What equipment to get for the start?

When we start our fitness journey we are usually struck with long lists of equipment we will need. Many ads, trainers etc. will try to convince us to buy something we absolutely need for our training. And we end up spending more time choosing the equipment than working out.

But do we really need all that stuff?

In this article, I'm going to write what kind of equipment is useful in which scenarios, and at the end, I'll share my recommendation for the absolute minimum.

classical Weights

Dumbbells vs kettlebells vs barbell

I love to keep it simple, and these three are exactly that. Nothing to fancy, just pure practicality. I remember that one time my mom bought a vibrating dumbbell because the vibration was supposed to engage muscles more (or something like that) - if there's one thing for you to take away from this article just remember to never get such crazy things. It's not practical, usually, it's not backed up by science. It's just a marketing trick to make you pay for something you'll never use.

KEEP IT SIMPLE.

Dumbbells

This is exactly why I love good old dumbbells. You can do a full-body workout using just dumbbells. My personal preference are hexagonal ones, but I wouldn't buy them for my home gym. The reason is simple - when you get stronger you need to get another pair of dumbbells. It's both expensive and takes up too much space. Instead, I got myself just handles to which I can attach plates. It's very convenient for a few reasons:

you can adjust the weight easily
when you progress you just need to get more plates, and you can put a few plates on at the same time to add more weight
the same plates can be used on the barbell

Barbell

When you want to lift heavy this is just what you think of. Bench press, back squat, deadlift - these are the classical three exercises. Apart from that you have Olympic Weightlifting with moves like snatch, clean, push and jerk. It's pure fun. But if you want to play with heavy weights you'll also need someone to spot you, a bench and a rack. Also, it requires good technique to be done safely. So even though I love it, a barbell is not something you want to get at the beginning.

Kettlebell

It's basically a heavy ball with a handle. It's commonly used in CrossFit and sometimes in mobility training. I'd say kettlebells are about personality. There are various exercises you can do using them, and surely you can get a good whole-body workout, but it's a world harder to explore than, for example, dumbbells. The other downside is the same as with hexagonal dumbbells, each time you progress you need to get a new one.

That's why I don't recommend it at the beginning of your fitness journey. But it can be a really fun way of training later on. My experience says that later we all develop our preferences, and some people are just kettlebell types - they use them for everything.

Bodyweight equipment

Rings, TRX, Pull-up bars, parallel bars, Parallettes and more

If you think bodyweight training solves all the problems with equipment, you're wrong. There's so much you can get. My primary way of training is callisthenics. It can be done with almost nothing, but obviously, some tools make it more convenient. And if there's one thing you must have access to then it's a pull-up bar.

Pull-up bar

This is my love and one of my most preferred choices. If you do your workouts from home I'd recommend a doorway pull-up bar (but only the one you hang on the doorway, the one expandable ones are not reliable). But before that, I'd check if in any of the parks near your place are pull-up bars. Outdoor gyms made with various types of bars are becoming more popular, and easier to find. Every time I move to a new place I first check out all the parks nearby, and usually I can find at least one training spot. Whenever the weather is good I opt for training outdoors. Also, this provides you with free training equipment.

The downside is that for many beginners pull-up bar is not enough, you'd need elastic bands or rings to scale down the exercises.

Rings and TRX

I'll start with rings - they are a classical tool that has been used by gymnasts for many years. They give more flexibility than a pull-up bar IF you have where to hang them. They allow scaling down exercises like pull-ups to reverse rows (the other name is Australian pull-ups). You can also do dips with these ones - although it's much more difficult than on parallel bars. Rings allow a natural grip which makes it more comfortable to do pull-ups. Rings are my personal favourite as they allow a lot of flexibility in terms of training for advanced athletes. They are good for beginners as well, but I'd say there are better options.

TRX is a suspension system, you can attach it to almost anything, which makes it a bit more convenient for use than rings. It offers great training options, and there are various exercises you can do with it. Although it's not my personal favourite and I'd just go with rings, I have to admit that for beginners this one would probably be a much better option.

Parallel bars and Parallettes

Let's start with parallel bars - these are the bars that are used to do dips, and for beginners, that's basically it. The fun with them only starts on more advanced levels, and if they are firmly attached to the ground - otherwise it's too dangerous. I usually replace them with rings/TRX and if the exercise is too difficult I just add an elastic band (balancing rings/TRX makes it significantly harder to perform dips - but that also makes for better possible results).

Parallettes are short parallel bars that are used for exercises like handstands, push-ups, l-sit and planche. They are very convenient to use, and once you start using them you'll likely want to carry them around with you wherever you go, but the main benefit of these is mostly taking some pressure off your wrist - which becomes a problem when progressing in callisthenics. So my recommendation is to only get these at later stages of training.

time to introduce The king of it all

Elastic band

This is the one thing I carry with me when I travel. I can use it for training almost any muscle group. It replaces a pull-up bar when I don't have access to it - how? I just use it for reverse rows - standing on the middle part of the band, I lean over and pull the band up just like I'd do with dumbbells. You can get very creative with these, from using them as the main tool for performing an exercise to using them to regress the exercise (band pull-up, band planche or front lever). You can even do bicep curls with them.

There are 2 main types of the elastic bands:

short, wide and very light - are usually used for leg workouts to engage the gluteus medius. I don't recommend these - they are too specific, leaving you with little options for training.
long, narrow and varied largely thickness - these are the ones I use. I'd recommend going for either the lightest one or the 2nd lightest as thicker ones are there mostly to help you with pull-ups (but if you need them for pull-ups then it's better to do Australian pull-ups instead), they'll be too strong for any other exercise.

Other recommendations

The absolute minimum for the start/travelling - elastic band.
Home kit for callisthenics (on a budget) - doorway pull-up bar, rings, band - this will be sufficient for a very long time. It's my best budget option for a long-time/zero-to-hero journey.
For classical gym enthusiasts - bench, rack, barbell, dumbbells and plates. This is more expensive, and I'd recommend to start building this kit by getting a bench and dumbbells. The rest will come later.

Do I need a yoga mat?

This question may have popped into your head.

I haven't been using a yoga mat at all for about the first 5 years of my training, but now I have grown so attached to it that I carry it around with me in my suitcase. It's just a personal preference, so here you need to decide for yourself if you want it.

To sum things up, you don't need to spend a lot of money on training equipment and anything that looks too weird is not worth it. Stick to the classics and you'll be safe. The same exercise can be performed with a variety of training tools, so just look for a version utilising what you already have. Sometimes additional equipment is beneficial. For example, I prefer dumbbells for beginners over bodyweight exercises because less muscle are engaged at the same time (easier to understand what's going on in your body) and the intensity is easier to scale and measure. This doesn't mean you can't start with bodyweight exercises, it's just usually harder. But for times like that, it's always best to have someone experienced to guide you through the process. I know myself hard and confusing it is to start, and how figuring this all out without help delays any progress by months or even years.

That's why if you have any further questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I have flexible training options and we can discuss your needs, goals, injury history, and the equipment you have access to and based on all that work on a plan that's best for you.

Drop me a message!