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1. A set of push-up handles for true beginners looking to perfect the basics. Not only do these handles promote good form, but they also better distribute your weight and reduce strain on your wrists. And they rotate to engage more muscles!
Promising review: "If you work out at home and use bodyweight, you need the Perfect Fitness Pushup Elite stands. They allow you to vary your width, strengthen your hands and wrists, and alleviate pain, while allowing for deeper pushups. The result is a better chest and tricep pump, which translates into more strength and size. The stands give you an extra couple of inches in height while doing pushups and added comfort as they can rotate 360 degrees. The handles have a rubber padding, which is comfortable on your hands and can support up to 400 pounds. This is perfect for me since I use a weight vest when doing pushups." —D. Miyao
Get a set of two from Amazon for $28.99.
2. A pack of booty bands to whip those legs and glutes into shape. The pack comes with three different bands with varying levels of resistance.
3. High-waisted leggings that come in so many colors you should honestly just factor one pair a month into your budget until you collect 'em all like some sort of a bootylicious Pokémon trainer. Considering the 37,000+ 5-star reviews these leggings have earned thus far, you certainly won't be alone in your obsession.
Promising review: "I have continued to purchase these leggings over the past two years. They are my go-to leggings for everyday wear and even throughout my pregnancies. They are soft as butter and I've never had problems with holes and I still have an old pair that I wear regularly. As long as these are available on Amazon, I will always come back to buy them. I'll never wear any other leggings. And I love all the color options." —Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in one size and plus size; capri or regular lengths; and a variety of colors).
4. Or a pair of high-waisted yoga pants that actually have pockets (*gasp*) so you can finally store your phone comfortably while working out. They come in so many colors you'll want to buy a pair for every gym day of the week!
Promising review: "I bought these for the pockets and the high waist. The material is surprisingly squat-proof. Even with white undies, not a single bit was seen when I did a squat... and trust me I was looking for these to fail. The material has a matte finish and is really soft (like cotton). I hate constantly pulling up yoga pants so I was looking for high-waisted that stayed high and these are it. They're a bit snug, but I never have to pull them up. I am a womens 14 and the XL fit great." —megan
Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in sizes XS–3X and 18 colors)
5. An ab roller you can use to strengthen your core from the comfort of your own bedroom floor.
Promising review: "I workout five times a week, and every time I am just too tired to do abs. I have not worked on my abs for very long time. I finally found this ab roller that solved my problem. Every night before bed I hit 25 reps for 5 sets. Total time is about 25 minutes, actual work time six minutes. Highly recommended for those trying to work on core."—Eggrollking
Get it from Amazon for $39.99
6. A Stealth core trainer — this is perfect for people currently following a traditional push/pull/legs split that doesn't leave much time to work on their abs and obliques. Featuring 360-degree motion and an accompanying app, this device allows you to plank and play games that activate your core from multiple angles.
Promising review: "I believe any money invested in health and fitness is worth it when utilized. This is a great purchase and integrates gaming with fitness. It's a fun way to build a strong core and expose the abs. No assembly is required, just a quick app download and you'll be ready to break your friends' record and at the same time sculpt your abs." —Makisan
Get it from Amazon for $159.
7. A sweat-proof running belt that comes with a pouch to hold your phone, as well as a key and coins pouch and a sealed hole for your headphones (which will come in handy for those of you still in committed relationships with wires). It's basically a utility belt for athletes. You'll feel like Batman minus the repressed anger and billionaire privilege.
Promising review: "I used it to go running. I have a iPhone XR and it fits perfectly in it. The belt doesn’t get loose or bounce when you run or you work out. The best of all that is flat and lightweight. I recommend this product if you are looking for a pack that holds you keys and your phone."—Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in six colors)
8. LED running bands if the only times you're able run are before the sun rises or after it sets. Early birds and night owls can now get their miles in knowing drivers and pedestrians will see them coming. The best part about these bands is they last 50–70 hours before you need to replace the batteries!
Promising review: "I use these armbands when riding my electric scooter home in the dark, as there's a little surface area on the scooter (which has a small headlight and taillight low to the ground) to mount additional lights or reflectors. They do a great job of making me visible (especially from the side, where my other lights and reflectors are not visible), and I'm very happy with their durability and ease of use. I have ridden with them several times in the mist and rain with no issues, and turning them on and off while wearing gloves is no problem." —R. Sewell
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in nine colors).
9. A pair of super popular non-slip running shoes that are so stylish they might convince you to actually commit to running more than twice a year (*gasp*) just so you have an excuse to wear them more.
Promising review: "The color is TO DIE FOR. It's exactly how it looks in the picture which is a mix between neon orange and neon pink. I'd describe it as a neon peachy type of color. The photo's are not misleading whatsoever. As for sizing, I'm usually an 8.5 but went with a 9 based on other reviews (they say to go up .5 size). And they fit perfectly! I will be ordering more colors."—Nani
Get it from Amazon $31.27+ (available in sizes 5.5-10.5 in 17 colors)
10. Exercise cards that'll help organize your workout routine. This actually seems more efficient than doing what I do — which is check the notes app on my phone to see what exercise is next before getting distracted and scrolling Twitter.
