'I'm The Women's Health Fitness Director — Here's All The Equipment I Picked...

I've tested more than my share of fitness gear in my role as Executive Health and Fitness Director of Women's Health US. I know the difference between "fun to try" and "worth owning." But when it came time to choose big-ticket items like racks, benches , and adjustable dumbbells for our home, I treated it like a serious assignment, researching options, comparing specs, and making sure every piece would earn its place in our space and in my training routine.

We wanted a setup that felt functional without being cluttered. That meant picking equipment that was versatile, durable, and at least somewhat nice for me to look at. I went down so many review rabbit holes, stalked what my trainer friends were using, triple-checked dimensions (basement ceilings are sneaky), and weighed cost against quality.

In this roundup, I'm sharing all the gear we landed on — from free weights and mats to storage and mirrors — along with the specific reasons they made the cut for me. While I'm lucky to receive a lot of fitness gear through my job, almost everything on this list is something we personally invested in. (I've also noted which items were gifted and which we bought ourselves because transparency matters!) And some picks come from our UK Senior Health and Wellness Ecommerce Editor Hattie Parish , who has a home gym in her garage.

This isn't some Pinterest-perfect dream gym (as you can probably tell from the pics above!). It's a no-frills, well-tested space that helps me stay strong, consistent, and excited to train. If you're building or upgrading your own at-home setup, take what you need and leave the rest. I hope my list saves you a headache and the decision paralysis... and maybe even inspires your next workout.

Its bells have a noticeably smoother finish that is much more comfortable to grip and ideal for moves like cleans. The rougher coating on the budget bell scratched my skin in a racked position, which was uncomfortable and painful. For me, the premium price of Kettlebell Kings is completely worth it. Shop other weights here .