Home Gym Ideas?

Off Topic
1

I have a 2000-3000 pound budget to spend on equipment for my gym, space isn’t a issue ether. Any idea’s?

Obviously you have to cover the basics, Deadlift, squat, bench, pull up, overhead press. So I was thinking of something along the lines of a power rack, olympic bar, 400 pounds of disk weights, and a adjustable bench. I would like some decent sized dumbbells if my budget allows aswell so ideas for resonable but quality companys would be helpfull?
Also anychanges to the idea’s Ive had so far would be welcome.
Im not new to training but I just don’t know much about quality companys or if im being ripped of etc. And any advice on where I should go cheaper on certain things, and spend a little more on others. Eg cheap disk weights but a expensize bar.

Obviously I don’t expect you to design my gym for me but a few, brand names, or idea’s for equiptment that fit the bill would be great to help me on my search.

Many Thanks

2

I would make sure you have a proper pulling/chinning station, I wouldn’t half-ass that section at all. Also, either a low enough bar or high enough ceiling for adequate muscle ups :wink:

What are your goals? What do your routines look like?

3

Hoist PTS System

http://www.hoistfitness.com/consumer-equipment/pts-ens3.aspx

There are very few things you can’t do on this machine. It’s a one of a kind. You can do natural motion squats, cleans, bicep curls even in this “smith.” I would never recommend a smith machine in my life but this ain’t one of them.
All in a 6’ x 6’ footprint which allows space to put a oly lifting platform in front.

4

If you have Craigslist or an alternative to Craigslist in the UK, I’d go 100% that route. I have an amazing gym that i probably have spent less than 1000 US on. The only things I had to resort to buying new were a few bumper plates and a Hex Bar. I’ve got a GHR, Supported T-bar, Toe Press, Power Rack, DL Platform, Dumbbells through 115 (by tens mostly), over 1000 lbs of plates, all kinds of extra bars (I even made a Yolk Bar for squatting w/ a bum shoulder) and the center piece; a Total Gym :slight_smile:

5

I definately agree with the power rack (make sure it has a pull up station). Also, you can build a weightlifting platform on the cheap if you’ve got a bare minimum of man skills. If your willing to invest that kinda cash I’d consider bumper plates. I’d get a Glute-Ham device for sit ups/back extensions. And for saving space and money I’d just get an adjustable (or flat) bench without the uprights and just use the power rack. If that moneys still burning a hole in your pocket then I’d get the dumbbells and then maybe a couple of kettlebells.

I had a pretty killer garage gym up until a few days ago, I sold it because I’m moving. If I were you I’d buy as much stuff used as I possibly could, I’d use craigslist. The guy I sold my stuff to got a killer deal and he got everything as a set, pretty easy for him.

Just my two cents. Good luck.

6

I Agree milo and edge.Powerrack, Interchangeable Dumbell Set, Adjustable Bench, multistation and EZ Bar. They are pretty good and cheap (except Powerrack costs a bit more).

7

[quote]EmmetAus wrote:
I Agree milo and edge.Powerrack, Interchangeable Dumbell Set, Adjustable Bench, multistation and EZ Bar. They are pretty good and cheap (except Powerrack costs a bit more).[/quote]

I only paid a hundred buck for my power rack. It’s a beaut.

8

I have a decent but spartan set up and it has not interferred with my progress since my commercial gym days. I have a power rack, from which I can of course do chins and pull ups. However, I also invested in some rings, so I can chin and dip from rings as well. I can even do dips in the top of my powerrack by using the safety bars. I have about 1000 lbs of weight in appropriate increments so the weight is usable.

I have oly db bars so I can use oly weights for db movements. I have bands, chains and a strongman tyre that I got for free. I have a swiss ball from which I can not only do crunches, etc., but if I hook my feet under a two x four in my garage, I can do GHR. You can do alot with a bench, power rack, oly bar, oly db bar and enough weight. Start with the basics, then add as you can.

The only thing I would add right now is a GHR machine and a reverse hyper. They are truly the only two peices of equipment I miss - mostly the reverse hyper. You only need be inventive and imaginitive with the basic equipment.

As an example, I can do chest supported rows with my set up: I simply put a milk crate on a 100 lb plate, put the edge of the bench support up on the milk crate, lay down, grasp bar beneath me, and row away. You are limited only by your imagination and budget.

The ONLY downside to a home set up is potential lack of training partners. The only thing I miss is a training partner…because some days, you just need someone to call you a pussy and hit another rep, or a higher weight…someone to push you.

