Home Gym Equipment

[Neptune100]

Alright fellas, I think of the course of the next few years I'm going to try and build myself a home gym, but I want it to be the essentials and not a bunch of bullshit. Id like the equipment to be top of the line in order to ensure longevity of the equipment. I also don't want to take up a ton of space.  Here's what I'm thinking:

-Power rack w/pullup bar -$500
- Barbell -$300
-Bumper Plates (So as not to drop them on cement and fuck everything up)-$400-$500 for about 500lbs
-Adjustable bench -$525
-Dumbells (20s 30s,40s,50s,60s,70s,80,90s,100s)-$1,000


What do you guys think? Do I need to throw rubber mats in there?  Is the EZ curl bar with some weight the next item? What else should I consider?  Im trying to keep it to a 4K budget.

[Coach is Back!]

You're rack is only $200 more than your bar and less than almost everything else. Buy a better rack. It's going to hold the bars for Gods sake.

[Grape Ape]

Alright fellas, I think of the course of the next few years I'm going to try and build myself a home gym, but I want it to be the essentials and not a bunch of bullshit. Id like the equipment to be top of the line in order to ensure longevity of the equipment.  Here's what I'm thinking:

-Power rack w/pullup bar -$500
- Barbell -$300
-Bumper Plates (So as not to drop them on cement and fuck everything up)-$400-$500 for about 500lbs
-Adjustable bench -$525
-Dumbells (20s 30s,40s,50s,60s,70s,80,90s,100s)-$1,000


What do you guys think? Do I need to throw rubber mats in there?  Is the EZ curl bar with some weight the next item? What else should I consider?  Im trying to keep it to a 4K budget.

Very similar to my setup.....couple notes:

Be patient and use craigslist - you'll be able to get a Rogue rack set up eventually around the price you're saying.....slightly more maybe.

Buy Ironmaster Adjustable dumbells - i got the set that goes to 125 lbs per...new it's 800 - if you're patient on CL - I got for 550.  Company is excellent and these things are solid.

500lbs of bumpers for $500 bucks is tough.

Yes on rubber mats - can find cheap on CL.

Patience is key.

[Neptune100]

You're rack is only $200 more than your bar and less than almost everything else. Buy a better rack. It's going to hold the bars for Gods sake.

calm down coach.  I meant squat stand.  I dont really need a power rack. This seems like a quality one for the price I want

http://www.roguefitness.com/sml-3-rogue-108-monster-lite-squat-stand

[Neptune100]

Pretty much I just looked at the Rogue equipment.  I could get the bar for 200-250 actually.  These are all just rough estimates.

[Coach is Back!]

calm down coach.  I meant squat stand.  I dont really need a power rack. This seems like a quality one for the price I want

http://www.roguefitness.com/sml-3-rogue-108-monster-lite-squat-stand

Aahhh, got it. Rogue makes some awesome equipment.

[Slik]

Craigs is your friend

[Skeeter]

Instead of buying all of those dumbbells why not try the bowflex 1090. They dial from 10 lbs to 90 lbs in 5 lbs increments. You could buy a set of 100s to go with them. That's what I did with my home gym. They are a little awkward due to the shape and size but will save you quite a bit of money and take up less space.


https://www.google.ca/search?q=bowflex+1090&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=Ua_mVvHfNaGOjwS3s4zADw





There are other dial-weights on the market that also look pretty decent.

[Grape Ape]

Instead of buying all of those dumbbells why not try the bowflex 1090. They dial from 10 lbs to 90 lbs in 5 lbs increments. You could buy a set of 100s to go with them. That's what I did with my home gym. They are a little awkward due to the shape and size but will save you quite a bit of money and take up less space.


https://www.google.ca/search?q=bowflex+1090&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=Ua_mVvHfNaGOjwS3s4zADw





There are other dial-weights on the market that also look pretty decent.

Buy Ironmaster Adjustable dumbells - i got the set that goes to 125 lbs per...new it's 800 - if you're patient on CL - I got for 550.  Company is excellent and these things are solid.

Bowlfex DBs are convenient to change weights, but have to be babied, and will break if dropped.  Also, shape is poor.

[BayGBM]

Bowlfex DBs are convenient to change weights, but have to be babied, and will break if dropped.  Also, shape is poor.

x2.  Very different feel from using weights in the gym.  Bay no likey! 

[BB]

For mats, find a farm store, and buy stall mats - http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rubber-mat-black-4-ft-x-6-ft . They're cheap, the sizes work well for gyms, and have become the standard in most powerlifting gyms. Looking at what you're buying, you also look at building a lifting platform -

.

They're not a big deal to make, and a bit of extra safety if a lift is dropped. For olympic lifts, you'll move better/safer on wood too. The one caveat is that depending on how fresh the mats are, they might have a rubbery smell that lasts a few days, I don't find it a big deal, but some do.

[Powerlift66]

I would go with power rack, so you can squat and bench (and rack pull) in it with safety bars.
Adjustable exercise bench to slide in and out of rack (for benching).
Barbell set (or 2).
Dumbbells
Stall mats

And yes, use Craigslist, people sell all of their clothes hangers exercise gear.

[El Diablo Blanco]

Bowlfex DBs are convenient to change weights, but have to be babied, and will break if dropped.  Also, shape is poor.

I find it hard  to re-rack them just right after a heavy set.  Just a pain to stand their trying to drop them back in just perfect each time.

[Grape Ape]

I find it hard  to re-rack them just right after a heavy set.  Just a pain to stand their trying to drop them back in just perfect each time.

Ironmaster is the way.  They take a bit to adjust, but once you get the hang of it, it's fine.  And the warranty doesn't expire.

[_aj_]

For mats, find a farm store, and buy stall mats - http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rubber-mat-black-4-ft-x-6-ft . They're cheap, the sizes work well for gyms, and have become the standard in most powerlifting gyms. Looking at what you're buying, you also look at building a lifting platform -

.

They're not a big deal to make, and a bit of extra safety if a lift is dropped. For olympic lifts, you'll move better/safer on wood too. The one caveat is that depending on how fresh the mats are, they might have a rubbery smell that lasts a few days, I don't find it a big deal, but some do.

x2 on the horse stall mats. That's what I did my whole basement (gym) floor with. Be warned, the are heavy as fuck and a royal PITA to move.

[_aj_]

Ironmaster is the way.  They take a bit to adjust, but once you get the hang of it, it's fine.  And the warranty doesn't expire.

The IMs are almost infinitely expandable. I have the upgrade that takes them out to 165 each because I found the 125's limiting 

Once.

[Grape Ape]

The IMs are almost infinitely expandable. I have the upgrade that takes them out to 165 each because I found the 125's limiting 

Once.

Yes, I'm glad you showed me the light here......infinitely better than the 1090s I had.  No more DB presses with two couch cushions on each side of the bench.  Can do DB snatches, etc....

[Neptune100]

For mats, find a farm store, and buy stall mats - http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rubber-mat-black-4-ft-x-6-ft . They're cheap, the sizes work well for gyms, and have become the standard in most powerlifting gyms. Looking at what you're buying, you also look at building a lifting platform -

.

They're not a big deal to make, and a bit of extra safety if a lift is dropped. For olympic lifts, you'll move better/safer on wood too. The one caveat is that depending on how fresh the mats are, they might have a rubbery smell that lasts a few days, I don't find it a big deal, but some do.

great tips from everyone...those horse mats and that homemade platform blew my mind, and I will build one.