Raise your hand if you know you need to get healthy, but have no idea where to start. Yeah, my hand is up. And, I’ll be honest, when they asked me to do this article, I felt a little judged. Was somebody watching me? Were they trying to send me a message? Because up to this point in my 40-plus years on this planet, the extent of my fitness efforts has included drinking water and taking an occasional yoga class. The term “fitness” is not a regular part of my vernacular.
Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you know you need to get started, but don’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve got me beat by a bit and you know the basics, but you’re looking for easy fitness solutions to keep going. This list has a bit of everything in it: Yoga gear for budding yogis, kettlebells for would-be CrossFitters, even options for water workouts and building your, ahem, booty. (My particular favorite is at No. 30.) Jump, squat, or roll your way to fitness success with these Amazon finds, even if you’re a workout newbie.
Hoop, There It Is
Did you know you can burn calories fast with a child’s toy? Well, it’s reminiscent of a child’s toy, anyway. This weighted fitness hoop is designed to reduce fat around your waist while strengthening your core, tightening your abdomen, and improving coordination. The hoop’s weight can be adjusted for a more intense workout that honestly will feel a lot more like your days as a kid playing with a hula hoop.
Don’t Be Mat
Maybe you want to take it slow starting out. I get it. All you really need to get going with yoga is an exercise mat like this one. An extra-thick mat that bears Amazon’s name, this one has an included elastic strap for toting it here or there and a variety of colors to suit your mood. The textured foam aids in traction and stability the half-inch-thick pad is certainly better than downward dogging on a hard surface.
Weight A Minute
​You don’t need a complicated weight bench to see the results of working out. This neoprene-coated dumbbell hand weight set is another Amazon Basics product that’s nothing but basic. The set pictured includes 20 pounds of weight and a handy stand, but there are other configurations at the link to suit your needs. The weight numbers printed on the ends are a helpful feature.
An AB-solute Must-Buy
You “ab”-solutely need this. I’m “ab”-solutely certain. O.K., I’m done. This ab wheel roller looks like the world’s smallest vehicle tire but holds up to 600 pounds to deliver an intense ab workout. This set also includes a knee pad, resistance bands, and push-up bars that, when combined, target your abs, hip flexors, shoulders, and back. The roller is silent and won’t damage your floors either.
Pick Pilates
Sure, Pilates is great, but when was the last time you felt motivated to get to a class? … That’s what I thought. With this Pilates exercise stick, you can work on your arms, abs, lower belly, legs, and glutes in the comfort of your own home. It has high elasticity and tension resistance so you’ll feel the burn. The portability of this bar is its best feature, in my opinion, which you can take with you when you travel.
Pull Up For This Pulley System
Put a pulley system in your home gym and whip your biceps, triceps, shoulders, and back into shape — pronto. This set supports up to 440 pounds of weight, making it an ideal choice for beginners or more advanced fitness gurus. Purchase this and you’ll get a straight bar, two lengths of cables, a tricep rope, and a silent pully. Connect it to power racks, pull-up bars, beams, or any free spot you have available.
Put A Ring On It
You can work out your arms anywhere, so says this fitness arm ring that weighs in at a minuscule 1.5 pounds. Work out at home? Check. Take it to the gym? Why not. Try to squeeze in some reps in the car? As long as you aren’t driving. This fitness ring has a tension of 44 pounds and includes three resistance bands of varying weights. And, surprise! You can use this for working out your legs, too.
Pot, Meet Kettle(bell)
CrossFitters everywhere know it well; you, well, you may not … but you could. This single kettlebell hanger has a sturdy hook on which to deposit your kettlebell after a workout of various cardio options. This hook, which has included hardware, can support a weight of up to 200 pounds. If you’re not into kettlebells, don’t worry. This hanger can be used for resistance bands, jump ropes, wraps, and other gear.
Secure The Bag
If there’s one type of exercise I’ve been interested in but never done, it’s definitely boxing. I mean, c’mon, where else can you hit somebody (or something) and not get in trouble? This MMA training workout set includes a variety of sandbag sizes, boxing gloves, hand bandages, hooks, and chains. Enhance your endurance, speed, and accuracy with this set … or simply blow off some steam after work.
Baby Got Back Bends
Yoga is so much more than cobra pose and with this yoga strap you can achieve all of it. This package included a door flexibility yoga strap, door anchors, and a storage bag to hide it all when not in use. Once it’s set up, you’ll have the added support you need to do things like backbends, stretches, floor poses, and aerial poses with ease. It may also be useful for dance, ballet, gymnastics, and cheerleading training.
