We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A simple weight set that has everything you need and nothing you don't for incorporating light weights into your exercise routine. I've been using this exact set for a few years and they've held up great.
2. A small but mighty stationary exercise bike equipped with an LCD screen, adjustable magnetic resistance, and even built-in upper body resistance bands for getting some biceps in with your cardio.
Promising review: "So this actually was my mother's bike that I took during the pandemic when all the gyms closed. I'm so glad I took it. I work from home and do not get a ton of exercise throughout the day. But on days when I am too tired to run around my neighborhood, I can turn on an episode of Supernatural, jump on my bike, and get in a good workout while watching TV. I also find myself just sitting on it and mindlessly pedaling away when I am trying to figure something out. The best thing is it can easily fold up, making it amazing to store in a corner. It has resistance bands built in and allows you to control the pedals' resistance. Plus, I feel great after!" —Tasia Bass, BuzzFeed Staff
Price: $256.92
3. Or a recumbent exercise bike for a more casual cycling workout, maybe even in front of your favorite show. But worry not, it's also well-equipped, and comes with eight resistance levels and a screen that tracks all aspects of your workout.
4. *OR* under-the desk-pedals if instead of waiting to work out until after your day job, you want to get moving and grooving as you type away. You're gonna be Zooming in more ways than one!
Promising review: "It's got a helpful little display screen you can keep mounted on the machine or bring up to sit on your desk that'll tell you your time, calories burned, speed, and distance. I have one and am using it right now as I type this! I had purchased a super cheap version a long time ago, but finally splurged on this one for my apartment as I work from home. This one is leaps and bounds better than the cheaper model. It's so much smoother and sturdier, and it looks better, too! The rotation is so smooth, it feels like I'm actually on a stationary bike at the gym. I definitely struggle with spending too much time sitting, since my job has me at a laptop for eight hours a day and I usually only feel up to working out in the mornings. (And on weekdays, I'd rather sleep!) This is an absolute game-changer and allows me to do what I do best — multi-task! There is some assembly required, but I, the least handy person in the world, was able to do it myself without too much trouble." —Katy Herman, BuzzFeed Staff
Price: $169.18+ (available in four styles)
5. A Stealth core trainer that gamifies your workouts by linking to a mobile app that both tracks your progress and has challenges and games you can play by using the machine. Guys, this is not a drill, one is called "Galaxy Adventure."
Promising review: "Getting a Stealth board was the very best thing that has happened to me during quarantine. Mixing the fun of games on your phone with the natural endorphins you get from exercising is, to put it lightly, genius. I have two in my home and my husband and I compete daily to see who can last the longest. My favorite game is the paragliding challenge, he's into the planet-blasting space adventure. Nerd." —Mal Mower, BuzzFeed Staff
Price: $139
6. A sturdy foam roller because boy oh boy are you going to feel tight after leg day. Rolling out all your muscles is gonna feel great in a so-bad-and-yet-so-good way.
7. A balance ball trainer you can use right side up or upside-down for squats, push-ups, planks, burpees, and whatever else that genius body weight exercise imagination of yours can dream up.
8. A set of weighted Bala Bangles to add a bit of extra resistance to your workouts whenever you want to kick things up a notch. They're also just really cute and count as an accessory with your leggings fit, TBH.
A few BuzzFeeders own and love these weights. Check out their reviews below:
"I've bought, used, and then promptly forgotten about wrist/ankle weights before but I ADORE these. They're really nice looking (as you can see) and I've never had trouble with them coming off my wrists or ankles during HIIT workouts." —editor Elizabeth Lilly
"Bala is a woman-owned business that sells various pretty exercise equipment. I have these bands and love 'em! They have super strong loop and hook tape so you can strap them on tight (no sliding weights while punching, lifting, running, jumping, etc.). Best of all, they're just really, really pretty!" —contributor Bek O'Connell
Price: 55+ (available in two weights and seven colors)
9. A folding treadmill because the only enormous downside of owning a treadmill is the fact that it usually takes up an entire room. Simply stow this one covertly in your closet until you're ready to take it for a spin.
Promising review: "I used this exact folding treadmill for the first two years of the pandemic, and only recently sold it because I moved and didn't feel I needed it as much anymore. (I like to run outside when I can!) If you're looking for a small yet reliable treadmill, though, I can't recommend the Xterra TR150 enough. The track is large enough to run on at 50 inches long and 16 inches wide. There's a little rack below the LCD screen that I always found useful for holding my phone or iPad to watch videos while I ran. Its speed goes up to 10 mph, and it's not overly loud while you run on it. Now, just because it's a smaller treadmill doesn't mean it's not heavy — it weighs just over 100 pounds, so you won't want to be moving it around every time you use it, even though there are wheels on the bottom to assist with transport. It's bulky enough that I suggest finding a dedicated place for it, but it certainly is movable if needed. As far as assembly, it was fairly straightforward and easy to do on my own.
