BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

Perfect for beginners, people trying to get some extra movement at home, or gym goers looking for a little extra *oomph.*

I am a contributor and former BuzzFeed Shopping writer based in Cincinnati, OH where you can find me curating lists on ~a little bit of everything~ (and adding a few things to my own cart in the process).

Promising review: "I am an early 40s guy who doesn’t lift as frequently as I used to, but I have to start again somewhere. This bench is perfect for me. The bench feels stable, and I am comfortable throughout. It feels like it could handle a lot more, but realistically, it’s going to take some time and a lot of work for me to find out. I guess I could have my wife sit on me while lifting to test the tolerance of the bench further. It not only folds easily for storage but comes folded and requires little more than unfolding it to set up. That was a nice surprise. As noted in previous reviews, it is not perfectly flat in the flat position, but it is not noticeable to me, and lifting and propping it up would be an easy fix. Great equipment for the money." —Slowshoes

Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in two weight capacities). 

Promising reviews: "Just starting strength training in my mid-40s... glad I ordered this. Good choice for sure." —Nicole.79

"I am disabled. I can not lift or push anything over five pounds without severe pain. I've been using the 5-pound one for about a month now. I am 53 and need to keep my body strong without hurting myself. It is toning my chest and back. I use it every day for five minutes. It is very comfortable and easy for me to use." —peppercorn

Get it from Amazon for $32.40+ (available in three weights and in multipacks). 

Promising reviews: "I heard about this hoop from my doctor, who has been using it. She runs and uses the hoop and has lost 21 pounds! I have been using it every day! I started out 3–5 minutes a day, and now I am using it for 20 minutes a day! Put on some Michael Jackson or any other fast music, and it makes the workout even better! You should not bruise if you wear a sweatshirt the first few times. No bruising for me. I highly recommend this to those who are in their late 40s..." —Blarney Stone

"This hoop is GREAT! It is just so much fun to exercise with this thing. I play music and try to dance too, lol. But I have experience, they used to have a weighted hoop in the gym I went to, and I did it all the time. Highly recommend. You just need to make sure it's clicked together correctly, or it'll come undone! Don't worry if it happens to you, though; it's totally fixable. It happened to me, I think twice before I got it down. Anyway, if you're looking for a weighted hoop, look no more!" —Molls

Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in two styles).

Promising reviews: "I am a disabled 49-year-old woman, so I was looking for something that helps get me moving. I've seen the hype all over social media and thought I'd give this a try. I wasn't sure I would be able to use it due to several back surgeries, but I can, and I am so thrilled! I didn't have any issues putting it together or getting it started! I can't wait to see results!" —lisa ritchie

"Love it! I am one of those, hard to keep up with an exercise routine people. I actually look forward to hooping in the morning! After I get up, I just put on a show I love watching and do my hooping while I zone out watching my show. The time flies! It's really helped my leg soreness, hip mobility, and stamina overall. I really don't mind the sound of the hoop. It's not bad, I don't have to turn up my TV loud or anything. I can still hear my show perfectly fine over the noise at regular volume." —Luna Rouge

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors). 

The bar fits in up to 35.4-inch door frames. Plus, it has three grip positions: narrow, wide, and neutral.

Promising reviews: "7-year-old up to 40+ tried mine... and all loved it so much they may have received them as Christmas gifts later. Let's not talk about how the 7-year-old showed everyone up." —Lindsay K.

"I love this bar. I live in an apartment with no gym nearby. This was one of the best purchases I have made. I leave it on one of the door frames, and it reminds me to try and do a few pull-ups whenever I pass it. It's great for push-ups as well since my wrists hurt when I lay them flat on the ground." —Roger

Promising review: "Easy set up, easy to use. Very pleased so far! I can lift and move it easily, which is imperative, since I'm a single 51-year-old female. I work at home, and it's very easy for me to stay in my apartment ALL the time. The weather is no longer an excuse not to move my body. Being able to hop on this every hour and get the minimum steps will help me stay more active. I converted my desk so I can stand or sit, so getting off my butt and getting moving is SO PERFECT. I put a small rug underneath it to minimize movement. I have laminate floors, so the cushioning helps stabilize the unit against any uneven flooring. A lot of reviewers recommended removing the pad to lean against, but I like it, so far. So GOOD!!" —Visionaire

Get it from Amazon for $134.99+ (available in two styles).

