What is a Good Budget for a Home Gym?
Investing in your health and fitness should be a priority. Having the ability to train in your own environment is key to helping many people achieve their fitness goals. As such, home gyms have become increasingly popular. However, we are aware that starting to purchase home gym equipment can be daunting; you are likely wondering, 'What is a good budget for a home gym?'
Well, the good news is that here at Exersci, we offer affordable, high-quality equipment for all fitness levels. Furthermore, this blog will cover what equipment purchases we recommend based on your budget and provide some tips for how to optimise your budget!
Setting Realistic Expectations – What Affects the Cost of a Home Gym?
Firstly, some factors may shape your budget. For instance, your available space and training goals will impact this.
The size of the space you have available will determine the amount of equipment you can purchase. It is very common for home gyms to be small in nature, most been transformed from spare rooms or garages. This means you need to be smart with your purchases! Focus on versatile pieces of equipment that you can use across a range of movements. Furthermore, when having smaller spaces, having the correct storage items is crucial! Although increasing your budget slightly, it will also enhance the safety of your space, reducing the risk of trips.
Your training goals will also massively impact the expense of your home gym. For example, cardio machines are notorious for being on the more expensive side. Luckily for you, the Exersci endurance machines offer a considerably lower cost than others, providing more affordable endurance machines. Additionally, you have to consider whether more traditional strength movements will be completed, for example, back squats, as this may require you to purchase a power rack to support the heavier loads.
Budget Breakdown – What Can You Expect at Different Price Points?
Entry-level Budget (< £500)
For many people's first time building their home gym, this is the typical range that is spent. We recommend focusing on more versatile pieces of equipment. This way, you can complete a variety of exercises with minimal equipment. This includes pieces like resistance bands, dumbbells and kettlebells.
Mid-range Budget (£600 – 1000)
Once you get into the mid-range budget level, you should shift your focus to be more centred around your training goals. Free weights are highly recommended in this budget range as they also offer versatility, especially when paired with an adjustable bench. This will allow you to build muscular endurance, strength and hypertrophy, making them essential for all training goals.
This budget range also allows you to start thinking about an endurance machine within your space to improve your cardiovascular health. We offer a range of endurance machines at Exersci, but for this budget, we recommend more full-body endurance machines, such as the Air Bike or rowing machine.
Premium Budget (£1000+)
For premium setups, we recommend going all out, ensuring you have heavier dumbbell sets to progressively overload and maximise your gains. We also believe that incorporating equipment to allow for compound movements is essential. The Olympic bars and racks should definitely be put on your shopping list so you can perform squatting, bench press, military press, etc.
Additionally, specialised flooring is required when performing heavier lifts to protect your flooring from dropping weights or performing heavy deadlifts. We also highly recommend purchasing storage. This will keep your gym free from trip hazards and provide a professional look to your space.
Optimise Your Budget Buy Smart
When it comes to optimising your budget, going for long-lasting, durable equipment is crucial. Here at Exersci, we pride ourselves on producing high-quality and durable equipment with our extensive background in engineering and manufacturing. This also improves safety, as you are less likely to experience equipment failure during exercise.
Furthermore, investing in versatile equipment that is relevant to your training goals is crucial to optimise your budget. For example, adjustable sets are a great way to start as a beginner, whilst providing the option to progressively overload (Which is essential for muscular hypertrophy and strength).
Additionally, start with smaller pieces and gradually build your inventory. You don't have to jump in and spend thousands of pounds immediately; you can build your collection gradually. This will also allow you to improvise and experiment with different movements to maximise the potential of your equipment, enabling you to discover your own training preferences.
Essential Equipment to Include First
With any gym, there are a few 'must-haves' that we recommend. Such as:
- Dumbbells/Kettlebells
- Workout bench
- Endurance machine (e.g., Rower, Ski Erg, Air Bike or Treadmill)
- Resistance bands
- Weighted vests
By incorporating these pieces of equipment in your home gym, you will be able to add versatility to your workouts and progressively overload to optimise your muscular gains. For instance, the Exersci adjustable dumbbells are a great example here, whereby you can start off with relatively low loads and progressively increase the load, which is determined as essential for muscular development (Source).
By including endurance equipment in your training space, you are able to improve your cardiovascular health, which is crucial for quality of life. For more information on our endurance machines, see our previous blog where we discuss the benefits of the Rowing Machine, Ski erg, Air Bike and Curved Treadmill - "Why Every Home Gym Needs Endurance Machines" [LINK WHEN PUBLISHED]
Conclusion
Building a home gym is possible with most budgets, but it is important to be smart by investing in durable and versatile equipment to ensure you get the best value for your money. It is important to view your home gym as an investment in your health and performance. With that mindset, are you ready to start investing in your health?
Check out Exersci's range of home gym equipment on our website 'www.exersci.co.uk'.
