One of the few things that was able to keep me sane during the 2020 lockdown was the ability to do a really high-quality workout from the comfort of my own home.
For many people, fitness is an integral part of their life & when COVID took away all of our traditional places of exercise, it caused a mass surge in demand for equipment that could be used easily within the confines of a condo or house.
Here is the best home workout equipment for weights, yoga / pilates, running, cycling & rowing in 2021.
Weights
BowFlex SelectTech ~ $239 - 999
One of the hottest selling items of 2020 were dumbbells.
Seriously, you couldn't find them anywhere!
Traditionally people will buy a dumbbell set ranging from 5-80 lbs in individual weights which takes up a considerable amount of space & usually requires the addition of some sort of rack to hold them.
The BowFlex SelectTech solves this problem as it allows you to easily dial in your desired weight from one single console.
This is perfect for condos & smaller home gyms as it has a very minute footprint yet allows for a large range of weight selection.
In the SelectTech dumbbell lineup, you can choose between the smaller variation (552) which offers 5 - 52lbs or the larger version (1090) which goes from 10-90lbs.
Having personally owned this item before, I can attest that it is a great system to use and the ability to quickly swap between weights is really handy!
It isn't perfect though.
It does have a bit of a different profile than a traditional dumbbell which I found slightly cumbersome on certain exercises as it would knock into my body/leg/etc.
Kettlebell
The SelectTech also comes in a kettlebell variation which ranges from 8 - 40 lbs via the same dial system the dumbbell's use.
Pent Fitness Colmia Dumbbells Set ~ $495 +
One of the most luxurious fitness brands on the market right now is Pent Fitness who have developed a range of high-end workout equipment that is both aesthetically-pleasing & functional.
They offer entire dumbbell & kettlebell sets, a foam roller, jump rope, core balance platform, push-up bars, workout bench, leather fitness mat, punching bag & medicine balls along with everything else you'd need to complete your dream home gym.
Tonal Smart Home Gym ~ $2995
Arguably the coolest piece of workout equipment out there right now is the Tonal smart home gym system.
This compact unit utilizes digital weights & is able to offer 200lbs of resistance in addition to over 170 guided exercises.
What's really cool here is that you have a 24" touchscreen display that vividly shows your current weight selection, workout program, stats + so much more.
You can also pair this with an additional 3 attachments for further workout possibilities and add their bench, roller & mat for a complete home gym setup.
Yoga / Pilates
B Mat Strong Long 6mm Mat ~ $104
A staple of any great home gym is a really good yoga mat!
Having gone through several different brands over the years, B-Mat stands out as the best in terms of quality & comfort for the price.
They offer a wide variety of lengths, thicknesses & colours so you can get exactly what you're looking for.
Elevated at Home SPX Reformer Package ~ $5199
For the pilates fans out there, the Elevates at Home SPX Reformer system from Merrithew offers a high-quality platform in a relatively compact package.
What's great about this system is that it can also be used with Merrithew's Connect program which allows you to do guided digital workouts on demand.
Running
Peloton Tread ~ $3295
An expansion for the Peloton world which saw great success in the cycling community is now transitioning towards running with their Peloton Tread that incorporates the same model of having live & on-demand workouts always available.
This is all bundled together in a high-quality piece of equipment that sports a massive 24" screen, a front-facing camera + a ton of great little features.
What's unique about the Peloton platform is that it specializes in running or cycling but also offers traditional workout plans which can be enjoyed from the large screen.
In addition, you can have one membership for the entire family which makes it a worthwhile investment should you need something that everyone in the home can use.
Sprintbok by NOHrD ~ $7300
If you're looking to run indoors with a bit more style, the SprintBok by NohrD is a fantastic option as it offers a curved treadmill completely made out of wood that is fully manual in operation.
Unlike a traditional treadmill which uses a belt system to move the platform below you, the SprintBok requires you to power its movement.
Many people have come to prefer this method as it is more realistic to running out in the real-world & the curved nature tends to promote a better running form.
On top of this, it also features a 17" screen which can be used to follow along on guided runs/walks, check your stats + some other functionality.
Zwift ~ Running
If you'd like to make your indoor running experience a bit more immersive, you should give Zwift Running a try!
What's really great about the Zwift platform is that you can incorporate any of your existing treadmill equipment & augment it with the Zwift virtual world which allows you to run through various maps with other people in real time.
RunPod ~ $53
The cheapest way to get setup for Zwift running is with the RunPod which only costs $53 & essentially acts as a cadence monitor that propels your virtual avatar in Zwift with any treadmill.
Runn ~ $132
Should you want to invest a bit more into the Zwift running world, you can get the Runn adaptor which fits onto existing treadmills & monitors you speed from there.
Cycling
Wahoo Kickr Bike ~ $4999
If you're looking to splurge on a really great indoor cycling setup, you can't go wrong with the Wahoo Kickr which is a super compact smart bike that allows for customizable gearing & integrated grade changes that correspond to accents/descents in Zwift & Sufferfest.
This is a great option if you have multiple people in one home that all plan on using the bike as it can easily be adjusted and configured for various different sizes.
Elite Fuoripista Smart Bike ~ $19,000
This phenomenal piece of art combines structural & architectural beauty to create a truly unique indoor cycling experience.
Made from wood, glass & aluminum alloy, no expense has been spared on putting together this exquisite piece of equipment.
You get the same level of customization that the Wahoo Kickr offers in terms of sizing which makes it usable to numerous people.
Tacx Neo 2T Smart ~ $1999
Considered the gold-standard for smart bike trainers, the Tacx Neo 2T Smart attaches to your existing road bike making for a super powerful & compact trainer system that works with Zwift & various other cycling apps.
What's different about this smart trainer vs. others on the market is that it actually allows for a bit of side-to-side motion which mimics real-world riding.
Zwift - Cycling ~ $20/month
My favourite way to stay fit & pass the time this winter has been to immerse myself into the Zwift cycling world which features various events, races, group rides & workouts for you to enjoy.
Used in conjunction with a smart trainer or bike like the ones above, you can augment your home workouts with a fun digital world that's more akin to playing a video game than it is working out.
What's really great about Zwift is that you get to choose from various different maps to ride on which always keep thing interesting & there are typically over several thousand people riding at any given time so a real sense of community is developed!
Rowing
The Hydrow ~ $1995 USD
Called the Peloton of the rowing world, the HydroRow combines the utility of a traditional rowing machine & pairs it with the digital/interactive workouts that have been made popular by Peloton.
Several smart design features make this model stand out vs. its competitors such as the ability to easily raise it up to reduce the equipment's footprint in your home + do scenic trips through various waterways around the world.
Summary
2021 is going to be an explosive year for the home workout sector so we'll be sure to keep you updated with any new products or services as the year goes along!
Which one of these pieces of workout equipment would you get for your place?
Let me know in the comments section below!
Rylie C.
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