So, what are the best exercise equipment for upstairs apartment? The answer: It depends.
Boring and not helpful, I know.
But the fact is, finding the equipment perfectly suited to your need depends on several different factors – like your goals, apartment size, and your preferences.
To help you decide, I have hand-picked the 16 best types and explained everything there is to know about them. So read on and discover which of them is perfect for YOU!
Contents
The Best Exercise Equipment for Upstairs Apartment: Strength Training
Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are an excellent tool to train in your home. They are inexpensive, lightweight, and versatile enough to travel with.
Resistance bands are an easy-to-use and portable training modality that can be used just about anywhere. They provide a full-body workout that challenges muscles of the arms, shoulders, chest, torso, back, and hips.
- Deadlifts
- Squats
- Shoulder press
- Chest press
- Biceps curl
- Triceps extension
- The list of exercises you can do with a couple of resistance bands is endless!
When you are done, stuff the bands in under your bed, in a drawer – or just throw them into your laundry room. No matter the size of your home – you will find somewhere to stuff away your resistance bands when not in use.
Oh, and if you are worried about annoying your neighbor. They don’t make a sound while in use either!
Suspension Trainer Like TRX Home
If you are looking for a way to stay fit, but your apartment provides limited space, a suspension trainer will do the trick! With a suspension trainer, you can do hundreds of different exercises – building muscle and strength, but also flexibility and balance.
As a bonus, nearly all exercises performed using a suspension trainer will engage your core muscle. So after a couple of weeks doing suspension training, you will both see and feel how your core gradually gets stronger. And as you might know – a strong core is vital in fighting back pains and building a healthy posture!
Suspension trainers can be used in your living room, bedroom, or even outside in the garden. This equipment takes up less than a square foot of space, so there’s no need for a large dedicated gym area to reap the benefits from this little trooper!
Rubber Coated Dumbbells
Rubber-coated dumbbells are the perfect choice if you want to train at home without damaging your flooring or belongings – or if you simply do not want to disturb the old lady living in the apartment below yours.
The main advantage of using rubber-coated dumbbells is that they are safe to use on any surface, including carpets, hardwood floors, tile, and more. In addition, due to the rubber, the dumbbells don’t scratch or damage surfaces, keeping your home intact even after your daily workout.
Another benefit of using rubber-coated dumbbells worth noticing is that they don’t produce a loud noise when dropped and can therefore be used at any time of the day without disturbing others.
This makes them a great option for anyone living in an apartment – at least if you are of the considerate kind.
Stability Ball
A stability ball is a great way to increase core strength and improve your balance. Other benefits include strengthening the back and improving posture.
Lack of exercise is one of the leading causes of sedentary lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, etc.
A stability ball can be used to sit with proper posture, or it can also be used for exercises like Crunches or back extensions.
Door Gym / Door Pull-Up Bar
A door pull-up bar can be a great workout accessory for those who live in apartments or do not have a workout room at home.
Door pull-up bars are portable, and you can take them with you anywhere. They don’t require any installation, and they can be used by people of all ages, not just professionals.
- Pull-ups
- Chins
- Leg lifts
- Leg raises
- Push-ups
- Triceps dips
- Or why not some muscle-ups?
If you want to get the most from your doorway pull-up bar, combine it with a suspension trainer and a couple of resistance bands. Oh, and as you get stronger, buckle up a weighted vest!
Folding Workout Station
If you’ve got limited space but still want to have the option of working out at home – a folding workout station might just be what you are looking for!
When folded, they are compact and easy to store away – while they provide you with loads of exercises opportunities when assembled.
Many different brands are available, including known players like Clarity, Stamina, Gold’s Gym, and Body-Solid. Prices range anywhere from $30 to $500 and include features such as weight bars and bench press attachments.
Although not as compact as resistance bands or a suspension trainer, a folding workout station still is a viable choice if you are short on space.
Ab Wheel
An ab wheel is a device that is mainly used to strengthen and tone your abdominal and core muscles. Whether you live in a 3rd-floor apartment or a mansion, the ab wheel is both quiet and effective at what it does.
- Excellent at strengthening and toning the abdominal muscles
- It is portable and easy to use anywhere – anytime
- It is inexpensive, costing less than $15 on Amazon (how about that?)
- It can be easily stored when not in use
So adding one to your home gym equipment pool should be a no-brainer!
Calishenics Using Weighted Vest
Weighted vests are a great investment for those who do calisthenics at home. It offers the benefit of improving strength, endurance, and power.
Experimenting with weighted vests is a good way to get an idea of what level of weight you need to work at to get the desired results.
Calisthenics is a form of exercise that can be done at home, at work, in the garden, at the gym – actually: everywhere!
And the benefits of calisthenics are numerous and include:
- increasing muscle strength,
- endurance,
- balance,
- flexibility,
- core strength,
- and agility.
By wearing a weighted vest, though, the benefits can increase substantially!
Think of it:
Doing push-ups or pull-ups with 65 pounds added weight strapped around your torso. Or why not 20 burpees?
The combination of a weighted vest and calisthenics is excellent if you live in an apartment or lack sufficient space for a workout station. To be honest, it is an excellent combination no matter your living situation!
The Best Exercise Equipment for Upstairs Apartment: Cardio Training
If you are more into cardio, the equipment you should consider differs. Here are the best cardio equipment for upstairs apartment:
Treadmill mat for Noise Reduction
Treadmill mats are amazing if you want to exercise inside your apartment – but spare your neighbor from the bumping sound of your legs running.
