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With the social distancing measures for Covid-19 likely to last for over 12-weeks and possibly up to 6 months many people have been looking to replace their gym routines with working out from home. And for those that don’t do much fitness, you probably should be considering it, it will fend off mental health issues and help you fight off infection if you do get Covid-19.
I am fortunate enough to have a house big enough and, due to no kids, enough money to afford a treadmill and a turbo trainer for my bike, but many people don’t have the space or money for hundreds if not thousands of pounds worth of gym equipment.
Unfortunately, the huge growth in demand has led to many items being out of stock and many companies are exploiting this by jacking up their prices, in some cases the price rise is rediculous.
So finding affordable items that are in stock is practically impossible, in most cases, you are probably going to have to wait at least a month for delivery.
Currently, there are a lot of YouTubers creating fitness content that requires no special equipment, so this is a superb starting place before you commit to spending money, or while waiting for delivery.
However, adding some basic items will be able to give you a more rounded routine that will challenge you more as your fitness improves.
I started this post hoping I would find at least a few decent options, at the moment, there are very slim pickings, but I will update the options as and when I see more choices. For the time being, I would recommend looking into Calisthenics for weight training and HIIT/Insanity for general cardio fitness, there are plenty of free YouTube videos for both.
Resistance Bands
Probably the most affordable solution to help with stretching and increase the effort on home-based workout.
- Gratin Resistance Bands – £11.99
- Price rise from £8.99
- Delivery 5th of May (over a month)
- Insonder Resistance Bands Set – £10
- Price rise from £5.99
- 27th of April (just under a month)
- Letsfit Resistance Loop Bands – £7.59
- No price rise
- 27th of April (just under a month)
Dumbells & Weights
Dumbbells or other forms of weight will significantly help with strength exercises and help vary the intensity.
I am struggling to find any Amazon seller that has anything available to buy that is charging a moderately reasonable price
Instead, I will list how badly these companies are exploiting the demand
- York Fitness Unisex Rubber Hex Dumbbells ( Pair), Black, 1.25Kg
- Was £10
- Now £35
- Anchor 20kg Adjustable Dumbbells Weights (no stock anymore)
- Was £21
- Last price £32.99
- TnP Accessories. Tri-Grip Dumbbell Weights Set 30KG set
- Was £37.99
- Now £94.99 + £3.99 Shipping
- Sportstech 2in1 innovative dumbbell set £69.95 + £19.90 delivery
- I previously slated Sportstech for the price hikes on spin bikes, but this product is the same price, though 2-month delivery time, and it wasn’t that cheap in the first place.
TRX / Suspension
A similar issue with TRX / suspension equipment. I wouldn’t recommend buying from any seller that has significantly increased the price.
- Oyria Sling Set – £25.99
- No price increase
- Delivery 6 May – Sat, 16 May (6-weeks)
- Fitness Training Pro Suspension System Training Kit
- Was £32.99
- Now £75
Skipping Ropes
A skipping rope could be one of the most affordable options to add an intense cardio workout. Just be careful with your form. Immediate availability is still an issue but prices are not too bad.
- We R Sports Plastic Skipping Rope – £4.99
- In Stock
- Was £2.49
- Likely poor quality, but it is cheap and in stock.
- Beast Gear – Beast Rope Elite – £25.97
- No price rise
- 27th of April (1-month delivery)
- Sportout Skipping Rope for Fitness – £12.99
- Was £7.99
- 27th of April (1-month delivery)
- multifun Skipping Rope – £18.99
- Was £13.99
- 27th of April (1-month delivery)
- GA230 Large Jumping Rope 5 meter £16.05 +£9.99 Delivery
- Was £6.85
- 20th of April (less than 1 month)
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