You get 50 cards that include 10 stretches, seven workouts, and a goals and guide card.
Promising review: "Like many of us, I know I should warm up and stretch before and exercise and cool down and stretch after exercise. Also like many of us, I don't tend to have a good exercise routine or even the best knowledge of what or how to do it, or even the creativity to be able to mix things up. These cards have helped with that. Each card features a picture of an exercise, a description of how to properly perform it, recommended number of reps, and a rating for level of difficulty." —Lance
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (also available in Spanish).
11. An award-winning foam roller you can use to warm up, cool down, and even help your muscles recover on rest days. Unlike most cylindrical rollers, this one comes with deep contours to target muscles while avoiding bones and tendons.
Promising review: "I like that this is a firm sturdy roller. I am able to finally get all the sore spots. I use this for my mobility training days as well as after any kind of lift or cardio work. I will be buying another one. I think it would be great for my home fitness collection to include the full line of Rollga products."—Amber F.
Get it from Amazon for $44.97
12. A massage ball if there's no way you're spending $100+ on a massage gun, and there's even less of a chance of you splurging on an *actual* massage therapy session to ease a small case of gym soreness. This handy little thing will help you work out those knots without putting a dent in your wallet.
Promising review: "Amazing. Seriously, buy this. It is the best back massage I’ve ever had. I have trouble with my wrists and hands and can’t massage my husband’s back for very long. This is small and easily fits in my hand. I can give him a great massage without pain. He massaged my back with it as well and it’s phenomenal! I would definitely buy this again and I’ve recommended it to my family." —Mifflinpartyofthree
Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in purple, pink, green, and blue).
13. A jar of O'Keeffe's Working Hands Lotion for anyone whose newfound commitment to the gym has also come with an unexpected commitment to calluses and cracked skin.
They also make a version for your feet!
Promising review: "I am amazed! I have dealt with eczema all my life. I've used steroid creams/ointments, lotions, wash, you name it. And then I tried this miracle product! In four days, my hands looks better then it ever has! I can bend my finger without pain! I'm sooo happy with the results. And I have only been using it for four days!" —Kelly
Get the hand cream from Amazon for $7.99, and the foot cream for $6.41.
14. And a pair of ventilated workout gloves to give you even more palm protection. Again, no one enjoys coarse hands — especially not the people in your life who have to feel them. My girlfriend can attest to that one.
Promising review: "These gloves are great. I loved using them for weightlifting, but also I use them when I'm having to cut my lawn because I always get blisters. They worked perfect. There is nothing about the gloves that I don't like. These gloves are super easy to use and put on." —Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $13.47+ (available in five sizes).
15. A best-selling weightlifting belt to protect your lower back as you pump iron. Trust me, this thing is a life-saver for people who are prone to back injuries in the gym.
I own this belt myself. Before buying it, I'd tweak my lower back in the gym seemingly once every other month. After having to take one too many days off to recover, I finally made the purchase a few months ago and I haven't had a back injury since!
Weightlifting belts are most commonly used for squats and deadlifts (as having heavy weight loaded on your upper back or pulling you forward as you bend over puts a considerable strain on your lower back), but I also use it for upright movements (shoulder presses, standing bicep curls, etc.) to make sure I don't over extend my lower back when progressing to heavier sets. It feels incredible to perform these lifts safely without worrying about hurting myself. I can't recommend this enough for people who are serious about strength training. You definitely won't want to lift heavy without it.
Be sure to measure your true waist size (the area above your hip bone and below your lowest rib) before buying this. Don't go by your pants size.
Get it from Amazon $39.99 (available in XS-XL)
16. A badass Chopper axe to replace the inexplicably popular dumbbell "wood chop" — aka one of the silliest exercises you'll ever see someone do. Why misuse a piece of gym equipment when you can develop solid lumberjack muscles the good ol' fashioned way? This thing also features an app that comes with exercises and challenges to effectively train different parts of the body.
Promising review: "This is hands down the best piece of workout equipment I have at home. Let’s start with quality: It’s 10/10 incredibly well made, durable, sleek, and actually makes my apartment look nicer. As for versatility, the way it’s designed is super cool and allows me to get so many different exercises in while working on my core. Whoever invented this is a genius. Definitely worth the money." —Mina E.
17. A ladder to work on your foot speed, body control, lateral response, and overall coordination. Don't be one of those people who develops a cartoonishly chiseled physique but wouldn't be able to escape from a murderer in the woods.
This is also great for people who either enjoy HIIT or pretending they're in the NFL combine.
Promising review: "I bought these for my boys volleyball team to work on their agility and speed. So far they have held up great. I like that the ends of the straps have snaps so that you can make one giant ladder." —Lrdboneil
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two colors).
