Best Strength Training Equipment for Seniors
- Updated:
When It Comes to Strength and Muscle Mass It Really Is 'Use It Or Lose It"
To get a great Strength Training workout, you don’t need to use heavy, bulky weights or expensive machines. Most of the best strength training equipment for seniors are light, convenient, and affordable.
Strength training is a valuable part of your fitness routine. Once we reach our middle years, our bodies stop building muscle at the same rate as in our youth. If you don’t incorporate strength training into your fitness routine, you’ll see consistent decline in muscle mass as you age.
Strength Training helps you maintain muscle mass but it also has many other benefits. It lowers body fat, improves bone health, improves cognitive function, and more!
Best Strength Training Equipment for Seniors
Amazon Basics Neoprene Workout Dumbbell - $47.90 - 50.77
Cast iron with a neoprene coating for comfort these dumbbells get the job done. They’re sold in sets of three pairs (2/3/5lbs or 3/5/8lbs) which should fit the needs of most Seniors. They have a weight rack to store them when you’re not using them. They have a hexagonal shape to prevent them from rolling off on you when you put them on the floor.
Amazon Review Highlight: “These weights are pretty, and are easy to hold on to. They are exactly the right size for my hands and are very comfortable to hold. I keep these weights right by my bed, so that I remember to do a number of movements with the weights every morning. The weights are well made, and work perfectly. “
Fit Simplify Resistance Tube Bands 12 Piece Set - $20.95
Resistance Bands can give you a great strength-training workout without having to use heavy, awkward weights. This 12-piece kit includes five resistance bands ranging in tension from 5 – 35lbs. You can use multiple bands at the same time giving you a wide range of resistance options. This kit also include handles, ankle straps, a door anchor and a storage bag.
Amazon Review Highlight: “I received the simply fit resistance bands and have used them and they are absolutely wonderful! I immediately felt the difference in my muscles and how it strengthened them. I would recommend anyone that wants exercise equipment that is inexpensive and very useful to purchase this item”
Limm Resistance Loop Exercise Bands - Set of 5 - $13.95
Resistance Loops are great not just for building muscle mass but strengthening major joints like hips and knees. They’re also great for adding some extra tension to body weight exercises. These sturdy, heavy-duty bands come in five different resistance levels. An instruction booklet showing a variety exercises is also included.
Website Review Highlight: “I love these! I have owned many different types of resistance bands. Many repeatedly bunch up or roll while working out. I have used these daily, for 30 – 60 minutes each time, for the past week. They may have bunched up maybe once or twice in that time which is not a lot when compared to other brands.”
Gaiam Hand Weights for Walking - 2lbs set - $14.99
Add some strength training to your walk with these hand weights. These give you the right amount of weight to be challenging without being too strenuous. Sand filling inside a soft, comfortable outer shell. They have a soft neoprene hand strap making it easy for you to keep your grip during your workout.
Amazon Review Highlight: “They are so soft and comfy, too! These are simply the BEST little weights out there in my humble opinion. Really great especially for people like me who struggle to hold onto things.”
Amazon Basics Adjustable Ankle Weights - from $19.48
These Ankle Weights can add a lower body strength training component while you exercise – or just wear them around the house! We like these because the weight is adjustable – there are five 1lb sandbags that can be inserted or removed to change the weight. There are two straps to give you a secure, comfortable fit.
Amazon Review Highlight: “These were a lot bigger then I imagined. Super heavy and very sturdy. Totally didn’t expect something so sturdy like this for the price but yeah, these feel built to last.”
Sunny Fitness Vinyl Coated Kettle Bells 5 - 25 lbs - from $17.99
Kettlebells are a great way to get a total body workout. Lifting and controlling kettlebells forces your entire body to work together so you increase both stability and muscle mass. These cast-iron kettlebells have a vinyl coating to protect floors and reduce noise. They have a wide handle for easy gripping and flat bottom for easy storage.
Website Review Highlight: “Just started working out and wanted a nice set of kettlebells. There’s nothing cheap about these. Very high quality and I like how wide the handle is.”
Anti-Burst Gym Ball with Pump (75cm) - $21.99
Inflatable Exercise Balls are a great tool for strengthening your core and building balance. They can be used for stand-alone exercises or incorporated into other exercises to add a core/balance element. These sturdy balls can support a maximum user weight of up 400 – 440lbs (depending on size).
Website Review Highlight: “Works great for my full body workouts! I would buy it again”
Sunny Fitness Flat Utility Weight Bench - $109.99
If you have the space, you may want to consider purchasing a weight bench. A weight bench provides a stable, sturdy platform for weight training exercises. One reason we like this bench is its compact design doesn’t take up as much space as many other benches. It’s padded with high-density foam to give you a comfortable work-out experience. It has a stable non-slip base and can support weight up to 800lbs.
Website Review Highlight: “I’m around 230 pounds and did hip thrusters on this bench without any issues. The bench is a good size. Small, sturdy and compact”
Strength Training Equipment for Seniors
Regular strength-training should be an important part of your fitness routine. But getting started can be intimidating. Strength training equipment can be bulky, expensive, and take up a lot of space – but it doesn’t need to be. The best strength training equipment for seniors can be convenient and affordable.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. As a Sunny Health & Fitness Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. All prices accurate as of 2/13/24
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Additional Resources for Senior Exercise & Fitness Advice
Unfortunately, there are a lot of web sites out there giving unreliable fitness advice. But there are also some great ones which we rely on when writing our articles. A few great resources for information you may want to also check out include the National Institutes on Aging and AARP’s “Healthy Living” website.