I'm a fitness editor—these are the five things under $50 I'd buy in Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Build functional fitness with dumbbells, resistance bands, and ab rollers that cost less than $50
As a fitness editor, I spend a lot of time reading advice on how to get healthy. Nearly every personal trainer and strength coach we've interviewed for Fit&Well has said that you don't need a lot of equipment to get fit; you just need to build better habits by exercising regularly.
A lot of these trainers recommend full-body, at-home workouts if you're building a new exercise regime. These routines hit a wide range of muscles in a short space of time and usually require little equipment.
If you want to progress these workouts and keep getting stronger, you need some equipment to increase the resistance of certain moves like squats and lunges. This will challenge your muscles and provide the necessary stimulus to build strength.
Amazon's Big Spring Sale has cut the price on a lot of muscle-building gear. Below are my recommendations if you're trying to build a fit and functional body on a budget.
Best fitness deals under $50 in Amazon's Big Spring Sale
Resistance bands
Renoj resistance bands set: was $9.99, now $6.89 at Amazon
Save 30% This resistance band set costs less than $7, proving that you don't need to spend lots of money to build muscle. You can use these bands to work your arms, legs, chest, and more. For an example of how to use them, see our full-body resistance band workout.
Kettlebells
Yes4All kettlebell set: was $51.99, now $43.99 at Amazon
Save 17% Workouts should be fun, and IMO there's nothing more liberating than a perfectly executed kettlebell swing. This cheap, colorful kettlebell set is ideal for beginners, with a weight range of 5, 10, and 15 lbs
Dumbbells
Amazon basics adjustable 17.2kg/ 38lb dumbbells: $49.99 at Amazon
Adjustable dumbbells like these are great for building strength, as they allow you to steadily add more weight as you get stronger, so you can keep challenging your muscles. This particular model is compact and easy to use, we even rate it as one of the best adjustable dumbbells we've tested at Fit&Well. This set isn't currently discounted, but $50 is a good price for these sturdy weights.
Yoga mat
Gaiam's Essentials thick yoga mat: was $21.98, now $19.78 at Amazon
Save 10% When you're doing planks and sit-ups, you need something to protect your elbows and spine from the floor, otherwise your workout can become too uncomfortable to continue with. This essentials mat from Gaiam will do the trick and it's currently a couple of dollars cheaper than usual.
Ab exercise wheels kit
Luyata ab exercise wheels kit: was $28.99, now $23.99 at Amazon
Save 19% Ab wheels challenge your core strength and stability. But this kit comes with a lot more than just a simple ab wheel; it also packs in push-up bars, a knee pad, resistance bands, wrist wraps, and a jump rope. That's a lot of equipment for less than $25, all of which can help you get fit at home.
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Ruth Gaukrodger is the fitness editor for Fit&Well and its sister site Coach, responsible for editing articles on everything from fitness trackers to walking shoes. A lot of her time is spent setting up testing protocols for our in-depth buying guides and making sure everything is reviewed to a set standard, so you can be confident we only recommend the best products on the market.
When she's not wrestling with equipment in our dedicated testing centre, you can find her pursuing running PBs around the streets of London or improving her yoga skills from the comfort of her living room. She’s a keen believer in working out for enjoyment first and is always open to hearing about new, fun ways to exercise.
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