Best home gym essentials of 2023 according to experts and reviewers

By Carolin Lehmann

March 6, 2023 / 10:40 AM / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Need equipment recommendations for your home gym? Look no further. We have the best home gym essentials in 2023, according to experts and reviewers. Find the best ellipticals, exercise bikes, treadmills and more home gym equipment ahead.

Top products in this article

Concept2 Model D indoor rowing machine, $1,187

Peloton bike, $1,445

Bowflex Max Trainer M6, $1,499

Working out from home to reach your fitness goal can save you money in the long run over buying a gym membership. We reached out to experts for recommendations and relied on online reviews to pick the best home gym equipment of 2023. From cardio equipment to weights, there's something for everyone hoping to set up a home gym here. Read on for the top home gym essentials in 2023.

When putting together a home gym, it's hard to know where to even start. So, we've brought in some experts to help. Find out what exercise equipment former "Dancing With The Stars" pro and certified trainer Lindsay Arnold and CrossfitGames champion, Olympian and Yeti wellness ambassador Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr recommend for home workouts.

"A quality indoor rowing machine is essential for a full body workout and assists with full body strength and mobility which is key to preventing injuries," Toomey-Orr says.

Concept2 Model D indoor rowing machine, $1,187

"These are my absolute favorite weights I've been using for years," Arnold says. "I love how you can use them as arm and ankle weights, which pairs perfectly with my workouts or whenever you want to level up. Plus, they're so chic and cute!"

Bala bangles, $55

"My Yeti Rambler bottle helps keep me hydrated throughout my entire workout and keeps it ice cold for my post-workout recovery," Toomey-Orr says.

Yeti Rambler 35-ounce water bottle, $50

"I love a resistance band workout," Arnold says. "Resistance bands are so versatile and can add so much to your routine. These are great for all of my workouts because you can choose between the different resistances."

Fit Simplify resistance loop resistance band set, $13 (reduced from $21)

"Having good quality shoes is absolutely vital towards preventing injury, and I stick with my NoBull trainers because they are very comfortable, durable and help me perform at my best when training," Toomey-Orr says.

NoBull rose camo trainer, $159

"These are the perfect sliders to incorporate into all of my workouts!" Arnold says. "I've tried so many, and I find these glide the best and grip your feet."

Gaiam core sliding discs, $10

"During my workout I commonly use chalk to help with my grip, and the LoadOut bucket is a great way to help keep the gym clean by preventing the chalk from flying around too much between sets," Toomey-Orr says.

Yeti LoadOut 5-gallon bucket, $40

Looking for more home gym equipment to meet your fitness goal? These are the best home gym ellipticals in 2023 according to reviewers.

Get in your cardio workout with this wallet-friendly elliptical and exercise bike combo for your home gym that comes with a monitor that displays the time, speed, distance and average calories burned. Its attached adjustable seat turns this piece of home gym equipment into an exercise bike. A manual knob adjusts tension, and the trainer has a 250-pound weight capacity.

"My husband and I both use it every day and find it very sturdy and easy to use," wrote a reviewer. "It took a little bit of time to put it together but I did it all by myself and only had to ask my husband a simple question to complete the assembly."

Body Rider 2-in-1 fitness machine with elliptical, $157 (reduced from $220)

Workout with this simple elliptical machine for your home gym that has an eight-level tension controller to customize workout resistance. It has a digital monitor that displays time, speed, distance, calories and heart rate. It's a small piece of home gym equipment intended for users up to 220 pounds in weight.

"This is not a gym-quality elliptical by any means, but for the price, it offers everything I could ask for," a reviewer said.

Sunny Health & Fitness magnetic elliptical, $180

Home fitness doesn't have to be expensive. If you're short on space or want a more affordable option for your workout, go for half the elliptical instead with this desk elliptical machine. You can get in some cardio while sitting or standing and its resistance is adjustable. Its monitor displays the number of strides per minute; total number of strides; exercise time; and calories burned. This piece of home gym equipment supports a maximum of 250 pounds of weight.

"I love this strider," wrote a Walmart customer. "I would recommend this to anyone looking to stay active while at a desk job!"

Stamina InMotion under-the-desk elliptical, $119

Looking for a new way to get in your daily home fitness HIIT workout? Bowflex's Max Trainer ellipticals include access to a range of cardio workout classes through the JRNY app.