Promising reviews: "I have a treadmill at home, but wanted something small and quiet to put in the living room so I don't sit when I watch TV. I used to use a normal elliptical, so I wasn't sure when I received this and used it for the first time that it would work — but it really does!! The stride is short, but as others have said, you do get used to it quickly. I am in my 40s and heavy, but not too out of shape, and it has been no issue keeping my balance even when I swing my arms to add a little extra 'oomph.' I love that I can change the resistance to suit my needs, and I love the counter and timer too." —Reno

"I LOVE this elliptical! I have had this machine for about four months now, and it works great. I usually use the machine while standing, and I rarely feel off-balance or like the machine can’t handle my weight. Getting this machine was great for me because it provided a great workout that I could do at home while my son naps. I no longer have to worry about trying to get to the gym!" —Samantha Slattery

Get it from Amazon for $114.99+ (available in three colors).

NewMe Fitness is a small business creating high-quality fitness products for all types of exercise. The mat is 24 inches wide x 68 inches long and 5 mm thick! 

Promising review: "I'm very pleased with the quality of this mat. I'm in my 60s and looking to regain some flexibility. I do some yoga and also strengthening exercises on this mat. It is comfortable, doesn't have any smell, and I really love having the yoga positions right there in front of me. It's a bit expensive, truth be told, and I'm hoping the durability rating I gave it will hold true." —Beth N 

Get it from Amazon for $33.50+ (available in three colors).

Promising reviews: "Great for my 49-year-old knees, lol. This is just what I was looking for, it’s very thick and comfortable. My knees don’t like even kneeling on carpet to do my stretches, so I looked for a thicker-than-usual yoga mat. I love this mat, it allows me to get on and off the floor with zero knee pain. It’s absolutely worth the $40 I paid, and it seems like it will last a very long time." —Not today

"This mat is a game changer for my home workouts! With its 1-inch thickness and non-slip surface, it provides excellent support and stability for yoga, Pilates, stretching, and other fitness routines. I love the added convenience of the nylon strap, making it easy to carry around. Whether I'm flowing through yoga poses or breaking a sweat with cardio, this mat keeps me comfortable and focused. Definitely a must-have for anyone looking to elevate their home fitness routine!" —Nancy Badillo

Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in 13 colors).

UrbnFit is a small business creating a variety of fitness equipment.

Promising review: "Love this ball! Great for stretching and ab work. As a young woman of 64, I find that my health is my top priority. You will love this ball!" —Lynne 

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in five sizes and nine colors).

Promising review: "These ankle weights are easy to use, with the Velcro straps. You can strap it to your bare legs or to your leggings. The leggings made it slightly better against the skin. When secured, it will not roll down during leg lifts. I especially liked the fact that it was adjustable, so you could start with 2 pounds and work your way up to 5 pounds per leg. As a woman over 50, I appreciated adding these to my hip stretches to tone my hip flexors and strengthen my joints." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in five weights and five colors).

Promising review: "This is a great way to get a nice variety in a whole body workout without having to use gym equipment. I use the deck as an add-on to my yoga stretching routine to strengthen my 56-year-old female body. I take one card from each color (muscle) group in a session and do 2–3 sets for each exercise. The next session I use a different group of cards and thus cycle through the whole pack. Some of the exercises are too challenging for me to do more than one rep, but if you don't try, you don't get stronger." —Deb

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (available in two deck sizes).

Promising review: "Ok. I am 50-something and not the athlete that my mind tells me I am. I am not going to join a gym for many reasons. The workout discs have been just the thing for me. There are several different workouts that keep me motivated, and the disc helps me to move in directions while maintaining proper form. A big thumbs up from me." —Gordon H 

Get them from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in four colors).

It even has a built-in dumbbell rack at the bottom that fits 1-pound, 2-pound, and 3-pound weights. Genius!! 

