When you consider putting together your at-home gym, things that you always think about getting include a piece of cardio equipment, may be an aerobic step, and definitely lots of free weights. One thing people never really think about adding to their at-home gym is a workout bench. The bench seems to just be a piece of metal that takes up space and doesn't serve much of a function. However, benches are absolutely crucial not only for ensuring you get the most out of your workout, but that you can have the most range of movement with your free weights. Read on to see why the bench is the most important piece of fitness equipment you didn't know you need to own.

A bench, in its simplest form, is merely a piece of metal furniture that is covered by a firm yet comfortable pad. Traditional benches are typically around four feet long by two feet wide, and feature thick metal feet to keep the bench rooted firmly in place. Variations on this traditional shape may include the ability to tilt up or down, or the inclusion of arm locks or feet hooks at one end to provide more exercise options.

While this seems like a simple piece that serves a function any chair or footstool could provide, benches are key elements of your free weight workout because they are specifically designed to provide you not only appropriate support but also a full range of motion for completing your exercises. On a bench, you have the ability to isolate muscles while you lift by sitting or lying in different positions. The pad associated with benches is carefully crafted to provide comfort and the correct amount of firm core support, regardless of what position you're working in. The very structure of the bench is created to easily support not only your weight but also stabilize your movements as you lift other weights. Benches are also excellent companions for grounding your stretches post-workout.

Perhaps the key reason why many people overlook adding the workout bench into their home gym is the fact that it seems like a bulky piece of furniture that is unnecessary. However there really is no other more important piece of equipment for the serious exercise enthusiast who wants to see real results for all of their hard work. Think about local health clubs and gyms that you have been to and now think of the number of benches each of these locations have had. Probably at least five or six depending on the club, right? Why do you think any gym would use so much space for a piece of equipment if it wasn't so essential to a good basic workout?

So as you complete your purchases for your at-home gym, seriously think about the long-term value of adding a bench into your design. The results you'll see by using them will manifest immediately and you'll begin to understand how this one bulky piece of furniture can make such a difference between an okay body and a beach body. Truly, investing in free weights without purchasing a bench is just a waste of money. It would be the same thing as buying a door without a knob or lock without a key: you have all the materials necessary except for the one piece that's really going to make it work. So here's to your health, your fitness, and the chiseled and toned muscles you can only get from using a bench!