Setting up a home gym made easy
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Kraftstation EISENHORN DS in Farbe Schwarz

Setting up a home gym made easy

We show you the best solution for effective strength training at home.

First steps
Author: EISENHORN
Read time: 14 min
Published: 18/06/2025

In this guide, we will show you step by step how to optimally set up your home gym, which equipment is really useful, how to cleverly plan space and budget, and why the EISENHORN strength station as an all-in-one solution elevates your training to the next level.

Your home gym – More power, more freedom

Having your own home gym gives you the freedom to work out whenever you want. For many people, this is a real game changer: no embarrassment, no distractions—just you and your workout. You decide the pace, the exercises, and the order of your training. Only your progress matters.

A home gym not only offers comfort but also the ability to tailor your workouts precisely to your individual needs. You can train spontaneously, fit your sessions into your daily routine, and focus fully on your goals without stress from external factors. Especially for people who feel rushed or observed in public gyms, this is a huge relief.

In addition, you save both time and money. Long commutes, the search for parking, and monthly membership fees that add up over time become a thing of the past. Instead, you make a one-time investment in a high-quality setup and benefit from maximum flexibility in the long run. You also have complete control over hygiene: your home gym is always clean, exactly the way you want it, and you decide which exercises to do and when.

Beyond all these practical advantages, a home gym is, above all, an investment in your health and fitness. Regular strength training becomes easier to integrate into everyday life, progress becomes noticeable more quickly, and you develop a consistent training routine. With the right equipment, such as the multi-gym EISENHORN S or EISENHORN DS, you can effectively train all major muscle groups and enjoy a versatile, efficient, and highly effective workout—right at home.

Kraftstation EISENHORN DS in Farbe Schwarz
This is what your home gym could look like with the EISENHORN DS.

Setting up a home gym – What you should consider

A good home gym doesn't just happen. It requires some planning and clarity regarding the available budget, as well as your own goals.

Space requirement

Before investing in exercise equipment, it’s important to get a clear overview of the space available to you. Especially in apartments or houses, space can often be a limiting factor. However, even small areas can be used efficiently if you choose space-saving and multifunctional training equipment. An area of just 2–3 square meters is sufficient to accommodate the EISENHORN strength station S, which offers over 100 exercises variations.

Larger spaces open up even more possibilities. For example, you can opt for the EISENHORN DS and benefit from an even greater variety of exercises and a training weight of up to 224 kg. You can also expand your workout area with a treadmill, an ergometer, or a dedicated zone for stretching and mobility exercises. Always make sure you have enough freedom of movement. For exercises such as pull-ups, lunges, cable flys or lateral raise on the cable machine, sufficient space is essential to maintain proper technique and prevent injuries.

Another important factor to consider is ceiling height. Especially for pull-ups or overhead shoulder presses, adequate vertical clearance is crucial. The floor surface also plays a role—make sure it provides stable footing, even during intense training sessions.

Thanks to its aesthetic and space-saving design, an EISENHORN strength station integrates seamlessly into your living space—right where you feel comfortable and stay motivated for short, effective, and intense workouts.

Budget

The golden rule applies here: quality pays off in the long run. Affordable equipment may seem tempting at first, but it is often less stable, wears out more quickly, and offers only limited exercise variety. Over time, this can lead to frustration, a higher risk of injury, or additional costs when replacement parts or new equipment become necessary.

High-quality training systems like the EISENHORN strength station may require a higher initial investment, but they provide a durable, safe, and versatile training solution designed to last a lifetime. By choosing an EISENHORN strength station, you’re not just selecting a smart home gym that combines multiple training functions into one compact system—you’re also investing in your long-term physical and mental well-being.

Another key advantage: a professionally equipped home gym significantly boosts motivation. People who invest in premium training equipment tend to train more frequently, more consistently, and with greater intensity.

Note: It’s wiser to invest once in a solid all-in-one system than to repeatedly purchase individual pieces of equipment or waste time dealing with breakdowns, repairs, or technical failures. In the long run, this approach saves not only money, but also space, stress, and valuable training time.

Define training goals

Before setting up your home gym, it’s important to clearly define your fitness goals. Your equipment selection and overall setup should always be aligned with what you want to achieve.

  • Muscle building & strength increase: Resistance training is the primary focus here. Multifunctional systems like the EISENHORN strength station are ideal, as they offer adjustable weight levels and support a wide variety of exercises. This allows you to target all major muscle groups and progressively increase training intensity.

  • Endurance: In addition to strength training, cardio options such as a treadmill, an ergometer, or outdoor activities can be integrated into your routine. Interval training is particularly effective, as it simultaneously improves cardiovascular health, boosts fat burning, and enhances overall performance.

  • Fat burning & general fitness: The best results come from a combination of strength and endurance training. Short, intense workout sessions—such as those based on the MIKE5 concept—are especially time-efficient and easy to integrate into a busy daily schedule. On weekends, you can then dedicate more time to longer endurance and cardio-focused workouts.

