Creating a home gym with $100 is challenging, but not impossible. The question becomes, if you could only buy one piece of equipment for a home gym, what should you get?

The key implements

Should you get a rower? Maybe a jump rope? Dumbbells?

Pick either a kettlebell weighing 25-35% of your bodyweight or a sandbag you can fill to 50-60% of your bodyweight.

Neither of these implements take up much space, and their utility value is great. The kettlebell and the sandbag can each be swung, snatched, cleaned, pressed, carried in multiple ways, thrown, squatted, and used for accessory work on your shoulders, back, and hamstrings. The kettlebell can even function as a mobility aid.

With their unwieldy shapes, these odd objects challenge the body in unconventional ways and offer enough stimulus for a solid workout, especially when combined with the multitude of bodyweight movements you can add in: squats, push ups, lunges, running, jumping, handstand variations, and more.

Where to buy them and how much they'll cost

Kettlebells

Looking at a 53lb kettlebell as a barometer, here are some of your options.

Fringe Sport: $79 + tax, shipping is always free
Rogue: $62.50 + tax + shipping
Amazon: $89, shipping might be free

Sandbags + sand

StrongFit (for a 120lb bag): $85 + tax + shipping
Play sand from Home Depot: $3.76 per 50lb bag

Sample workouts

AMRAP 20:
Turkish get-ups (sandbag or kettlebell)

5 rounds for time:
20m sandbag carry
8 sandbag squats
20m sandbag carry
6 sandbag shoulder to overhead

5 round for time:
20m kettlebell front-rack carry
20 goblet squats
20m kettlebell overhead carry
20 kettlebell shoulder to overhead

For time:
30 sandbag clean-and-jerks

EMOM 20:
odd - 15 burpees
even - 15 kettlebell swings

AMRAP 15:
6 sandbag cleans
12 sandbag lunges
18 push-ups

For time:
400m sandbag carry

AMRAP 20:
10 kettlebell snatches
6 kettlebell overhead lunges
2 Turkish get-ups