Promising review: "Everything I wanted in a home ballet bar. This is great! I'm 65 years old, and I need help with balance, etc. Very affordable and so sturdy, which is what I need. It did take two of us to assemble, but it wasn't difficult; it just helps. Here's to better health and balance."  —Karen Johnson

Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in three colors).

Wrist Buddy is a small business founded by a chiropractor who pivoted to creating ergonomic fitness products to elevate your workout routine!

Promising review: "I had both carpal and cubital tunnel surgery 12 years ago and have modified everything I do since then. I started yoga for my hip and then remembered why I stopped doing it. I literally stumbled on this device and thought it was worth a shot. I had low expectations. These blocks are everything. I did a foam rolling Peloton stretch class and a 20-minute flow class today. NO PAIN. Initially, figuring out how to flip the blocks around took a second, but it was easy to get the hang of it. I’m sooo happy. No wrist pain. Able to hold and go deeper into postures. These are genius. One of those 'I wish I invented these' things. Just buy them. I’m only 51, and my husband laughed when he saw them out of the box. He was less optimistic than I was. These things are great." —Leah Berry

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $39.99 (available in six colors). 

Promising review: "I have a slight issue now that I'm in my early 60s: arthritic wrists. This greatly assists me in keeping my wrists straight. My breathing is getting better; I would catch myself holding my breath, and my reps are now almost back to where I was prior to having issues with my wrist. I highly recommend, if you decide to purchase this item, watch the instructional videos as a guide prior to utilizing this item in your workouts." —Dan H.

Kettle Gryp is the small business behind this fitness invention. And they appeared on Shark Tank! 

Promising review: "Very easy to use as a 71-year-old woman. Put any size weight you want, and change it up as you like." —MARIA B

Promising review: "I have only been using them for two weeks, but so far they are exactly what I needed for PT on my knees. I am 75 years old." —Charlie 

Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three color combinations and a pack of four).

Promising review: "The Bosu was always one of my favorite gym tools, especially for maintaining balance (that I didn't realize we lose after 40, but was happy to discover that it can be maintained with some effort and practice) and working to have a strong core. Now that I'm living and working in a more remote location and my gym is in my garage, I have been gradually adding equipment, and a Bosu was definitely up there on my list of items to get. Very happy to have Bosu back in the lineup of equipment. I was a little worried about some reviews about inflating it, but I was able to accomplish it pretty easily. It did sound like air was coming out when I flipped it over, but I knew to expect that from what I read." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in 12 colors). 

It is designed to support up to 265 pounds and has a nonslip surface for added grip.

Promising reviews: "Fun, engages legs and core. Helps with balance for us 40-somethings and up lol. Slip resistance, sturdy and lightweight." —T. J.

"Bought this on a whim, but I've been using more than expected. It is very solid and easily supports my 230 pounds. The black part of the board has excellent grip and makes it easy to use. It ended up being a good purchase to motivate me to simply stand on this while I watch TV instead of sitting on the couch more at night. Good for balance and improving core strength." —John W.

Don't forget to download the app before you get started so you can play the four free games!

Stealth Fitness is a small business that created this with the mission to help make working out fun. 

Promising review: "I am not an exercise enthusiast. I have always had a very weak core despite an athletic background through college. At 40, I'm trying to improve myself physically just a little, and I'm doing it with simple things I can do at home. I bought this Stealth because I liked the idea of engaging your core by forcing yourself to be stable while planking. If you're not picky about games, you don't have to pay a thing for the basic ones, and they're plenty engaging to keep you going for a couple of minutes. I can see some shape in my abdominal area that I have NEVER seen before. You can easily tell that it engages your abs from top to bottom." —TheRic30

Get it from Amazon for $109+ (available in two versions).

It works with desks as low as 27 inches. If you're tall or you have long legs, you can still use it while working from the couch.

Promising reviews: "It’s nice! I feel so happy I can do something at work to burn some calories. I’m really busy in the evening with kid activities and can’t always get to the gym, but now I don’t have to feel as bad when I can’t make it. It's not heavy, I’m a 48-year-old lady and had no problem at all. Lifted myself and got it into my work...all alone! The cycle is so quiet, and it’s solid! I really love it, and super happy about the purchase!" —Jo

"Unpacked and put it together in no time. Love it so far; at first I didn't know if my 57-year-old legs were cutout for this, but now I'm cruising along. I definitely recommend this for anyone tied to a desk job." —G. Ash

Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in two heights and three colors).

