Fitness
Health

Working from home? This is the best exercise equipment for you.

Get fit while you check your email.
By Miller Kern  on 
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Our Top 8 Picks

Yoga mat (opens in a new tab)

Best Companion For Every Workout

Yoga mats provide a soft surface for floor exercises.

The Good

  • Durable mat
  • Textured surface stays in place
  • Comes with access to a free yoga class

The Bad

  • Not much to complain about here

The Bottom Line

Yoga mats aren't reserved just for yoga workouts — they can protect your knees and hands during floor exercises.
Pros & Cons

Cubii under-desk elliptical (opens in a new tab)

Best For Exercising At Your Desk

Pedal under your desk to get a workout during work hours.

The Good

  • Allows you to multitask
  • Approachable for virtually all ages and abilities
  • Low-key design

The Bad

  • Pricey
  • You won't get the same benefits as a full-sized elliptical

The Bottom Line

Cubii lets you exercise while sitting at your desk, getting work done.
Pros & Cons

Dumbbells (opens in a new tab)

Best For Toning Muscles

Use dumbbells throughout the work day to build muscle definition.

The Good

  • Multiple weights available
  • Easy to grip exterior
  • Sold in pairs or in sets of three pairs

The Bad

  • Only goes up to 20 pounds

The Bottom Line

Tone and build muscles by using these dumbbells on their own or during cardio workouts.
Pros & Cons

Ankle weights (opens in a new tab)

Best For A Passive Workout

Pop on ankle weights to get more out of your movements.

The Good

  • Enhances your existing workouts
  • Stylish design
  • Can be worn on ankles or wrists

The Bad

  • Not available in heavier weights

The Bottom Line

You'll get the most out of ankle weights while doing actual exercises, but they'll still add an extra burn to your everyday movements.
Pros & Cons

Jump rope (opens in a new tab)

Best For A Quick Workout

Sneak in a quick cardio workout with this adjustable jump rope.

The Good

  • Affordable
  • Adjustable length

The Bad

  • One reviewer noted the rope was too light for their needs

The Bottom Line

A jump rope provides a quick and easy workout while taking up virtually no space.
Pros & Cons

P.3 trainer (opens in a new tab)

Best For A Full-body Workout

Get in a total-body workout on your lunch break with this resistance trainer.

The Good

  • Works muscles throughout your whole body
  • Compact size

The Bad

  • Might be awkward to use at first
  • Bands might be too long if you're short

The Bottom Line

Imitate a pilates workout at home with this total-body toning system.
Pros & Cons

Treadmill desk (opens in a new tab)

Best For All-day Movement

Be active all day with this under-desk treadmill.

The Good

  • Allows you to walk while working
  • 2-in-1 folding design

The Bad

  • Doesn't come with desk

The Bottom Line

This treadmill allows you to be as active as you want while working throughout the day.
Pros & Cons

Bike desk (opens in a new tab)

Best For Cardio

This bike desk allows you to do a full-on cardio workout while working on your computer.

The Good

  • Wheels for easy movement
  • Big desk area

The Bad

  • Doesn't come with battery for metric viewing

The Bottom Line

This bike allows for a super engaging workout while doing other tasks.
Pros & Cons

After over two years of working from home, it's still a challenge to get that much-needed daily activity in. You don't have a commute to get you moving in the morning, there are no coworkers to go mingle with across the office, and honestly going to the gym from your house takes a different kind of motivation than going to the gym straight from an office.

Instead of hitting the gym after work hours, turn your house into a home gym that you can access throughout the day and get in some exercise as you work. You don't need a gym membership when there are tons of amazing online fitness programs that are cheaper and more accessible, and there is a bunch of equipment on the market that will make working out while working from home easier and more enjoyable. It's a win-win.

You could use a long lunch break to go for a run or do some strength training, but let's be real, you probably won't do that. Instead, we've found some equipment that lets you make the most of your time — and not be caught slacking too much while you're supposed to be working. Some of these picks even help you get activity in while you're getting shit done at work, so you can grind two ways at once.

Go all out and get a treadmill or bike desk that allows you to be moving constantly throughout the day, or keep it simple with some smaller equipment that's great for getting in quick workouts between meetings and assignments. Jump ropes, free weights, and resistance bands are awesome tools to have on hand.

Best Companion For Every Workout
Credit: gaiam / mashable composite

Even if you aren't a yogi, a yoga mat is a super helpful tool to have around. It acts as a cushy surface that can make exercises easier on your hips, knees, and hands. Roll out this Gaiam yoga mat(opens in a new tab) for a midday workout break while working from home.

This particular mat is six millimeters thick, has a sticky textured surface to keep it in place while in use, and comes in a nice variety of pastel colors. Plus, when you buy this mat you get access a free downloadable yoga class, so you have a jumping-off point for putting the mat to use.

