and look great!
+ Competition kettlebells or cast iron?
Pump Set
You may be aware of Body Pump sessions offered in your gym, a class that uses barbells to work your shoulders, chest, back, legs, abdominals and also burn calories. The concept of body pump is to tone and condition so the reps are really important. Typical exercises with a pump set include squats, bicep curls, lunges and chest presses. A pump set will consist of a number of plates with spring collars and a steel bar. One of the added benefits of purchasing a pump set for the home is that you can also use the plates as free weights, so a good idea is to purchase those that come with ergonomic plates that act as a form of dumbbell. One great piece of kit, many uses!
Multigym - Cable Machine
A multi gym is a great alternative to free weights, is compact enough to sit in a home gym but intricate enough to allow for a good number of exercises. A multi gym can also be better than free weights which can rely more on technique. But it is the sheer diversity that this one piece of kit gives you that is the real reason it makes it into our top 5. There are literally exercises for every part of the body. An example is the Inspire FT 1 which offers exercises from bicep curls, abdominal crunches, resistance squats, pull ups, chest press, shoulder press, the list goes on. It comes with an instructional flipchart and user friendly adjustments. For sheer breadth of workouts this makes it into the list.
TRX Suspension Trainer
The TRX suspension trainer is essentially two cables that you use on your feet or hands to partially suspend your body and use your own body weight for resistance. The benefits are that it’s a great tool in strength training but it also raises your heartrate so many TRX moves are that superefficient workout combining strength and cardio. But one of the reasons it made it on our list is that one of the biggest reasons people stop training is that they get bored. The TRX is a great way to beat the boredom. There are infinite ways you can use the TRX from lunges, to planks, to upper body resistance and it looks and feels different to other pieces of gym kit. Finally, it’s a great size for any home gym but also its portable so great to use if you are on the move or enjoy working outside.
