Fitness equipment for Teenage ds advice please

[MissyB1]

Ds will be 14 at Christmas. He’s asked for hand weights, the sort where you have 3 or 4 pairs on a pyramid stand. Does anyone know how many kg is safe for a young teen to lift? Not sure how heavy these hand weights should be 🤔

Also I’m thinking maybe a punchbag type thing (sorry I’m clueless with this stuff 😁) so would love recommendations.

Sounds like he wants a dumbbell set. As with any exercise it's about building up slowly and consistently. I'd look for an adjustable set as best value for money. You can pick up cheaper sets in Argos, or look at the fitness superstore who have helpful staff (both on line and in store). In terms of actual weight, they need to be something he can safely lift overhead. A fitness professional will probably be best to consult or take him to try a few but I'd suggest starting upward from 4kg per arm. The adjustable ones are good as they take up less space and you can have them lower for overhead lifts and load them up for squats etc.
Punch bags ...be sure you have the space, they take up a fair amount of room! You can get free standing ones (again check out the fitness superstore for ideas) or hanging ones. Personally I prefer free standing rather than having to attach something heavy to the ceiling!

Thanks, yes definitely free standing punchbag, he will have to freeze in the conservatory 😁

What’s your budget OP?

The ones that come on stands are generally very light weights (1, 2, 3kg etc) unless you can spend £200-300+.

This looks great but is very pricey.

This would be a good budget option that would allow him to gradually increase his weights, but most things like this won’t come with a stand.

As others say he will need to build up but it's perfectly safe for teenagers to lift weights. Plenty of stuff on YouTube to learn good form.

Pull up bar
Resistance bands for assisted pull ups
Ab wheel
Fitness mat
Resistance bands for squats etc

When ds(18) started doing exercises (supported by a program from a PT) he used the above equipment and some light weights the most. He did lots of planks, situps, squats etc.

But to be honest he did better going to a gym, the novelty of home equipment and the motivation to use it without any direction very quickly wore off. It was handy during lockdown but it is all back in loft again now. The best investment was PT sessions at a small independent gym and membership to use it. One with teen circuit training or boot camp classes would be good.

He is a member of my gym, teen sessions are at the weekend and school holidays. He wouldn’t have time in the evenings. He’s in a football club as well, and school matches Saturday mornings 🤦‍♀️ He’s very into sport and fitness at the moment!

Some good ideas here thanks! At this rate my conservatory will become a gym! 😁