Btw, you'll want to consider picking up a treadmill mat to put underneath to not only protect your floor but also prevent dust from entering the belts and mechanical parts — this is the one I used with the Xterra TR150 (the medium size) and it held up well for me over the years." —Jenae Sitzes, BuzzFeed Staff
Price: $331.49
10. A balance board that'll be particularly useful for folks who want to passively engage their muscles while working from standing desks. You could also add this as another element in free weight exercises for some added core strengthening. Options!
Promising review: "I've been using this balance board at my standing desk for a couple of months now and think it's great. It's a low-key piece of workout equipment, but I have def felt the effects in my legs after using it. It's pretty simple to use. Just stand on it and get to work. I love that it gives me the ability to move while I type. I find that I'm much more productive that way. I also do feel the engagement in my core. If you have a standing desk, I highly recommend adding this to your work setup." —Abby Kass, BuzzFeed Staff
Price: $79.99
11. A yoga strap because this small yet mighty tool can genuinely unlock so many yoga poses. Especially if you don't consider yourself to be particularly flexible, one of these babies can really come in handy!
12. Compression socks to help prevent your feet and legs from swelling as you pound the pavement (ahem, treadmill) running toward those peaks far in the distance (ahem, casually do five miles while catching up on Vanderpump).
13. A punching bag set because boxing is a great workout, but hanging a punching bag seems complicated and generally not fun!
14. An ab roller for anyone who's ready to break up with crunches. Personally, I can do about .5 rolls on one of these and it feels like a huge accomplishment. I dare you to beat me!
15. A portable rowing machine that is blessedly compact, making it easier to house. But that doesn't mean it's not equipped. It has a digital monitor as well as 12 resistance levels to choose from.
16. A tiny elliptical with eight resistance levels to help give your legs and bum a nice workout even if you're stuck at your desk or just aren't feeling a big ol' workout that day.
17. An anti-chafe balm because the devil works hard, but chafing works harder. Luckily, Body Glide works the hardest of all.
18. A pair of high-waisted bike shorts with over 57,000 five-star ratings so you always have the perfect pair of stretchy pants to throw on before a sesh. If you're waking up early to move, the last thing you want to do is think about what to wear.
Promising review: "I have only recently began wearing actual shorts. I've always had thick thighs and hated how most shorts either rode up in the middle as I walked, or my thighs chafed. These shorts are the answer to all my previous dilemmas. They fit true-to-size. They are comfy and breathable while also not being see-through at ALL! I will be purchasing several more of these as they have become my new favorite article of clothing. Oh, and the absolute best part is they have POCKETS!!!!! Pockets on the legs not on the waistband like most biker shorts or leggings, which is super inconvenient to use. A large enough pocket on each leg to comfortably hold my phone in its case! These are the perfect shorts IMO." —Allison Clay
Price: $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–6XL, three lengths, and 40 colors and styles)
19. A pack of dumbbell exercise cards to help you find a little more inspiration in your weighted exercises. Working out at home is nice, but it means you get fewer ideas from seeing what other people are up to at the gym. Consider these cards your at-home gym buddy.
20. Core sliders that essentially turn your entire floor into a piece of exercise equipment if you have wood, laminate, tile, or other smooth surfaces to work with. I always think using these will be "easy" and sure enough I get destroyed every time.
21. A Kettle Gryp for transforming any hum-drum dumbbell into a kettlebell right before your very eyes. Getting a good workout in *and* saving money on equipment? Love it.
22. A Gaiam yoga mat so you can stretch and strengthen your entire body — and maybe even quiet that restless mind of yours — right in your living room. Cue up a free yoga class vid and you're good to go.
23. And a nonslip yoga towel if you — like me — have hands and feet on the sweatier side and want to feel super secure on your mat, especially when you're really working up a sweat.
24. A weighted hoop to bring out your sense of childlike wonder as you strengthen your core. Round, and round, and round she goes!
25. A set of adjustable dumbbells that can weigh between 2.5 and 15 pounds, ensure you can dial in the exact amount of resistance you want, and prevent your spare room from being only a storage facility for one million weights.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.