Perform24 Ultimate Home Gym Equipment Recommendations
2020 has been the year of the home gym.
Training equipment is worth its’ weight in gold, and it’s nearly as hard to find as toilet paper.
All jokes aside, I think it’s great that people find value investing in tools for themselves. Also, I’ve made a little side-hobby watching the ebbs and flows of the cost of equipment selling locally on Facebook Marketplace. Overall, I think the home gym movement is great. And, the price-gouging we saw at the beginning of lockdowns has decreased dramatically.
I decided to start an evolving list of equipment that I have personal experience with and that I commonly recommend to people building home gyms.
The criteria for this equipment list is simple.
I’ve used it. My clients have used it. My wife has used it.
It’s held up over time. This stuff doesn’t break.
It’s practical, has multiple uses, and doesn’t take up a lot of space.
The new or used value is fair. These pieces aren’t always the cheapest on the market, but I’ve been burned multiple times getting the cheaper option and then replacing it shortly after. “Buy Once, Cry Once.”
If you check regularly, new and used options should be available. Nothing on this list has been out of stock or unavailable for more than a couple weeks.
Here are my Home Gym Recommendations
Strength Equipment
Best Home Rack - Sorinex OFF GRID Rack
*Caveat - This is the only piece on the list that I haven’t personally used. However, Sorinex is a trusted brand, has a lifetime warranty, and many of my athletes have purchased this exact rack with excellent feedback. I’ve used other Sorinex equipment for years and their reputation is A+. Also, the combination of price, versatility, and footprint of this rack is hits a sweet spot. I’ll be building a new home gym in spring 2021 and this is one of the options I’m considering.
Bench
Honestly, benches are expensive. If' you’ve got the cash and want to spend it, I’ve got six of these Rogue Adjustable Benches at the gym and I love them. However, My wife and I don’t use a bench at home. We can do all our pressing movements from the floor. If you want to elevate yourself off the ground, I would suggest searching for an old “Crossfit Box Jump” on Facebook Marketplace and using that instead. One of my buddies, Jacob Ross, posted a creative way to use a physio ball as an incline bench on Instagram this week. Get creative, and don’t buy a cheap bench.
Bumper Plates - Sorinex Recon Lite Bumpers
These are the bumpers my wife and I use at home. They’ve got great bounce, which protect the floors of your home. The cost is fair, I’ve used cheaper ones that end up becoming rock solid after 2 months.
If you’ve got a rack, add the landmine attachment. Adding a landmine to your setup creates dozens of additional strength training exercise options (without requiring additional space). There’s also a product that allows you to drop a landmine inside a stack of bumper plates. Rogue sells a good option that you can usually find used on Facebook Marketplace.
If you’ve trained with me, you know I use these all the time. We use them in warm-ups, and use them in combination with many strength movements to increase muscle activation in your glutes or scaps. Typically, I’ll capitalize on sale prices that are run on either Amazon or directly from Perform Better shop. Usually I’ll purchase the better deal in packs of 10. Eventually, these do snap and you’ll need to replace them. But, that’s the cost of having your glutes activated :)
I love these bands because the tension stays consistent throughout the stretch. Cheap bands will stretch to a point and then they’ll stick. The Elite FTS Bands have fluid flex and they’ve been stretched thousands of times by clients at the gym. You won’t need to replace these for a long time.
A solid knee pad opens the door for comfortable 1/2 Kneeling positions. The 1/2 Kneel position is a game changing setup for many exercises. Again, comfort and versatility for a small price. Granted, at Perform24 I do use the more expensive option, Airex. But, this black version from Amazon is a better value and it’s easier to keep clean.
TRX - Find Used on FB Marketplace
I’ve seen dozens of TRX Suspension trainers sell for under $100 over the last few months. I guess people don’t use them? Or don’t know how to use them? The ability to do Glute Bridges, Standing T’s, and Inverted Rows are worth the cost of the straps alone. Use the doorframe mounting straps, permanently mount the strap to a wall, or hang it from a rack. Small space, big training impact.
Barbells, Dumbbels, Plates, Kettlebells - FB Marketplace
If you just need something to load, look on Facebook marketplace first. I can’t speak for other geographical areas, but here in Tampa there are 20-25 local options on any given day from people selling barbells, plates, dumbbells, or all together as they purge their “storage unit.”
Pro Tips!
Barbells - Before you buy it, place the barbell on the ground and roll it. Make sure it’s straight. Don’t buy a wobbly or warped bar. Also, if the bar is already rusted, maybe stay away. You can clean it up and keep rust off easy enough, but that does require a little maintenance. You may or may not be okay with that.
Plates - Take a scale. Make sure the weights are accurately cast. You don’t want a 48lb plate on one side of your bar and a 43lb plate on the other. Rust doesn’t really matter on these, it adds character (in my opinion).
Dumbbells - If you don’t care about matching sets, you can easily outfit a cost-effective home gym with a random assortment of brands. Stay on a Marketplace search for a couple of weeks. I would start with 10lb increments, and then fill out the 5lbs later. If you do care about matching sets… you’ll pay for it. Your call!
Kettlebells - Don’t buy a rusted one. If the handle is welded it can break with rust. One or two kettlebells (a light one and a heavy one) can totally transform your training at home.
Soft Tissue Maintenance
I’ve used these for years. The inside rim doesn’t crack, and the foam stays stiff. They get rolled and smashed dozens of times a day and I’ve never had one break. Perform24 Approved.
Massage Gun - Hyperice Hypervolt
I always recommend the Hypervolt because it’s a great gun but it’s not the top of the market. This gun will get into your deep tissue, and it’s quiet enough you can use it while you’re watching TV or having a conversation. Some of the higher tier “professional grade options,” are too loud to also maintain a conversation. Keep an eye on Amazon and the Hyperice website for competing prices as you can regularly find a good deal.
Nutrition
I don’t take many supplements. But, when I do, BPN is my first choice. I’ve worked with them since April and I stand by their business ethics, their Certified Drug Free stamp by BCSG, and their overall business mission. I’m a fan of Strong Greens and Strong Reds, and my wife loves their Nutter Bar Blast Protein.
Remember, code “Perform24” will save you 10% at any BPN checkout.
Apparel
I mean, this is the only option, right?
I also wear lululemon shorts. They offer a lifetime warranty and have a no-questions-asked return/replacement policy. This is priceless to me as I tend to wear the seams out of my shorts in places that really, really need seams.
I hope this was helpful! Please let me know if there’s anything you would like me to add or cover. I’ll be updating this list as I feel it’s relevant.