Clearly defining your goals not only helps you choose the right equipment but also ensures your training remains structured and purposeful. You avoid unnecessary purchases and can optimize your workouts for efficiency, measurable progress, and long-term motivation.

The perfect equipment for your home gym

When setting up your home gym, choosing the right equipment is crucial. Below we show you some strong setups for professional strength training at home.

The ultimate solution – EISENHORN strenght station

An EISENHORN strength station is the perfect solution, as it offers several advantages at once: it is multifunctional, space-saving, and equally suitable for beginners and advanced athletes. Instead of purchasing numerous individual pieces of equipment, a high-quality strength station provides everything you need for an effective full-body workout.

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An EISENHORN strength station combines many classic exercise machines into a single system. With it, you can professionally train all major muscle groups — legs, back, chest, shoulders, arms, and core. By integrating multiple functions into one compact device, it saves space and is suitable for all fitness levels thanks to the individually adjustable training weights. Moreover, an EISENHORN strength station reduces the risk of improper loading: guided movements help you perform exercises correctly and protect your joints, which is especially important for beginners or those with minor physical limitations.

EISENHORN S & DS in detail:

  • The EISENHORN S is ideal for both beginners and advanced users. This compact and versatile fitness station enables effective training of all major muscle groups. Its intuitive handling and modular design make it suitable even for the smallest spaces. Beginners can gradually ease into strength training, while advanced users can further enhance their performance with higher weights and more complex exercises.

The EISENHORN Kraftstation S fits perfectly in any living space.
The EISENHORN Kraftstation S fits perfectly in any living space.
  • The EISENHORN DS is designed for ambitious athletes who want to achieve maximum performance and train complex movement patterns. It offers an even greater variety of exercises and additional training options—such as asynchronous movement guidance and the option to upgrade with a dual cable tower—enabling intensive, functional full-body workouts. Whether your goal is maximum strength, hypertrophy, rehabilitation, or functional training, the DS fitness station provides the right options for every objective.

Kraftstation EISENHORN DS in Farbe Schwarz
The EISENHORN strength station DS integrated into the living space.

An EISENHORN strength station replaces numerous classic pieces of equipment, so you don’t have to invest in expensive individual devices:

  • Dumbbells & short dumbbells – for biceps, triceps, shoulders, and chest exercises.

  • Pull-up bar – for back, biceps, and core stability.

  • Cable machine – for targeted training of the back, arms, shoulders, and abdomen.

  • Bench press – for chest, shoulders, and triceps, without needing a separate weight bench.

  • Leg press / leg training – for effective training of the thighs and glutes.

  • Additional functions – rowing, butterfly, shoulder press, cable flys, and many other exercises can be easily integrated.

With just one device, you can cover almost the entire spectrum of a traditional gym. The combination of space-saving design, multifunctionality, and adjustable weights makes the EISENHORN strength station an all-in-one solution, offering extensive training options for both beginners and advanced users.

Tip: To make your workouts as efficient as possible, focus on short, intense sessions based on the MIKE5 concept—just 5 minutes per day can train all major muscle groups effectively on the EISENHORN strength station.

Supplementary equipment for your home gym

Even though the EISENHORN strength station is the centerpiece of your home gym and covers almost all strength exercises, it can be worthwhile to complement your setup with additional equipment. These tools can help you specifically train stability, flexibility, and endurance, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your workouts.

Basics for Stability & Flexibility

  • Yoga mat: A non-slip yoga mat is useful not only for yoga or Pilates but also as a comfortable base for floor exercises such as planks, sit-ups, lunges, or stretching. Especially during intense workouts, it protects your joints and allows for safe, controlled movements.

  • Balance board / wobble board: This small but highly effective tool improves balance, coordination, and core stability. Exercises on a balance board engage muscles that are often neglected in traditional strength training, boosting functional fitness.

  • Resistance bands: These versatile bands can be used for warm-ups, rehabilitation exercises, targeted strength training, or mobility work. They are particularly effective for strengthening smaller muscle groups and enhancing overall muscle control.

Cardio options

Strength training is important, but for a well-rounded fitness program, you should also include endurance training. You have several options:

  • Ergometer or home trainer: Perfect for improving endurance without leaving the house. You can perform interval sessions, steady-state training, or high-intensity sprints.

  • Treadmill: Ideal for interval running, casual jogging, or walking, regardless of the weather.

  • Outdoor training: If you enjoy exercising outdoors, running, swimming, trail running, cycling, or jumping rope are excellent alternatives. Outdoor workouts not only provide fresh air but also challenge your body with natural irregularities, improving coordination, balance, and endurance.

Combining these cardio options with strength training on the EISENHORN strength station delivers optimal results: fat burning, cardiovascular improvement, muscle building, and functional fitness—all in one.

Tip: You don’t need all the equipment at once. A yoga mat and the strength station are enough to complete a varied and effective workout. If you want more variety later, you can gradually add cardio or balance equipment—allowing your home gym to grow step by step with your training goals.

