New year, new you. So how about new additions to your home gym?
After the ball drops, many New Year’s resolutions involve dropping a few pounds and getting back in shape after the holiday eating marathons come to a close for the season.
Staying actives comes in many forms — joining a running group, signing up for some yoga classes, or perhaps splurging on a gym membership. If you prefer to work out from the comfort of your own home, then look no further. The Post has tracked down the best home gym equipment out there, ranging from high-impact bikes and rowing machines, to mirrors and wall-mounts that take up little to no floor space but still pack a punch.
For those looking to add some larger pieces of cardio equipment to their home gym roster, head to our roundup of the best treadmills, best elliptical machines, and best indoor exercise bikes.
Take a look at the picks below and start building your dream home studio, so you can start slashing off all your New Year’s goals.
Best Overall Equipment: Tempo Move
Specs: weight collars (set of 4), 7.5lb dumbbells (set of 2), 35lbs of mixed weights and a cable pack
Pros:
- Customizable packages to fit your lifestyle needs and goals
- Built-in personal training
- Core uses your iPhone camera sensors to log your movements
Cons:
- More of a strength training focus — less for cardio
If you’re dealing with a smaller space and budget — the Tempo Move is definitely a great option. Instead of utilizing a built-in 42” touchscreen and 3D sensors like you can with the Tempo Studio, the Tempo Move gives you the opportunity to use what the brand calls the “Core,” which communicates with select iPhone models and most TVs to power the experience and help the user understand their fitness performance.
Editor’s Note: Weights can be overwhelming for beginners. From reading the reviews, it seems many Tempo Move users agree that the classes are a great way to learn the basics of strength training. “Being able to have a class and weights at home has been a game changer. My mood and health have improved greatly. 30-minute classes that push me have been the best. I leave each workout feeling accomplished,” one reviewer shared.
Best Splurge Indoor Bike: MYXfitness Bike
Specs: 3lb, 6lb, 9lb, 12lb, and 15lb dumbbells, kettlebell, stationary bike by MYX Fitness
Pros:
- 30 days to try it or your money back ($250 restocking fee applies)!
- 10-piece dumbbell set + kettlebell
- EVA foam roller + resistance band
- Healthy eating plans, recipes, and resources
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy —may require two people to move
- Detailed assembly required
The MYX bike is here to celebrate the holidays with you, bringing you a gift along with your new bike. The MYX bike itself comes in both a crisp white and a charcoal black, complete with a 21-inch touchscreen tablet to watch the MYX trainers in action for an additional membership of $29 per month. With hundreds of new workouts added weekly, replacing your gym membership with this has never been an easier decision to make.
Editor’s Note: As someone focused on improving their cardio routine, I can appreciate a bike with built-in motivation. The fact that the MYX Bike is designed to work alongside MYX trainers is a huge draw for me. I’m also a firm believer that overall health is just as much about diet as it is about exercise. This package also comes with healthy eating plans and recipes. For someone looking for a holistic approach to health, I can not recommend a MYX bike enough.
Best Workout Mirror: Echelon Fit Reflect 50″ Mirror
Specs: 50″ Fingerprint-resistance glass, 20″ x 50″ x 2″ inches
Pros:
- Saves space
- Easy assembly
- Variety of classes and workout types
Cons:
- Expensive
- No weights or additional equipment included
Take a good hard look in the mirror and decide this is the year for health and wellness. Ecehlon had the same thinking, introducing the Mirror as a must-have for your home gym. Instructors will come right into your home, well, digitally, as they are projected on the Mirror’s screen, letting you follow along while also making sure you are keeping good form. Explore more than 2,000 studio-quality fitness classes including HIIT, Core, Yoga, Pilates, Kickboxing, and more.
Editors Note: It’s all about cross-training and variety right? That is what I love about the Echelon Mirror. You can explore more than 2,000 studio-quality fitness classes including HIIT, Core, Yoga, Pilates, Kickboxing, and more. The Mirror mounts on the wall, which is ideal for small spaces — and doubles as a sleek home design accent!
Best Rowing Machine: Hydrow Basics Package
Specs: 86″ x 25″ x 47″ inches
Pros:
- Stunning crystal clear displays
- Rows guided by Olympians and champion Athletes
- 5,000+ workouts, from rowing to yoga to circuit training
Cons:
- Larger piece of equipment — takes up more space
- Expensive (also must pay $44/month for membership)
Row, row, row yourself gently into a fitness regimen made to burn calories and tone your whole body — well, maybe not so gently. The Hydrow in-home rowing machine has a package perfect for the fitness lover on your list. The Basics Package includes all the essentials for the best home rowing workout. It includes the Hydrow itself and then adds in the Machine Mat, which normally retails for $90, free shipping and a one-year warranty.
