Lucky Business/Shutterstock"> clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

How to Build Your Home Gym From Scratch

By Laura Gurfein
No, your shaggy throw rug doesn't count as "fitness equipment." Image via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-434191p1.html">Lucky Business</a>/Shutterstock</span>
No, your shaggy throw rug doesn't count as "fitness equipment." Image via Lucky Business/Shutterstock

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Welcome to Workout Wednesday: every hump-day, we'll be rounding up some of the city's hottest fitness trends and studios.

Winter is coming. No, that's not a Game of Thrones reference—that's just the cold, harsh truth. And if this winter is anywhere near as cold and harsh as the last one, it'll be ridiculously hard to leave your house for anything, and certainly not for the gym (Going into subzero temps while sweaty? No thanks). But you don't need to cease fitness because of the weather—just bring the gym home.

We've picked out some good home fitness equipment to keep your gym routine going from the comfort of your home, all of which will fit within a studio apartment. From the basic yoga mat to the maybe-slightly-impractical portable ballet barre, check out our selections, ranked in order of necessity, after the jump.

The Stupid Simple Basics

  • A yoga mat. And if you're going to be using it a lot, it might as well be pretty. Magic Carpet Yoga Mats, $98 each at Anthropologie
  • Super light dumbbells. Little weight + lots of reps = MObamarms. Fitness Gear 2-lb neoprene dumbbell, $2.99 each at Dick's Sp
  • Resistance Bands. Have a little more fun with these than this guy, please. Everlast resistance stretch bands, $18.99
  • A medicine ball. Amplify those twisty boat-pose crunches by, like, a million. Century vinyl blue medicine ball (10 lb),

A Little Bit Fancier, Now...

  • A jump rope. Might want to take this one outside (space concerns, downstairs neighbors, etc.)—use your best judgment. Sweaty Betty skipping rope,
  • Something to step up on. This one's helpful for those dance workout videos, but can also be used for non-Zumba activities (if you can believe it!). Zumba Rizer,
  • A foam roller. We chose the miniature one because studio apartments. Pro-Tec Athletics foam roller, travel size, $14.99 at
  • A balancing board. Do some squats with that medicine ball on this thing and get the body of a goddess. SKLZ Balanz board,

Now This Is How to Be a Homebody and a Gym Rat Simultaneously

  • This pedaling thing. Never have to choose between sitting on the couch and going on a bike ride again! (Can also be used for upper body, miraculously). Mabis pedal exerciser, $29.
  • A weighted hula hoop. Turn that carefree childhood activity into ~fitness~. Danskin Now 2.5-lb fitness hoop, $13.51 at Walmart
  • Your very own barre. In case the back of your couch is not quite the right height. Portable ballet barre, $99.95 at cardiobarre.com
  • Adjustable dumbbells. So that you don't have a nuclear family of weights gathering dust under your bed. PowerBlock 24-lb adjustable dumbbell set, $159.99 at Dick's

Research assistance by Hannah Eshaghian

· All Workout Wednesday Posts [Racked NY]