Fitness

Buy for the routine you will actually keep

Most home fitness equipment is bought with ambition and used briefly. The kit that gets used is the kit that is quick to set up, easy to store, and suited to space you actually have.

Resistance bands, adjustable dumbbells and mats deliver far more use per unit of money and space than large machines. If a piece of equipment needs to be assembled or moved before each session, it will be used less than you expect.

Choosing resistance

Bands are usually colour-coded by resistance, but the scale is not standard between makers — check the stated kilogram or pound range rather than the colour. For most people starting out, a set spanning light to medium is more useful than a single heavy band.

For adjustable weights, check the increment size. Jumping in 5 kg steps is too coarse for upper-body work.

A caution worth stating

If you are returning to exercise after injury, illness or a long break, or you have a heart or joint condition, speak to a doctor or physiotherapist before starting a new programme. Equipment cannot tell you whether a movement is safe for you.

Delivery and returns

Ships worldwide in 10–25 business days with 30-day returns.