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Every pick on the site

10 products, grouped by the job they do. Each one has a page explaining what it is good at, what to check before buying, and who it is not for.

Strength training

Weights and benches for a home gym, and what decides whether they get used.

3 picks in this category
Dumbbells and weight plates on a rack

Strength training

Bowflex adjustable dumbbells, 5–50 lb

One pair of dumbbells that stands in for a rack of fixed pairs, with a dial to change the load.

Best for
Small flats, and anyone who trains alone with dumbbells and has nowhere to store a rack.
Watch out for
The shell around the plates is plastic and does not enjoy being dropped; these are set down, not thrown.
Check price and availability
Flat weight bench in a home gym

Strength training

REP Fitness flat utility bench

A flat bench with a narrow pad and a wide base, so your shoulders and your feet stay where you put them.

Best for
Pressing with dumbbells or a barbell in a room where the bench stays out of the way.
Watch out for
It is flat only. Anyone who wants incline work needs a different bench, and a heavier one.
Check price and availability
Barbell loaded with weight plates

Strength training

Rogue Olympic barbell, 20 kg

A straight 20 kg bar with a knurl that grips without tearing and sleeves that turn.

Best for
A garage or ground-floor room with a rack, plates and space to set the bar down.
Watch out for
A bar is useless on its own: plates, a rack and floor clearance come first, and all of them take room.
Check price and availability

Cardio at home

Machines that let you train indoors without leaving the building.

2 picks in this category
Treadmill in a training room

Cardio at home

NordicTrack folding treadmill with incline

A treadmill that folds upright, which is the feature that decides whether it stays in the room.

Best for
Walking or running indoors in a room with a spare power point and a hard floor.
Watch out for
Deck length is what makes a run comfortable; a short deck changes how you land.
Check price and availability
Elliptical training machine in a home gym

Cardio at home

Bowflex stepper and elliptical hybrid

A compact machine that mixes a stepper with an elliptical, so the arms and the legs work together.

Best for
Small rooms where a treadmill will not fit, and short sessions at a high effort.
Watch out for
The motion is fixed. It is not a substitute for a treadmill if you want to run.
Check price and availability

Recovery and mobility

Rollers, mats and percussion devices, described by how they are built.

3 picks in this category
Percussion massager on a table next to a mat

Recovery and mobility

Theragun percussion massager

A handheld percussion device: a motor in a handle, an arm, and a set of interchangeable heads.

Best for
Anyone who prefers a small handheld unit to a larger one and will keep it charged.
Watch out for
Amplitude and stall force decide what the device can do; extra speed settings on their own mean little.
Check price and availability
Foam roller and mat on the floor

Recovery and mobility

TriggerPoint foam roller, 13 inch

A hollow roller with a rigid core and a textured surface, so it keeps its shape under body weight.

Best for
Floor work before or after a session, in a room with enough space to lie down.
Watch out for
The textured surface is firm. A first roller is easier to start with in a smooth version.
Check price and availability
Yoga mat rolled out on a wooden floor

Recovery and mobility

Manduka yoga mat, 5 mm

A dense mat that lies flat, grips when hands warm up, and does not shed foam crumbs.

Best for
Floor work, stretching and bodyweight sessions on tile, concrete or floorboards.
Watch out for
A closed-cell mat is heavier than it looks and takes a few sessions to lose its slick surface.
Check price and availability

Hydration and camp

Bottles and tents for the days you train outside.

2 picks in this category
Insulated steel water bottle outdoors

Hydration and camp

Hydro Flask insulated bottle, 32 oz

A double-wall steel bottle that holds temperature and stays dry on the outside.

Best for
Training sessions, day walks and anywhere you carry your own water.
Watch out for
It is heavy when empty compared with plastic, and a wide mouth spills easily while drinking on the move.
Check price and availability
Dome tent pitched at a campsite in the evening

Hydration and camp

Coleman dome tent, 4 person

A dome tent with simple poles and a fly that covers the roof, for weekends out.

Best for
Weekend camping and a base for day walks from a campsite.
Watch out for
The quoted person count assumes sleeping mats only, so four people in a four-person tent is a tight fit.
Check price and availability