Editor’s Note: If you’re the outdoorsy type and you can’t get enough of the water, you’ll love rowing on this machine. The patented Hydrow technology expertly recreates the feeling of gliding down a river. The visuals are stunning, so much so, that you could convince yourself that you really are working out with an Olympian down the coast of California.
Best Guided Workouts: Tempo Studio
Specs: Tempo Studio frame, 5mm workout mat, 7.5lb dumbbells (set of 2), weight collars (set of 4), and a mixed set of 75 lbs
Pros:
- Freestanding, does not require mounting
- 42-inch HD touchscreen
- 360 degrees of storage space
- 3D Microsoft Azure Camera maps where and how you work out
Cons:
- Takes up more space than the wall-mounted mirror
Take a break from your bike, and let A.I. guide your workout. The Tempo Studio is a new fitness device perfect for any wall in your home, transforming it into a gym in an instant. The six-foot easel-like setup has a built-in 42-inch HD touchscreen and only takes up about three feet of floor space. Then, step back about six feet, giving you plenty of space and range of motion for any type of workout. The classes are held right on-screen, inspiring you to get going from your own home.
Editor’s note: On the fence about Tempo Studio? Just read the glowing reviews: “I’ve had Tempo since July. I was falling into a slump mentally and physically, but ever since I started doing the programs and classes I’ve done a 180. It’s the sense of accountability in taking the classes/programs that keep you consistent, and it was just what I needed. Best quarantine purchase.” If you’re ready to commit to a big life change, this could be your best investment.
Best Affordable Bike: Bowflex C6 Bike
Specs: 4.6 x 30 x 51.8 inches, 3lb dumbbells
Pros:
- Bluetooth capabilities
- Live, instructor-led cardio classes
- 100 magnetic resistance levels
- At-home assembly available
Cons:
- Heavy — could require two people to move
The Bowflex bike is a great way to hit the ground running, without ever touching the ground at all. The stationary bike has a backlit LCD metric console to display your heart rate, mileage and more. Equipped with Bluetooth capabilities and the ability to connect to other fitness apps, riding has never been easier or more interactive. The Bowflex comes with a pair of 3-pound dumbbells thrown in for free. In-home installation is offered for an additional $129, making it even easier to start cycling into the new year.
Editor’s Note: I’ve taken many cycling classes and sat on many indoor exercise bikes. The Bowflex doesn’t disappoint. I love that it offers a magnetic resistance dial with 100 resistance levels for everything from flat roads to steep climbs. It’s an exceptional Peloton alternative for someone looking for a smooth ride at a lower price point.
Best Full Body Equipment: Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE Home Gym
Specs: 53 x 49 x 83.25 inches
Pros:
- Offers a full-body workout
- 210 lbs of resistance
- In-home assembly available
Cons:
- Larger pieces of equipment — may require more space
Another offering from Bowflex, is way more than a bike. The Xtreme 2 SE home gym offers over 70 ways to work out, making for a never-boring and always-engaging home routine. The home gym contraption has a 210-pound resistance bar, a four-position lower pulley system and squat station, a squat bar, an ab-crunch shoulder harness and so much more to assist in the ultimate full-body workout.
Editor’s Note: Who needs a gym membership anyway? This home gym is equipped with multiple pieces of equipment to work out the lower and upper body simultaneously, for a complete workout on a time-crunch. For someone who already has some experience with strength training, this is an incredible option. Those looking for more guidance may stick to a machine that offer built-in classes.
Best Treadmill: Echelon Stride-6 Treadmill
Specs: 5.4 x 2.7 x 4.75 feet
Pros:
- LED Display Console Securely Holds Smart Devices
- Foldable for easy storage
- Allows for users up to 300 lbs
Cons:
- Primarily for cardio needs, not for those seeking strength training
- More expensive
Stride proudly into the new year with a treadmill smart enough to launch you into 2024. The Echelon Stride is a smart treadmill with a built-in screen to stream interactive workout classes using the Echelon app. Touch-screen controls are easily accessible to make your run as easy or hard as you want it, increasing or decreasing the speed and incline. When you’re done with your workout, the machine folds up to just 10 inches of floor space, making this a must-have for any small gym space or studio apartment.
