Home Gym Guides
Expert advice, honest comparisons, and practical guides to help you build a better home gym.
New to home gym building?
Start with our complete beginner guide. Everything you need to know about building your first home gym on a budget.
Setup Guides
Complete setups for different budgets and spaces
How Much Does a Home Gym Cost UK? (2026 Budget Guide)
How much does a home gym cost in the UK? Budget: £250-350. Mid-range: £800-1,200. Garage gym: £2,000-3,500. Real prices with product picks at every tier.
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Home Gym on a Budget: Complete UK Guide
Best home gym budget UK plan: PROIRON dumbbells (£80) + Mirafit bench (£150) + pull-up bar = £320 fully equipped. Phased month-by-month buying plan included.
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Best Workout Playlists on Amazon Music (and the Gear to Listen on)
The best workout playlists Amazon Music offers: Power Hour for lifting, Cardio Hits for HIIT. Plus the best home gym speakers and earbuds to hear them.
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Home Gym for Small Spaces: UK Apartment Guide
MuscleSquad dumbbells are the best small space home gym pick at 42cm wide. Add a foldable bench and resistance bands for a complete flat-friendly setup.
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Garage Gym Setup: Complete UK Guide
Flooring before equipment: that's the garage gym setup mistake most people make. Rubber tiles (£100), rack (£150), barbell (£200). Full UK build guide inside.
Read guide →Comparisons
Head-to-head comparisons of popular equipment
Treadmill vs Elliptical: Which is Better for Home Gyms?
Treadmill vs elliptical: the elliptical is the smarter default, with zero joint impact and quieter in flats. The treadmill only wins for dedicated runners.
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Peloton Bike vs NordicTrack S22i 2026
In the Peloton Bike vs NordicTrack S22i matchup, the S22i wins for most buyers — incline, hybrid pedals, 12-month iFIT included. Peloton wins on community.
Read guide →Free Weights vs Machines: Which is Better for Home Gyms?
Free weights vs machines for home gyms: free weights win on cost, versatility, and functional strength. A £200 dumbbell set beats 10 machines for most buyers.
Read guide →Peloton Bike vs Bike+ 2026
Peloton Bike vs Bike Plus: the standard Bike is enough for most — same classes, same leaderboard, £850 saved. Bike Plus only wins for Power Zone training.
Read guide →Barbell vs Dumbbells: Which Should You Buy First?
Barbell vs dumbbells for home gyms: dumbbells win for most beginners — versatile, safe, no rack needed. Barbell when you're ready to squat and deadlift heavy.
Read guide →Kettlebell vs Dumbbell: Which is Better?
In the kettlebell vs dumbbell debate, dumbbells win for beginners: more versatile and easier to learn. Add a kettlebell once the basics are mastered.
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Home Gym vs Gym Membership: UK Cost Analysis
Home gym vs gym membership verdict: a £500 home gym pays for itself in 10 months at the UK's £48/month average. Full cost breakdown including the hidden fees.
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Rowing Machine vs Exercise Bike: Which is Better?
Rowing machine vs exercise bike: most end up using the rower — it works 86% of muscles and stays more engaging. The bike wins when quiet and compact matters most.
Read guide →How-To Guides
Training tips and equipment setup
Buying Guides
Best picks for specific needs and budgets
Best Home Gym Equipment UK 2026
PowerBlock + Mirafit bench is the best home gym equipment UK setup for most buyers. Three budget tiers from £200 — 12 products ranked and compared.
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Best Treadmills UK 2026
JLL T350 (£399) is the best treadmill UK value pick with a 5-year motor warranty. NordicTrack EXP 7i (£699) for smart features. Sole F63 (£999) for runners.
Read guide →Best Elliptical Cross Trainers UK 2026
JLL CT300 is the best elliptical cross trainer UK budget pick. Marcy C80 wins for genuine stride. Reebok GX50 for serious training. Three compared.
Read guide →Best Adjustable Dumbbells UK 2026
MuscleSquad 32.5kg (£200) wins the best adjustable dumbbells UK value test. PowerBlock Elite for serious lifters. Five sets compared by weight range and build.
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Best Resistance Bands UK 2026
The best resistance bands UK by type: Gritin (£9) for loops, BOB AND BRAD (£25) for full-body tube work, Victorem (£16) for glutes. All three compared.
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Best Exercise Bikes UK 2026
JLL IC200 at £150 wins the best exercise bike UK budget test. JLL IC300 at £250 for serious training. Peloton alternatives that save £1,000+ are included.
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Best Pull Up Bars UK 2026
AmazeFan multi-grip (£35) is the best pull up bar UK all-round pick. Iron Gym Original (£25) for the classic. JX Fitness (£20) for budget. Three bars compared.
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Best Home Gym Flooring UK 2026
The best home gym flooring UK: EVA foam (from £50) for cardio, rubber-top hybrid (£55) for mixed training, rubber crumb (£25/m²) for heavy racks. Three types.
Read guide →Best Rowing Machines UK 2026
Concept2 RowErg wins the best rowing machine UK performance test but costs £1,000. Dripex magnetic at £250 for quiet flats. Air, magnetic, water types compared.
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Best Barbells UK 2026
BodyPower Olympic bar (~£80) is the best barbell UK starter pick. Mirafit M3 20kg (~£140) for serious lifting. Budget to performance barbells compared.
Read guide →Best Weight Benches UK 2026
Mirafit M150 (£150) leads the best weight bench UK test with 300kg capacity. Budget foldable from £90, heavy-duty FID at £280. Five benches compared.
