Best Home Gym Setup (2026): Adjustable Weights, Resistance Bands, and More

To join or Not joining a gym: That is the question. If you opt out of setting up a home gym, you can join a club and get more weights and machines. Friends and classes motivate you to keep going, and this monthly bill keeps you disciplined. On the other hand, gym memberships are very low, workouts can be hijacked by bullies, and going to the gym is an extra trip to commute.

However, being late to the gym would likely catch up with me. One of the most consistent messages from Health and fitness Experts today are that lifting weights has invaluable benefits. Strength training It allows us to continue doing the things we love well into our advanced years. He – she Reduces blood sugarIt lowers blood pressure, burns calories, and reduces inflammation. A recent review of studies in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by Harvard Medical School found that strength training is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer and reduces the risk of premature death by 10 to 17 percent.

But you don’t need all the time and money to have a great home gym. Reviews Editor Adrienne So and I have been slowly adding to the simple home gyms we have in our living rooms and garages—a roughly 10-by-10-foot patch in our basements and living rooms. There’s a lot of equipment available, but to get the best results, I asked two physical therapists – Grace Fenske at Excel North Physical Therapy and Performance And Samuel Hayden in Limit physical therapy less– For their recommendations.

Below is a PT-recommended guide to a very simple setup that will keep you motivated and motivated. Don’t see anything you like? Don’t forget to check out our current guides about Best running shoesthe Best fitness trackersor Best walking pads.

Adjustable dumbbells

Yes these are very expensive but people get rid of their small dumbbells very quickly and if you bite the bullet early, adjustable dumbbells take up much less space than single dumbbell sets or kettlebells. The Nüobell 38 adjustable dumbbells require patents and allow users to increase weight in five-pound increments up to 80 with a twist of the handle. Each dumbbell set replaces 32 individual dumbbells. In a tight space, this is a game changer.

The way Steph’s Nüobells and Nike adjustable dumbbells work is that the full barbell fits into the cradle. (You can also mount the dumbbells on a stand.) When the user twists the handle to five pounds, the grooved aluminum bar will attach to the first hollow plate, which is 2.5 pounds on each side of the dumbbell. With each subsequent turn of the handle, the bar will pick up heavier weight in five-pound increments. A safety hook at the bottom of the cradle ensures the barbell weight is held in place before lifting.

I like my Nike dumbbells because the end of the dumbbell is flat, which means I can rest it on the end on my thigh without putting a hole in my leg. Also, the plates are not round. If you have a large round dumbbell on the floor, or especially in your garage, it will find the nearest ramp and roll over a pet or child in the house. You can still take individual plates out of the rack if you need them for pressure under your heels or for mobility exercises. Whatever you choose, Steve and I recommend getting a floor stand to reduce the stress on your back. —Adrien Su