With our favourite fitness studios and gyms still shut down during the FMCO, we’ve taken to Zoom classes and YouTube videos to help us stay on track of our fitness routines. Our living room now doubles as an at-home gym, but we’re now missing the equipment and features that often come with a personal class or gym session.
That’s why it’s become imperative that we find the best workout equipment that can fit in our living space, to level up and enhance our workouts so that we can still get our gains. And while some of us are able to exercise outside safely, not everyone is afforded that luxury – or perhaps you’re someone who prioritises privacy while working out in order to stay focused.
But if you’re not sure where to begin or what you need, here’s a rundown on some of the best at-home workout equipment you can look out for depending on what workouts you enjoy.
For lockdown running: Technogym MyRun
If you’re worried about jogging outdoors during lockdown, this incredibly stylish and compact treadmill from Technogym will be the smartest one you’ll own yet. By connecting your iPad or Android tablet to the treadmill, it opens up a myriad of personalised training features – from having an online trainer guide your workouts and keeping track of your run with real-time Biofeedback, to automatic adjustments to speed and incline based on your heartbeat or selected exercise videos. Those with more sensitive joints can also benefit from the innovative running surface which adapts to the way you run, shielding your joints at lower speeds while offering more elastic response during sprints. W technogym.com
You may also like: #StayHome and stay fit with Jacq Ng.
For body sculpting newbies: Livlola Beginner Sculpt Kit
If you’re a beginner in working out, you can easily mix up your exercises with a combination of resistance training and cardio with this beginner’s sculpt kit from homegrown brand Livlola (we also love their sporty ‘fits). Each kit consists of short and long resistance bands in light strength, a set of sliders, a speed jump rope, and a free workout guide for each equipment. And if you’re looking to level up your warm-up and cool-down routine, you can even throw in an optional foam roller to accompany your stretches and help relax your muscles. W livlola.com
For the yogis: Manduka PRO Yoga Mat
If you’re serious about yoga and Pilates, and don’t mind splurging a little extra on a good mat, go for the Rolls-Royce of mats – the Manduka PRO, which checks all the right boxes in providing durability, support, and stability. Ultra-dense and spacious, it features a closed-cell surface to prevent sweat from seeping into the mat, while it provides enough cushioning even for strength exercises, but tough enough to make sure you don’t sink into it. W manduka.com.my
For an added challenge: Grav Weight Vests
Double down on gravity to double your gain by equipping yourself with a Grav Weight Vest to enhance your fitness game. These adjustable weights fit a variety of body sizes, and come in 12kg and 16kg weights depending on your training regime. Put your muscles to the test by incorporating the vest into your runs or bodyweight training, so that you can feel stronger (and lighter) afterwards. W my.thegravgear.com
For bodyweight training: TRX PRO4 Suspension Trainer System
Work your upper and lower body while strengthening your core with this suspension trainer system from TRX. If you need something that’s space efficient while giving you an enhanced workout performance, make this the only piece of equipment you get. Portable and user-friendly, it can be easily set up by hooking up over a door or a nearby tree every time you wish to power up your bodyweight workouts. W store.trxtraining.com
For stability training: Bosu® NexGen™ Pro Balance Trainer
Give you strength training an added challenge by throwing in some balance, core, and mobility exercises using this new and improved Bosu ball, which now comes with a textured dome with 4 quadrants for improved grip and positioning. It’s also latex and phthalate-free, and holds up to 159kg, while the non-skid, non-marking base provides enhanced stability. W bosu.com
For heavy-duty resistance: Bowflex SelectTech 840 Kettlebell
From swings and deadlifts, to lunges and squats, kettlebells are great for a full body workout while blasting your heart rate up. However, the best part of this particular kettlebell is that, aside from the ergonomic handle, it features a weight selection dial which allows you to adjust the weight from 3kg to 18kg (8 – 40 lbs). This means you only need one kettlebell to power up your workouts. W bowflex.com
For gentler but still effective cardio: Sole E98 Elliptical
If running on a treadmill and jogging tend to strain your joints, take the gentler route without having to sacrifice cardio results by opting for an elliptical machine. The E98 by Sole comes with oversized cushioned foot pedals that have been specially designed to reduce ankle and knee stress, providing you with a natural and comfortable stride. The adjustable ramp angles from 0 to 20 levels of incline, which can be used to target certain or all lower-body muscle groups while you workout. W fitnessconcept.com.my
For recovery: Recovy Gun+
Post-workout recuperation and recovery is just as important – if not even more so – to help relieve muscle soreness and stiffness, while helping to improve your overall physical health. As intimidating as it looks, the Recovy massage gun is anything but, using percussion therapy treatment to massage your muscles to help improve blood circulation, relieve muscle stiffness, and help clear lactic acid – which is responsible for muscle soreness and fatigue. It also comes with five speed settings and 7 interchangeable head attachments so that you can adjust according to the body part you wish to massage. W recovynow.com