One reviewer raved about the Max Trainer M6: "I had been looking for an elliptical for a long time that had a small footprint and was able to easily be moved around. When I came across the BowFlex trainers, I simply couldn't resist giving it a try... I enjoy getting my sweat on with the 14 minute programs and have been enjoying getting my post-covid bod back to where I want it to be."

"I am 56 and hit this thing now five days a week for 30 minutes," another reviewer wrote of the Max Trainer M8. "Worth every penny if you use it regularly."

Bowflex Max Trainer M6, $1,499

Bowflex Max Trainer M9, $1,499 (reduced from $1,999)

Bowflex Max Total 16, $2,499

Get in some cardio with this Bluetooth-equipped elliptical that has 24 levels of resistance and 21 pre-set workout programs. Its backlit computer displays distance, time, RPM, calories burned, speed, heart rate and exertion (in watts). This piece of home gym equipment has a phone and tablet holder, plus a water bottle holder. Note its 270-pound weight capacity.

"I was surprised how sturdy it is," reviewer Diana says. "It's very affordable. It doesn't take up too much space. It took me about two hours to assemble and the instructions are not confusing at all."

Fitness Reality Ei7500XL elliptical with Bluetooth, $299 (reduced from $502)

Reviewers love these treadmills from Bowflex, Echelon and more for home workouts. Cancel your gym membership after buying one of the treadmills ahead.

Bowflex treadmills boast motorized incline ranges from -5 percent to 20 percent for your cardio session, Comfort Tech deck cushioning, SoftDrop folding systems and Bluetooth capabilities. They also come with a one-year JRNY membership ($149), which grants you access to the JRNY app, featuring a wide range of fitness classes taught by world-class trainers.

Bowflex Treadmill 10, $1,999

Bowflex Treadmill 22, $2,699

This 4.3-star-rated Echelon Stride Treadmill features a 20" x 55" deck, a 10 percent max incline and a max speed of 12 mph. Heart rate sensors are integrated into the handlebars. This piece of home gym equipment includes a 30-day free trial to Echelon Premiere, which offers access to 3,000 live and on-demand classes by fitness professionals.

Echelon Stride Treadmill, $1,300

Consider this under-desk treadmill if you work from home and want to get more movement into your daily routine. This motorized walking and jogging treadmill offers 12 preset exercise modes as well as the option to manually adjust the setting for your perfect workout.

Redliro under desk treadmill, $340 after coupon (reduced from $480)

Do you work from home and don't have a ton of space? This mini walking treadmill is the perfect size to slide under a standing desk. When it's not in use, this fitness machine can be folded to almost half its size for easy storage, so it's the best treadmill for a small space.

Choose from five colors.

WalkingPad C2 Mini foldable walking treadmill, $550 (regularly $600)

The T7643 walking treadmill by Sunny Health & Fitness would make an excellent addition to your home gym. The treadmill boasts a 19.5-inch-wide surface for walking or running and an above-average weight capacity of 350 pounds. It's equipped with two bottle holders, and a space for your tablet or phone.

A good fit for speed walkers and light joggers, the T7643 walking treadmill can reach speeds up to 6 mph. The built-in digital monitor displays your burned calories, speed and distance covered while working out. This piece of home gym equipment's deck can be folded into the frame. Plus, it's on sale right now on Amazon.

Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 walking treadmill, $582 (reduced from $770)

The 2-in-1 Superfit treadmill can be used as a traditional treadmill capable of reaching speeds of up to 7.5 mph, or folded down and used as a walking treadmill that will max out at 2.5 mph. The sturdy frame and shock-absorbing, multi-layer design will keep your workout quiet and comfortable.

This piece of home gym equipment would make a great addition to any home office for the remote worker trying to get in their steps between (or even during) meetings. Just add a standing desk into the mix, and you're good to go.

It's available in seven colors. Prices vary by color. The price listed below is for the blue model.

Goplus 2 in 1 Superfit folding treadmill (blue), $350 (reduced from $500)

This folding treadmill has three incline options and an LED monitor that tracks your speed, distance, calories burned, time and pulse while working out. This piece of gym equipment has a shock-absorbing system that protects your knees and ankles and takes only 15 minutes to assemble.

Runow folding treadmill, $540 (reduced from $700)

Check out these reviewer-loved exercise bikes from Peloton, Schwinn, NordicTrack and more for home workouts.

