Game-Changing Exercise Equipment for Small Spaces

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Looking for home gym ideas but short on space?

Never fear, there are plenty of compact exercise equipment options.

Even though I love going to the gym, I’ve collected a lot of home gym equipment over the years. Some pieces I still use today, and others ended up in a donation pile.

In a compact home gym, workout equipment can’t be a one-trick pony. It needs to provide a lot of value to earn its keep in real estate (or at least be able to tuck away quietly in the corner).

Craft a fully balanced fitness routine with this round-up of small exercise equipment for your home gym.

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Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Read the full disclaimer.

TRX 

TRX is a type of suspension trainer for resistance training, in which you perform various bodyweight strength exercises anchoring yourself with straps. The angle of your body determines the level of difficulty.

Don’t let bodyweight foot you, TRX workouts are no joke. A Navy SEAL invented TRX as a means to get a full-body workout while saving on space. It’s certainly a versatile piece of compact exercise equipment for home.

With some basic hardware, TRX can be mounted to a wall or ceiling, and it can be easily detached to travel with and use the door anchor option.

Any fitness level can use TRX by adjusting your body angle to make strength moves easier or harder.  Suspension trainers provide a full-body workout with lots of options for different exercises,  including some higher-level options for core strengthening.

Instability provides a unique challenge but may be too advanced for beginners with some exercises.

Save 10% off your TRX training order when you sign up for email.

Resistance bands

Many exercises you can do with weights, you can do with a resistance band. 

They are inexpensive, lightweight, come in graded strengths, and don’t take up a lot of space. They can neatly tuck away in the drawer or your suitcase. 

The downside of resistance bands is that they don’t last forever and need to be periodically checked for cracks to avoid injuries. Another drawback is that beginners may find it challenging to control the band’s path, which results in poor form.

If investing in resistance bands, grab a few different strengths to cover all your bases. Resistance bands are some of the best home gym essentials for small spaces.

For leg workouts, try a set of glute bands. Glute bands are constructed from a thicker fabric to provide heavy resistance for larger muscle groups.

Adjustable dumbbells

Don’t have room for a bunch of mismatched weights hanging around? 

Get your hands on some adjustable dumbbells – the nesting dolls of fitness equipment.

They come in a variety of strengths and fit neatly into each other, only taking up the space of two dumbbells. 

If you don’t like the style of adjustable dumbbells or the weight selection doesn’t suit your needs, I recommend getting three different sets of free weights – a light, medium, and heavy weight – whatever this means for you. 

With these three options, you’ll be able to do most strengthening exercises with plenty of modification options. 

Kettlebell

The idea of kettlebell training as a workout offers different perks than your straight-up weight training. Because of the handle on top, they can be used for more dynamic movements.

The center of mass of a kettlebell is outside of your grip, versus a dumbbell where it’s distributed evenly throughout the grip. This isn’t better or worse. Its shape lends itself to specific movements, for example, the traditional kettlebell swing.

Here’s a fun space-saving kettlebell for home that you can adjust the weight for various exercises.

Foam roller

Foam rollers have become a staple in most gyms, and you can usually find people rolling away (often incorrectly) in the corner. 

Foam rolling is essentially a tool to give yourself a cheap massage, with the hopes of feeling less pain, tightness, and increasing overall mobility. Your body weight is used to apply pressure and slowly roll over an area to mobilize tissue.

One of my favorite foam rollers is the Trigger Point Grid – a great option for small spaces!

Foam rolling can be a great adjunct to a stretching and mobility program when appropriately used. 

Don’t worry; you won’t be one of those people using it wrong because you’re going to read Foam Rolling 101 to get all the details on this crowd favorite. 

Check out the exercise library for more foam rolling step by step. 

Aerobic step

Whether you’re doing step aerobics, agility drills, or weight lifting, a step can really up your home fitness options for a reasonably light footprint. 

Aerobic steps have adjustable risers to change the height, usually between 4 – 8 inches for cardio and step aerobics.

Check out this Reebok mini step or original step.

For those looking for more agility and balance training, a BOSU ball might be for you.

Weight bench

If you do a lot of strengthening at home, a small workout bench might be just what you need.

Perform a variety of bodyweight and dumbbell exercises, including dips, elevated push-ups, and chest work. It can even serve as a convenient place to store other equipment underneath. 

