Hi, reader, and welcome to the 2024 SELF Home Fitness Awards! We firmly believe that you don’t need to join a gym to create a functional (dare we say joyful?!) workout routine that’s tailored to your goals and favorite types of movement. So, for the third year in a row, we put together a list of the very best machines, gadgets, virtual classes, and accessories to help you build your perfect home exercise experience.
Our testers and expert judges, who you can read more about below, set out to find the gear that’s actually worth your time and money. Because in a sea of options, it can be tough to know what’s high-quality, effective, safe, and easy to use. We’re confident that no matter which ones you choose, these winners will help you get the most out of your time, space, and routine. Find all of our favorites below—and happy sweating!
The 2024 SELF Home Fitness Awards Table of Contents
How we picked the winners
This year, SELF tapped a panel of fitness experts—as well as our very own staffers—to nominate their all-time favorite products. What do they reach for time and time again that makes home workout sessions easier, more accessible, and, most importantly, more enjoyable? They came back to us with a vast pool of picks that include large machines, smaller pieces, high-tech equipment, and recovery tools. We evaluated their nominations by cross-referencing them with past reporting we’ve done at SELF—we’ve been testing fitness equipment for a very, very long time—along with other online consumer reviews. Did more than one expert recommend a particular product? Have we covered an item’s evolution over the years—and is it consistently that good? Ultimately, we narrowed down the list to 36 truly exceptional winners perfect for lifters, runners, cardio enthusiasts, yoga lovers, and beyond.
Large equipment
Best Studio Bike—Budget: BowFlex C6 Bike
Indoor cycling instructor and Home Fitness Awards judge Katie Pierson, CPT, bought Bowflex’s C6 Indoor Cycling Bike for her home gym four years ago and never looked back. “While it might not have all the advanced features of some more expensive alternatives, this bike is well-constructed, offers 100 levels of magnetic resistance, pairs nicely with apps like Peloton and Strava, and is affordable,” she says. A simple LCD screen helps you track stats like speed and distance, and we like that there’s a dedicated stand to hold a smartphone or tablet while you pedal. Also included in your purchase: a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate armband, SPD clips for cycling shoes, a pair of three-pound dumbbells, and a free one-month membership to BowFlex’s online fitness platform, JRNY.