Treadmill mats work to reduce the treadmill’s sound by absorbing it – and making it less noticeable. You will also feel more stable on a treadmill mat than on a hard surface, helping prevent injuries to joints and tendons.
Folding Exercise Bike
The benefits of using a foldable exercise bike are endless. They are compact and lightweight, which makes them easy to store and transport – they also don’t take up much space and can be folded up almost like an umbrella.
With the rise of minimalist living, people are moving to smaller places and replacing their two-story houses. So a folding exercise bike can be just what you need to break a sweat in your 3.rd floor apartment.
Vertical Climber
Vertical climbers have been around for a while now. It works by simulating the act of climbing to strengthen your muscles and improve cardiovascular health.
There are many benefits to using vertical climbers:
- The equipment is affordable.
- They can be used anytime and anywhere.
- They’re versatile.
- There’s no need for an instructor.
- The workouts are INTENSE.
And if you live in an apartment – they are quiet and takes up very little space!
Elliptical Machine
For starters, an elliptical machine is not as expensive as a treadmill. Using an elliptical will also have a significantly less chance of being injured, as it goes a lot easier on both joints and tendons.
The elliptical will help you burn more calories, tone muscles, increase flexibility, and strengthen bones and joints.
When in use, ellipticals may make noise levels similar to that of a refrigerator or dishwasher. Either you work out in the morning or the middle of the night, you can give it your all without needing to worry about disturbing your neighbor.
Compared to treadmills, that is something like whispering vs. loud talking.
But:
Many different factors can gradually cause an elliptical to make noise. Some of the most common causes are dirt, dust, and debris around. Therefore, it is important to periodically wipe down the machine to keep it running smoothly and quietly.
Mini-Stepper
Mini-steppers are very popular in the at-home fitness scene, and for good reasons. Although it’s a small device, it helps build up muscles in the leg, strengthen the pelvic floor and improve balance – and of course, it provides a great cardio session!
Hide it under your sofa, and use it while watching your favorite tv show. Due to its size and low noise level, it’s an ideal equipment if you want to keep friends with the neighbor living on the floor below your apartment.
Folding Treadmill (Only if You Dislike Your Neighbor)
A folding treadmill is a great way to stay fit at home.
The folding treadmill provides the same benefits as a regular treadmill – you can walk, jog, run, do guerilla cardio, HIIT, or any other cardio on it. You can even watch TV or read a book while on it. Boredom, no thanks!
But the best thing about these types of treadmills is that they are more compact and lightweight than the regular treadmills you find in gyms and other fitness centers. This means that they are easier to store – and they can be moved around with ease.
When you have finished your daily jog, fold the treadmill and show it under your bed. As simple as that!
But be advised… If you plan to run on a treadmill in an apartment – be sure to use a high-quality treadmill mat underneath. This will absorb SOME of the shocks and reduce SOME of the noise – but if your neighbors are of the nagging type – you are best off using something other than a treadmill.
Calisthenics
There are tons of benefits to using calisthenics for your cardio workouts at home.
It is a low-impact workout that does not require any equipment – and can be done anywhere! All you need to do is set up your floor space, and you are ready to go. Combine exercises like push-ups, squats, lunges, Jumping Jacs, Mountain Climbers, and burpees to create a KILLER Tabata session that will burn crazy calories.
Not only will a calisthenics-based Tabata session increase your cardiovascular endurance levels and burn calories – it will help tone muscles, boost your metabolism rate, strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, and boost your self-confidence levels!
And if you are afraid to annoy your neighbor, buy yourself a solid shock-absorbing gym mat. Affordable and effective!
!BONUS! The Free Alternative: Walking Stairs
Stairs are not just a way to get from one floor to another. They offer important benefits for heart health – and they can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Walking upstairs is an easy and uncomplicated way to incorporate physical activity into your day. You don’t need any special equipment or training, and you don’t have to set aside a large chunk of time in your schedule.
If you’re looking for something that’s quick, convenient, and offers health benefits all at the same time, walking stairs might be the perfect solution for you.
Here’s an idea for you:
Turn off your computer, go get your gym shoes, and walk up and down the stairs – as fast as you can – for two minutes straight. Pause for thirty seconds, and do two more minutes. Repeat five times.
This should have your legs shaky and your heart going like crazy! And all for free…
Final Words
Either you plan to stow away exercise equipment into a drawer – or you are looking for robust foldable exercise equipment to hide under the bed – this lot of equipment will have you covered.
Why not combine them for a complete home gym?
- A suspension trainer, some resistance bands, a pull up bar and a weighted vest for strength training,
- and a vertical climber combined with calisthenics for cardio.
An affordable, compact, and super-effective combination!
But no matter which of the equipment you use, you need a solid, science based, and effective workout program to follow. In my MASSIVE at home strength building archive you’ll find dozens of workout programs, actionable tips and science based fitness articles.
See you there!
Other Helpful Resources
- How to Make a Home Gym With no Money: The Beginners ABC
- Best Functional Trainer for the Home: Reviews and Top Picks
- TRX vs Weights. Weight Lifting vs Suspension Training: The Showdown!
- Easy & Affordable Home Gym Equipment: The Definite Guide
- How to Get Motivated to Work Out at Home (Even if You’re Busy as Hell)
- Bowflex vs Powerblock: What is the Best Adjustable Dumbbells?