How many times have you bailed on a workout because you didn’t have time, the weather wasn’t cooperating, or you just couldn’t be bothered to face a room full of sweaty people first thing in the morning? If you’re anything like us, probably more than you’d care to admit.
A good home gym eliminates many of the biggest reasons to skip a workout. It’s right there; it’s literally in your house, and that makes coming up with excuses not to go a lot trickier. It’s your ticket to a high-quality workout anytime you want one – even during those camera-off Zoom calls you’re only half listening to.
So, what pieces of equipment should be in a good home gym? To find out, we spoke to revered personal trainer Harry Jameson (who has more than 15 years of experience in the industry training top athletes and celebrities) who shared his essential pieces of workout gear.
Treadmill
“The treadmill has been invaluable to me. I’ve run several marathons and the ones where I’ve been most successful have been the ones where I’ve alternated my training between road running and indoor running.
“You couldn’t run outside every day without being on a journey towards some form of injury, but the treadmill offers a much more absorbent surface that takes some of the impact away from the joints. I would argue that you could use it most days, which means you can be more consistent with your training.
“It’s also a very inclusive piece of kit. In my house, I use it, my wife uses it, my mother might use it, and even my kids. Regardless of fitness level, it’s just a really useful piece of kit to have. Everybody can benefit from a treadmill, which is why in my opinion, it’s such a key piece of home gym equipment.”
Indoor bike
“Brands like Technogym are really stepping up the digital aspect of their exercise bikes and smart trainers. You can jump on, select a program – whether it’s a spin class or a scenic ride – or even log into various apps to do things like watching a movie or YouTube videos while you train. Cardio doesn’t always have to mean pushing to your limits; some sessions can be longer and slower, and a modern indoor bike is perfect for that.
“Then there’s the impact element. If treadmill running is less impactful than road running, then cycling is right down there at the very lowest impact you can get. This means it’s something you can use for your active recovery or for rehabilitation after an injury.”
Bench/Olympic bar
“I love a bench. It’s pretty compact which is an important consideration for most people when kitting out a home gym. Space comes at a premium, particularly in the city, and a bench is something you can do multiple exercises on, using resistance bands, dumbbells and other bits and pieces, that really doesn’t take up much room. If you had a bench and a bike, for example, that’s a setup that could feasibly fit into an office. You just have to be clever about how you use your space.
“Having said that, if space wasn’t an issue I’d choose an Olympic bar instead. The big compound strength movements like snatches, cleans, deadlifts, back squats and bench presses make up the foundation of athletic performance. Along with some sort of cardio, like running, those big Olympic lifts are key.”
Mat and foam roller
“For physical recovery, it’s pretty simple. A mat that you can just hop onto and stretch is key. You could also add in a foam roller and do a bit of that pre-workout and post-workout.
“It’s massively important and as I’ve got older it’s something I’ve put a much bigger emphasis on. The key after any workout is reducing inflammation – you’re trying to bring it down so you can go again – and a mat and foam roller provide a simple way to facilitate this at home.”
A quiet space to meditate
“Mindfulness is very important. Taking some time to go somewhere quiet and practice breathing exercises will help with sleep and stress management.
“It’s not just an integral part of a good fitness regime, but a good wellness regime. The physical stuff is just one part of your fitness – it’s really best to think of the whole package in terms of physical, mental and emotional. Some form of meditation and breathing practise will help strengthen the mind.”
Start your own professional home gym with Technogym
Need some extra assistance? Technogym has also released a new app with a wide array of on-demand video workouts and personalised plans to suit all lifestyles and levels - which can be used with or without equipment