18. A jump rope with a digital counter to keep track of your skips, which is perfect for people who tend to lose count of their reps as they fatigue toward the end of their sets. If only someone invented dumbbells that did the same thing (whoever reads this and becomes a millionaire after inventing rep-counting digital dumbbells owes me money — or at least a thank you note).
Promising review: "I love how this jump rope has both a timer and a counter. This allows me to jump for a fixed length of time without having to check my phone. I usually jump for two minutes every set, and when the time is up the timer will beep to let me know, and then I rest for another minute before beginning another set. Also, it is difficult to keep counting when I am too exhausted from jumping, and I'm glad that the rope counts for me, so I don't have to worry about it. I can keep a very detailed record with these features. Overall this is a nice product, especially during the time of self-quarantine." —Lynda
Get it from Amazon for $16.95 (available in seven colors).
19. An under-desk pedal machine so you can get a decent workout in while you're *actually* working. This thing is perfect for people who don't have much spare time to devote to exercising — now you can get after your fitness goals while also chasing that money.
To me, the best part about this product is people of any age or fitness level can use it to break a sweat. My parents, who are both in their sixties, my 36-year-old brother and my 26-year-old sister all use one just like it, and they absolutely love it! And this peddler happens to be much more affordable than the one they have.
Promising review: "I've started working from home a lot and need something to get a little blood-flow to my legs. I put it under my desk and use it while working. The digital display works fine and starts automatically when I start pedaling. There is a minimal amount of resistance but I don't need a lot. For the price, it does exactly what I need."—poppanam
Get it from Amazon for $37.89.
20. An Ubarre weight — which is a weight that also functions as minimalistic home decor. A few at-home sessions with this thing and you'll suddenly realize how ugly every piece of equipment in the gym is.
Equipt is a woman-founded small business known for their pretty and functional exercise equipment. You'll find weighted bars, wrist weights, and more gear that'll help tone your body and look great in your workout space.
Promising review: "Ubarre is wild! It targets every area of your body. I have been using it daily and have had the best workout in seven years. I cannot believe how quickly it tones your body." —Ubarre Customer
Get it from Equipt for $129+ (available in two weights).
21. A size-inclusive bike jumpsuit able to provide ample support for anybody. Running from XXS–6XL, this suit truly embraces the phrase ANY. BODY.
Promising review: "Granted I'm the type of person who would salivate over owning a bike jumpsuit, but after having it for almost a year, I feel confident that this is a piece that could be beloved for almost anyone. It's made of Girlfriend Collective's signature compressive fabric, which hugs your body but doesn't feel suffocating or restrictive. But the most shocking feature is that it has a built-in bra that...actually works?! I'm a 34DD and this jumpsuit absolutely passes the "bounce test," and keeps my boobs in place really well when jumping and running. (It's not quite as supportive as my favorite Girlfriend Collective sports bra, the Dylan, but that thing goes above-and-beyond in terms of keeping you in place.) If you're tired of leggings and are looking for something new and fun to add to your collection of activewear that you can *actually* use, I highly recommend this!"—Rachel Dunkel
Get it from Girlfriend Collective for $78.
22. A pair of lace anti-chafing bands to keep your sensitive thighs nice and comfy as you're sweating your butt off during cardio. Neither "I" in HIIT stands for irritation, so the two shouldn't come as a package deal.
Promising review: "I have a pair of the lace ones that I've loved wearing underneath my dresses and skirts. I just purchased the non-lace ones to wear when I run, because the seams of my shorts rub in this humid weather! These worked freaking fabulous for my run, and stayed in perfect place (I ordered size C!) They were so much cooler than compression shorts or spandex, and kept the sticky thighs away from each other!" —Amazon Customer
Get them from Amazon for $18.94+ (available in six sizes and 17 colors).
23. A hilarious dad bod tee that's sure to be hit whenever you add it to your gym shirt rotation. This could also be a great gift for your partner, your pops, or any other dad you know who's planning to start their fitness journey.
Promising review: "This T-shirt came out exactly as it appears online, and it arrived super fast!" —Samantha Norris
Get it from Zazations on Etsy for $17.11+ (available in S–3XL and eight colors).
24. A motivational journal that comes with uplifting quotes for whenever you're in need of a pep talk. Everyone's fitness journey comes with peaks and valleys. Some days you'll wake up with the Rocky theme playing in your head, and other days you'll consider calling your bank and reporting your gym membership as fraud. But what's most important is doing your best! If you crack this journal open each day to track your progress, I bet you'll find an inspirational quote on the opposite page to give you that extra pat on the back you need to keep going!
Promising Review: "I love this book for musing when I can't sleep. I like that there's a sleep quote on each left-hand page, and a page for writing on the right. It gives me enough space to write, but not unlimited space like in a typical journal. The paper is good quality, so you can use a juicy pen without it leaking through." —Art Chik
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
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