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Amanda Pellegrino

These 30 clever, cheap things make it easier for you to get in shape

— Amazon

If you’re looking to get in shape, consider adding some equipment to your routine to enhance your movements, stretches, and exercise — or just make your workouts more fun. There are resistance bands to make your strength workouts harder, cards to shake up your routine, and a water backpack to keep you hydrated on-the-go. Trust me: there are plenty of clever, cheap things that’ll make it easier to start your fitness journey.

These large exercise cards to create your own workout at home

NewMe Fitness Pilates Exercise Cards (62-Pack)

Amazon

These cards explain 50 different movements and 12 stretches to create your own pilates workout at home. You can mix and match the exercises to curate the exact workout you’re looking for, focusing on upper body, lower body, core, or full body, depending on the day. They’re great for all fitness levels and even comes with a few pre-curated workouts for a 45 minute burn. If pilates isn’t your go-to exercise, these cards come in other packs like bodyweight, dumbbells, and stretching.

An adjustable running belt to store your phone, cash & keys

E Tronic Edge Running Belt Pack for Women and Men, Money Belt and Running Fanny Pack, Hiking Fanny Pack, Holder for Cell Phone, Money, and Keys, Adjustable Belt Pouch fits Most Phone and Waist Sizes

Amazon

Instead of holding your phone or keys while you’re running, store them in this zipper belt to improve your form and run hands-free. It’s super lightweight and durable, and has an adjustable clip to fit waists 22 to 50 inches. Plus, it’s water-resistant to keep your things protected even if you get rained on.

A foam roller to enhance muscle recovery & stretching

Maximo Fitness Foam Roller

Amazon

If you’re looking to get into shape, taking care of your muscles after a workout is super important. One way to do this is with this foam roller. It can be used on your back, legs, butt, calves, and shins to aid in muscle recovery and enhance stretches. It has a textured surface for a deeper massage and is long enough to do both legs at the same time.

These best-selling resistance bands that come in 3 levels

GYMB Resistance Band Set

Amazon

These bands come in three resistance levels — light, medium, and heavy — to customize for a deeper, stronger workout. They’re thick and durable with a nonslip grip and reinforced stitching to avoid rolling up and down your legs while you’re working out. They’re Amazon favorites, with a bestseller status and 4.7-star rating.

These popular hand strengtheners with 6 resistance levels

Hand Grip Strengtheners (6-Pack)

Amazon

Don’t forget that your hands and fingers also have muscles that need some attention and care. A great way to do that is with these grip strengtheners. They come in two designs — a finger gripper for outward movement and a circular tube for inward movement — to build strength and dexterity in your fingers and hands. Each color coordinates with a different resistance level, so you can build up your strength accordingly.

A cushioned yoga mat with 70 reference poses on it

NewMe Fitness Yoga Mat

Amazon

If you’re interested in getting into yoga, this mat that doubles as an instruction manual is a great place to start. Not only is it a 5-millimeter thick mat that’s shock-absorbing and nonslip, but it also has 70 common yoga poses illustrated on the surface for easy reference, whether you’re at home or taking a class.

This activity tracker watch that monitors heart rate & sleep

Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Activity Tracker

Amazon

Keep track of your workouts and output when you follow along on this activity tracker watch. It has 110-plus sports modes, so whether you’re run, walk, or frequent pilates classes, you’ll be able to see your progress. And it also tracks your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and sleep to feel good inside and out.

This leg exerciser that can also work your triceps & biceps

YNXing Leg Exerciser

Amazon

This V-shaped contraption is a super versatile workout and stretching tool. It’s not only a way to aid in deeper leg, arm, and back stretches, but it can also be used to add resistance to your workouts. Put it on your shoulder and upper arm, and curl to fire up your biceps, or around your back to work those triceps.

A portable ab roller for a super deep core workout

Elite Sportz Ab Roller Wheel

Amazon

Strengthen your core and arms with this portable and easy-to-use ab roller. Just put your hands on either side of the wheel, and steer it away from your toes until you’re in a plank position. It works on tile, carpet, hardwood, and gym floors, and has nonslip handles to create a sturdy grip while you’re using it.

