Independent · UK · Est. 2026

Home gym equipment, researched and priced properly.

Prices in pounds with the date we checked them. Dimensions in centimetres. Noise in decibels, reported honestly — including when no reliable figure exists, because “whisper quiet” is not a specification. Every score comes from a method we publish in full.

This is an affiliate site: we research and compare, but we don't buy or test products ourselves. We earn commission when you buy through our links. Because of that, both the scoring rules and the money are public.

Start with the decision you’re actually making

110,000 UK searches a month

Walking pads

This is the fastest-growing category in UK home fitness. However, it is also the one where manufacturer noise claims hold up worst against what owners actually report.

From £110 to £550

Adjustable dumbbells

One pair replaces a rack. However, the dial mechanisms vary enormously in how well they survive a drop. That is what actually decides the buy.

Folded footprint measured

Treadmills for home

We cover folding, compact and quiet options for UK houses. Because a walking pad is sometimes the smarter purchase, we also give honest advice on when to choose one instead.

Upstairs & deadlift-rated

Gym flooring

Choosing 20mm or 30mm, upstairs or in the garage, is part of it. Whether your floor takes a loaded barbell matters too. While it is the least glamorous decision, it ruins the most home gyms.

Popular reviews

Best multi-gym in the UK

We compare the all-in-one stations on footprint, stack weight and attachments. We also compare them on UK price.

Best water rowing machines

We compare water-resistance rowers on noise, storage footprint and build. Specifically, each score comes with the evidence behind it.

Costco exercise bike

We cover what the Costco bike range offers and what to check before buying. We also compare it with alternatives.

Chest fly machine

We explain what a chest fly (pec deck) machine does and who needs one at home. We also show how it differs from dumbbells and cables.

Straight answers

These are the questions we get asked most. We answer each in a sentence before the detail.

Is a home gym actually cheaper than a gym membership?: Usually yes, but later than people expect. A £600 setup against a £40/month membership breaks even around month 15 — sooner if more than one person uses it. Full answer
Will my downstairs neighbour hear a walking pad?: They'll hear your footfall, not the motor. Impact noise and motor noise behave completely differently through a floor, which is why we treat manufacturer dB claims — usually a motor-only figure — with caution. Full answer
What should I buy first with £300?: Adjustable dumbbells and a fold-away bench cover more useful training than any single machine at that price, and they store in a cupboard. Full answer

Why you can check our working

There are no author photos on this site. There are no invented “fitness expert” personas either. Because a published method is worth more than a byline you can’t verify, that is what we give you instead.

Research-based, stated plainly

Because we don’t buy or test products ourselves, every score is built from manufacturer specs, UK pricing, warranty terms and verified owner reviews. We say so on every page.

Reported, not invented

We have already found published dB figures that don’t match what owners report. As a result, we give you the manufacturer’s claim and the conflicting evidence. We don’t give you a made-up number.

Priced weekly

We track UK prices every week. Because of this, we can tell you when a “sale” is just the usual price with a bigger number crossed out next to it.

Read the testing method