Do-It-Yourself Gym Equipment: 21 Fitness Projects You Can Build at Home
These days it seems nearly everybody is trying to find ways to save money. A big way to do that is to not only skip paying exorbitant gym membership fees, but also to make your own home the cheap and easy equivalent of a modern fitness center.
Fitness buffs around the U.S. are learning how to make their own workout equipment, saving money and decreasing the need for gyms or health clubs in the process. In this article, we explore 21 of our favorite DIY fitness projects designed to help you build the implements to work on your own strength training, cardio, and stretching exercises all from the comfort of your home. Though some of these projects require a bit of knowhow and a few power tools, many can be made by even a beginning builder.
Strength Training
1. Pull-up Bar
A classic complement for strength training, pull-ups work a range of muscles from the arms through the shoulders and into the back. Making a homemade pull-up bar is simple. Basically you just fit some pipes together and hang the assembly over a suitable load-bearing I-beam. The resulting pull-up bar will be adequate for use, provided you have the upper-body strength to execute a proper pull-up. If not, there are plenty of training programs and plans available online to boost your ability.
2. Kettlebells
The unique shape of kettlebells make them a great way to improve strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. While they’re a great piece of equipment for workouts, they can often be cost-prohibitive for many who would buy them, particularly if different weights are desired. But there is good news here, for about $10 at a hardware or home improvement store, you can make a homemade kettlebell that allows for changeable weights. The assembly breaks down easily for easy storage. For those wanting a bell that more closely resemble traditional kettlebells, follow these instructions for a rounder kettlebell made of concrete.
3. Farmers’ Walk Bars
The Farmer’s walk is a great exercise for athletes training for strength around the world. Named for a farmer carrying full buckets to feed cows, essentially the farmer’s walk consists of holding heavy objects in each hand and walking to the point of exhaustion. Though the move looks simple, it is very difficult and a great way to build core strength. With a simple pipe, some screws, and either purchased or recycled wood, it’s easy to build two large farmer’s walk bars to help you work on your strength training and perhaps make you the talk of the neighborhood.
4. Bulgarian Training Bag
Though they were originally designed for wrestlers, Bulgarian training bags are now used around the world to target legs, arms, back, and core. Essentially, they are like a softer version of kettlebells. Commercial bags can be rather expensive, running upwards of $250. A cheaper version is to simply fill an old truck or tractor tire’s inner tube with rubber mulch or wood pellets, then tie up the tube and it’s ready for you to swing, squat, or curl your way to better strength and fitness.
5. Sandbag
Sandbags are used similarly to kettlebells, but with the added challenge of shifting sand inside to enhance strength and endurance. Making a sandbag is cheap and easy. The essential elements are just contractor-grade trash bags, duct tape, sand or another filler, rope or zip ties, and a canvas laundry bag. Once the elements are assembled, you’re ready to toss, swing, or you’re your very own sandbag.
6. Water Ball
Along the lines of a sandbag but much more difficult to maneuver, water balls are the crazy cousin hanging out in the corner of the strength-training party. Water balls are also very easy to make. Simply purchase an anti-burst exercise ball, fill it almost full with water, and for about $10 and 30 minutes of your time you have a very effective training device.
7. Light Hand Weights
The key to a successful training program is starting within your range of ability, and frankly, not everyone is ready for farmer’s walk with 100 pounds in each hand. You can start smaller with DIY light hand weights. These can be used in classic dumbbell moves for a budget-friendly hand weight workout. If the small bottles start to lose the element of challenging your strength, simply switch to larger containers like milk jugs filled with water, rocks, or sand.
8. Medicine Ball
A staple in core and training, medicine balls can be used in a variety of exercises to challenge the body and improve strength and performance. Make your own easily with an old basketball, a drill or awl, and the desired weight of sand.
