Here at M&F we regularly test the latest fitness equipment on the market but we never let anything cloud our distilled view on fitness products. That distilled view is that the basics work. You don’t need fancy, high tech apparatus to be fit. All you need is the will to better yourself and a creative mind.SEE ALSO:The Broke Man’s Guide to Working OutForget the fitness trackers, monolifts, bumper plates and at-home pec machines. Follow our frugal guide to getting strong and lean to prove that fitness is the ultimate hobby for anyone.
2 of 8
DIY: Foam Roller
Instead of shelling out dough for a foam roller that isn’t dense enough for real relief or recovery, just buy a PVC pipe and wrap in it duct tape. Not only is PVC harder than even the most “extreme” foam rollers, it can be cut into different shapes too. Similarly, you can get the benefits of foam rolling from a lacrosse ball, which is under $3. A lacrosse ball will target muscle knots at the source and release these trigger points for a better ability to move.Total Cost: $5
3 of 8
Buy: Jump Rope
Need to do cardio in a tight space (with a tight budget)? Don’t forget about the most underrated tool in fitness: the jump rope. Buy one of these to burn fat, increase agility and tone your entire body.Total Cost: $5
4 of 8
DIY: Sled
Pushing a sled is a form of conditioning heralded by strongmen and strength and conditioning coaches. Since there is no eccentric component, your joints don’t really take a hit yet you still build cardiovascular endurance. Forgo buying a huge apparatus and simply just make a sled out of a tire. There are tons of videos on how to do this but here’s one way that gets the job done.DIY Tire SledDrill a hole into the side of a tire and secure an eyebolt into the side using a nut. Loop a rope through the eyebolt so there’s 6-8 feet of rope to pull. Attach rope to a hang-all then attach that to your weight belt. To make a base for adding weight, attach a wooden block or sheets of wire mesh to the tire using four new holes, bolts, and nuts.Total Cost: $20*Use scavenged or repurposed tire.
5 of 8
Buy: Resistance Bands
Until you’ve used resistance bands to work out your upper body, chest and shoulders specifically, it’s hard to understand. You can build strength, increase flexibility and shed fat with just a few loops of rubber. Try this resistance band shoulder workout and you’re sure to feel the burn.Total Cost: $14
6 of 8
DIY: Valslides
Valslides are an inexpensive way to activate your core in conjunction with other body parts. From pikes to pushup variations, valslides add muscular tension for a more athletic and demanding workout. DIY ValslidesUse folded towels as substitutes for valslides. Carve out a six-pack with these 10 valslide exercises.Total Cost: $10
7 of 8
Buy: Kettlebell
The most versatile piece of fitness equipment you can buy is the kettlebell. With one bell, you can do swings, snatches, cleans, presses, and yes, even curls. Pavel Tsatsouline, widely credited with introducing kettlebell training to the U.S. suggests Rogue Fitness, Dragon Door and Perform Better. Here is how to get super strong with just one kettlebell, courtesy of Tsatsouline himself.Total Cost: 15-$30
8 of 8
DIY: Sandbag
Sandbag training is one of the best core workouts out there. To avoid paying for a costly sandbag, make one yourself using a canvas duffle bag, some sand, duct tape and some contractor trash bags.DIY SandbagAgain, there are several online tutorials on how to do this but here’s one we suggest.Fill a few contractor bags with sand.Tie off the ends with a zip tie. Roll them up like a burrito and duct tape the bag. You don’t have to duct tape the entire thing, just wrap the sand cylinders at 3-4 points. Add the taped contractor bags to the duffel bag. There you have it, a discount sandbag!Total Cost: $30*You can purchase used duffel bags from surplus stores online.
Here at M&F we regularly test the latest fitness equipment on the market but we never let anything cloud our distilled view on fitness products. That distilled view is that the basics work. You don’t need fancy, high tech apparatus to be fit. All you need is the will to better yourself and a creative mind.
Forget the fitness trackers, monolifts, bumper plates and at-home pec machines. Follow our frugal guide to getting strong and lean to prove that fitness is the ultimate hobby for anyone.
DIY: Foam Roller
Instead of shelling out dough for a foam roller that isn’t dense enough for real relief or recovery, just buy a PVC pipe and wrap in it duct tape. Not only is PVC harder than even the most “extreme” foam rollers, it can be cut into different shapes too. Similarly, you can get the benefits of foam rolling from a lacrosse ball, which is under $3. A lacrosse ball will target muscle knots at the source and release these trigger points for a better ability to move.
Total Cost: $5
Buy: Jump Rope
Need to do cardio in a tight space (with a tight budget)? Don’t forget about the most underrated tool in fitness: the jump rope. Buy one of these to burn fat, increase agility and tone your entire body.
Total Cost: $5
DIY: Sled
Pushing a sled is a form of conditioning heralded by strongmen and strength and conditioning coaches. Since there is no eccentric component, your joints don’t really take a hit yet you still build cardiovascular endurance. Forgo buying a huge apparatus and simply just make a sled out of a tire. There are tons of videos on how to do this but here’s one way that gets the job done.
DIY Tire Sled
Drill a hole into the side of a tire and secure an eyebolt into the side using a nut. Loop a rope through the eyebolt so there’s 6-8 feet of rope to pull. Attach rope to a hang-all then attach that to your weight belt. To make a base for adding weight, attach a wooden block or sheets of wire mesh to the tire using four new holes, bolts, and nuts.
Total Cost: $20
*Use scavenged or repurposed tire.
Buy: Resistance Bands
Until you’ve used resistance bands to work out your upper body, chest and shoulders specifically, it’s hard to understand. You can build strength, increase flexibility and shed fat with just a few loops of rubber. Try this resistance band shoulder workout and you’re sure to feel the burn.
Total Cost: $14
DIY: Valslides
Valslides are an inexpensive way to activate your core in conjunction with other body parts. From pikes to pushup variations, valslides add muscular tension for a more athletic and demanding workout.
DIY Valslides
Use folded towels as substitutes for valslides. Carve out a six-pack with these 10 valslide exercises.
Total Cost: $10
Buy: Kettlebell
The most versatile piece of fitness equipment you can buy is the kettlebell. With one bell, you can do swings, snatches, cleans, presses, and yes, even curls. Pavel Tsatsouline, widely credited with introducing kettlebell training to the U.S. suggests Rogue Fitness, Dragon Door and Perform Better. Here is how to get super strong with just one kettlebell, courtesy of Tsatsouline himself.
Total Cost: 15-$30
DIY: Sandbag
Sandbag training is one of the best core workouts out there. To avoid paying for a costly sandbag, make one yourself using a canvas duffle bag, some sand, duct tape and some contractor trash bags.
DIY Sandbag
Again, there are several online tutorials on how to do this but here’s one we suggest.
Fill a few contractor bags with sand.
Tie off the ends with a zip tie.
Roll them up like a burrito and duct tape the bag. You don’t have to duct tape the entire thing, just wrap the sand cylinders at 3-4 points.
Add the taped contractor bags to the duffel bag.
There you have it, a discount sandbag!
Total Cost: $30
*You can purchase used duffel bags from surplus stores online.
