The 10 Best Portable Home Gyms
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in October of 2018. Sure, a pricey gym membership is a viable way to get into shape and maintain your fitness level, but it’s not the only effective approach. With one of these portable home gyms, you can get in some exercise just about anywhere, as long as you have a few square feet of free space. Many come with resistance bands, anchor systems and DVDs to guide you through multiple different workouts. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Bullworker Training
2. TRX Basic
3. Tension Toner Strength
Editor's Notes
July 12, 2020:
We found the durability of the equipment that comes with the Gorilla Full Body to be suspect, so we removed it from the rankings. We eliminated the FitKit Home as well.
Our investigation of the Bodygym Official reveals that it’s a serviceable option for beginners or those looking for a basic exercise tool, but if your fitness is at an intermediate or expert level, it may not be challenging enough. Referenced the versatility of the BodyBoss Portable 2.0, but it only comes with two bands, both of which probably won’t offer enough resistance for experienced users. As it is quite pricey, we noted that the package really should include additional bands.
The TRX Basic is one of the most well-known suspension weight training systems available, and there’s a reason it is often imitated: it works. It allows for a wide range of different workouts that target all areas of the body.
We added the Wonder Core Smart, which is a strong choice for anyone looking to firm up the core muscles. It can also be used for some upper and lower body exercises. The GoFitness Expander is a somewhat specialized model: it’s super effective for building strength in the chest and toning the upper body, but it’s not useful for leg work.
October 30, 2018:
The Bullworker Training’s proven track record of success made it an obvious choice for the list, while the FitKit Home’s simplicity and affordability gave it the edge over some more expensive options. Discovered that some models, like the Empower Sculpt, Tension Toner Strength and Oyo Anytime, offer online resources, which is a nice value add.
Special Honors
MoBell Muscle Kit If you’re an Olympic-style lifter, there’s a good chance the workouts you get in while you’re away from home don’t typically meet your usual standards. This portable set can change that with its Olympic barbell, curl bar, and numerous fillable tactical bags. The carrying case doubles as a bench. mobellmuscle.com
MYOKORE Training Built to work for people with any body type, MYOKORE has plenty of mounting solutions for use at home, in a gym or outdoors. It also provides access to an online training portal, which features classes on toning, strengthening and balancing different muscle groups with bands and straps. myokore.com
All / Out Studio A subscription fitness app that offers hundreds of classes with certified trainers, All / Out Studio is updated every month, providing access to fresh workouts. You’ll need only your body for many of the sessions, and others simply require a single dumbbell or kettlebell. alloutstudio.com
4. GoFitness Expander
5. QonQuill Bundle
6. Wonder Core Smart
7. BodyBoss Portable 2.0
8. Bodygym Official
9. Empower Sculpt
10. Oyo Anytime
In addition to his corporate career as a marketing and communications professional in Chicago, Sam runs a popular blog that focuses on the city’s flourishing craft beer and brewery scene. He received his degree in journalism from DePaul University (which spurred his interest in freelance writing) and has since spent years developing expertise in copywriting, digital marketing and public relations. A lifetime of fishing, hiking and camping trips has left him well-versed in just about any outdoors-related topic, and over several years spent working in the trades during his youth, he accumulated a wealth of knowledge about tools and machinery. He’s a travel junkie, a health and fitness enthusiast, and an avid biker.