9. Incline Bench
While not terribly popular with the faint of heart, the incline bench is a classic tool for lots of varied and valuable core work. Commercial versions of an incline bench can be very expensive, however, lending appeal to the DIY version. A great thing about making your own incline bench is also that it’s adjustable and can be modified to suit different moves and levels of fitness.
10. Suspension Straps
TRX training systems have gained popularity recently thanks in large part to their minimalist approach to resistance training, but as the popularity of these and blast straps increases, so does their price. Thankfully, for about $15 at a hardware store and very little time investment, it’s easy to make your own suspension straps. Simply hang them over a door jam, a sturdy tree branch, or a Smith machine, and get suspended!
See 11 more fitness projects you can build at home on the next page…
11. Battling Ropes
Rather than discarding old garden hoses, turn them into battle ropes! If new to battle ropes, begin with empty hoses but you can fill them with sand and cap the ends once you require a more challenging full-body workout.
12. Parallettes
Parallettes are designed to help develop agility, coordination, and balance. To make your own with simple implements like PVC pipe, electrical tape and glue, simply follow these detailed instructions. Below the assembly instructions is a list of crossfit-approved exercises.
Cardio Training
13. Rowing Machine
Believe it or not, with around $70 and some 10-pound weights, you can actually build your own rowing machine! Rowing is a great low-impact and full body workout that is great for cardiovascular fitness and strengthening most muscle groups.
14. Treadmill Laptop Shelf
Obviously there are fine lines here of safety and practicality… You’d never want to combine surfing the web with running or biking, but sometimes a laptop and a good streamed movie or television show can be a great distraction while you work out. With a few cheap supplies from a hardware store, you can now build your own laptop shelf for a stationary cardio machine.
15. Slam Medicine Ball
As previously demonstrated, medicine balls are a great tool for strength training. To modify them to being a powerful cardio tool, you can simply pick one up and slam it down on the ground over and over again. Naturally, such a workout requires a very durable ball, but with a little work and a drill, a tough basketball can become a tool for one of the most satisfying workouts ever.
16. Shovelglove
Super easy to make, a shovelglove can provide a great workout when used safely. The instructions are simple: A shovelglove is simply a sledge hammer wrapped with an old sweater or blanket. The creator recommends using a shovel glove to simulate the motions of shoveling, butter churning, and wood chopping to get a cheap and effective workout.
17. Rebounder
Less than a DIY build, this is more about repurposing existing equipment. In this case, a mini trampoline can quickly be transformed into a workout buddy by placing it on its side, and with adequate support, throwing a ball at it and catching it on the rebound. This particular example uses a bowling ball, but we’d advise starting with something safer until you get the hang of it.
Yoga and Rejuvenation
18. Yoga Bag
Yoga is known to increase flexibility while decreasing anxiety, pain, and blood pressure. Sometimes, however, the idea of hauling a mat all over town to be able to practice yoga is a bit cumbersome. This bag is an easy way to take the difficulty out of transporting your yoga mat between home, work, and class. This particular yoga bag design also provides a good purpose for old blue jeans.
19. Yoga or Pilates Mat Like yoga
Pilates increases core strengthening and flexibility through body weight exercises. Both practices make effective complements to any fitness routine, and making a homemade mat is very simple. Just buy a roll of non-slip kitchen shelf liner at least 5 feet long and 1 inch thick, unwrap, and get to your new workout.
20. Yoga Blocks
Yoga blocks are a great way to support the body during poses that are potentially straining. To avoid injuries with a homemade yoga block, simply cut a piece of wood to 3 x 5 ½ x 9 inches. Sandpaper can smooth out the edges and prevent splinters.
21. Foam Roller
Thanks to its benefits of muscle tension relief, increased range of motion, and injury prevention, foam rolling is gaining a lot of popularity around the world. While it can be a bit tricky to simulate the sturdiness of commercial rollers, use of a cheap yoga mat, some PVC pipe, and some duct tape, these instructions will have you ready to roll quickly and easily.
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