Home gym starter kit for a small space: what to buy first
A home gym does not need a spare room. Start with one or two cheap pieces, use them for a few weeks, and only then buy the next one. The list below goes from the smallest spend to the biggest. Some items are sold on Amazon US and others on Amazon Germany, so check which store delivers to you. The descriptions are based on the makers' information, not on our own testing.
Based on listed specifications, not hands-on tests. Most links are partner links.
1. First buy: resistance bands
Resistance bands
Five bands with five resistance levels, so you can step up gradually. They take up almost no space and work for strength moves, stretching and Pilates. Check them for tears before every workout.
2. A mat for the floor work
Amazon Basics extra-thick yoga mat
A 1 cm thick foam mat makes core work and stretching much kinder on knees and back. It rolls up and has a carrying strap. A mat this thick feels less stable in standing yoga poses.
3. Cardio in one square metre
Tangle-free speed jump rope
A jump rope is the smallest cardio tool you can own. This one has a steel cable with ball bearings and an adjustable length. Set the length before your first workout, and mind the ceiling height and the neighbours below.
4. Push-up bars: easier on the wrists
Readaeer push-up bars
The bars keep your wrists straight during push-ups and come apart for storage. Each weighs only 250 g. The listed load limit is 100 kg.
5. Light dumbbells for a start
Amazon Basics neoprene dumbbells
Neoprene-coated hand weights with a non-slip grip that are gentle on floors. They suit toning and beginner routines, but they are too light for heavy strength training. The weights are in pounds: 5 lb is about 2.3 kg.
6. The upgrade: adjustable dumbbells
Bowflex SelectTech 552 adjustable dumbbell
When light weights stop being a challenge, one dial-adjusted system covers 2.3 to 23.8 kg and saves you a whole rack. It is the most expensive item here, so buy it only once you train regularly. At 40 cm long it is bulkier than a fixed dumbbell.
7. Later: a weighted vest
ZELUS weighted vest
A vest makes walks and bodyweight workouts harder without taking up floor space. It comes in versions from 6 to 30 lb (10 lb is about 4.5 kg). Start light and build up slowly, especially for running.
Which one to choose
If you buy only two things, make them the bands and the mat: together they cover a full-body workout. Add the jump rope for cardio, and leave the adjustable dumbbells for when the habit has stuck. If you have an injury or a health condition, ask a doctor before you start a new routine.