The best home gym equipment for 2026, reviewed by Glamour's most-active editors

Resistance bands are a great place to start – this seemingly simple piece of equipment can make your muscles stand to attention like no other. A pair of boxing gloves to build lean muscle, dumbbells for strength and joint mobility and a skipping rope are other pieces that may be small, but will make a big difference.

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“The short answer is no, absolutely not,” says El-Ansary. "Weight exercises are a full workout that work on strength, flexibility, mobility and cardiovascular health. Exercises like lunges, squats, burpees, jumping jacks, marching on the spot, Pilates, and yoga all need no to very little equipment.”

EL-Ansary adds that you can purchase a few inexpensive tools like a resistance band, adjustable dumb bells and an exercise mat: “Those items do not cost much but can help vary up your exercises. Rather than expensive equipment, what you need is a good plan, good form and consistency for great results.”

Venetia Cowie, a personal trainer, agrees: “People kept their bodies strong and conditioned for centuries before we created the gym. Using your own weights for squats, press ups and countless other exercises is an extremely effective way to stay strong and fit.”

She suggests thinking outside of the box and using stairs, chairs and the great outdoors to aid your workouts. “Even in the most well equipped gyms in the world you will see people doing exercises that are body weight alone.”

El-Ansary says that although gyms have more variety in regards to machines and classes, home equipment can be just as effective as gym equipment, if used with consistency and good form. “The best way to make home workouts effective is by progressively overloading your body through exercise, varying up your exercises and having a consistent exercise regimen that is challenging (yet accessible) for your body,” she says. “Another thing to keep in mind is to be specific about your goals - is it strength training, weight loss, flexibility you are after? Tailor your plan accordingly and you can most certainly achieve your goals through home equipment.”

“If using your own body weight is an effective way of gaining strength and condition, it goes without saying that home equipment is just as effective as equipment in the gym,” adds Cowie. “Of course you have fewer options but with persistence and commitment, you can work out just as effectively. I tell my PT clients that all they need is a set of dumbbells and the world of exercise is their oyster."

“You don’t need a treadmill because you can run outside. You don’t need a step because you can use a park bench, or a chair,” she adds. “Your weights may not be as heavy but instead you can up your reps. With a bit of research you can swap out anything from the gym with a home equivalent."

“Yes, it is safe to use gym equipment alone and solo workouts are very common," explains El-Ansary. "There are, however, important points to keep in mind here like making sure you understand how the equipment works and loading machines with the appropriate amount of weights. It is always recommended to start at a lighter weight and add on later, to ensure you are loading safely.”

She also recommends an appropriate warmup before using weight machines to ensure that your body is ready for exercise. You could start slow on a cardio machine, for instance, and add on when you feel ready: “When exercising solo, ensure that your phone is nearby in case of an emergency and move with intention. Try not to exercise when you are exhausted to avoid injury.”

Cowie also recommends using online resources for this such as YouTube as well as fitness apps and investing in personal training. “Another great way to kickstart and at home exercise routine and learn to use your equipment safely is to use a personal trainer who comes to your home," she adds.