Why Do You Want a Home Gym?

A home gym only works if you actually use it. If you’ve been training consistently for years but want to cut down on travel time. Or you want to build your own fortress of solitude, then a home gym is probably a great idea.

But, if you have very little training experience or you struggle to stay consistent with training, you should reconsider. Especially, if can’t stand training in the cold and you a planning to build a unheated home gym. A classic scenario is that people in unheated home gyms, quit during their first winter. Also, consider how important the social aspect is to you.

I’ve talked quite a few friends out of getting home gyms after they saw mine and suddenly wanted one too. But knowing their struggles with training consistency, I suggested they join a class-based gym instead. A home gym is a fantastic tool, but only for those who can truly commit to using it.

What Is Your Training Style?

This might seem obvious. But it’s easy to get carried away when you see a great deal or a glowing review on social media. I’ve been guilty of it too. If you mainly do bodybuilding, do you really need that €70 sandbag or a €300 kettlebell set? The full kettlebell collection that never gets used, is truly a home gym classic.

For beginners, you should stick to the basics that match your training style. If you’re a powerlifter, your setup should revolve around a rack, barbell, and plates. If you’re a bodybuilder, dumbbells, a pulley system, and maybe a Smith machine would make more sense. CrossFitters are better off investing in a pull-up bar, kettlebells and a cheap conditioning tool like a plyometric box or a sled.

Once you’re fully invested in the home gym lifestyle, you can start experimenting with different equipment and training styles to keep things fresh. But in the beginning, staying focused on what you actually need will save you a lot of money.

What Are Your Short-Term Needs?

Before you go all-in, consider what’s absolutely necessary for you to get in proper training sessions. Is your home gym for accessory training while you still maintain a commercial gym membership? Or will it be your primary training site? This will affect how much equipment you will need.

If your budget is tight, you need to be strategic. If buying a full dumbbell set takes up all your funds, you should consider getting adjustable dumbbells instead. This way you leave room for other essential starter purchases that will improve your initial training experience.

You can always buy the full dumbbell set later on and sell the adjustable dumbbells. I would rather start my home gym with five cheap but functioning pieces of equipment instead of one expensive piece. You will quickly grow tired of a limited selection of available exercises.

Avoiding Bad (and Expensive) Purchases

For beginners, I always recommend starting small. Test the waters. Figure out if the home gym life is for you. Once you have used your home gym persistently for ~6 months, you should adopt the “buy once, cry once” mentality. This is a great rule to follow as you start to upgrade your home gym.

This does not mean that you have to buy the most expensive pieces available. Those are often commercial grade pieces. This just means that you are paying extra for an extended warranty that will never be relevant in a home gym setting. It is more about avoiding the ultra budget unbranded equipment that you will end up selling of again within 6 months. Spending 20-50% extra will often make a massive difference in quality and user experience.

How do you then avoid the crap equipment? First of, don’t assume that the most advertised products on Amazon and Google are the best choices. That’s often not the case. Some of the most renowned home gym equipment won’t show up in most peoples google search. Instead join the home gym communities on Reddit or Facebook. And check out my ultimate list of gym equipment brands.

The used market is another goldmine that you should not overlook. During the pandemic, gym equipment was overpriced and hard to find, but now the opposite is happening. Tons of panicked people who bought home gym gear are now trying to sell it because they never actually used it. This means you can find excellent starter pieces for cheap. And if you change your mind or you want to upgrade later on, you can usually resell it with minimal loss.

The Non-Equipment Essentials

A home gym is more than just racks and weights. Don’t neglect proper flooring. Getting this right from the start will protect both your equipment and your home. No one wants to deal with cracked tiles or a ruined wooden floor because they cheaped out on mats. Check out my article on essential flooring tips.

Storage is another factor that’s easy to overlook. If your gym is a cluttered mess, it won’t feel inviting, and you’ll be less likely to use it. Check out my article on cheap storage solutions. The same goes for temperature control. Are you planning to train in a freezing garage or a scorching-hot attic? If so, you need to consider short term and long term ways to make it more comfortable.

Entertainment is also a game-changer. A cheap used stereo or TV can make your workouts much more enjoyable. And since you’re training at home, there’s no need for headphones or gym etiquette. Check out my article on essential home gym accessories.

Final Thoughts

A home gym can be one of the best investments you ever make for your health. But only if it fits your needs, budget, and training style. Start small, be patient, and focus on the essentials. Later on toy start upgrading and “buy once, cry once. The goal is to create a space where you actually want to train—not just collect expensive equipment.