How to Build a Home Gym (When Gym Equipment is Sold Out Everywhere!)

Building a home gym is a great investment for any homeowner. Not only does it pay for itself in a matter of months, it also saves you money over the long term and gives you the benefit of creating a gym that meets your specific needs. 

Unfortunately, many fitness brands are having difficulty producing equipment fast enough to keep up with consumer demand. This is largely due to manufacturing plants being shut down due to the Coronavirus, shipping delays with logistics and of course the increased demand for home fitness equipment since gyms are largely closed across the country. 

Combined, this makes for a perfect storm making it nearly impossible to get gym equipment. This shouldn’t deter you from building a home gym, which is why in this blog we’ll discuss how to build a functional home gym even if you’re struggling to find fitness equipment.

First, Identify Your Fitness Goals

Are you looking to strength train? Or are you focused on cardio? Do you want to target specific muscle groups or a particular type of workout? Your answers to these questions will help you determine what type of equipment you need. 

For example, if you’re looking to strength train, a set of Olympic Bars may do the trick. For those looking to do cardio workouts treadmills, ellipticals, rowers, and bikes are all great options. 

Consider Your Space

Another important step in building your home gym is identifying your space. The type of equipment you choose will be largely impacted by the size of the space you have available. A functional gym may be your first choice, but due to size restrictions, you may need to consider an alternative such as a weight rack.

Build a Gym Based On What’s Available

The bad news right now is that everything you are looking for regarding gym equipment may not be readily available. If you’re willing to wait and put your gym together one piece at a time you can be more particular. If you’re in a hurry though, you may need to be a bit more creative. We maintain a running inventory of items that are readily available to ship which can be found on our Ready to Ship page. 

Work with a Professional

While you may feel like you have a strong handle on what you want in your gym, these are unprecedented times. This means working with someone who understands what equipment will help you meet your fitness goals and work in the size space you need.  Our professional gym consultants are ready to help you assist you in building a custom gym regardless of your preferences and current product availability. They will review with you your preferences, goals, the size of your space, your budget and help you build the gym that works best for you.

They will help you work with equipment that is available and ready to ship so you won’t have to wait too long to have your gym up and running. 

Start Purchasing the Basics

While you’re waiting for the larger gym equipment to arrive, you can begin preparing your space by getting the basics. This includes:

• A yoga mat for stretching
• Resistance bands, for strength training and stretching
• A couple of kettlebells to add resistance to bodyweight workouts
• A foam roller, for stretching and massaging tight muscles
• Gym flooring – rubber mats work great

In the Meantime, Get Creative!

While you’re waiting for your new equipment to arrive, you can also go the route of using common household objects – in a pinch, buckets filled with sand, filled luggage, water jugs – or even your kid makes for excellent weights!