Check out this awesome combo step/ weight bench, the multifunctional aerobic deck. It even has space to tuck away some small weights so you can stop tripping over them in your living room.

Streaming workouts

One of the issues with home workouts is it can be tough to maintain motivation, especially if you love fitness classes. While it’s not exactly the same, I can say that streaming workouts have saved some of my sanity during this pandemic. 

Are you still sporting a mega fitness DVD collection?

Cut down on that space and start streaming workouts! Not to mention, there are tons more variety than the same old DVD. This home gym essential takes up no space and adds some variety to your workout routine.

Here are some popular favorites.

Aaptiv

Aaptiv is super affordable and offers a variety of guided audio workouts. 

Grab your own 30-day free trial of Aaptiv here.

I mostly use Aaptiv to keep me engaged on cardio equipment, but you can get a full fitness program from this all-in-one app. 

Pick from different workouts, including treadmill, stair climber, strength training, elliptical, indoor cycle, Yoga, Pilates, guided meditation, and more. There are even programs for guided outdoor walks.

Customize workouts by length of time, music genre, trainer, and fitness level. You can even schedule workouts, so you don’t forget.

You can check out my detailed review of Aaptiv here.

Yoga download

Can’t make it out to the studio? No prob. 

Yoga Download has thousands of streaming classes for all levels at an affordable price. (There are even free classes!) which is a great way to check them out before committing. 

They have plenty of beginner-friendly resources, including yoga classes, yoga pose videos, and printable pose guides to help you practice yoga safely and confidently.

Yoga Download also offers Pilates and meditation.

Save 50% off Yoga Download Monthly Online Yoga Packages here.

Beach body on demand

Beach Body on Demand has P90X, Insanity, 21-day Fix, and much more.

With over 1100+ workouts to choose from, you’ll never get bored. They offer fitness options for all levels, from beginner to well, insanity! 

Beach Body On Demand is a stand alone workout platform focusing on home workout options. There’s no need to sign up for a “coach” or purchase overpriced protein shakes to use this service – despite what you may have seen on social media.

Beachbody On Demand 14 Day Free Trial!

Want more? Check out the resources page for a list of my favorite YouTube workout channels. 

Jump rope

Nothing gets the heart rate up quite like a jump rope. 

Great for infecting cardio intervals into your weight training, a jump rope makes the list of space-saving fitness equipment. 

You can always toss it in your bag and take it to the park or any other outdoor space to workout. 

Cardio equipment for small spaces

Being short on space doesn’t mean you can’t get a cardio machine. Here are some ideas for cardio equipment for small spaces.

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Stationary bike or spin bike

A spin bike or indoor cycle bike allows you to mimic an outdoor style ride, adjust resistance quickly and easily, and change between seated and standing positions.

In my opinion, spin bikes offer a higher and more varied cardio workout than a typical stationary bike. (Plus, it’s fun!)

You don’t have to shell out for a Peloton to get a great spin workout at home. The Sunny Health & Fitness Indoor Cycle is an affordable option.

Home spin classes are becoming a thing, but you can buy any bike that suits you and stream spin classes from many different services, including Aaptiv. 

I’ve had this bike for a few years now. I was able to swap the pedals out for pedals with clips, and I use my phone to stream spin classes from Aaptiv and Les Mills On Demand.

Also, check out the MYX Fitness bike. Save up to $300 on an MYX Fitness home gym here.

Rowing machine

Rowing machines are popular again. The rowing machine offers a full-body cardio workout while engaging and strengthening the muscles of the upper back and legs.

Rowing is low impact and can accommodate all fitness levels.

Folding treadmill

A folding treadmill can save a lot of space in your small home gym.

If you’re looking to invest, NordicTrack and Life Fitness have some nice options.

Bluefin Fitness and Amazon also have some affordable folding treadmills.

Wrapping up workout equipment for small spaces

A small space doesn’t mean you can’t build a well-balanced fitness routine.

While these are all great options, the best equipment for you will depend on your needs and goals. 

Consider these space-saving exercise equipment options to add some variety and get a great workout – from the comfort of your own home. 

Don’t forget to sign up for the free fitness injury prevention challenge below!

featured image source: Nyul / bigstockphoto.com