Racks and benches

The best squat rack for most home gyms is the Sportsroyals RK2, a 1,200 lb cage with a built-in lat pulldown and low row. Here are three racks worth the floor space, and who each one fits.

The best Smith machine for a home gym for most people is the Mikolo HORUS Set, because its two weight stacks link into one 256 lb path for lat pulldowns and low rows, each side still runs independently for cable work, and the package adds a bench and 230 lb of plates. Here are the four worth the floor space.

The best folding squat rack for most home gyms is the Mikolo 2x2 wall rack, because it folds to about 5 inches off the wall, takes 1,000 lb, and costs around $300. Here are the two wall racks worth buying, and how to check your wall first.

The best weight bench for most home gyms is the HANDBODE 1500, a 1,500 lb adjustable bench that covers flat, incline, and upright pressing at IPF-standard height for around $160. Here are the three benches worth the floor space, and who each one fits.

The best pull up bar for a doorway is the Ally Peaks leverage bar, because it fits 24 to 32 inch frames, hangs without screws, and its silicone pads left no marks in our testing. Here are the two bars worth buying, and how to measure your door first.

The best dip bars for a home gym are the RELIFE Four-Height Dip Bar, because the rubber feet level the base on an uneven garage floor and the foam handles stay comfortable through high-rep sets. Here are the two stations worth buying.

Weight lifting equipment for a home gym comes down to three pieces that cover almost every session: a power rack, an adjustable bench, and a bar. Here is what to buy first and what can wait.

The best leg press machine for small spaces is the PASYOU bench-and-leg-press, a 57 lb unit that packs a 12-level press and a nine-angle bench into about 10 square feet. Here are the three picks that fit a real room.