5 Affordable Pieces Of Equipment That Make Your Home Workout A Little More Challenging

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Looking to ramp up your home workouts? You’re not alone. With a shift towards home-based exercise routines, finding the right equipment to elevate your fitness game is crucial. Stepping up the intensity doesn’t require a complete home gym overhaul—just a few select items can make a significant difference in the challenge and effectiveness of your workout.

The following pieces of equipment are designed to integrate seamlessly into your home workout space while pushing your limits just a bit further.

Resistance Bands

When you’re ready to increase the intensity of your home workouts, resistance bands are a fantastic option. These stretchy power boosters come in a range of tension, from light to heavy, so you can scale your workout to your own strength level.

Normally, I would opt for a set of adjustable dumbbells. However, depending on how much space you have and how large your budget is for strength training, resistance bands have their own distinct advantages.

I think the main plus of resistance bands is that they’re very accessible for a variety of fitness levels. No matter if you’re advanced or a complete beginner, you can easily integrate resistance bands into a variety of exercises. For example, place a band around your legs during squats to fire up your hip abductors. Or, place them under your feet and stand up straight with the band in both hands to do bicep curls.

Another big plus is portability. They’re lightweight and can be stuffed into a bag, allowing you to keep up with your workout routine even while traveling. This is also a plus if you don’t have a dedicated space in your house and you want something you can store easily.

Durability is also a factor. Most bands are made of rubber, meaning they can withstand plenty of stretching. However, make sure you check them regularly for signs of wear and tear to avoid any snapping surprises.

Finally, these things are affordable. You can get a set for something in the range of $30 – $50. A set typically includes five bands with varying levels of resistance and this should set you up for a long time.

Get creative and integrate them into your cardio, strength, and flexibility routines to feel the extra burn and enjoy a fuller, more comprehensive workout experience.

Suspension Trainer (TRX)

When you’re spicing up your home workouts, a TRX suspension trainer can be your ace in the hole. You’ve got your body weight and gravity – that’s all you need. These straps create a full-body workout challenge by leveraging those two forces. It’s kind of like turning your home into a jungle gym, but for fitness.

Now, I do recommend getting TRX if your regular body weight workouts are starting to feel a bit too easy. If you’re set on moving forward with these, without using weight or resistance bands, this is probably your best bet.

With TRX, it’s all about the angles. Tilt yourself a little more, and suddenly those squats are making your legs burn. Even planks become way more challenging. You can perform various exercises including lunges, rows, and presses, all adjustable to your fitness level (yes, this is also suitable for beginners). Just grab the handles or foot cradles and off you go.

It’s not just about getting stronger, balance and flexibility get a huge boost too. Since the TRX makes you stabilize yourself during exercises, you’ll be working on that core strength as well.

Finally, it doesn’t get easier in terms of installation and storage. Pop it over a sturdy door or hook it to a strong beam, and it’s installed and stored.

Do you want to push your limits without stepping out the door or using heavy equipment? TRX has you covered.

Weighted Vests

When you’re ready to kick your body weight exercises up a notch, strapping on a weighted vest might be exactly what you need. By adding extra pounds to your body, you’re increasing the resistance you face with each movement.

I recommend getting one of these if you want to progress with your regular bodyweight exercises (such as squats or push-ups) but don’t want to learn a bunch of new exercises (such as with the resistance bands or TRX, which can take some getting used to).

Weighted vests come in all shapes and sizes. You have ones that have 5 pounds and ones that go up to 80 pounds. The important thing here is to start slowly and gradually and move on from there. Also, keep in mind that you can typically adjust the weight of these vests. That means an 80-pound weighted vest can also be 60, 40, 20, or 10 pounds.

The only thing I don’t recommend you do is add a weighted vest to your cardio. This is typically way too hard on the joints and results in injury. Sometimes weighted vests are marketed as an addition to cardio workouts but please don’t believe this. Cardio is best done with your body weight only.

Remember, it’s not just about being tough; it’s about training smart. A weighted vest can be your ally in building at-home strength, as long as you use it wisely.

Grip Strength Trainers

Incorporating grip strength trainers can work wonders. These nifty gadgets aren’t just about hand strength; they play a crucial part in enhancing your overall lifting capabilities and forearm strength. That may not sound exciting immediately, but if you’re past 50 and slowly losing grip strength, these things can make a significant difference in the long run in your daily health and well-being.

These classic tools are simple to use and astonishingly effective for developing grip endurance. Set a target, squeeze away, and feel your forearm muscles getting in on the action. In that sense, you use them like you would work any other muscle.

On top of that, grip strength trainers are easy to incorporate into your day-to-day life, you can even work on your grip strength while sitting on the couch. So go ahead, give your grip the attention it deserves, and watch as your hand and forearm muscles thank you for it.

Steppers

When you’re looking to spice up your home cardio workouts, steppers can be your go-to fitness buddy. Imagine scaling steps without actually having to find a staircase. That’s the beauty of a stepper. It simulates stair climbing, which is a powerhouse move for building cardio in a space-efficient way.

One of the best things about steppers is their size. They’re small enough to slide under a bed or in a closet when not in use. Despite the size, they pack a punch for your cardio workout.

On top of that, resistance levels are often adjustable, which means you’re in charge of how intense you want your workout to be, perfect for when you’re ready to ramp things up a bit.

Also, steppers don’t only work on your cardio. When you’re stepping up and down, your body’s also learning to balance itself. It’s a great way to challenge your coordination, ensuring that both your mind and muscles get a solid workout. All you have to do is remember to keep your posture upright and engage your core.

If you don’t have space for a full treadmill, and jumping ropes is too hard on your joints, this may be the perfect alternative.