Personal trainers make their living working with clients at gyms, but many of them also train clients in their own homes, meaning they have to think on their feet — depending on the tools and machines available. A talented certified trainer can take one look at the gear you have on hand and craft a unique workout that’ll push you to your max. Whether a trainer walks into a full-on basement kitted out with the best gear possible, or just a cleared out corner of your apartment, the key is making do with what you have — creating a challenging workout with what’s available.
To help you get your home gym ready for any trainer (not to mention help you prep for summer), we talked with four experts to hear about what you need in a home gym. We asked how each of them works out, what tools they always keep on hand and what a perfect home gym looks like. Here are the 14 gear items you need to stock your gym and work your body to the max.

Lindsey Clayton

Barry’s Bootcamp Trainer

Clayton teaches coaches at Barry’s Bootcamp — the intense weights and treadmill workout that has a cult-like following. She also coaches Brave Body Project classes and still finds time to exercise on her own while training for the New York City Marathon. “For me, a home workout needs to be something that I can do with virtually no equipment (hello tiny NYC apartment), and it needs to be fun, quick and have an element of stretch/restorative movement to it as well,” Clayton says. Here are her top five picks.

Woodway Treadmill

“This is hands down the best treadmill on the market. The slatted belt reduces impact and provides more cushion when you land. It feels like you’re running on a cloud. I’m a runner, so on days when the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s perfect to hop on and log your miles that way.”

TRX Trainer

“The TRX trainer and suspension system is the perfect addition to any home gym. TRX uses gravity as your resistance, so you can get an amazing full-body workout and make it as easy or as hard as you want. Because you’re working against gravity on all of the exercises, you’ll automatically get in extra credit work. It’s easy to set up — all you need is a door for the anchor.”

Power Systems Gliding Discs

“[Gliders are] another one of my favorite tools that weigh nothing and takes up virtually no space. They are a great way to mimic moves you’d see on a Megaformer,” Clayton says.

B-Force Bands

“I love resistance bands, especially for glute activation before my run, but they are so versatile you can essentially do an entire workout with just one band.” Check out some exercises using resistance bands here.

Rep Fitness Heavy Weight

“If you don’t want to take up a lot of space, but still want to lift heavy, get one weight or heavy kettlebell that you can use for a unilateral work. Unilateral exercises have been shown to increase muscle mass and solve strength weaknesses between the right and left side of the body,” Clayton says.

George Foreman III

Owner of Everybody Fights

In 2013 George Foreman III opened up The Club in Boston to help share his methodologies. Foreman III finished his boxing career with a perfect record of 16-0 back in 2012, and continues to train to this day. Foreman III’s gym EverybodyFights has expanded since then to include five locations across New York and Boston, with a sixth studio in Philadelphia in the works.

“The key to a great workout at home is to have the ability and space. Treat it like a gym: buy a great mat, maybe set up a rubber floor. A big part of the being consistent and enjoying a workout is the atmosphere,” Foreman III says.

Aquabag

True to his roots, Foreman III recommends a punching bag — and a double-ended bag. “A double ended bag is filled with air, has bands on top and bottom, and helps you work on precision. The more you learn how to box, you can throw fast, powerful and precise punches, and the double-ended bag will give you a great workout without hurting your hands,” he says.

For beginners, Foreman III recommends the Aquabag. “The beauty of an Aquabag is that for a person who doesn’t know how to box, it’s hard to hurt your hand because it bounces back off the bag,” he says.

Concept 2 Rower

“I would not have a gym without one. Especially as a boxer, most of boxing is pushing out and you have to do the recall, pulling the punches to balance it out.”

Sonos

“For music, I stream a playlist on Spotify through my Sonos,” Foreman III says.

Bianca Vesco

Personal trainer and coach at NYSC Lab

Bianca Vesco teaches some of the toughest classes at New York Sports Club Labs. For her perfect home workout routine, Vesco has a winning combination: “a cardio burst, balance and stability training, and strength training,” she says. “I usually have clients do strength and stability together and cardio on its own. There are a million ways to train the human body, and there’s no right or wrong here. You will find a routine that your body responds to through trial and error, so continue to mix it up.”

NordicTrack Treadmill

“A treadmill is necessary for cardio purposes,” Vesco says. “Especially if you live somewhere with a cold winter and can’t run inside, there are no excuses when you have cardio equipment inside.”

Bosu Ball

“This piece is an absolute must. When I take on a new client, I make sure they have a Bosu as part of their home gym. It is one of the most beneficial, versatile pieces of equipment and doesn’t take up much space. Balance and stability work should be part of everyone’s routine. It doesn’t matter how strong you are if you can’t stabilize your movements at the same time,” Vesco says.

Dumbbells

“Having free weights is a no-brainer when it comes to strength training. Not everyone has the room or money to put an entire cable system or barbell rack in their home gym, but there are a few options. Most people I train have a few sets of weights — usually 7, 12.5 and 15 or 20-pounds — however, Bowflex makes an incredible adjustable set that I love.”

David Reavy

Founder of React Physical Therapy

If you’re lucky enough to have a session with David Reavy, he’ll evaluate you from head to toe and tell you what’s working and what’s not. He’s the founder of React Physical Therapy in Chicago and has worked with athletes like Jerome Randle, Mike Magee, Alshon Jeffrey and Paul Davis, among others.

Lululemon Yoga Mat

“[A yoga mat is] great for body weight movements. I enjoy doing exercises barefoot whenever I can to make sure my foot muscles are working,” Reavy says.

Indoor Cycling Bike

“When my time is limited, I can hop on this bike for a quick ride. I typically do 45 minutes for cardio,” Reavy says. “You don’t need much of a warm up since it’s not as high impact as running.”

Lacrosse Ball

“Ideal for self-releases, it’s easier to get at hard-to-hit areas such as hip flexors,” Reavy says.