Which fitness equipment for home is really useful?

When setting up your home gym, the question often arises: which equipment is truly worth it, and which purchases are rather unnecessary? The answer depends on your goals, available space, and budget. Our recommendation: quality and multifunctionality are more important than quantity. Instead of buying many individual pieces of equipment, opt for systems that combine multiple functions in a single device. This way, you save space, money, and effort—without sacrificing variety in your training.

For small spaces, space-saving equipment is especially appealing. The EISENHORN S, for example, requires only about 2 m², yet offers over 100 strength exercises—from leg presses and bench presses to pull-ups and, with the optional cable pulley, pulley exercises. This makes the EISENHORN strength station a seamless addition to your living space, allowing you to complete an effective full body workout in one compact system.

Multifunctional devices offer significant advantages over traditional single-purpose equipment: they can replace weight benches, dumbbell sets, pull-up bars, cable machines, and leg presses. This means you don’t need a separate machine for each muscle group—you can train your entire body with a single system. This not only saves space but also reduces costs in the long run. Additionally, the variety of exercises available on a multifunctional station allows for more diverse and effective training.

Compared to single-purpose devices, all-in-one solutions like the EISENHORN strength station offer further benefits: guided movements help maintain proper technique and reduce the risk of injury, while individually adjustable resistance levels allow you to progressively improve performance and introduce more complex training stimuli.

Home gym for beginners vs. advanced – This is what you really need

For beginners, we recommend starting with basic exercises on the EISENHORN strength station. This helps you learn proper technique, avoid injuries, and build a solid foundation. After just a few weeks, you will notice progress—more strength, better posture, and improved overall fitness.

For advanced users, you can increase intensity with higher resistance levels and more complex exercises. Thanks to the training weights that can be adjusted in seconds, you can continuously challenge yourself and make steady progress. The variety of exercises also allows you to adapt the MIKE5 training plan to your specific goals.

Tip: Combine strength training with functional endurance exercises, such as interval runs or jump rope. This way, you work your entire body while simultaneously improving cardiovascular fitness and boosting fat burning.

How to Avoid Common Mistakes in a Home Gym

When setting up a home gym, many people make the same mistakes. The good news: with a little planning, these pitfalls can easily be avoided.

  • Buying too many or the wrong devices: Many assume that more equipment automatically leads to better results. The reality is different. Too many individual devices clutter the space, complicate training, and add unnecessary costs. Instead, focus on multifunctional equipment that covers multiple exercises. The EISENHORN strenght station is a perfect example—it replaces dumbbells, pull-up bars, cable machines, and a leg press in one compact system. This gives you everything you need for an effective full-body workout in a single space, saving both room and money.

  • Poor spatial planning – not enough space accounted for: Another common mistake is underestimating the space needed. Exercises like pull-ups, lunges, burpees, or mobility drills require sufficient freedom of movement. Plan enough distance from walls, furniture, and doors. A well-structured training area with clear zones for strength training, cardio, and stretching not only enhances safety but also boosts motivation.

  • No clear training plan: Without structure, it’s easy to lose focus. Even with the best equipment, progress is hard to track without a plan. This is where a systematic concept like MIKE5 comes in. It combines short, intense sessions covering all major muscle groups with the versatility of the EISENHORN strength station. Just five minutes a day is enough to target specific muscles, build strength, and improve overall physical and mental fitness. The MIKE5 concept helps you optimize your time in the home gym, stay motivated, and achieve long-term results.

Conclusion

Having a home gym is much more than a convenient training option—it’s an investment in your health, fitness, and quality of life. You save time because you can start your workouts immediately without commuting, save money in the long run by avoiding monthly gym fees, and gain the freedom to tailor your training to your personal goals. Whether you want to build muscle, increase strength, improve endurance, or simply stay fit, a home gym provides the perfect conditions for long-term progress.

The EISENHORN strength station is the ideal solution for every fitness level. It combines many classic devices into one compact system, saves space, offers maximum exercise variety, and can be easily adapted to your individual training level. With adjustable training weights, you can continuously increase intensity, target specific muscle groups, and perform functional full-body workouts. In short, the EISENHORN station gives you everything you need for effective, safe, and versatile training at home.

Moreover, a well-designed home gym, combined with a structured training plan like the MIKE5 concept, ensures maximum efficiency. Just a few minutes a day are enough to train all major muscle groups, increase strength, and noticeably improve overall fitness.

Start your home gym journey today with the EISENHORN strength station and experience fitness in a whole new way! Design your training space to be motivating, enjoyable, and sustainable. The sooner you start, the faster you’ll see results—all from the comfort of your own home, without stress or limitations. Take the first step, invest in yourself, and discover how much freedom and power a perfectly planned home gym can provide.

Test MIKE5 for free

Convince yourself and test MIKE5 now 6 months risk-free. Should you not be convinced, you can cancel or pause MIKE5 on a monthly basis thereafter.

Most frequent questions

Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. If your question is still not answered, simply contact us directly and we will help you.