12 Home Gym Equipment Essentials: Build An Affordable Home Gym Setup Here | SELF

There’s no question about it: Working out at home with your own home gym equipment has some serious convenience benefits. There’s no need to account for travel time to and from the gym, you never have to pack a bag, and you can blast your go-to workout music sans headphones. And for many people, home is also a pressure-free zone to exercise (because, hey, gyms can feel a little intimidating, especially when you’re new to fitness).

Of course, there are a couple of limitations that come along with picking up an at-home workout program. For one, you might have minimal workout space. Plus, gyms generally have a leg up on equipment, and it’s not exactly cheap to stock your home set with all of those bells and whistles.

That said, there’s a lot you can do with just a few cost-effective pieces of home gym equipment. (In fact, you don’t have to spend any money at all—there are plenty of ways to get in cardio and strength work using just your bodyweight for resistance.) But having some bonus equipment at your disposal gives you more exercise options, allows you to add resistance as you get stronger, and gives your workouts more variety, so you (and your muscles) won’t get bored of the same old, same old routine.

Let’s start with the basics: Here are five pieces of home gym equipment to get your home gym started for less than 100 bucks. Plus, check out seven add-ons you can invest in if it makes sense for your space, budget, and fitness goals. And by the way, not everything on this list is an absolute must-have for everyone, because your home workout space should be customized to you. So don’t think of these items as a to-buy list; instead, choose what you invest in based on your own personal workout routine and habits.