Home gym equipment has never been more affordable or effective. Here's what to buy at each budget level, and what to skip.
$0 — Bodyweight Only
Push-ups, squats, lunges, dips, pull-ups (if you have a doorframe), and planks cover almost every movement pattern. A well-programmed bodyweight routine can build significant muscle and conditioning. The limitation is progressive overload — adding resistance as you get stronger requires creativity.
$100–$200 — Adjustable Dumbbells
A pair of adjustable dumbbells (15–50 lbs range) opens up almost every upper-body movement and enough lower-body work for most people. Add a resistance band set for ~$20 and you have a complete training system.
$400–$800 — Barbell + Plates + Rack
If strength is the goal, this is the ceiling. A 7-foot barbell, 300 lbs of plates, and a squat rack is everything you need for serious compound lifting. Buy used — Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace have near-new equipment from abandoned New Year's resolutions at 50–60% retail.
All TrainSMS programs are equipment-aware. Tell the AI what you have and it builds your program around it.