9 Affordable Workout Gadgets For The Home
Exercise equipment needn’t be expensive. You can still pack in a killer workout without having to invest in hundreds of pounds worth of equipment. We’ve curated a list of nine fitness gadgets, starting from as little as a fiver, that are both affordable and will still help you achieve your fitness goals.
Ankle Weights
Ankle weights certainly aren’t the most fashionable footwear you could invest in but they certainly do a great job at strengthening your calf muscles, gluteal and quadriceps. These small weights help you burn more energy when you’re out for a walk or run, helping to both add a little challenge to your regular exercise route and tone your muscles at the same time. If you are going to use ankle weights when you run, it’s important to do your research prior to going out as they should be used carefully due to the resistance and pressure placed on your legs and ankles.
When starting out with ankle weights, it’s important to begin with smaller weights and gradually build yourself up, just as you would with regular dumbbell weights. We love this SPRI ankle weight set from John Lewis as they’re adjustable and will ease you into your ankle weight journey.
Yoga Mat
Whether you’ve a newfound love for yoga YouTube videos this spring or you’re looking to revamp your raggedy hand-me-down yoga mat, these humble mats should be the backbone of your at-home workouts. Even if you aren’t a yogi enthusiast, these mats provide protection for your lower back exercises so next time you attempt to do a bicycle crunch, you can rest assured that you’ve got a little protection rather than just attempting it on your hard, wooden floor.
We really rate the TOPLUS yoga mat that’s made with eco friendly material and is also designed to provide you optimal grip so you won’t be sliding all over the place as you perfect your crow pose. Manduka also has a great selection of mats available – we love the eko travel mat, that’s both incredibly lightweight and is made from natural rubber.
Resistance Bands
An easy at-home workout gadget is of course resistance bands. These lightweight rubber bands are great for on-the-go workouts, whether you’re at the park or travelling, and help to strengthen your arm, ab, back and leg muscles quickly and easily. They’re also really handy for those who are recovering from an injury and are looking to help build up their muscles gradually.
Foam Roller
If you’re feeling a little tight from yesterday’s workout, a foam roller will help you relieve muscle tightness and help reduce inflammation. We swear by Core Balance’s collection of foam rollers – we even have one in our office – as they help you get back on your feet, ready to take on your next fitness challenge.
Ab Roller
Everybody wants great abs, not everyone is willing to put in the extra effort to achieve them. Enter the ab roller. This trusty workout gadget will help you increase muscle activation in your core. The AB Carver Pro Roller is designed to help increase results quick and effectively.
The AB Carver Pro Roller is designed to help increase results quick and effectively.
Kettlebells
A kettlebell is one of those wonder workout gadgets that targets several parts of your body at once. To target your abdominal area, the kettlebell works best when used in conjunction with your usual squats, crunches and lunges. When you’re targeting your abdominal area through these workouts, you’re of course working on your leg and glute strength too. Like your traditional dumbbell, you’ll want to work your way up to higher weights as you get stronger and strengthen your muscle areas.
Skipping Rope
Another easy and simple workout gadget is a skipping rope. You’ll feel like you’re channeling your inner child using one of these but we promise you that you’ll be burning more calories than you think jumping from swing to swing. It’s even been estimated that just ten minutes of using a jump rope equates to running for an eight-minute mile! Reap up the fitness benefits simply with a trust skipping rope.
Just ten minutes of skipping a day will help stabilise your balance as well as provide you with a killer cardio workout.
Exercise Sliders
Reinvent your at-home workout with the humble exercise slider, also known as an exercise glider. They aren’t for the faint of heart but they will see you scoring your fitness goals off in no time. These trusty gadgets will help to elevate your usual lunge, burpee or leg curl by allowing you to focus on your core or set area while you slide and strengthen.
Luckily too, exercise sliders are one of the cheaper workout options, you can pick them up for less than a tenner. Bonus.
TRX Training
TRX training, also known as total resistance exercises, was first developed by Randy Hetrick, a former US navy SEAL. Using his experience attained in the navy, the TRX concept helps you strengthen, balance, flexibility as well as activate your core to another level.
This handy set is also extremely lightweight so wherever you are, you can reap all of the fitness benefits without a worry.
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