This time of year, sales of home fitness equipment are at their highest. Cabled gym systems, treadmills, elliptical machines and stationary bikes are among some of the most popular tools moving out of stores that sell sports equipment.

Some of these machines can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. But more often than not, they end up as expensive towel racks.

I'm going to share with you my five favorite pieces of fitness equipment for the perfect home gym.

The kettlebell - $29 to $59

One of the most versatile fitness tools available today, the kettlebell is kind of like a handled dumbell with the weight in the front. When you get it moving, the weight begins to pull you in the direction it's going, causing your core to constantly react. Love it!

Resistance tubing - $7 to $25

Lightweight, portable and easy to use, tubing is a mainstay in my personal training. The resistance increases as the tube is stretched so the end of the movement is the hardest part, which is ideal for complete strength development.

Weighted vest - $79 to $199

The weighted vest puts a new spin on bodyweight training. These vests can hold 5 to 20 pounds, and advances in construction materials have improved breathability and ease of use. Sprints and sports drills with the vest will get you in amazing shape.

Medicine ball - $25 to $72

I love the good ol' medicine ball. Its durability and compact size make it an extremely useful fitness tool. It can be used for power, strength and endurance training. And, for an excellent anger-management technique, try medicine ball slams into the floor.

Stability ball - $15 to $30

I use one of these as a chair in my office. You ought to see the looks I get. This can be used as a substitute for a weight bench to improve core stability and strength. It is also an excellent tool for balance training and rehab. Most of my core workouts involve the ball somehow.

Adding just one of these tools will give your home gym a much-needed effectiveness boost. Adding all of these tools will give you enough variety for lterally hundreds of different workouts this year, which means less boredom, more motivation and better results in 2009.

Head over to my blog at fitnessanswerman.blogspot.com for a video showing the use of all of these tools.

Chad Smith is a local fitness expert, and co-owner of Home Team Fitness, LLC. Visit his Web site, www.hometeamfitness.net.