If there’s one thing the Marie Claire UK health team loves, it’s an accessible and enjoyable workout. So, anything that can be done from home is an immediate win in our book.
That said, without an instructor to guide you, it can sometimes feel risky to take on home workouts without any pointers. That’s why I’ve spoken to a range of master trainers, PTs, and fitness experts to find out exactly which piece of home workout kit they recommend for great results, and why.
Just last month, Marie Claire UK Master Krissy Cela was raving about the benefits of strength training at every age. The tools below promise to help build your strength from home, simply, affordably, and in no time.
Truly beneficial workouts are those you will stick to, so simplicity is key – particularly if you’re near the beginning of your fitness journey. The experts agree, and you might be surprised by how affordable and easy to use their go-to home workout investments are. From Bala Bangles to resistance bands, there are options to suit every budget and space.
Need more convincing? One 2025 study found that even five minutes of home exercise a day can improve physical fitness and mental health in sedentary individuals, and one or two pieces of kit can help to make your workouts slightly more challenging, enjoyable, and less repetitive day-to-day. Whether you opt for added ankle weights, simple kettlebell swings, or finally invest in an exercise mat to make things more comfortable, these are the items you’ll use on repeat.
Expert-recommended home workout kit: Quick links
Bala Bangles
(Image credit: Healf)
“Bala Wrist Weights are one of my favourite pieces of home workout equipment because they make strength training incredibly accessible. Many of my clients enjoy doing mat-based workouts such as Pilates at home, and wrist weights are an easy way to add resistance to exercises that would otherwise rely solely on body weight, helping to build strength and muscular endurance while maintaining the control and precision that Pilates is known for.
“As your strength improves, you can simply increase the weight, making them a versatile training tool that grows with you. They’re lightweight, easy to store, ideal for travelling and, unlike many fitness accessories, stylish enough that people actually want to wear them. Whether you’re incorporating them into a Pilates workout, taking them on a walk or wearing them while tackling household jobs, they’re a simple way to build more strength into everyday life.” – Sarah Emblow, Co-Founder of The Pilates Programme
Ankle weights
(Image credit: Amazon)
“Ankle weights are great for adding a little more intensity to a workout at home – Pilates or barre, for example. You can also bring them to class and add them to a regular-level class to make it more challenging (although remember to ensure your form is correct before adding weights, and always check with your teacher to see if it’s appropriate). Ankle weights can give a greater glute burn, for example, while wrist weights add an endurance element to overhead arm exercises, as well as working the muscles of the arms, shoulders and back.” – Eloise Skinner, author and fitness instructor
Tennis ball
(Image credit: Amazon)
“The other thing I always recommend is having a tennis ball as part of your home kit. It’s a bit more recovery-focused (you can use it to roll out your back and shoulders, or roll it in small circles on your glutes or quads, for example), but can provide a great way to mobilise and strengthen your feet. Rolling a tennis ball gently across the arches of your feet can help to reduce tightness and improve circulation – our feet are an often-underappreciated element of fitness, but strong/mobile feet protect us as we move through any kind of workout.” – Eloise Skinner, author and fitness instructor
Regular dumbbells
(Image credit: Amazon)
“My favourite piece of home workout equipment is a simple set of dumbbells. If I could only own one thing, that would be it. They’re versatile, relatively inexpensive and, unlike many pieces of fitness equipment, they’ll never go out of date or need replacing.
“Whether you have ten minutes or 30, adding resistance makes your workout far more effective than relying on bodyweight alone. You can increase the weight, slow the tempo, add pauses or simply do more repetitions to make the same pair of dumbbells challenging as you get stronger. You have a far wider variety of workout moves you can do with a set of dumbbells than with just bodyweight. There are literally hundreds of moves you can put together into a compilation, or you can go through classic moves such as squats and lunges.
“I’d recommend dumbbells to almost everyone, from complete beginners through to experienced exercisers. They help build muscle, strengthen bones, improve balance and make everyday tasks feel easier. I also love the immediate feedback they give you. A good set of dumbbells can last for decades, making them one of the best long-term investments you can make in your health and fitness.” – Edwina Jenner, PT specialising in strength training women over 40
Adjustable dumbbells
(Image credit: Amazon)
Adjustable dumbbells were one of the most recommended pieces of kit from the experts – and for good reason.