This reflex ball set to bring the boxing gym wherever you are

YMX BOXING Ultimate Reflex Ball Set

Amazon

Create a boxing gym at home, at the beach, in a park — wherever you are — with this reflex ball set. It has a soft elastic band that straps onto your forehead, and four training balls that attach and hang off depending on your desired difficulty level. It’s great if you’re interested in exploring a boxing, MMA, or Krav Mega workout.

A professional-grade ab mat for deeper core workouts

Elite Sportz Equipment Ab Mat

Amazon

This ab mat has a slightly curved silhouette designed to support your lower back so you can have a deeper, stronger core workout without pain. By adding support to your back, the mat allows you to really target your abs for deeper sit-ups, crunches, and resistance band work.

This bike pedal exerciser that sits right under your desk

Vaunn Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser

Amazon

Get yourself moving while you work when you have this bike peddler underneath your desk. Just sit in your regular office chair, slip your legs into the pedal’s straps, and start moving. You can even use this while sitting on the couch and watching TV. The LCD screen on top displays your active minutes, cycle count, and more.

This pilates bar kit that simulates a ton of gym equipment in 1

Viajero Pilates Bar Kit

Amazon

If you’re looking to get stronger from the comfort of your own home, check out this pilates bar. Just one stick simulates dozens of pieces of gym equipment for a full-body workout. Attached to the bar are two natural latex resistance bands that can be used to target arms, legs, abs, chest, glutes and more.

These core sliders for a full-body workout on carpet or hardwood

Elite Sportz Core Sliders for Working Out (2-Pack)

Amazon

Train anywhere when you have this super portable core sliders. With a double-sided design, they can be used on hardwood, tile, gym floors, and carpet for so many exercises — planks, mountain climbers, lunges, squats, push ups — to make them easier and allow you to go deeper. At just 7 inches in diameter, they’re so lightweight and versatile, so you can bring them anywhere you want to get a workout in.

These ankle weights that adjust from 1 to 5 pounds

APEXUP Adjustable Ankle Weights

Amazon

Great for ankles or wrists, these weighted bracelets feature five removable modules that allow you to adjust the weight from 1 pound to 5 pounds, depending on the exercises you’re doing. They’re made of a wear-resistant, breathable fabric, and have double Velcro straps to customize to the size of your ankle or wrist.

These nonslip resistance bands with 6 difficulty levels

Xtreme Resistance Band Set for Exercise (Resistance Band Set)

Amazon

Enhance your yoga, pilates, strength, and stretching movements when you add these resistance bands to your workouts. Each color in the set of six is a different difficulty level — from light to XX heavy — and they have a nonslip grip to avoid rolling up and down while you’re using them.

A balance board to work on core stability & strength

URBNFit Balance Board

Amazon

If you’re looking to do some stability and balance exercises, check out this board. With a durable plastic ball bottom and a solid wood base, you can stand on the board to work on your core, strength, flexibility, and balance. You can even use it at a standing desk to get a little workout in while on your computer.

This super strong exercise ball with over 34,000 5-star ratings

URBNFIT Exercise Ball - Yoga Ball in Multiple Sizes for Workout, Pregnancy, Stability - Anti-Burst Swiss Balance Ball w/ Quick Pump - Fitness Ball Chair for Office, Home, Gym

Amazon

Bring your workouts to the next level by adding this exercise ball to your routine. With a virtually endless number of uses, it can increase stability, deepen core, arm, and leg movements, and make your workout overall more dynamic. Pro tip: swap out your desk chair with this exercise ball to add a little activity to your workday.

A 14-inch pilates ring that comes with a workout guide

ProBody Pilates Ring Circle

Amazon

Try your hand at pilates when you have this studio-grade workout ring. It can be used between your arms, legs, ankles, thighs, feet — you name it — to target deep muscles and enhance your overall workout. It measures 14 inches and comes with an easy-to-reference workout guide with usage suggestions to get you started.

