Independent · UK · Est. 2026

Home gym equipment, tested and priced properly.

Prices in pounds with the date we checked them. Dimensions in centimetres. Noise in decibels, measured at one metre, because “whisper quiet” is not a specification. Every score comes from a method we publish in full.

We buy what we test, and we earn commission when you buy through our links — which is exactly why 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

The fastest-growing category in UK home fitness — and the one where manufacturer noise claims hold up worst. We measure them ourselves.

From £110 to £550

Adjustable dumbbells

One pair replaces a rack. The dial mechanisms vary enormously in how they survive being dropped, which is what actually decides the buy.

Folded footprint measured

Treadmills for home

Folding, compact and quiet options for UK houses — including honest advice on when a walking pad is the smarter purchase instead.

Upstairs & deadlift-rated

Gym flooring

20mm or 30mm, upstairs or garage, and whether your floor takes a loaded barbell. The least glamorous decision that ruins the most home gyms.

Straight answers

The questions we get asked most, answered 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. That's why we measure impact noise separately from motor noise — the two behave completely differently through a floor.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 and no invented “fitness expert” personas. A published method is worth more than a byline you can’t verify, so that is what we give you instead.

Labelled honestly

Every page states whether we physically tested the product or researched it. We never blur the two.

Measured, not repeated

Noise, footprint and assembly times come from our own measurements. We have already found published dB figures that don’t survive a sound meter.

Priced weekly

We track UK prices every week, so 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