8 Must Have Barre Equipment for Home Workouts

Inspired by the movements of dance and pilates, barre workouts are a relatively low-impact but high-intensity exercise that allows you to work up a sweat and work out your entire body.

Whether you’re a barre aficionado who’s looking to build a home studio or a newbie seeking a new workout regime, you are probably going to need some equipment. Here, I’ve compiled the most essential pieces of equipment you’ll need to get a great barre workout and my top picks for each.   

1. Barre Free Weights

A crucial component of any resistance exercise program, studio dumbbells add resistance to your barre workouts, increasing difficulty and helping with muscle building and toning. Generally, you will only need lighter weights in barre, with most exercises needing no more than 5lbs of resistance.  

I chose the CAP Neoprene Dumbbell Set for its versatility and functionality. It comes in a set of three pairs, ranging from 2 to 5 lbs so you can change up the resistance level of your barre workout with different movements or as you increase your strength.  This set has hex-shaped heads which prevents your weights slipping away, and also comes with a convenient A-frame rack to maximize storage even in the smallest workout areas.  

2. Barre Resistance Loops

Resistance loops (or bands) are versatile pieces of equipment that can increase the difficulty to any barre workout. Resistance loops can be wrapped around the arms and legs in a variety of barre workouts to target these muscle groups. 

These resistance loops come in a set of five with varying resistance levels and are made with durable fabric, so they are more durable than their plastic counterparts. One major perk of these loops is that they are nonslip, meaning you won’t have to stop in the middle of your workout to readjust like you do with lower-quality loops.

3. Barre Socks

Perhaps one of the most important pieces of equipment to have when doing barre exercises, barre socks provide nonslip grip on the bottom of your feet so you can hold your poses without fear of slipping and sustaining an injury. These socks are generally ankle-cut and can be used on a variety of flooring including wood, tile, and mats.

These socks are designed for safety, comfort, and style! Boasting a ballet-inspired design and grips throughout the entirety of the foot, the Ozaiic Yoga Sock will ensure that you won’t have a slip-up during your barre routine.

4. Barre Workout Mats

Mats are essential pieces of equipment for any barre workout. They provide cushioning when doing floor exercises and work to improve grip and prevent slipping during your workout. 

This yoga mat comes in both ½” and 1” thicknesses – both offerings are significantly thicker than a standard ¼” yoga mat, meaning it will offer comfort and joint protection during your home workout. It is still portable if you’d like to take it on the road, coming with a nylon strap to sling over your shoulder on the way to your next in-person workout class.

5. Barre ball

Barre balls are used for a variety of different purposes during barre exercises, mainly targeting core strength and stability. The best exercise balls for barre are smaller than the average since you sometimes need to hold them with just one hand – you want to aim for about 9 inches for the best versatility in barre exercises.

The Core Athletica Exercise Ball is perfect for barre exercises. Its small size and durable hold means that it can function for a wide variety of barre movements while maintaining its shape and firmness. This ball also comes delivered uninflated, so you can inflate or deflate based on your needs.

6. Barre Double Tube

Similar to resistance loops, double tubes provide resistance during your barre workout. Double tubes are specifically made to work out your upper body, allowing you to isolate and target your arm, chest, and back muscles.

This double tube comes in a pack of three, so you have several different resistance levels to choose from when doing your barre home workout. Another major plus? This set comes with a lifetime warranty to back up its excellent durability, so no matter what you know you’ll have bands that last through any workout!

7. Barre Support

Having a solid support is the cornerstone of any barre home workout. Many fundamental barre workout moments require a sturdy support to hold onto. Traditionally, you would use a ballet bar (hence its name!) but you can even use a piece of furniture like a chair or bedframe if it’s sturdy enough.

This support is designed specifically with small spaces and home gyms in mind. It is adjustable for any height, plus it folds away for storage and is easily portable in case you want to move it around the house.  This product even has a handy weight racking area for easy access to your dumbbells during your exercise!

8. Barre Core sliders

A staple in core exercises, these sliders reduce friction so that you rely solely on your core strength to hold up your body weight and keep your balance. The sliders are generally placed on the ground, and you place either your hands or legs on them and perform isometric and full-body core movements.

These slider discs feature a double-sided design, improving grip on the contact side and allowing for gliding on multiple different surfaces including carpet. These can also be utilized in multiple different ways during your barre exercise, even clipping together to create one solid gliding piece to target different muscle groups.  

No longer do you need to go to a professional ballet studio or specialized gym class to get a good workout in. With just a couple pieces of relatively inexpensive equipment, you can replicate an authentic barre workout class in your own home!