This catching & throwing trainer with 3 ends to improve hand-eye coordination

SKLZ Reactive Catch Trainer

Amazon

Master catching and throwing when you have this super clever trainer. It features three different colored ends with ergonomic handles that improve reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and rapid decision making. When someone tosses it at you, they can call out a color to keep you actively engaged and challenged while catching it.

A best-selling agility ladder that comes with a convenient carrying bag

GHB Pro Agility Ladder

Amazon

If you play a sport — or are looking to start — a great place to begin is agility training with a ladder like this one. With 12 rungs, the ladder can help speed train and enhance your quick feet response time. The rungs are made of durable plastic connected with a canvas rope. And the whole thing can be folded up and stored in the included bag to take it anywhere.

These awesome exercise dice to shake up your routines

Juliet Paige Exercise Dice

Amazon

If repeating the same workouts often isn’t interesting to you, check out these exercise dice. The three dice are broken up into difficulty level — beginner, intermediate, and advanced — and each have 12 sides with 12 exercise on them. Keep your workout exciting and spontaneous when you roll the dice and do whatever it lands on.

This wildly popular & highly rated strap for deeper, stronger stretches

The Original Stretch Out Strap with Exercise Book

Amazon

It so important to stretch before and after a workout, and this clever strap will help. It features 10 durable nylon loops you can hook around your feet or arms for a super deep stretch to help in muscle recovery to potentially reduce injuries. It’s super durable and long-lasting. Bonus: the strap comes with a book and app to help guide your stretches.

These Bluetooth headphones that are sweat-proof

Otium Bluetooth Headphones

Amazon

Play music or your favorite podcast on these Bluetooth headphones while you workout to make your run, walk, yoga, or strength training that much more enjoyable and fun. They sit in your ear with over-the-ear hooks to make sure they stay in place for your whole workout, and there’s a strap to keep them secure on your body. Plus, they’re waterproof, sweat-proof, and have a 15-hour battery life on one charge.

This studio-quality yoga block to modify stretches & poses

Gaiam Yoga Block

Amazon

A yoga block is a great and budget-friendly addition to enhance and your movements for a better yoga practice. Beginners can use the block to modify poses to make them easier, and experts can use the block to make poses and stretches more difficult. It has a nonslip surface and beveled edges for a more ergonomic grip.

An adjustable platform that’s shock absorbing & nonslip

The Step Aerobic Platform

Amazon

This platform adjusts from 4 to 6 inches to elevate your cardio and strength training workouts. It’s shock-absorbing, nonslip, and can support over 400 pounds. The platform is great for jump training, enhanced lunges, angled pushups, tricep pulldowns, aerobics, and so much more. It’s a fan-favorite on Amazon, too, with a 4.6-star rating after nearly 10,000 reviews.

A ropeless jump rope that lets you train anywhere

APLUGTEK Jump Rope

Amazon

The benefits of a ropeless jump rope? You can train anywhere without worrying about whacking anything around you. It has two sweat absorbing, odor-resistant, non-slip foam handles attached to two weighted balls that give you the feel of jumping rope without the actual full-sized rope.

A hydration backpack with a 2-liter water bottle inside

EVERFUN Hydration Backpack

Amazon

Whether you’re an exercise pro or newbie, one of the most important things to remember is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! That’s easy with this water backpack. Not only does it have multiple internal and external pockets to store your snacks, first aid kit, keys, and other essentials, but it also has a built-in 2-liter water bottle with a long hose that has a bite valve, so you can drink water hands-free while hiking.

A best-selling tiny pedometer with a large digital step display

NESKLA 3D Pedometer

Amazon

Whether your daily step goal is 100 or 10,000, make sure you get there when you wear this pedometer. It has an extra large, easy-to-read digital display and the included battery lasts up to 12 months. It uses advanced technology to super accurately count your steps and it can clip onto pockets, belt, pants, shoes — wherever you want to start tracking.

This weighted hula hoop with an adjustable size

Dumoyi Weighted Hula Hoop

Amazon

Workout and strengthen your abs when you have this weighted hula hoop. It features a 360-degree shock-absorbing ring that’s made of 24 detachable parts that allow you to adjust the size to fit around your waist. The weighted ball swings around while you move your hips to activate your core and obliques for a super fun workout.

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