A $2.50 workout item from Kmart Australia has exploded online after gym-goers and fitness fans discovered it could make at-home exercises significantly easier – and more comfortable.
The budget retailer’s hip thrust belt has quickly gained attention on TikTok and Instagram, with shoppers praising the simple gadget for helping them perform weighted hip thrusts without awkwardly balancing dumbbells across their hips.
One shopper shared a video demonstrating the product, explaining how the belt allows users to secure weights on either side while fastening the strap around the centre of the body.
‘Target your glutes with Kmart’s hip thrust belt,’ she said.
‘Instead of holding your dumbbells you can just add your weights on either side and secure the belt in the centre.’
The shopper said the gadget made the exercise ‘so much more comfortable’ – particularly for people working out at home without access to gym equipment.
Hip thrusts, which involve driving the hips upward against resistance while the upper back rests on a bench or elevated surface, have surged in popularity over recent years thanks to social media fitness culture and growing awareness around glute and lower-body strength.
While the exercise is often associated with aesthetic goals and ‘glute gains’, fitness experts say hip thrusts can also help improve posture, lower-body stability and overall strength.
A $2.50 fitness buy has exploded online after at-home fitness fans discovered it could make one of the internet’s favourite lower-body exercises significantly easier
One Kmart shopper shared a video demonstrating the product, explaining how the belt allows users to secure weights on either side while fastening the strap around the centre of the body
The popularity of affordable home fitness gadgets reflects a broader shift in how Australians approach exercise – particularly as rising gym membership costs, packed schedules, and cost-of-living pressures push more people toward convenient at-home workouts.
Rather than committing to expensive memberships or lengthy workout classes, many Australians are now looking for smaller, more flexible ways to stay active throughout the week.
Compact fitness products that can be used in bedrooms, garages, or living rooms have become especially appealing for renters, apartment dwellers, and busy workers trying to fit movement around work and family life.
Social media platforms have also transformed everyday household spaces into makeshift gyms, with users constantly searching for cheaper, more accessible ways to recreate popular exercises.
Viral workout trends, ‘gym girl’ culture and home fitness hacks have fuelled demand for affordable products that promise to make workouts easier, more comfortable or more effective without requiring professional equipment.
From walking pads and Pilates rings to resistance bands and mini steppers, budget-friendly fitness gadgets have exploded in popularity as Australians increasingly prioritise affordability and workouts they can realistically maintain long term.
But experts stress that no single gadget guarantees weight loss or long-term health improvements on its own.
Sydney-based exercise physiologist Drew Harrisberg has previously warned that sustainable health outcomes rely on a combination of movement, nutrition and consistency – not quick fixes or viral trends.
Compact fitness products that can be used in bedrooms, garages, or living rooms have become especially appealing for renters, apartment dwellers, and busy workers trying to fit movement around work and family life
He said many Australians focus heavily on protein intake and calorie counting while overlooking overall food quality and fibre intake.
‘Just because you can lose weight eating burgers and protein shakes doesn’t mean it’s healthy long term,’ he told the Daily Mail.
Mr Harrisberg also noted that many people do not consume enough fibre or plant-based whole foods, which play a major role in gut health, energy levels and long-term wellbeing.
The rise of low-cost fitness accessories like Kmart’s hip thrust belt also highlights the increasing demand for ‘micro fitness’ products – small, inexpensive tools that make workouts feel easier, faster, or more achievable at home.
From resistance bands to walking pads and mini steppers, Australians are increasingly looking for affordable ways to fit exercise into everyday life without committing to expensive gym setups.
And while a $2.50 belt may not transform anyone overnight, shoppers say its appeal lies in something much simpler: making a difficult exercise feel a little less awkward.
For many, that alone is enough to add it to the trolley.