Read guide →Nike Adjustable Dumbbells Review 2026
Nike adjustable dumbbells review: 10-65 lb cast iron at $899/pair. Solid build, but PowerBlock and NordicTrack match the performance for half the price.
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Best Kettlebells UK 2026
The best kettlebells UK pick: Amazon Basics at £30 for starters, Yes4All at £50 for serious training. Cast iron, competition, and adjustable types compared.
Read guide →Best Power Racks UK 2026
Mirafit M1 is the best power rack UK buy at £150: 250kg capacity, dip bars included. Compare squat racks to full cages. Every budget from £100 to £500.
Read guide →US Guides
Same expert research, with US pricing, retailers, and product availability.
Setup Guides
Home Gym on a Budget: Complete Guide
Best home gym budget plan: Yes4All dumbbells ($89) + bench ($99) + pull-up bar ($35) = $223 complete. Month-by-month buying plan for building a proper setup.
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Garage Gym Setup 2026 | Complete Build Guide
Flooring first: the most common garage gym setup mistake. Rubber mats, rack, barbell, bench. Full step-by-step build guide with layout and budget from $1,600.
Read guide →Home Gym for Small Spaces: Apartment Guide
PowerBlock Elite is the best small space home gym pick: it fits anywhere. Add a foldable bench and bands for complete strength training in under 10 sq ft.
Read guide →Comparisons
Kettlebell vs Dumbbell 2026 | Which is Better?
The kettlebell vs dumbbell verdict: dumbbells first for beginners — more versatile. Add a 35 lb kettlebell once the basics are solid. Both from $280 total.
Read guide →Home Gym vs Gym Membership: Cost Analysis
Home gym vs gym membership verdict: a $600 home gym pays for itself in 10 months vs the $720/year US average. Full cost breakdown including the hidden fees.
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Rowing Machine vs Exercise Bike 2026 | Which is Better?
Rowing machine vs exercise bike: most end up using the rower — it works 86% of muscles and stays more engaging. The bike wins when quiet and compact matters most.
Read guide →BowFlex SelectTech 552 vs PowerBlock Elite 2026
The BowFlex SelectTech 552 vs PowerBlock debate is settled: the 552 was recalled in 2025 (3.8M units). PowerBlock Elite EXP is the best replacement to buy now.
Read guide →Concept2 RowErg vs NordicTrack RW900 2026
Concept2 RowErg vs NordicTrack RW900: Concept2 wins for most buyers, with no subscription and lower total cost. NordicTrack suits class-driven rowers only.
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BowFlex 552 vs Results Series 552 2026
BowFlex 552 vs Results Series 552: the original was recalled, so the Results Series 552 is the one to buy now. Here is what changed and who should skip it.
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Tonal 2 vs Speediance Gym Monster 2 2026
Tonal 2 vs Speediance Gym Monster 2: Speediance wins on price and flexibility; Tonal 2 on polish. For most home gyms the Speediance is the call. Here is why.
Read guide →Buying Guides
Best Treadmills 2026
The best treadmill for home use: NordicTrack T 6.5S at $649 for budget, ProForm Pro 2000 at $1,099 for incline, Commercial 1750 at $1,799 for runners.
Read guide →Best Home Gym Equipment 2026
PowerBlock Elite ($499) + adjustable bench ($179) is the best home gym equipment setup for most buyers. 12 products from $99–$1,200 compared and ranked.
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Best Resistance Bands 2026
The best resistance bands by type: Fit Simplify loops at $10 for beginners, TheFitLife tubes at $25 for full-body, Tribe fabric at $20 for glutes. Compared.
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Best Elliptical Machines 2026
Schwinn 430 ($599) wins the best elliptical machine value test with 22 resistance levels. Schwinn 470 for power incline. NordicTrack FS14i for 3-in-1 training.
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Best Pull Up Bars 2026
AmazeFan multi-grip ($35) wins the best pull up bar test for all-round use. DMoose no-screw ($25) for budget. Both fit standard doors — no drilling, no damage.
Read guide →Best Adjustable Dumbbells 2026
The best adjustable dumbbells compared: PowerBlock Elite at $499 for speed, Bowflex SelectTech at $349 for ergonomics, Yes4All at $89 for tight budgets.
Read guide →Best Exercise Bikes 2026
The best exercise bike for home gyms: Sunny Health SF-B1002 at $199 for budget, Schwinn IC4 at $799 for serious training. Peloton alternatives that save $1000+.
Read guide →Best Weight Benches 2026
REP AB-3000 ($299) is the best weight bench for most home gyms — adjustable, stable, 1,000+ lb rating. Budget foldable at $99, heavy-duty at $350. Five compared.
Read guide →Best Rowing Machines 2026
Concept2 RowErg wins the best rowing machine test for gym-standard performance. Dripex magnetic for quiet apartments. Three resistance types compared.
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Best Kettlebells 2026
The best kettlebells for home gyms: Amazon Basics at $35 for starters, Yes4All at $50 for serious training. Cast iron, competition, adjustable types compared.
Read guide →Best Power Racks 2026
Titan T-2 ($299) is the best power rack value buy with 700 lb capacity. REP PR-4000 for serious lifters. Squat racks vs full cages compared from $200 to $600.
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Speediance Gym Monster 2 Review 2026
Speediance Gym Monster 2 review: an all-in-one AI cable gym that folds to under 3 sq ft. Worth it if space and convenience beat cost. Here is who should buy.
Read guide →Find Your Perfect Equipment
Browse our expert guides for racks, barbells, plates, benches, and more.
View Beginner Guide