Big Items for Our Small Home Gym
Ya'll 2020 was a crazy year and so far 2021 isn't much different. I am currently a military spouse living in Germany and we have been on our second strict lock down since the middle of December. We got a few months of freedom between lock down #1 and #2 but not much. Fortunately, we have been able to add to our home gym. Our home gym is very small, roughly a 12x12 room with a ceiling fan right in the middle (oh and on the 4th floor). So here is a review of our big items for our small home gym that cost over $300.
In the past I have written an article on items under $50 for your home gym, well now I am going big. And no I am not done adding to my gym. We move back to the states this spring and will have a two car garage and space inside the home for our gym, plus a back yard. So there will definitely be more to add, but right now we just don't have the space.
All of the items will be listed on my Amazon Home Gym Needs Idea List found HERE. The only exception is our treadmill. But they do have other series available on Amazon if you are interested in looking there.
Big Cardio Items for our Small Home Gym
Our biggest and most recent purchase is by far our treadmill. We actually ordered it through the military exchange so that we could easily get a 110v treadmill here in Germany knowing we were going to take it back with us. It is also the same treadmill I smashed my fingers in trying to move it from our basement storage area up four flights with my husband. (ouch)
NordicTrack ProForm 800i Treadmill
I am not traditionally a fan of treadmills in general. I would much rather go outside and run if I have to run. And to be honest I would rather lift weights and do other cardio activities than just run, however I do really like this treadmill.
My husband is active duty Army and has to pass a PT test, now the APFT which includes a 2 mile run. And he said that he wanted it so he could run in the bad weather. I conceded since you know it is part of his actual job to be able to run.
Some of my favorite features come with the iFit package. We got a year worth for free, but I will continue the membership after our one year ends. There are several different coaches available and different levels of intensity. But my favorite is the sceens!
It comes with a huge monitor and my favorite thing is to run "on the beach" with one of the coaches. They have trails for places all over the world, downtown Paris, Beaches in Hawaii, the coast of South Africa just to name a few.
The Proform 800i has incline abilities from -2 through 10 and speed up to 12 mph. We connect our headphones via Bluetooth and can workout anywhere at any time. I would recommend this treadmill to others, but I don't think its available anymore.
Check out Amazon's other Nordictrack Treadmill's HERE.
Schwinn Recumbent Bike Series
Our Recumbent bike was actually our first big purchase for our home gym. And again we bought it on base, but it is available on Amazon. We got it earlier on in the COVID stay home restrictions back in March/April. We wanted something other than just outdoor running for days when the weather didn't permit for us to be outside.
To be honest we were really limited on choices due to availability when we bought this bike. But I really liked it. It is super quiet which is great having it indoors and so close to my son's bedroom. You can also create profiles for different members of your household.
The bike connects via bluetooth with our phones and we have downloaded the app so that we can keep track of our workouts. Then I always like to talk about the seat. Overall this seat is very comfortable for an hour long workout. I would definitely recommend this bike to others.
You can get it on Amazon HERE.
Other Big Items for our Small Home Gym
The weight lifting items we wanted for our home gym have been a kinda small argument between me and my husband. Obviously in a fun way and in no way are we mad at each other. We just have different and very strong opinions on what we like to use to lift weights.
Me I am all gung ho lets buy a full rack with barbells (yes 2) and weights. This definitely goes back to my CrossFit background. Where my husband wanted the Bowflex adjustable dumbbells. He felt like he was going to be able to do more with them. It also helped his case the limit on space.
Well guess who won that debate. Not me. I think I would have one if we had a garage gym to be honest though. Just saying.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Version 2 Adjustable Medium Dumbbells
In hindsight, I really like that we got these dumbbells. Please don't tell him I said that. After hurting my fingers it is great to have some lighter weights to be able to use instead of just the 20 lb. dumbbells I had already purchased.
I think the only thing my husband wished that we got heavier adjustable dumbbells. The 552 goes up to 52.5 lbs. which is still 105 lbs. total but he likes to use like 80 lb. dumbbells for some of his lower body workouts.
They are pretty easy to use and we obviously share them so they get changed often. The only thing I don't really like, and this is honestly a weird thing to not like, is how uncomfortable it is to hold it by the bell of the weight. For example, doing overhead tricep extensions, I hold the bell of the weight at one end versus holding the handle. Its nothing crazy just kinda uncomfortable for me since I use that hold for a lot of other movements.
Overall I think it is a great addition to have in our small gym.
To get it on Amazon click HERE.
Bowflex SelectTech Dumbbell Stand with Media Rack
Obviously this is just the stand to go with the Bowflex dumbbells. But we felt it was needed to help orgainze our room. Again we got ours on post, but you can still get it on Amazon. It also has a nice media rack holder.
If you follow me on Instagram or on Facebook then you have seen my video or photo of myself working out. I also use a whiteboard to write down my workouts so this media rack can be handy for me.
To buy this on Amazon click HERE.
Other Items in Our Small Home Gym
Obviously, these are not all of the things that we have but these are the bigger more expensive items. We do have a bench that you can get HERE. And a bunch of other small items including foam rollers, bands, and other mobility items.
Our gym is small right now. With my husband being in the military we move a lot so I am always afraid to order something too big, but this should be our last location that we don't have a garage. Meaning I can start building my dream garage gym.
Ok maybe I just need like a barn because my husband has already told me that the garage is for the cars. Don't get me wrong he wants a lot of the same things I do but not all of them, and he is not willing to give up his garage.
Don't worry I will figure something out. I know Rogue makes rigs that can fold into the wall to reduce the space so I will have to see what happens in our next journey.