3 Essential Pieces of Free Weight Equipment For Your Home Workouts

A lot of people want to start working out, but the sheer idea of going to a gym full of people who are already in shape intimidates most of them. But what if I told you that you don’t have to go to the gym to get in shape? You can exercise each and every muscle of your body in the comfort of your own home, with the help of some free weight equipment. Free weights are some of the most affordable pieces of workout equipment, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

You can easily find workout weights for sale online, and have them delivered to your front door. Contrary to popular belief, free weights aren’t just simple dumbbells. There are three key free weight pieces of equipment that make it possible for you to perform a wide range of exercises for every muscle group: dumbbells, barbells and weight plates.

Dumbbells

Dumbbells are one of the most popular pieces of home and gym workout equipment, and they’re quite affordable and easy to use. Dumbbells come in a wide range of weights, and you can use them to exercise your arms, shoulders, chest, and to some extent your abs, legs and butt. Simply put, their main purpose is building upper body muscle strength and increasing mass, but they can be used for full-body workouts as well. But before you purchase a set of dumbbells, you need to consider the number of weights in the set, their coating, whether they’re adjustable or fixed weights, and if they’re adjustable – their weight range.

Barbells

Barbells are a mainstay in both commercial and home gyms. They’re great for building muscle mass and strength mainly in your upper body, but you can also use them for full-body workouts, similarly to dumbbells. The main purpose of barbells is heavy weight training, so they might not be the first choice of home equipment for many people, but as you progress you’ll definitely use them more frequently. If you’re looking to do snatches and power grabs, the barbell is the ideal piece of gym equipment for you. However, using heavy weight barbells without a spotter is not recommended. Regardless, when looking for barbell workout weights for sale, you should consider the type of bar you want (Olympic, hybrid or powerlifting), the diameter and weight, the bar length, yield strength, center knurling, tensile strength and the finish.

Weight Plates

Weight plates to barbells are what peanut butter is to jelly. They’re a great addition at first, but as you progress, they become a must. You’ll have to buy them separately though. They come in a wide range of weight levels, with the most commonly used ones being 2.5kg, 5kg, and 10kg. Always place the weight plates equally on the barbell, so you have the same weight on both sides. When buying weight plates, consider the bar fitting, the handle holes, and the finish.