This mat is super affordable for what you get — a brand name you can trust, a mat that won't fall apart after a few uses, and access to online yoga classes.

Best For Exercising At Your Desk
Credit: cubii / mashable composite

Get your workout in while you kick ass at your job with the Cubii Pro(opens in a new tab) under-desk elliptical. It rests at your feet and allows you to get strides in, burn calories, and maybe even lose weight while sitting at your desk — or on the couch. The design is pretty low-key and Cubii won't take up a ton of space in your home.

This handy little exercise machine is accessible for people of different ages, abilities, and lifestyles. You don't have to be a fitness buff to use Cubii and see results. You can simply pedal your feet while sending emails and get a solid workout in.

The accompanying app allows you to adjust your resistance levels and set/track goals. Bonus: You don't even have to put on workout clothes while you use Cubii.

Best For Toning Muscles
Credit: Amazon basics / mashable composite

Free weights are great to have around the house. If you're working from home you can just casually lift a dumbbell while doing some work — as long as you can master typing one handed. These neoprene dumbbells(opens in a new tab) come in a set of three with two, three, and five pound pairs, or three, five, and eight pound pairs. You can also get single pairs in different weights ranging from 1 pound to 20 pounds.

Lifting hand weights is great for toning and focusing on smaller muscle groups, giving you better definition. The interior of these dumbbells is made from balanced cast iron, while the outside is coated in neoprene, making the weights easy to grasp — even when your hands are sweaty.

You can use dumbbells on their own or add them to your cardio workouts for more intensity.

Best For A Passive Workout
Credit: Mashable PHoto Composite / Bala

Ankle weights(opens in a new tab) are meant to add a little extra oomph to your regular workouts by burning more calories and toning your muscles. Wear them while you're working from home and feel an extra burn when you get up to use the bathroom or grab a snack. 

Throughout the day you can get some passive exercise by wearing them on your wrists or ankles, and then you're ready to go and get in a real workout once you clock out. These stylish wearables from Bala come in one or two pound weights and will add safe, but challenging resistance to your movement.

Best For A Quick Workout
Credit: nike / mashable composite

You were probably a jump rope champ in elementary school gym class, but skipping rope is actually a really great cardio exercise for people of all ages. This Nike jump rope(opens in a new tab) is affordable and comes in two colors.

This rope is made of durable, high-density plastic and you can adjust the length to fit your needs. With it you'll get fast, smooth rotations for a seamless workout — just try not to accidentally whip your ankles. 

You can sneak in a quick workout between meetings or assignments with this jump rope as it takes up very little space and requires almost no prepping. It's a great piece of exercise equipment if you're pressed for time but want to get in some cardio. P.S.: Try to be considerate if you have downstairs neighbors.

Best For A Full-body Workout
Credit: p.volve / mashable

Dumbbells are great, but if you want a full-body tone, you need the P.3 trainer (opens in a new tab)from P.volve. It's basically like a resistance band for your entire body. Depending on the exercise you do, the P.3 trainer will tone your arms, target your lower body, or engage your core.

With this one small piece of equipment, you can mimic the benefits of a pilates machine at home. It engages muscles from your ankles all the way up to your hands, truly giving you a total-body workout.

The P.3 trainer includes two resistance bands of different lengths, two ankle straps, an attachable handle, and an attachable 1.5-pound ball. Take a stretch break from working and use the P.3 standing or on a mat.

Best For All-day Movement
Credit: Mashable photo composite/goplus

A standing desk plus an under-desk treadmill(opens in a new tab) is truly the ultimate WFH workout setup. If you're already a standing desk owner, this low-profile treadmill is ideal for slipping beneath your desk to get some steps in throughout the day.

The 2-in-1 folding design means you can use it for walking while working when it's folded down or for jogging with the riser up. The speed gets up to 7.5 mph, so it's not the most intense treadmill, but will definitely get you more active throughout the workday. It also features a bluetooth speaker, a phone holder, a remote control, and app control for recording your workout stats. 

Best For Cardio
Credit: fitdesk / mashable composite

If you're looking to consistently break a sweat during the workday, this Flexispot bike desk combo is the way to go. It went viral on TikTok(opens in a new tab) for being the ideal work and study companion, and it works as both a bike desk and a standing desk, with plenty of room for a laptop plus all of your work necessities. It has wheels on the bottom for easy movement and storage and it's surprisingly stylish.

While you probably won't get a Peloton-level workout here, you'll be able to choose from eight different resistance levels and view basic workout metrics like distance, mileage, and time. 

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Miller Kern
Assistant Reviews Editor

Miller Kern is the Assistant Reviews Editor at Mashable, where she's been covering products and shopping since 2019. If there's a hot new product or a trend going viral on TikTok, Miller's ready to put it through the wringer to see if it's worth the hype.


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