It’s a given that exercise is vital for boosting our physical health, but it’s also a means to staying mentally well, which is especially important now that social distancing measures are coming into play. If you’re looking to stay fit but don’t know how, a number of personal trainers are offering free classes, though we would also recommend signing up to a trial of one of the best online fitness programs (opens in new tab). Home delivery times currently range from next day to a week in most cases, though we wouldn’t be surprised if delivery timeframes change soon as a greater number of orders are placed online. But right now, there’s still plenty to add to your home gym (opens in new tab). Here are some of our favorites available for home delivery now…
Fitbit Charge 3
If your workout of choice is walking or jogging, the Fitbit Charge 3 is a solid fitness tracker for keeping track of your daily steps, calories burned, distance covered and your heart rate. It’s a good motivator to get you moving more around the house, and not just drifting from sofa to temporary work desk, and will also track your sleep and help you relax with a personalized guided breathing session.
Gaiam Premium Yoga Mat
Yoga mats are selling fast, and that’s because the thicker mats also double as exercise mats – good for people who want to maintain high intensity interval training workouts at home without damaging their hard floors. We love Gaiam’s range of printed mats. They’re premium quality, yet don’t have the same sky-high price tag of a Liforme or Manuka (M Life) mat, and they look beautiful too. Grab one for yoga, pilates, and for a more cushioned surface to sit on when meditating.
WODFitters Resistance Bands
Resistance bands, also known as strength bands, help you improve general mobility and build strength. These bands are brilliant pieces of exercise equipment for smaller living spaces – simply roll them up and pop them in a drawer when not in use. They’re so versatile, you can use them for weight lifting and pull-ups too. The WODFitters bands are available in a range of resistance levels, and either as a single band or as a pack.
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells
While you can use resistance bands during body strength training workouts, those who are serious about lifting weights at home will be better off investing in a proper set of dumbbells. Bowflex’s SelectTech 552 have garnered rave reviews because they quickly adjust from 2-24kg (5-52.2lbs). That means you don’t need to have tons of different dumbbells lying around at home – this pair will grow with you as you get stronger and need to diversify your workout routine.
Garmin Forerunner 645
Running is one of the most popular exercises in the world, and Garmin sits at the top of the tree when it comes to top-performing running watches. The Forerunner 645 became an instant classic upon release, and is stacked with features to help intermediate and advanced runners get the most out of their workouts. For trail runners there’s onboard GPS, though that will drain the battery life, which averages seven days in smartwatch mode and 12 hours with continuous GPS use. The Forerunner 645 captures a wealth of fitness data (available to view in the companion app), and comes in an alternative version, the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music (opens in new tab), where you can store your favorite running playlists directly onto the watch. More mindful exercises such as yoga and walking are excellent for helping you to relax and ease any worries, while cardio-based exercises, like running and interval training, will help you break a sweat and feel happier afterwards (thanks to a big boost in endorphins). If you already enjoy walking or running and want to keep these up without leaving home, take a look at our guide to the best treadmills. You may also want to invest in one of the best fitness trackers to keep tabs on how many calories you’re burning during exercise, as well as how many kilometers you’re covering if your training involves covering a specific distance per workout.
