7 Best Inexpensive Home Exercise Equipment

Updated on May 26, 2020

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Staying in shape for your sport doesn't have to cost a lot. More and more people are opting to forgo the expensive gym membership and workout at home when their schedules permit. And working out when you want can often mean you are more likely to stick to an exercise routine. There is an endless variety of ways to find inexpensive exercise equipment or create a free workout routine when you're on a budget. And some group exercise classes can cut the cost of a gym membership in half.

Here are some great exercise equipment values and inexpensive or free workout ideas for staying fit at home or on the go while on a budget.

The Jump Rope

Woman jump roping — Liam Norris / Taxi / Getty Images

This may be the ultimate piece of workout equipment. Jump ropes are inexpensive, small and portable, and they offer a scalable workout that can be easy or extremely challenging, depending upon your fitness level and goals.

Dumbbells

Dumbbells are relatively inexpensive and provide an amazing variety of resistance-training routines. Check out the sports equipment section of your local Craigslist or Play It Again Sports for better deals.

Running Shoes

Running is a great low-cost workout. Shoes are important but needn't break the bank. Research shows that moderately priced shoes work just as well as expensive ones. Look for a shoe that works for your foot type and running style.

Bodyweight Workouts

Bodyweight workouts are a combination of simple calisthenics. Bodyweight exercise may require a bit more creativity and personal initiative than other types of exercise, but they often provide better results. Develop a routine of exercises and move from one to the next quickly. Consider the pushup as the foundation of this workout, and add squats, lunges, jumping jacks, and so on.

Fitness Boot Camp

bootcamp workout — Westend61 / Getty Images

A fitness boot camp is a type of indoor or outdoor group exercise class that mixes traditional calisthenic and body weight exercises with interval training and strength training. These fitness classes, such as CrossFit, have grown in popularity over the years primarily because they offer a new way to get a low-cost, efficient and challenging workout.

Pre-Owned and Used Exercise Equipment

Sports equipment — Emilija Manevska / Getty Images

If you know exactly what you want, you can often find it on your local Craigslist, Play It Again Sports or in the classified ads of your local newspaper. Before you spend a lot of money on the equipment, though, make sure it's in good working order, of high quality and something you plan to use. Even if you aren't sure of your long term intention, buying used equipment will save you money.

Fitness DVDs

Home workout — AleksandarGeorgiev / E+ / Getty Images

For a fairly low investment, you can get your own trainer in your living room. The right DVD should be a safe, balanced workout that is interesting so you don't get bored or outgrow it too quickly. Here are some ideas:

P90X
Billy Blanks Boot Camp Workouts
The Firm Workouts

Another solution is to visit your local library. Most have many fitness DVDs that can be checked out for free.

1 Source

Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Andersen JJ. Expensive running shoes are not better than more affordable running shoes. RunRepeat. 2020.

By Elizabeth Quinn, MS
Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics.

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