Editor’s Note: A couple of things I look for in a treadmill: speed and resistance levels. This treadmill reaches up to 12.4 MPH which is more than enough for sprinting, and also allows 12.5 incline levels. Another great feature? The speed and resistance can be changed from the gauge on the handlebars, minimizing movement so you won’t have to throw your balance off to make those adjustments.
Best Boxing Machine: Intelligent Electronic Bluetooth Music Wall Mounted Boxing Machine
Specs: 15.75 x 2.95 x 15.75 inches
Pros:
- Great for hand-eye coordination in addition to strength training
- Compared to traditional sandbags, it requires less space
- Uses silent and anti-impact materials, so there is no noise during exercise
- Gloves and machine included
Cons:
- Six-month warranty period is shorter than other strength training equipment
- More targeted for upper-body strength training
Take a hint from the models and celebrities (Logan Paul, Gigi Hadid, Khloe Kardashian): Boxing is a great full-body strength workout, and you’re sure to look super cool doing it. This intelligent machine pairs via Bluetooth so you can jam out to your favorite music while keeping your eyes on the flashing, moving targets.
Editor’s Note: If you haven’t discovered boxing yet, now is your chance. Throwing punches happens to be a great way to kick up your heart rate while also releasing some stress. I’ve found that this smart boxing machine helps keep you practicing your aim (as opposed to just hitting a stationary punching bag). Try it out — it’s worth a shot!
Best Ab Workout: Stealth Core Deluxe Trainer
Specs: 24.2 x 23.3 x 6.7 inches
Pros:
- The Stealth Fitness app is free and includes 4 games: “Speed Gliding,” “Color Chase,” “Galaxy Adventure” and “Space Escape”
- Track your daily progress and see how you measure up with a real-time worldwide leaderboard
- Create and compete in challenges with friends and family
Cons:
- The games do not have a range of settings to tailor the difficulty level
- Some users suggest it is overpriced considering the size and material, but the games do make a difference
Forget planks, let’s have some fun while we work out! Meet the Stealth — a groundbreaking video game integrated core trainer. The machine carefully calibrates with your phone’s motion detector to recognize every movement you make into gameplay actions on the screen of your smartphone. Instead of counting your reps, compete for the highest score.
Editor’s Note: The Stealth is a simple game-changer for someone like me, who gets bored and distracted easily while working out. After just a couple of minutes, your core will be burning, and you will certainly feel it the next day. It’s one of the few ways I can convince myself to do an ab-workout.
Best for Glute Strength: Stealth Squat Trainer
Pros:
- An enjoyable way to get in a workout
- Comes with free access to the Stealth Fitness app
- Includes three free Squat Trainer games: “Space Jumper,” “Skate Chaser” and “Tough Runner”
Cons:
- Some shoppers said they wish there were more games to choose from
- Requires a sturdy door to be mounted on
Trick your brain into enjoying workouts with this fabulous option from Stealth. With the squat machine, you can play games on your phone while performing squats, pulses and twists at multiple angles for a complete lower-body workout.
Editor’s Note: There’s no reason to go to the gym to squat when you can use this Stealth Squat Trainer that offers as much entertainment as it does a workout. Squats are another exercise that can become very repetitive. Adding in the micro-adjustments by following the movements in the game makes a huge difference. Just wait to see how your glutes feel after five minutes with this device.
Best for Low-impact: Stamina SpaceMate Folding Stepper
Specs: 30.25 x 16.25 x 54.5 inches
Pros:
- Comes pre-assembled, and should take under 20 minutes
- Low-impact option
- Affordable
- Foldable
Cons:
- Not the best choice for those seeking advanced workouts
Step it up this year, with a compact stepper made for easy use and easier storage. From Dick’s Sporting Goods, the SpaceMate folding stepper is a great alternative for a bulky bike or treadmill, while still providing heart-pumping cardio. The machine features dual hydraulic cylinders for easy resistance-level changes throughout your workout and a digital display monitor to track your time, steps, calories and RPM.
Editor’s Note: Those looking for a low-impact workout should consider a compact stepper like this one. Many reviewers say they began using this machine to workout after suffering from minor injuries and surgeries. “It’s affordable, effective, convenient and folds away in 30 seconds when you’re done! I just don’t see the downside here!” one person shared.
For more recommendations, check out the New York Post shopping section.