Kettlebells, barbells, pull-up rigs, and functional training equipment — independently reviewed.
Last updated: September 2026
Kettlebells
Most versatile
Concept2
Best cardio
Buy quality
Lasts decades
Functional home gym equipment covers everything you need for a complete training setup beyond a rack and barbell — kettlebells, dumbbells, pull-up stations, cable machines, and conditioning tools. Here are the best options at every budget.
Rankings
Best Functional Training Equipment: Tested & Ranked
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Featured review
Kettlebell
Bowflex Adjustable Kettlebell
A well known household brand. The adjustable nature of these kettlebells makes them a staple for home gyms. Bowflex's quality control is the most reliable in the category — these last a lifetime.
Best adjustable kettlebell. Consistent handles, excellent finish, lifetime durability.
The Bowflex SelectTech 840 replaces six separate kettlebells with one dial-adjustable unit — a genuine space-saver for anyone who doesn’t want a row of iron lining their wall. Here’s how it performs. Editor’s Pick Best Versatility Weight range 8–40 lb Settings 6 fixed loads Replaces 6 kettlebells Footprint 8.8″ × 7″ Price ~$149 Our rating...
The industry-standard rower. Used in Olympic training centres worldwide. Bulletproof reliability.
The Concept2 RowErg is the machine Olympic and CrossFit athletes train on — no screens, no subscription, just a flywheel and a chain that turn effort into precisely measurable output. Here’s why it’s still the standard almost every other rower is measured against. Best Cardio Resistance Air, damper 1–10 Monitor PM5, Bluetooth User capacity 500...
Best adjustable dumbbell set for home gyms. Fast adjustment, solid build, full weight range.
Nuobell dumbbells replace up to 16 pairs of traditional weights with a single twist-adjust pair — and unlike most adjustable dumbbells, they’re built to actually feel like a real dumbbell in your hand. Here’s the full breakdown. Best Value Weight range 5–80 lb Increments 5 lb Replaces Up to 16 pairs Adjustment Twist handle Price...
Best air bike for conditioning. Full-body caloric output that no other machine matches.
Schwinn built the original air bike back in the 1970s, and the AD7 is their current flagship take on it — moving handlebars for full-body output, no subscription, and a warranty most competitors can’t match. Here’s the full picture. Resistance Direct-drive air User capacity 350 lb Footprint 41.6″×19.7″×52.1″ Frame warranty 10 years Price ~$1,099–1,299 Our...
Functional fitness equipment covers everything in a home gym beyond your rack and barbell — the tools that support conditioning, mobility, and varied movement patterns. Here's how to prioritize as you build out this part of your setup.
What Counts as Functional Equipment
Functional training equipment spans a genuinely wide range: kettlebells and adjustable dumbbells for strength and conditioning work, rowing machines and air bikes for cardio, plus accessories like resistance bands and pull-up bars. What ties the category together is versatility — these tools support varied, compound movement patterns rather than a single fixed exercise.
Kettlebells vs. Dumbbells: Do You Need Both?
They're not fully interchangeable. Kettlebells excel at dynamic, ballistic movements (swings, cleans, snatches) thanks to their offset center of mass, while dumbbells are better suited to controlled, bilateral strength work. Most well-rounded home gym functional equipment setups eventually include both, but if you're starting with just one, an adjustable dumbbell set covers more traditional strength training territory first.
Choosing a Conditioning Machine
Rowing machines and air bikes both deliver excellent full-body conditioning, but they train slightly differently — rowing emphasizes posterior chain pulling patterns, while air bikes (fan bikes) combine upper and lower body simultaneously for very high caloric output. Either is a strong choice; the better pick often comes down to which one you'll actually enjoy using consistently.
Frequently asked
FAQ
What is functional training equipment?
Equipment designed to support varied, compound movement patterns rather than a single fixed exercise — kettlebells, adjustable dumbbells, rowing machines, air bikes, and similar conditioning tools. It's the category that rounds out a home gym beyond the core rack-and-barbell setup.
What functional equipment should I buy first?
An adjustable kettlebell or dumbbell set is the most versatile starting point — it covers strength, conditioning, and mobility work in one piece of equipment, and takes up far less space than a dedicated cardio machine.
Do I need a power rack before buying functional equipment?
Not necessarily — kettlebells, dumbbells, and conditioning machines are all fully usable without a rack. If your budget is limited, functional equipment can be a reasonable starting point, though most people building a complete strength-training setup eventually want both. See our Rigs & Racks rankings when you're ready for that piece.
Full library
All Functional Training Equipment: Tested & Ranked Reviews
Every product we've tested in this category, not just the top picks above
