13 Home-Gym Essentials For Your Next Workout

Ikea Dajlien Exercise mat ($50)

Ikea recently came out with their Dajlien line, which is full of home gym essentials meant to blend seamlessly with the rest of your decor. We love this exercise mat. It's nice and big — so much room for activities — and because it's an oval instead of the traditional rectangle, it looks more like a rug than an exercise mat at first glance.

PS Bar Weight 3lb ($7)

Light weights are so versatile — use them for high-rep workouts to increase the burn, or during cardio exercises to add some strength benefits in. These PS Bar Weights are a perfect 3 pounds, and are Neoprene coated to be both durable and soft to the touch. Plus, the pink color will make you want to keep them out on display when they're not in use.

Aurora Athletica Gym Towel ($15)

When you're working out at home, a good towel is an essential piece of home gym equipment — you don't want your drips of sweat to mess up your hardwood floors or sink into your carpet. We love this gym towel, which has a luxe feel and is good for sensitive skin.

PS Premium Cable Jump Rope with 9ft Adjustable Length Cord ($13)

The benefits of jumping rope are too numerous to list, and it's another easily stashable home gym essential to add to your cache. This cute green one has a cable-style rope that swivels easily while you're getting your cardio workout in. (Maybe best if you don't have neighbors below you; if you do, avoid doing your jump rope workout too late at night or early in the morning!)

Stakt Foldable Yoga Mat ($88)

With a multi-purpose design in mind, the Stakt foldable mat is a unique pick for any fitness enthusiast. Featuring a non-slip surface, the mat can be folded during a workout session or for easy storage. Portable and lightweight, this foldable mat from Stakt is perfect for small spaces and home gyms.

PS 8lb Soft-Shell Kettlebell ($20)

A kettlebell is a real workhorse piece of equipment, so it makes a ton of sense to invest in one as part of your your home gym essentials. This periwinkle option has a soft coating, so it won't rip up your hands while you're doing kettlebell swings, shoulder presses, or other kettlebell exercises.

PS Aerobic Step Deck ($30)

You heard it here first: step aerobics is back in a big way. These workouts are so much fun — you might not even notice how hard you're working (but you definitely will the next day, when your lower body will be intensely sore). Plus, they can be adjusted to be low-impact if that's a concern. This stable step deck is a must have if you're interested in trying out a step-up workout, and it can be used in your everyday routine for knee-ups, split squats, and more.

XTERRA Fitness TR Folding Treadmill ($619)

Foldable treadmills got so popular over the past few years, with people using them to get their steps in while working from home. This particular model is our favorite because it folds up small but goes fast enough to actually let you run, not just walk, making it especially versatile.

PS 3-in-1 Resistance Tube Kit with Interchangeable Tubes ($20)

You'll get light, medium, and heavy strengths with this kit, and the hands are padded to feel comfortable on your skin as you perform tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, and more. If you're not sure about investing in dumbbells, tubes are a fantastic alternative, as you can perform many of the same strength moves and even get a full-body workout — and they save so much space.

TriggerPoint GRID Patented Multi-Density Foam Massage Roller ($69)

No home gym would be complete without a foam roller for recovery. This one is one of the highest rated on Amazon. People love it because it's firm enough to really get the kinks out, but the padding is soft enough to avoid feeling like a torture device. This 15-minute foam roller routine is a great place to start.

PS Fabric Hip Bands ($15)

This pack or two hip bands are designed for lower-body exercises, and they're genius: because they're fabric, they won't roll up mid-move or dig into your skin uncomfortably. They stay in place, without hurting you, so you can focus on getting the best burn possible.

Theragun Sense from Therabody ($219)

For post-workout recovery, percussion-based modalities have been rising in popularity. Theragun Sense massage gun from Therabody even offers guided breathwork sessions through an app. Read our shopping editor's full review here.

PS Core Sliding Discs ($10)

We have a love-hate relationship with sliders. They great home gym equipment because they're so small (and these are dual-sided, so they work on wood or carpet). But slider exercises are guaranteed to leave you so sore post-workout, we have to work up the courage to reach for them.

India Yaffe was an associate editor on the Shopping team at PS for five years. She focused on curating the best fitness, fashion, beauty, and home products on the market for the PS audience.

Mirel Zaman is the health and fitness director at PS. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health and wellness space, covering fitness, general health, mental health, relationships and sex, food and nutrition, spirituality, family and parenting, culture, and news.

Jade Esmeralda, MS, CSCS, is a health and fitness staff writer and a strength and conditioning specialist. A lifelong martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength and conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in exercise science and strength and conditioning from George Washington University.