5 Pieces of Compact Exercise Equipment Perfect for Small Places

If you’re not a fan of the gym or their expensive membership fees, it might be time to bring the workout home. That may seem like an unfunny joke if your square footage teeters on tiny home size or your kids, along with their toys and gear, already have your living quarters busting at the seams. Before you throw in the proverbial towel–you know, the clean one that should be covered in sweat–it’s time to invest in compact exercise equipment.

Already on the lean side, compact exercise equipment is built on the small so that you don’t need a lot of extra space to use and store it. As an added bonus, some of this gear is lightweight and slight enough that you can even travel with it, making sure you never skip your fitness whether on the road for vacation or business.

Compact Exercise Equipment for Your Small Space

It’s important to remember that fitness doesn’t require a full-size gym or even a room of its own to make happen. Gyms are built to cater to a lot of people with lots of different tastes and training styles. Instead of trying to make every exercise option available to yourself, think about the type of exercise(s) you enjoy doing or want to do more of, and start basing your equipment needs around that. The good news is that activities such as walking, running, and swimming require nothing more than either a good pair of shoes or a swimsuit. With yoga, you only need a mat, which can be rolled up and stuck under your bed or in the corner of your closet when not in use.

For activities that are more gear-based, give some of these supplies a try:

1. Resistance Bands & Multi-Functional Bar for Women

Amazon.com, $41.97

Strength training is a great way to sculpt your body while efficiently burning fat. Instead of barbells, plates, racks, and benches–the complete opposite of compact exercise equipment–use resistance bands instead. Coming in a range of tensions with different handles and straps, this gear allows for a variety of exercises targeting your entire body in a size that can fit in a drawer of your dresser.

2. Sunny Health & Fitness Dual Function Under-Desk Bike Trainer

Amazon.com, $151.05

With a 15-inch base, this compact exerciser is perfect for pedaling out your legs while working at your desk or catching up on a Netflix binge. Make it a full-body workout and follow up your legs by giving your arms a spin when propped up to chest height.

3. Elite Core Sliders

Amazon.com, $15.97

Skip the crunches, and give your core more with these super slick sliding discs. Mountain climbers, moving-leg planks, gliding burpees, and squat slides get more intense when using this gear that slides easily over hardwood floors and carpet. And since they lay flat, you can tuck these hand-sized circles just about anywhere in your home.

4. Empower Portable Pilates Studio

Amazon.com, $14.51

If Pilates is your jam, but a reformer just won’t fit in your home, this compact option will make you really happy. Equipped with two bars and two power cords with attached foot loops, you have everything you need to complete a full Pilates workout session, or just to concentrate on upper body strength training.

5. HYPERSPHERE by HYPERICE

Amazon.com, $149

When more than a whirl on a foam roller is needed to release and stretch tight, sore muscles, add a bit of vibration. This device, about softball size, is designed to shimmy and shake your body to keep it loose and perform at it’s best. Just as a foam roller is used to work into soft tissue, this vibrating ball takes it one step further by being durable enough to roll on, while compact enough to reach stubborn knots and sore spots. The vibration works as a personal massage while your control the pressure.

Carrie Anton (270 Posts)

Carrie Anton is a freelance writer focusing on health, fitness, and sports. She's been published in Self, Women's Health, Oxygen, and Maximum Fitness.