Every pick on the site

One pair of dumbbells that stands in for a rack of fixed pairs, with a dial to change the load.

Best for

Small flats, and anyone who trains alone with dumbbells and has nowhere to store a rack.

Watch out for

The shell around the plates is plastic and does not enjoy being dropped; these are set down, not thrown.

A flat bench with a narrow pad and a wide base, so your shoulders and your feet stay where you put them.

Best for

Pressing with dumbbells or a barbell in a room where the bench stays out of the way.

Watch out for

It is flat only. Anyone who wants incline work needs a different bench, and a heavier one.

A straight 20 kg bar with a knurl that grips without tearing and sleeves that turn.

Best for

A garage or ground-floor room with a rack, plates and space to set the bar down.

Watch out for

A bar is useless on its own: plates, a rack and floor clearance come first, and all of them take room.

A treadmill that folds upright, which is the feature that decides whether it stays in the room.

Best for

Walking or running indoors in a room with a spare power point and a hard floor.

Watch out for

Deck length is what makes a run comfortable; a short deck changes how you land.

A compact machine that mixes a stepper with an elliptical, so the arms and the legs work together.

Best for

Small rooms where a treadmill will not fit, and short sessions at a high effort.

Watch out for

The motion is fixed. It is not a substitute for a treadmill if you want to run.

A handheld percussion device: a motor in a handle, an arm, and a set of interchangeable heads.

Best for

Anyone who prefers a small handheld unit to a larger one and will keep it charged.

Watch out for

Amplitude and stall force decide what the device can do; extra speed settings on their own mean little.

A hollow roller with a rigid core and a textured surface, so it keeps its shape under body weight.

Best for

Floor work before or after a session, in a room with enough space to lie down.

Watch out for

The textured surface is firm. A first roller is easier to start with in a smooth version.

A dense mat that lies flat, grips when hands warm up, and does not shed foam crumbs.

Best for

Floor work, stretching and bodyweight sessions on tile, concrete or floorboards.

Watch out for

A closed-cell mat is heavier than it looks and takes a few sessions to lose its slick surface.

A double-wall steel bottle that holds temperature and stays dry on the outside.

Best for

Training sessions, day walks and anywhere you carry your own water.

Watch out for

It is heavy when empty compared with plastic, and a wide mouth spills easily while drinking on the move.

A dome tent with simple poles and a fly that covers the roof, for weekends out.

Best for

Weekend camping and a base for day walks from a campsite.

Watch out for

The quoted person count assumes sleeping mats only, so four people in a four-person tent is a tight fit.