When it comes to training at home, the choice of bodybuilding equipment is crucial to optimizing your sessions and making rapid progress. Let's take a look at the different types of equipment available on the market and their advantages, to help you select the right home gym equipment for your goals and your space.
What are the advantages of home training?
First of all, it's worth noting that training at home has several advantages over going to a gym:
- You can train at your own pace and according to your own schedule, regardless of the gym's opening or closing times;
- You always use your own equipment and don't have to wait for it to become available;
- Your investment often pays for itself in the long term, compared to the additional costs of gym memberships.
What basic equipment is needed to start weight training at home?
Floor mats: comfort and versatility
The floor mat or gym mat is an essential accessory for practicing various physical activities in the comfort of your own home. It offers several advantages:
- Impact protection thanks to its soft surface;
- Insulates from cold, damp soil;
- Makes it easier to perform exercises requiring lying down.
Depending on your sport, there are mats with different characteristics: thickness, size, materials, quality... Take the time to compare models carefully to find the one that best suits your needs.
Body-building benches: essential for working the upper body
The weight bench is ideal for those who want to build strength and muscle mass at home. Here are just a few of its highlights:
- Offers a wide variety of exercises for the upper body(pectorals, back, shoulders, arms, abdominals);
- Can be inclined or declined to work muscles at different angles;
- Often equipped with supports for dumbbells and bars.
Many people combine this machine with a squat rack, to extend the range of exercises even further, especially for the lower body.
Single vs. multi-purpose benches
There are two types of benches, depending on their level of versatility:
- Simple benches: these have a flat, sometimes inclinable surface on which to perform various exercises with dumbbells and/or barbells;
- Multifunctional benches: these are equipped with several exercise stations (high pulley, leg curl, butterfly, etc.), enabling a large number of muscle groups to be targeted in a single machine.
Think about space constraints when choosing your bench: multifunctional models will generally be larger than single benches.
Barbells and dumbbells: deep work and progression
Barbells and dumbbells are the flagship accessories for home weight training. They offer a wide variety of exercises for the whole body and are suitable for all levels of fitness. Thanks to their adjustable weight, you can adapt the load and progress at your own pace.
The different types of bars
There are three main types of bars for bodybuilding:
- Straight bar: used for basic movements (squat, bench press) that involve several muscle groups;
- EZ bar: its curved shape makes it easier to work the biceps and triceps by limiting tension on the wrists;
- Trapeze bar: for specific back exercises such as deadlifts, while relieving stress on the spine.
Bars are often accompanied by a bar-stand, a useful accessory for certain exercises.
Fixed vs. adjustable dumbbells
You can also choose between two types of dumbbells:
- Fixed dumbbells: these have a predefined weight and are generally sold in sets with different loads;
- Adjustable dumbbells: their load can be adjusted by adding or removing weight discs. This system is more economical and saves considerable space.
In all cases, prefer models with rubber or neoprene coverings to minimize the risk of damage to the floor and attenuate impact noise.
Bodybuilding elastics: a different approach
Elastic bands are an excellent complement to dumbbells and pull-up bars, especially if you're short on space. They allow you to work both upper and lower body, and offer progressive resistance thanks to their tension system. Elastic bands:
- Strengthen stability by stimulating the stabilizing muscles;
- Easily transportable and inexpensive compared to other equipment;
- Efficient warm-up for muscle-building sessions.
It's a good idea to have several resistance levels available to adjust the intensity of your workouts.
Consider your goals and priorities
When choosing the right bodybuilding equipment for you, it's essential to consider your goals and priorities. If you want to improve your general fitness and endurance, cardiovascular machines such as treadmills, elliptical trainers or rowing machines may be an interesting option.
On the other hand, if your aim is to develop and tone your muscles, the emphasis should be on equipment adapted to weight training and strengthening. In this case, consider acquiring a complete dumbbell kit as well as a squat cage or pulley rack to maximize your workout in complete safety.
Consider available space and budget
Of course, buying home gym equipment also means taking into account the space available in your home. It's vital to dedicate adequate space to each machine or accessory so that you can perform the various movements correctly and comfortably during your session.
On the other hand, budget also plays an essential role when purchasing bodybuilding equipment. Remember that you can always start with basic, low-cost equipment and gradually invest in more advanced accessories, such as a complete weight station, to complete your gym.
Home gym equipment: summary
In short, choosing the right equipment to start weight training at home may seem complex at first, but with the advice mentioned above, you'll be able to make an informed decision based on your goals, available space and budget. Take the time to study each option carefully before making your choice, and never forget to be regular in order to achieve concrete results!