Promising reviews: "I played tennis when I was younger. Now I'm in my 40s, and when I run on hills, my right knee hurts. I read the reviews for this product and decided to give it a try. It works great! I put this on when I go for walks or runs, and the pain is gone! It is easy to put on and take off. I hand-wash it and air-dry it. It comes in a pack of two. I only needed one, so I gave one to my mom! If you have knee pain, you need to try this product!" —Mehul Desai

"Oh my god! I have had bad knees for decades, and I have tried so many braces, but they're hot, they migrate down, and I have to constantly pull them up, so I just don't wear them. I tried it, and it's amazing! Instant relief. I even took it off to see if maybe my knees weren't feeling the pain, and the pain came back after a moment, so I know it was working. The weather really messes with them. Living in the Midwest means spring and fall transitions are awful, and the extreme cold and storms wreak havoc on my knees. I shouldn't be this excited about a product, but I literally carry this in my purse." —Meghan Dray

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four colors and three versions).

This comes with a carrying pouch and exercise chart.

Promising reviews: "My legs have been very painful and stiff since 2015. My physical therapist told me I have extremely weak hip flexors. So, I purchased this amazing pilates ring for some of my exercises, my PT has me doing to strengthen my hip flexors. I changed the way I walked, trying to get relief all these years. I am having to learn how to walk properly again at 47 years old. This Pilates ring is amazing for the exercises I use it for to help strengthen my hip flexors!!!!" —Kathy Burkett

"The foam and padding are comfortable, and there are no signs of early wear and tear yet. It doesn't make any weird squeaking, creaking, or crackling noises, and it feels sturdy. The resistance isn't comparable to a weighted piece of equipment, but compared to a metal product, the fiberglass ring still provides an ample workout, especially for a beginner like myself. " —Nikki

Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "After two lower back surgeries and always having a tight, painful back. This gave me a loose back for the first time. Only using it for 10 minutes at the easy setting. Just standing on it and doing easy stretches. This could have quite possibly changed my daily life for the first time in 40 years. Can't wait to try different stretches." —Wolfie

Get it from Amazon for $199.99 (available in nine colors).

This compact, rolling desk bike is also height-adjustable, so you can get your perfect fit with the tray, and it has "whisper quiet" pedaling, eight resistance levels, and a way to track your mileage, rpm, and other stats. Psst — you can watch the viral desk bike TikTok that features it for more insight into how it works. It's been liked over 2.5 million times!

Promising reviews: "Easy to assemble and seems very well made. It is truly silent. The resistance is great for this 46-year-old. It's comfortable to work on my laptop and keep pedaling. I really love the mobility and can bike in a spare room or roll it out to my great room. No excuses not to pedal!" —Kathy Patterson

"Have had this product for about a week now. Absolutely love it, what a game changer!! As a consultant who lives a typical consulting life, I pretty much sit in front of a computer all day long. It hasn't been long, but I have been using it every day. It was super easy to put together and easy to move around because of the wheels. You can totally work while using it. The best part is, YOU DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE YOU'RE WORKING OUT. And somehow it helps you to concentrate better. There is no need to dedicate one hour to the gym; this could be an anytime thing. When you are working, watching shows, or even playing games. I guess because of the working out, my sleep improved as well. Not to mention the pains in my back. All in all, this thing changed my life!!" —joshua0315

Get it from Amazon for $499.98+ (available in two colors).

Promising reviews: "Loving this weighted vest. At 40, this is perfect for my morning walks and fits great. I’m a 36D, and I don’t feel smashed by the straps at all. Very durable too!" —Amazon Customer

"I got the 12-pound vest, and it’s very comfortable! Weight distribution is great, doesn’t feel uneven or anything! It sits very nicely against my chest! The quality of the vest itself is very good, and it’s not digging into my armpits or anything; it fits great! Might get a lighter one for my training days!" —Macy Haase

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in eight weight options, two versions, and two colors).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.