Home fitness and outdoor gear, chosen by the job

One pair of dumbbells that stands in for a rack of fixed pairs, with a dial to change the load.

Best for

Small flats, and anyone who trains alone with dumbbells and has nowhere to store a rack.

Watch out for

The shell around the plates is plastic and does not enjoy being dropped; these are set down, not thrown.

A flat bench with a narrow pad and a wide base, so your shoulders and your feet stay where you put them.

Best for

Pressing with dumbbells or a barbell in a room where the bench stays out of the way.

Watch out for

It is flat only. Anyone who wants incline work needs a different bench, and a heavier one.

A straight 20 kg bar with a knurl that grips without tearing and sleeves that turn.

Best for

A garage or ground-floor room with a rack, plates and space to set the bar down.

Watch out for

A bar is useless on its own: plates, a rack and floor clearance come first, and all of them take room.

A treadmill that folds upright, which is the feature that decides whether it stays in the room.

Best for

Walking or running indoors in a room with a spare power point and a hard floor.

Watch out for

Deck length is what makes a run comfortable; a short deck changes how you land.

A compact machine that mixes a stepper with an elliptical, so the arms and the legs work together.

Best for

Small rooms where a treadmill will not fit, and short sessions at a high effort.

Watch out for

The motion is fixed. It is not a substitute for a treadmill if you want to run.

A handheld percussion device: a motor in a handle, an arm, and a set of interchangeable heads.

Best for

Anyone who prefers a small handheld unit to a larger one and will keep it charged.

Watch out for

Amplitude and stall force decide what the device can do; extra speed settings on their own mean little.