Barre is my favorite type of workout. I’ve been used to working out at home for many years now and luckily, Barre is relatively easy to do at home. If you’re not familiar with Barre, it’s a low impact workout that fuses ballet and pilates and brings all the burn! Don’t let the low impact part fool you though, your whole body will feel it. However, thanks to its low impact nature, Barre requires small equipment (except the barre, of course) and low weights so it’s travel-friendly too. I’ve recently started doing even more Barre workouts, so I decided to upgrade my home gym to include the best at-home Barre equipment. Keep reading to find all the options to bring the Barre burn at home!
Barre
First and foremost, you’ll need a barre. After all, that’s where the name comes from. I’m sharing a few different options below but in case you’re interested in the one I have, it’s this one. If purchasing a barre is not something you can do at this time, that’s okay. Try using a sturdy chair like a counter stool or your kitchen counter. Ideally, make sure it’s 40” – 42” in height for proper form. Safety first always, so just test the sturdiness!
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Light Weights
Barre focuses on lots of repetitions so your muscles will fatigue quickly. That’s why it’s important to use lighter weights to maintain good form. I use 2lb and 3lb weights depending on the exercise. Sometimes, I even use my 1lb Bala ankle weights when my muscles are getting really fatigued. You can always drop the weights and do the exercises with your bodyweight if it feels like too much. However, I encourage you to try using weights as much as you can (safely) to really strengthen and define those muscles.
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Playground Ball
I got the XtendBarre playground ball because I like how firm it is, but there are lots of options. The playground ball is perfect for ab and leg work. It really brings the burn by creating resistance when you use it in between your thighs. It’s also great when you need to modify ab work, especially during C-Curve position. Find more options for the perfect playground ball below.
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Booty Bands
Booty bands or resistance bands are amazing to create just that: resistance. You can use them for leg work, booty work, and even your arms! Plus, I love that they’re so easy to take with you everywhere so you can feel the burn no matter where you are. I personally use the Tone It Up booty bands, but you can find similar ones or fabric booty bands too. I haven’t tried fabric booty bands yet but I’ve heard they increase the resistance even more. They’re also less likely to tear but I gotta say, it’s a bit satisfying to know you’re so strong you broke a booty band! Okay yeah, it’s a bit terrifying too but just looking for the positives here. Anyway, below I’m sharing multiple different booty band options so you can choose what suits you.
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Yoga Mat
It’s important to have a yoga mat to support you when doing floor work. There’s nothing comfortable about doing crunches on hardwood floors! I personally like thicker mats that offer appropriate support for my knees and have enough padding to lay down comfortably. I use the Tone It Up yoga mat but there’s so many others that are thick, offer great support and grip, and look cute. Plus, you can use it for so many other workouts in addition to your at-home Barre classes.
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Ankle Weights
While these are less common in traditional Barre workouts, if you really want to up the intensity, I suggest adding ankle weights to your at-home Barre equipment. They’re great when you’re doing leg and booty work, and like I mentioned above, I’ve even used them on my arms. Just make sure they’re not too heavy since you will be doing lots of reps. I’m a big fan of the Bala ankle weights but I’m sharing more options below.
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Grippy Socks
While these may not be equipment per se, grippy socks are fantastic for Barre workouts. They really help with grip (hence the name) and since Barre involves lots of balancing and quick graceful movements, they’re ideal. Plus, when you’re going from a wide second to a lunge, they really help stabilize and maintain proper form. I also love that Barre socks come in really cute designs so you can feel a bit like a ballerina!
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I hope you found this at-home Barre equipment guide useful. Let me know in the comments section if you’re a Barre pro or just starting out!