“If I could only have one piece of home gym equipment, it would be a pair of adjustable dumbbells. They offer incredible versatility, allowing you to perform everything from squats, lunges and deadlifts to presses, rows and carries without filling a room with multiple weights.
“I recommend adjustable dumbbells to almost everyone, from beginners looking to build confidence with resistance training through to experienced exercisers who want to continue progressing their strength at home. The ability to gradually increase the load makes them particularly effective for long-term muscle and strength development. Used consistently, adjustable dumbbells can help improve strength, muscle mass, bone health, metabolic health and overall physical resilience, all while taking up very little space.” – Tom Williams, Head of Performance and Strength & Conditioning Coach at Pure Sports Medicine
“The first piece of equipment I’d say is essential is adjustable dumbbells. You don’t need a full rack so it’s great to keep space free around the house, and with dumbbells you can do 100s of different exercises for the full body. Because they’re adjustable, you can increase the weight incrementally to provide more strength and endurance based on your skill.” – Keiran Douglas, Senior Personal Trainer at Nuffield Health
Resistance bands
(Image credit: Amazon)
“Resistance bands are one piece of equipment I always keep in my home workout kit because they’re so versatile. You can use them for warm-up, in your main session, and even during your cool-down (think hamstring stretches). They’re also ideal for beginners and those working out from home as they come in different resistance levels, from light to strong, as well as different styles, including mini bands (booty bands) and longer loop bands.
“I personally like to use resistance bands to hone in on specific muscle groups and to take certain exercises up a notch. For example, placing a mini band around my thighs during squats helps activate my glutes and hip abductors, encouraging better form and muscle engagement. They can also make exercises more accessible, such as using a longer band to assist with pull-ups while you build the strength and skill to perform them unassisted.
“Resistance bands are also a really useful tool if you’re recovering from an injury or returning to exercise. The different resistance levels make it easy to gradually rebuild strength, improve mobility and increase your range of motion at a pace that suits you. They’re lightweight, affordable and easy to pack, making them just as useful for the gym or travelling as they are for home workouts.” – Lannay Dale-Tooze, Content Writer and Personal Trainer at Gymshark
Exercise mat
(Image credit: Decathlon)
“Another very basic but overlooked piece of equipment is a mat. Whether it’s for training abs or doing your yoga session, a mat can make all the difference for having a comfortable session on the floor in your house.” – Keiran Douglas, Senior Personal Trainer at Nuffield Health
TRX
(Image credit: TRX)
“If you haven’t yet tried out the TRX Home 2, it’s an absolute game changer for both at-home workouts and travel. The suspension training straps give you access to a gym, wherever you are in the world. You can literally anchor the straps anywhere: a door in your home, a tree in the garden or if you are feeling fancy, a palm tree overlooking the beach. I take mine everywhere I go- they are even light enough to fit in hand luggage for shorter trips. All of my PT clients have the TRX Home 2, and every one of them has become TRX addicted.
“Not only do the straps last (I’ve had mine 10 years), they give incredible results. A strong core, a sculpted upper body and a powerful lower body, the straps hit every muscle, all whilst prying into your imbalances (in the nicest way possible). The straps have five different lengths, so you get access to ground-based exercises, standing exercises and even exercises where your legs are suspended. The straps both assist and challenge you in the varying exercises, so you get to work on balance, stability and so much core.” – Charlotte Tooth, PT and Master Trainer
Kettlebell
(Image credit: Amazon)
“I’d advise getting a set of kettlebells. These are extremely versatile pieces of kit that allow you to do exercises like kettlebell swings and Turkish get-ups to build functional fitness and train cardio fitness and explosive power at the same time.” – Keiran Douglas, Senior Personal Trainer at Nuffield Health
Adjustable weight bench
(Image credit: Amazon)
“An adjustable bench is one of the most underrated pieces of home workout kit. By allowing different angles, it instantly expands the number of exercises you can perform and helps target muscles from different positions.
“I particularly recommend it for people who want to get more from their strength training without investing in a large amount of equipment. Pairing a bench with dumbbells gives you access to dozens of effective upper and lower body exercises that would otherwise be difficult to perform at home.
“The result is a more complete training programme that can improve strength, muscle development, posture and overall training variety, helping people stay motivated for longer.” – Tom Williams, Head of Performance and Strength & Conditioning Coach at Pure Sports Medicine.