Yoga One-Stop
When I first started doing yoga some years back, I was pretty surprised to learn about all the gear it required. And, sure, you can do yoga anywhere with no gear at all, but things like a mat, blocks, and straps improve your practice tremendously. This 11-piece set is perfect for a beginner with an included ball, mat, various straps, and foam blocks. Now, go get your sun salutation on.
Booty Boosters
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those “booty-enhancing leggings” don’t do much if you haven’t been actively working on enhancing your booty through workouts. This set of four booty bands are resistance bands that will strengthen your hips, thighs, and butt through exercises like squats and lunges. You’ll get an included training routine and exercise pose chart to help you maximize your efforts.
Chart Your Course
Speaking of exercise instruction, which is particularly useful for a newbie, this workout poster is like having your very own private trainer right in your home. It includes exercises for your upper and lower body, back, and core as well as cardio for the best possible outcome. You don’t need any special equipment to make these useful either. If you’ve ever needed someone to draw you a picture to get started, this is your answer.
Work Out With Water
Water can be your best friend when you’re working out: Drinking it to stay hydrated, using it as resistance in pool aerobics, or, in this case, using it for a full-body workout. This hydropower chamber is adjustable with the water-to-air ratio you set and is perfectly portable once empty because it folds up. Once filled, the sloshing inside the chamber creates a challenging training tool you can use anywhere.
Weight For It
​Who would ever think that something as small as ankle weights could transform your fitness? These adjustable ankle weights, which come in adjustable sizes from 1-3 pounds to 1-20 pounds. Build muscle and tone your legs with straps that can be customized to your exact size needs with adjustable strap closures. Help increase lower body strength, burn calories and fat, rehabilitate muscles and even improve balance and flexibility.
Climb The (Agility) Ladder
You’ve probably seen agility ladder sets in movies and TV shows where athletes are running through them as fast as they can. You’re not an athlete and you’re probably not even going to be moving that fast, but you can still exercise (get it?) the benefits of an agility set like this one. It includes the ladder, cones, and a travel bag to help improve your fitness, agility, speed, vertical jump, and more.
Waist Away
If you’re after an hourglass shape a la Kim Kardashian, you’re going to have to work out. But, you also might want to invest in one of these waist trainer belts. Wear the belt while you’re exercising and it will help you burn more fat in your stomach area by increasing the functionality of your sweat. That might sound gross (eww, sweat) but 61,000 reviewers singing this trainer’s praises can’t be wrong.
Water These Dumbbells For?
Water aerobics is a great way to get into shape in a way that is less taxing on your body. Just the resistance the water provides can really enhance your workout; add in these foam dumbbells to create even more resistance. These are lightweight, dry quickly, and turn your water exercises up a notch. Grab them in a variety of colors from blue to yellow for less than 20 bucks.
Set Your Sets With This Poster Set
If you could really do with having a trainer look over your shoulder and tell you what to do, but you don’t have “trainer-looking-over-your-shoulder” money, try your hand at this 10-pack of exercise posters. Each poster covers different fitness themes like dumbbells, resistance bands, stretching, yoga poses, stability balls, and more. They’re laminated so they’ll stay clean and can be affixed anywhere.
A Portable Pedal Exerciser
Don’t use that stack of work on your desk as an excuse not to get your exercise in. This under-desk mini exercise bike goes wherever you go, allowing you to get in some movement even if you are strapped to your desk. It features an LCD screen display and an adjustable tension knob to take it easier or make it more challenging. The non-slip pedals will help keep your feet in place.
It’s All In The Wrist
Do you even exercise your wrists, bro? Believe it or not, wrist strengthening is integral to improving the strength, power, and speed in your wrists, hands, and forearms. Stronger wrists mean increased flexibility and fewer injuries, too. This wrist strengthener allows you to perform regular and reverse wrist curls and is a great first step to getting stronger, especially if you play tennis or other sports.
You’re On A Roll(er)
Living a healthful lifestyle isn’t just about what you do in the gym; it’s also about what you do before and after. This high-density round foam roller is all about the “after,” supporting muscle recovery and increasing your balance, flexibility, and rehabilitation. It comes in various sizes to target different areas of your body and is made from molded material that retains its shape even after heavy use.
A Perfect Pedal Pull Rope
Work your abs, waist, arms, and legs with this pedal fitness rope, whether you’re 18 or 80. Equipped with numerous resistance tubes that can be combined or removed to your liking, this portable workout gear is perfect for stretching your arms and legs or aiding in achieving the perfect sit-up form. It comes in three different colors and is a great buy at less than $17.
