I learned this the hard way. My first squat PR attempt ended with a wobble, a missed lift, and a bruised ego. The problem was not my strength. It was my running shoes compressing under load. Switching to proper weightlifting shoes added 30 pounds to my squat in two weeks. After testing 8 pairs over … Read more
Last summer I brewed my first batch of beer in my apartment kitchen. I burned the wort, forgot to sanitize the airlock, and ended up with something that smelled like burnt bread mixed with gasoline. But by batch three, I was pouring pale ales that put my local brewery to shame. That journey started with … Read more
When I set up my first home gym, I underestimated how much space a cardio machine would eat. After two months of swapping between a treadmill and a rowing machine, I added an air bike and never looked back. Air bikes combine upper-body, lower-body, and cardio work into one compact machine. For home gyms, they … Read more
If you’ve ever watched a CrossFit competition, you’ve seen athletes punish themselves on an assault bike. It’s the machine that turns a warmup into a sweat-drenched ordeal and leaves you gasping for air after just 20 seconds of all-out effort. The best assault bikes for cardio take that intensity and bring it into your home … Read more
After spending 90 days testing ski ergs in a converted garage gym, I can tell you the right indoor ski trainer will torch more calories than almost any other piece of cardio equipment you own. A ski erg (also called a ski ergometer or Nordic ski trainer) is a vertical pulley machine that simulates the … Read more
Looking for the best stair steppers for home in ? I spent the last 90 days testing eight machines in my garage and living room, and I want to share what actually holds up. Stair steppers burn serious calories, take up barely any floor space, and protect your joints compared to running. The trick is … Read more
If you’re building a home gym and want cardio that doesn’t punish your knees, the best stair climbers for home gyms deliver serious calorie burn in a fraction of the space a treadmill demands. Stair climbers simulate endless stairs using rotating steps or pedals that keep your feet planted, which makes them a lower-impact alternative … Read more
When my partner and I set up a home gym in our 600-square-foot apartment last year, we ran into the same wall everyone hits: cardio machines are enormous. A treadmill swallowed our living room. An elliptical felt like a spaceship. Then we tried a vertical climber, and suddenly the entire workout fit in a corner … Read more
I have been writing about climbing cardio equipment for over a decade, and I still get a little buzz every time I step onto a Jacobs Ladder. There is something about the way it pulls on your shoulders, lungs, and glutes at the same time that no treadmill or stair climber can replicate. After testing … Read more
After six weeks of daily back extensions in my garage gym, I can tell you that finding the best hyperextension benches for home is less about price tags and more about how the frame feels under load when you’re repping out at the bottom of a 45-degree stretch. My lower back used to bark every … Read more