20 At-Home Fitness Equipment Items That Really Work in 2020

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published 27 November 2020

No matter where you are in your fitness and health journey, life during COVID-19 probably looks very different. Maybe you used to hit spin, boxing, and Pilates weekly and need a substitute for your beloved classes, or maybe you're using social distancing as an opportunity to try yoga or long-distance running for the first time. But with gyms and studios closed or at limited capacity across the country, it can be tough to find the equipment you need to optimize your workout and form a new routine that's isolation-friendly.

Fear not: The tools you're looking for (or don't even realize you need) can be delivered right to your door to help you create your own mini workout studio, even if your space is limited. When it comes to building your own personal fitness oasis, start by thinking about your goals, then go from there. Maybe you want to tone up a bit, get into yoga, or just blow off some election-induced steam. Then, pick out some pieces of equipment that'll help you reach those goals by targeting the muscles you want to flex, or ushering you towards the mental headspace you want to reach. And don't forget the accessories that'll amp up any workout—think wrist weights, a stretching strap, or a sweet new mat. Added bonus: some of them are cute enough to leave out after your sweat sesh has ended. Here, find the endorphin-spiking, form-fixing, muscle-quivering accessories that'll keep you on track and hitting new goals.

Bala Wrist and Ankle Weights

For Toning

To take any sweat sesh up a notch, slide on these Shark Tank-born bangles for extra resistance. The classic option only weigh a pound each, but don't underestimate them—they add more intensity than you think, can be used on both your wrists and ankles, and they're cute as hell, too. I'd move fast, though—they constantly sell out.

Tone Fitness Ab Wheel

For Abs

Bored of crunches? Kneel down, grip the handles of the wheel, then use your core to roll your body out flat and then back to your starting position. You'll be crazy sore in the morning, but that's the point, right?

Equipt Movement UBarre Weight

For Your Core

The most elegant weight you've ever seen has entered the chat. Use it to sculpt your abs with Russian twists and Pilates-inspired movements, then leave it on the coffee table as an objet d'art. (Maybe wipe it down first, though.)

Tangram Smart Jump Rope

For Cardio

If you can't fit a treadmill or rowing machine in your shared living room, jumping rope is a footage-friendly way to get your heart rate up. And this one records your fitness data and counts your jumps for you, so you can listen to a podcast instead of tracking your hops.

Theragun Body Massager

For Sore Muscles

Sure, it looks like something you'd find at Home Depot, but it's actually a shortcut to to quicker recovery and better performance. Based on percussive therapy—the use of rapid, short pulses against soft tissue to provide relief for sore muscles—the handheld massager comes with removable heads to target specific spots like your back, glutes, and feet. Fitness gurus and pro athletes spurred its cult following, but there's no shame in using it on the couch while you're binging Christmas movies.

Emoly Exercise Ball

For Your Obliques

It's been a workout staple since the '60s for a reason. Lay on it and use it for crunches or Russian twists, or pulse on it while you're working from home Dwight-style to strengthen your core.

REI Foam Roller

For Tight Muscles

This unassuming roller will unravel your knots and tightness if you've gone overboard on lunges. Stick the foam cylinder under your thighs or calves and rock back and forth—it feels intense, but major relief follows.

The DB Method Booty Machine

For Squats

If you don't nail down the right form, squats can end up working your quads more than your glutes, which means losing ample butt-sculpting power. Enter The DB Method, which puts you in the perfect position to shape your behind without putting stress on your joints. It folds up to fit under a bed in even the tiniest apartment, and it's been approved by one of Instagram's fittest families: Kim Kardashian gifted machines to her mother and sisters.

SPRI Kettlebell Weights

For Triceps

If you're looking to sculpt your arms and shoulders, reach for one of these neon-hued weights that'll give you a better grip.

P.volve Gliders

For Those Little Muscles

These little babies might not look like much, but slide them under your hands and feet and you'll feel the burn. Use them for lengthening and toning exercises that hit those hard to reach places like the crease of your butt and inside of the thighs. (Hot tip: the brand is offering a free 30-day trial right now.)

Renoj Booty Bands

For Glutes

Since many of us are still working from home, why not give our butts some definition while we're at it? Loop these around your thighs and flex, friends.

NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbells

For Weight Training

If you share your space with a partner who's even more jacked than you are, these customizable hand weights are a wise investment. Rather than storing multiple pairs of free weights and switching them mid-pump, simply add or drop the rings from the handles to adjust the heaviness.

TRX Suspensions

For A Full-Body Burn

If free-weights aren't your jam, rig up these TRX straps and use your own body weight to tone your muscles.

Yosuda Stationary Bike

For Bike Beginners

This bike is basically the deal of the year: It offers a super-smooth ride, it's quiet, and it's got hundreds of rave reviews. We're sold.

SoulCycle Stationary Bike...With Classes

For Serial Spinners

If you're missing your spin classes more than ever, SoulCycle's at-home option is a worthy investment. The bike has a built-in screen so you can maintain a membership and climb those virtual hills with an instructor cheering you on.

Manduka Stretching Strap

For Flexibility

If you've been negligent about stretching in the past because you're in a hurry, now's the time to readjust your thinking. Loop this strap around your ankles, knees, and feet to prep your muscles to work and help them cool down.

mirror Virtual Trainer

For Guidance

For those who miss the motivation of a class or the intimacy of a private trainer, this hi-tech mirror will revolutionize your solo sessions. Yes, the price is steep, but for good reasons: the smart mirror uses an algorithm to compare each of your sessions, tracks your results, offers over 10,000 classes and matches you with a personal trainer for on-on-one coaching. Consider it your own private, boutique studio.

Life Energy Comfy Mat

For Yoga, and Everything Else

While its primary use is to help you find enlightenment in downward dog, this yoga mat is the perfect buffer to make all your floor exercises more comfortable. Fire up a new fitness app and get to it.

RDX Punching Bag

For Cardio

In the mood to absolutely destroy everything in sight lately? Same. Take all your 2020 aggression out on this easy-to-store standing heavy bag.

Iron Gym Pull-Up Bar

For Biceps

Never attempted a pull-up? Now's the time to start. Rather than overcommitting and drilling a bar directly into your wall, this one uses resistance to attach your doorway and stay there until you're tired out.

Taylore Glynn is a former beauty and wellness editor for Allure. Previously, she served as beauty and health editor at Marie Claire and Harper’s Bazaar, and her work has appeared in Refinery29, Town & Country, Compound Butter, and RealSelf. She holds a master's degree in English and Creative Writing from Monmouth University. If you need her, she’s probably at the movies, braising a chicken, or evening out her cat eyeliner.