Keep Your Cool
Um, I hate to tell you this, but if you’re a workout newbie, you’re going to sweat. A lot. As part of your workout (survival?) gear, you’re going to want one of these cooling towels. This purchase will actually net you four towels made of hyper-evaporative breathable mesh material that you can activate by soaking, wringing it out, and snapping it. Each included storage pouch features a carabiner clip so you can snap it onto a gym bag.
Jump Rope — Hold The Rope
Hear me out: A jump rope … but without the rope. This ropeless skipping rope seems counterintuitive but actually works just as well as a traditional jump rope for those of us who are less than coordinated. The ball on each handle is weighted for extra resistance and there’s no need to worry about getting things tangled because … there’s nothing there. The handles are coated in soft memory foam, too.
Get It On Tape
I discovered the joys of kinesiology tape a few months ago and I’ll never go back. I don’t fully understand how it works, but the gist of these pre-cut strips is to apply them to problem areas (for me, it’s my left heel) and you get instant relief from pain with added support. KT Tape products are hypoallergenic, latex-free, and rubber-free and come in a host of fun colors.
Pad Your Barbells
If you’re feeling frisky and opt for some squats, you might want to invest in a barbell squat pad. It slides over the bar to protect your neck and shoulders by relieving pressure and distributing weight more evenly. The anti-slip design will keep it from moving around while in use and its lightweight design means you can discreetly take it to the gym without getting weird looks.
Watch What You’re Doing
One of the things they teach you in marketing is that if you can’t track your efforts, you’re wasting your time. In some regards, the same goes for exercise, which is why you need this smartwatch that works with either Android or Apple devices. You’ll get all of your typical notifications and a ton of fitness features like a heart monitor, step counter, calorie tracker, sleep monitoring, and more.
Ball Out
I have a co-worker who swears by her exercise ball and even uses it as a chair for her desk. Maybe you’re not feeling that adventurous, but this exercise ball does offer some great benefits like improving your core and bettering your posture. It’s made from anti-burst and anti-slip materials and comes with a pump for easy inflating. It supports up to 600 pounds and can take a beating without missing a beat.
Roll The Dice
Remember in the opening when I called No. 30 my secret favorite product on the list? Well, here it is. It’s 12-sided exercise dice! And, why not? Something that adds a bit of fun and unpredictability to what can become an otherwise boring workout routine over time. Roll the dice and perform whatever task it says, like “24 reverse crunches” or “15 burpees.”
Sock It To Me
The last time I attempted anything fitness-related, I got the biggest blisters ever on the sides of both of my feet. So, I understand the importance of something like anti-blister socks. Available in men’s and women’s sizes, these socks made from recycled materials include ventilation zones that wick away sweat. You can feel good about this purchase, too: Each pair of socks represented 22 plastic bottles pulled from our oceans. (P.S. Stop littering, k?)
Don’t Wait — Hydrate
Hydration is as important to exercise as literally anything else. You’ll want to get your hands on this half-gallon water bottle, which comes with a neoprene sleeve that has a pocket, motivational markings to help you stay on track, and a handle built into the lid. Leakproof with a pop-up straw, you’ll have no trouble getting in 64 ounces and going back for more.
Find Your Balance
Good balance is important throughout our lives for everything from climbing stairs to preventing falls. This wobble balance board will improve your balance (duh) and strengthen your core, which can help in numerous other areas of fitness. Equipped with a non-slip bumpy surface and set to an unbalanced state, it’ll add new challenges to your existing workout routine.
Rack Up The Storage Options
Where are you going to put all of this new workout gear? (And, don’t say in storage.) This storage rack will help you organize all your new (and old) workout gear purchases, ranging from resistance bands and jump ropes to weight belts and boxing gloves. When it’s time to work out, you won’t be hunting for your gear when you have it all in one place.
Give Your Sit-Ups An Assist
Do you know what turns most people off of sit-ups? The sitting up part. I’m joking … sort of. This sit-up workout pad is like giving yourself an assist without cheating through your reps. Made of non-slip material, you can focus on your form instead of dwelling on the fact that your back or tailbone hurts. The 30-degree arch built into the pad protects you from injuries.
The Work of ShakeSphere
There are a million shaker bottles out there, but none with a cooler name than this one: ShakeSphere. I mean, c’mon, the word lover in me is all about this. The ShakeSphere relies on its capsule shape to do your mixing so there’s no mixer ball to have to clean or powder stuck in corners of a traditionally shaped shaker. The leakproof slider cap is equipped with an adjustable finger loop for extra convenience.
Belt It Out
Riddle me this: How do you go for a run and keep everything you need with you, like your house key and your phone or earbuds? You don’t unless you have this slim running belt with a handy zipper. Made of moisture-wicking, stretchy material, this belt will be your new BFF with space for your phone, keys, debit or ID cards, and a hole for easy access to your earbuds.