A personal trainer shares 5 at-home workout tools you should own

Mara Leighton

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AmazonPictured: Bowflex Dumbbell Set with adjustable weights.

Whether it’s to cut down on costs, travel time, or working out in a crowd of people and with limited machines, doing your workouts at home is appealing if you’ve got the space and the equipment.

If you’ve ever hit a gym in the city in that 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. window, you’ve likely thought about how nice this would be if it could be done at home.

But while I would probably rather sweat myself into a puddle in the comfort of my own basement, I lack the exercise equipment that makes my at-home workout as punishing (and therefore ‘worth it’) as my workouts in the gym. If I’m going to do it, I want it to be challenging.

I think a lot of us feel this way, and we’re not altogether sure which home exercise accessories pack the most bang for their buck. We’re not going to spend the same as our local gym, replicating their machines, because of a) money and b) space, so it pays to know which exercise accessories stretch the furthest for their dollar.

I asked Chris DiVecchio, a personal trainer based out of LA recently seen on Good Morning America, to help me out. Below you’ll find his picks for the five at-home accessories you should buy, plus why he loves them.

Since they might outstrip the average person’s budget, we picked some lower-priced options to compare them to, too.

All prices are in Australian dollars.

1. Vyper Foam Roller

Amazon

Foam rolling is one of the most crucial components to any program I design because it increases range of motion and mobility. More mobility means more muscle fibre recruitment, which translates to bigger and stronger muscles. The Vyper is the top dog in this world, with a vibrating device that helps to open the fascia even more.

DiVecchio's pick: HyperIce Vyper 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller, $228

Affordable comparison: TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller, $50.95

2. PRX Performance Racks

Amazon

When building a home gym, having enough space for equipment is always a problem. These racks solve that problem by taking up only a small amount of wall space and providing versatility for multiple exercises.

DiVecchio's pick: PRx Performance Profile Rack (as seen on Shark Tank), $65 - $1,017

Affordable comparison: Cap Barbell Deluxe Power Rack, $265

3. Bosu Ball

Amazon

This product is cost effective, doesn't take up much space, and provides versatility for multiple exercises. I love training clients on the Bosu Ball because it requires them to perform each move with control. Take a push-up and make it more advanced by doing body Bosu push-ups to incorporate balance and stability.

DiVecchio's pick: Bosu Balance Trainer, $130

Affordable comparison: Balance Ball with Resistance Bands & Pump balance trainer, $80

4. Assault Bike

Amazon

HIIT is the new wave of cardio. The assault bike is a triple threat for the amount of money you'll spend on this piece of equipment. It allows you to quickly and effectively complete a great cardiovascular workout while, again, taking up very little space.

DiVecchio's pick: LifeCORE Fitness Assault Air Bike Trainer, $1,020

Affordable comparison: Schwinn Upright Exercise Bike, $665

5. Bowflex Dumbbell Set

Amazon

Everyone has different athletic abilities and goals. Trying to outfit a home gym with a full dumbbell set would take up a lot of room. This dumbbell rack is the all-in-one solution when it comes to price and allows you to adjust the weight of the dumbbell from 5 to 52.5 pounds. These adjustments let you continue to make your workouts more advanced as you get further in your fitness journey.

DiVecchio's pick: Bowflex SelectTech 522 Adjustable Dumbbells Pair, $385

Affordable comparison: Yes4All Adjustable Dumbbells, $75 - $240

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