Winter Is Coming: The 4 Pieces of Gear I'd Buy for a Home Workout Setup

It's November in London, the clocks just went back, and it's dark by the time most of us get home. This is the time of year when a lot of people quietly stop training. The roads get icy, the gym feels far away, and the couch feels very close.

The good news is you don't need a full gym in your basement to keep making progress all winter. After 20+ years of coaching, and a lot of time training people in my own home studio, here's the short list of gear I actually recommend. Prices are as shown on each retailer's site on November 2, 2026, and they can change.

1. A Kettlebell (Start Here)

If you only buy one thing, make it a kettlebell. Swings, goblet squats, deadlifts, rows, carries, presses: one bell gives you a full-body workout in a few square feet of floor.

My pick: Domyos Pro Kettlebell, 16 kg (35.3 lb), Decathlon Canada, $79.99. It has a flat base so it sits still between sets, a coated handle that's easy on the hands, and a 10-year warranty.

Coach's note: 16 kg is a solid middle weight for a lot of people, but it's not for everyone. Many beginners do better starting lighter, and the same bell comes in sizes from 4 kg up to 40 kg. Pick a weight you can swing for 15 clean reps, not one you can barely lift.

2. A Set of Resistance Bands

Bands are cheap, quiet, and they fold into a drawer. I use them for warm-ups, shoulder work, glute work, and to add a little extra challenge to bodyweight moves like push-ups and squats.

My pick: Domyos Resistance Bands x3, 10-20-30 kg, Decathlon Canada, $39.99. Three levels means you can go light for warm-ups and heavier for real working sets.

Coach's note: Check your bands for nicks or white marks before every workout. A damaged band can snap, so replace it.

3. A Speed Jump Rope

If you've trained with me, you know I love a jump rope finisher. A few minutes of skipping gets your heart rate up fast, it works your calves and coordination, and it costs less than a takeout lunch.

My pick: Domyos Speed Skipping Rope, Decathlon Canada, $15.99. It's adjustable, with ball-bearing handles that turn smoothly.

Coach's note: Size it so the handles reach your armpits when you stand on the middle of the rope. Skip on a rubber mat or a hard indoor floor, and keep the jumps small and light.

4. The Splurge: A SkiErg

This one isn't for everybody, but if you've got the budget and a bit of wall or floor space, the SkiErg is one of my favourite pieces of cardio equipment. It works your arms, core and legs together, and it's easy to scale from easy recovery work to all-out intervals. I use it with clients all the time.

My pick: Concept2 SkiErg with Monitor and Stand, The Fitness Factory, $1,899.00. The PM5 monitor tracks your time, distance, pace and watts, so you can see your progress week to week.

Coach's note: Measure your ceiling first. With the floor stand, it needs about 85 inches (216 cm) of height.

What I'd Skip

Skip the gadgets that promise results without effort: vibration belts, "ab" contraptions, anything sold with before-and-after photos. Simple tools you'll actually use beat fancy ones that end up holding laundry.

Gear Is Only Half of It

The best equipment in the world won't help without a plan. A kettlebell, some bands and a rope can carry you through the whole winter if you know what to do with them and you keep progressing.

That's where I come in. You can train with me 1-on-1 or with a partner in my home studio here in London, or work with me through remote coaching from anywhere in Canada, where I'll build your program around whatever gear you've got at home. Learn more at whosyourtrainer.com.

Yours, in health,

-Coach Dave