Fit Check: Here’s All the Fitness Gear and Apparel That I Love and Recommend

I love these wide resistance bands — they come in a set with 3 levels of resistance (light, medium, heavy) and are made of durable, high-quality fabric that stays put while you’re working out. They’re hip bands, but I also use the lightest one at my ankles. They’re a great way to level up squats, lunges, and almost any other lower-body exercise. The bands are 3.5 inches wide, so you don’t have to worry about them rolling down or up. Since I sit at a computer most of the day, I’ll slip the medium band on and do a few sets of seated clamshell exercises to help prevent dead butt syndrome.

When I’m working out at home, I like to blast dance music. To spare my neighbors, I pop on these REBLAB Z2 headphones. They’re perfect for the job: they’re lightweight and rated IPX3 water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about them getting sweaty during your HIIT workouts. These foldable headphones last for 58 continuous hours on a single charge and come with a hard-sided carrying case, a 3.5mm AUX cable, and a USB-C charging cable. These may not have all the bells and whistles of some higher-end headphones, but they also don’t come with the accompanying high price.

When I’m working out at home, the odds are even that I’ll either knock out a 20-minute arm routine or do half a set then wander off to dust the baseboards. That’s why I’m a huge fan of streaming workout programs like the ones on BODi (formerly Beachbody). There are a ton of programs to choose from that cover different types of workouts. So far, I’ve done Barre Blend (ballet/Pilates), LIIFT4 (strength training), and a few cardio-based programs. (Pro tip: the shorter the workout duration, the harder it is; I still have nightmares about T:25.)

BODi even has bike workouts, so if you have a stationary bike (aka, laundry rack) sitting idle, dust it off and try Bike 1 with Jennifer Jacobs.

Find out what other equipment you need to build out your home gym.

Massage guns are a great way to recover after a tough workout, and this mini massage gun packs a lot into a small unit. It has four silicone head casings to choose from, plus a heated massage head for extra muscle and tension relief. You can choose from four intensity levels, and it lasts for about 3 hours on a single charge. I love that it’s so small and lightweight, weighing in at just 0.8 pounds. It comes with a travel case, so I can bring it with me to the gym or when I travel. It also comes in fun colors like purple, navy, and spearmint.

These ankle socks from Feetures are a must-have for any workout. They’re super lightweight, with a seamless construction at the toes and heels for zero friction to prevent blisters or hot spots. I prefer socks with no cushioning since my Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 running shoes already have the right amount of cushion built in that I prefer. I love that there’s an arch band with light compression for support. It also helps keep the sock in place — no sad socks sliding down my ankles anymore. The fabric is breathable and sweat-wicking, so they keep my feet dry in the summer heat. They come in 6 basic colors and 3 sizes (small, medium, and large). Note: The care instructions recommend air drying for best results.

Yoga blocks are like the Swiss Army knife of exercise equipment. There are a million ways to use them while you’re doing yoga, Pilates, recovery exercises, and everything in between. This yoga block set features two foam yoga blocks with ergonomic cutouts in the middle to help relieve stress on your wrists. You also get two gel pads to protect your knees on hard surfaces and a strap to help deepen your stretches. I’m not naturally super bendy, so when I started doing yoga, I used blocks to help support me when I couldn’t reach all the way to the floor. These days, I like to use them during foot exercises to help improve my ankle stability and balance.

If you’re not into massage guns, a foam roller is a great alternative for muscle relief. The Teeter Massage Foam roller comes in two sizes: 13 inches long for more targeted rolling and 26 inches for rolling on larger areas of your body. The blue roller features raised, wavy ridges with smooth edges for a gentler experience, while the gray roller has raised knobs for deeper pressure-point relief. It’s made out of polyurethane foam with a hollow plastic core, so it’ll keep its shape no matter how hard you roll.

I own no less than three yoga mats: There’s my bedroom mat (soft and squishy), my extra-wide living room mat (so my pup can downward dog with me), and my Stakt mat. I love that the Stakt mat is super lightweight, even though it’s extra thick (12mm). But it’s not squishy thick — it’s firm and supportive, so my feet and hands feel steady. It folds up, accordion-style, which makes it easy to slide under my sofa or lean up against a wall. When it’s folded, I can also use it as extra padding for my elbows or knees when doing planks or other non-knee-friendly poses.

This resistance stretch strap is another great multifunctional tool to have in your home gym. I use them for stretching on rest days or after sitting at my desk for too long. It features hand loops down the length of the band, so you can adjust your resistance by adjusting your grip. Its stretchiness also lets you use it like a (medium) resistance band during workouts. It’s 39.75" long and comes with an exercise guide that shows you different ways to use it. The best part: you can easily roll it up and bring it with you to the gym, on a road trip, or while traveling to stretch out achy, tight muscles.

When it comes to clothes, I’m a 90s girl at heart — the baggier the better. But when I fell in love with Pilates, I grudgingly wore leggings and shirts in my actual size for safety reasons. Then I discovered 2-in-1 shorts: loose shorts with an inner liner/bike shorts. These 2-in-1 shorts from Nike are a dream come true. They’re high-waisted, roomy shorts with a super soft, comfortably stretchy inner liner — and they have pockets! Nike’s Dri-FIT technology helps wick away sweat to keep me dry and comfortable no matter what I’m doing. They’re available in 12 colors and sizes XXS-3X.

Due to rickety knees, I try not to run unless something is chasing me, but I love my Brooks Adrenaline running shoes. With these, I’ve ramped up from fast walking to a brisk trot with zero knee pain. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 stars in several of our “Best of” articles — Best Walking Shoes, Best for Ankle Support, Best for Back Pain, Best for Knee Pain — with good reason.

They’re lightweight, with a roomy toe box, more cushioning than previous models, and feature the brand’s “GuideRails” support system, which helps reduce side-to-side motion. Plus, they have the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, which means they’ve been evaluated by APMA podiatrists to ensure they promote foot health.

Want more fitness inspo? Check out our guide to summer fitness, with recommendations for gear, accessories, and more.

If you’re a Pilates fan, you’re well acquainted with the “magic circle,” which can leave you feeling less than magical after a workout with it (IYKYK). Also known as a Pilates ring or Pilates circle, it’s a great tool for both adductor and abductor exercises — put it between your ankles or knees for killer inner thigh work or place it on the outside of your legs to work your glutes and outer thighs. You can also use it for upper-body work, too. If you’re just starting out, it comes with a helpful guide with different exercises to do with the ring. More experienced users can use it for mat Pilates workouts at home.

If you’re interested in getting started with Pilates at home before you try a studio class, check out what other props you’ll need.