Clip into a Peloton stationary bike for an indoor cycling workout like no other. This small-space-friendly bike features delta-compatible pedals; a resistance knob for manual control; a two-channel, rear-facing stereo speaker system with 16W of total power; a 10-point multitouch touchscreen; a USB micro port; a 3.5mm headphone jack; Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity; a 5MP front-facing camera; a built-in microphone and volume buttons.

Purchase a Peloton All-Access Membership ($44 monthly) to access Peloton content on your bike. Membership offers unlimited access to Peloton's entire library of content, available on your new bike and through the Peloton app.

Peloton bike, $1,445

Go for an indoor cycle on this Schwinn exercise bike with a tablet holder. It has an LCD console, Bluetooth capability and a 40-pound flywheel weight. It tracks RPMs, heart rate, calories, time and distance. You can also use this piece of gym equipment with the Peloton app, if you'd like a similar indoor cycling experience at a more affordable price point.

Schwinn Fitness IC3, $640

This stationary exercise bike has a belt-driven system for a smooth and quiet ride, an adjustable non-slip handlebar and a tablet holder. Its LCD monitor tracks time, speed, distance and calories burned while working out. This piece of gym equipment has a water-bottle holder, and there are wheels on the bike, so it can be easily moved after your workout.

Yosuda indoor cycling bike, $210 (reduced from $260)

This spin bike has a weighted flywheel and quiet belt-drive system. It has an adjustable seat and handlebars, plus a water-bottle holder. Stream your workout on your TV or a laptop in front of you, or invest in a tablet holder for this exercise bike's handlebars, as it doesn't come with a tablet or workout streaming subscription.

Sunny Health & Fitness indoor exercise bike, $299 (reduced from $399)

This exercise bike comes with a 22-inch interactive HD touchscreen display that can rotate 360 degrees, plus two three-pound dumbbells. This piece of gym equipment has silent magnetic resistance, Bluetooth connectivity and 24 digital resistance levels for working out.

A 30-day iFIT family app membership is included, offering live, studio and global workouts when you buy this bike. You can create up to five individual profiles with the app. The iFIT trainers can auto-adjust your resistance and incline during each indoor cycling workout.

NordicTrack commercial studio cycle (22" screen), $1,500

The best workout routines are often diverse workout routines. To that end, simply flip around the device holder on this Echelon EX3 model, and see more than 2,000 additional off-the-bike workouts. Note that a tablet is not included, a factor that likely contributes to this stationary bike's more affordable price point. It has 32 levels of silent, magnetic resistance, and you can pick between solid black, black with red detailing and white color options.

This exercise bike also has its own app offering live and on-demand classes and scenic, indoor cycling rides. The Echelon EX3 comes with a free 30-day trial and costs $40 per month after that. One subscription accommodates up to five users, which allows for competition between family members and friends.

Echelon EX3 Connect bike, $800

The less expensive Echelon EX-15 stationary bike is another great option for indoor cycling. While the exercise bike offers connectivity to the Echelon workout app and comes with a 30-day membership, you'll need to provide your own tablet. It offers 32 levels of resistance for working out.

Echelon Smart Connect EX-15, $500

While a tablet is not included with your purchase of this affordable spin bike, this model does come with two three-pound dumbbells for cross-training workouts, and it has transport wheels, which makes it ideal for moving in small spaces.

This exercise bike offers a one-year free subscription to its app (a $468 value), which includes thousands of indoor cycling workouts. The trainers in the app control the Pro-Form Carbon CX's resistance during a workout. The Pro-Form Carbon CX is available for $599, or $16 per month.

Pro-Form Carbon CX, $599

Go for an indoor cycle on this stationary bike, which boasts 100 magnetic resistance levels and comes with two three-pound dumbbells in easy-to-reach cradles. It also comes with a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate armband monitor. Note that it doesn't come with a tablet.

A six-month free trial of the JRNY workout app (worth $20 per month) is included in your purchase of this fitness bike. The app offers real-time coaching, virtual destinations and on-demand indoor cycling workout classes.

Bowflex C6 bike, $799 (reduced from $999)

Carolin Lehmann is an expert in health, fitness, furniture, apparel, gift guides and books for CBS Essentials. She's always testing new products to recommend. Some of her current favorites include Stanley cups, Alo Yoga workout sets and the Cuzen matcha maker.

First published on March 6, 2023 / 10:40 AM