The $6 Kmart buy that will take your home gym to the next level
Produced in partnership with Kmart
We all know the importance of exercise for staying healthy, but going to the gym can be expensive and intimidating.
Actually getting yourself to the gym before or after work can also be a barrier, especially when you're tired or the weather is bad.
The solution is a home gym, which is simple, affordable and removes a lot of the factors that prevent us from actually using the gym.
Jemima knows first-hand how beneficial having a gym setup at home is.
"I have a gym membership but I also recently bought a yoga mat, mini resistance bands and 3kg dumbbells to have at home. I live a 10-minute drive from the gym and I'd often put off going, just because I really couldn't be bothered to drive. Now I have no excuse," she tells nine.com.au.
"I save my 'big' weights workouts for when I go to the gym, but do simple Pilates and strength workouts at home – even a 20-minute circuit on YouTube is better than nothing.
"It's also great to be able to do a workout while my baby sleeps, rather than having to wait for a time my partner can stay home with him while I go to the gym."
You can make your home gym as comprehensive or simple as you like, starting with something like Kmart's $6 hip thrust training belt or $35 infinity weight.
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The hip thrust training belt holds weights in place while doing exercises like hip thrusts, squats and glute bridges allowing you to get more benefits from these moves.
For a weight that fits in the smallest of home gym spaces and is versatile for countless upper and lower body strength workouts, there is the $35 infinity weight.
Jo stopped going to the gym years ago and continues to exercise using equipment she has at home.
"My essentials are a gym mat in a fun colour – mine is light green – and a couple of sets of weights, a lighter set and a heavier set and a towel. I also want to get those resistance bands and I was looking at kettlebells at Kmart. I might get one of those to do the swinging exercises I see people do," she says.
"I love working out at home using my app, just 20 minutes and I'm done. I used to try to get to the gym, but it was just way too hard when the kids were little and now it's a money saver to work out at home and so convenient and can do it in my pyjamas before my shower. That plus a few walks, and that's my exercise all sorted."
The two-pack contoured hand weight set is $19, while a 4kg hexagonal dumbbell is $15 and the 10kg hexagonal dumbbell is $55.
Of course, you'll need storage for all those weights and you can pick up a dumbbell rack for just $45.
Strength exercises aren't the only things you can do at home, with jumping rope an easy way to get your heart rate up.
Stu uses Kmart's 2.7m speed ropes for a quick workout, describing them as "more fun than running and you don't need to go anywhere".
To combine cardio and strength training there is the weighted jump rope for $6.
If you don't have room for skipping or aren't a fan the $99 vertical climber machine is a brilliant option. It offers a full-body workout using a climbing motion and packs away easily for convenient storage.
But the ultimate in home gym equipment has to be the $149 fitness bench and deck. It's an aerobic step and weight bench in one, complete with resistance band points and accessory storage.
The options for your own home gym are endless and start at extremely affordable prices, making a home gym a more cost-effective option and much easier to get even a quick workout in without heading out the door.
Product prices are current as at February 6, 2025. Availability may vary store to store, please visit kmart.com.au
