Best home gym setup (2026): adjustable weights, resistance bands and more

To join or not to join a gym: That’s the question. If you opt out of building a home gym, you can join a club and have access to more weights and machines. Friends and classes motivate you to keep coming, and that monthly bill keeps you disciplined. On the other hand, gym memberships are steep, workouts can be hijacked by bullies, and going to the gym is an additional commute.

However, my gym inertia will probably catch up with me. One of the most consistent messages of health and fitness experts today are that lifting weights has immeasurable benefits. Strength training enable us to continue doing the things we love into our advanced years. Item you lower blood sugarlowers 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 linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer and offers a 10 to 17 percent lower overall risk of early death.

But you don’t need all the time and money in the world to have a great home gym. Reviews editor Adrienne So and I have been slowly adding to our existing minimalist home gyms 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 out there, but for maximum results, I asked two physical therapists—Grace Fenske at Excel North Physiotherapy and Performance and Samuel Hayden at Limit less physical therapy– for their recommendations.

Here’s a PT-recommended guide to an ultra-simple setup that will keep you pumped and motivated. Don’t see anything you like? Do not forget to our existing guides to the Best running shoesthe Best fitness trackersor the Best Walking Pads.

Adjustable dumbbells

Yes, these are very expensive. But people outgrow their little dumbbells very quickly, and if you get stuck early, adjustable dumbbells take up a lot less space than individual dumbbells or kettlebell sets. Claiming 38 patents, the Nüobell adjustable dumbbells 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 it’s a game changer.

The way both Steph’s Nüobells and my Nike adjustable dumbbells work is that the full barbell fits into a cradle. (You can also mount the barbells in a stand.) When the user turns the handle to five pounds, the grooved aluminum bar will grab onto the first hollow plate, which is 2.5 pounds on each side of the barbell. 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 that the barbell weight is locked in place before being lifted.

I like my Nike dumbbells because the end of the dumbbell is flat, which means I can rest it on its tip on my thigh without putting a divot in my leg. The plates are not round either. If you have a large round dumbbell on the floor, or especially in your garage, it will find the nearest tip and roll away on top of a pet or child. You can still take individual plates out of the rack if you need them for leverage under your heel or for mobility exercises. Whichever you choose, both Steph and I recommend getting a floor stand to reduce the strain on your back. —Adrienne So