EDIT: actually in the background of my avatar you can see my “set up” - my power rack with a few bands hanging. That’s my “gym”.

9

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:

EDIT: actually in the background of my avatar you can see my “set up” - my power rack with a few bands hanging. That’s my “gym”.[/quote]

I’m standing on top of my gym in my avatar. Sorry you can’t see any of the equipment.

10

400 lbs of weights - is that really enough?

In my imaginary home gym, I have a Prowler, a cage, a good flat bench and a good adjustable bench, DBs up to (at least 115) by fives, a high quality bar or two, a platform, pullup/dip place, GHR place, and probably lots of other things…

11

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
400 lbs of weights - is that really enough?

In my imaginary home gym, I have a Prowler, a cage, a good flat bench and a good adjustable bench, DBs up to (at least 115) by fives, a high quality bar or two, a platform, pullup/dip place, GHR place, and probably lots of other things…[/quote]

Dumbbells by fives, ha. Dreamer.

12

[quote]AllTraps wrote:
Hoist PTS System

http://www.hoistfitness.com/consumer-equipment/pts-ens3.aspx

There are very few things you can’t do on this machine. It’s a one of a kind. You can do natural motion squats, cleans, bicep curls even in this “smith.” I would never recommend a smith machine in my life but this ain’t one of them.
All in a 6’ x 6’ footprint which allows space to put a oly lifting platform in front.[/quote]

That is quite a nice bit of kit, the only thing is that because it’s all fixed in place, so it limits the possible exersizes that I could do. And to be honest im sort of into the Rocky, old fasioned warehouse kinda thing. I just don’t feel the same intensity in the ultra modern gyms that there are today.

13

[quote]Dreadnought_UG wrote:
I would make sure you have a proper pulling/chinning station, I wouldn’t half-ass that section at all. Also, either a low enough bar or high enough ceiling for adequate muscle ups :wink:

What are your goals? What do your routines look like?[/quote]

Im training for size and strength, bassically because I can’t decide where I want to try my hand at powerlifter or, stick to bodybuilding training.

At the moment im doing a body part split with with about 20 sets per body part. Just standard exersizes, bench, wide grip pull up.

But im going to change to a push and pull split, hitting each body part twice a week. With a focus on strength and concentrating on the big exersizes.

And yea I definatly will have a decent pull up station.

14

Olympic collar dumbells?

15

[quote]TheBodyGuard wrote:
I have a decent but spartan set up and it has not interferred with my progress since my commercial gym days. I have a power rack, from which I can of course do chins and pull ups. However, I also invested in some rings, so I can chin and dip from rings as well. I can even do dips in the top of my powerrack by using the safety bars. I have about 1000 lbs of weight in appropriate increments so the weight is usable.

I have oly db bars so I can use oly weights for db movements. I have bands, chains and a strongman tyre that I got for free. I have a swiss ball from which I can not only do crunches, etc., but if I hook my feet under a two x four in my garage, I can do GHR. You can do alot with a bench, power rack, oly bar, oly db bar and enough weight. Start with the basics, then add as you can.

The only thing I would add right now is a GHR machine and a reverse hyper. They are truly the only two peices of equipment I miss - mostly the reverse hyper. You only need be inventive and imaginitive with the basic equipment.

As an example, I can do chest supported rows with my set up: I simply put a milk crate on a 100 lb plate, put the edge of the bench support up on the milk crate, lay down, grasp bar beneath me, and row away. You are limited only by your imagination and budget.

The ONLY downside to a home set up is potential lack of training partners. The only thing I miss is a training partner…because some days, you just need someone to call you a pussy and hit another rep, or a higher weight…someone to push you.

EDIT: actually in the background of my avatar you can see my “set up” - my power rack with a few bands hanging. That’s my “gym”.[/quote]

Yea you have the set up that I want, just the proper like iron old school things.

I’ve already had to be inventive with my workouts the gym I sometimes have to train at is awful up to 55 pound dumbbells, so I have to get pritty inventive there.

Im not worried about training partners there is nearly no one that I have met in the gym that I would want to train with. I also have been training up one of my freinds so I would have him to train with. I think it would be one of the best things I could do, there would be no one to steal my weights, deload the bar when im using it, or just stand there talking when im trying to lift, that would be great not to have and of thouse douches ruining my workout aswell as theres.

16

Surely Oly DBs would be a bit a awkward to lift with the big ass weights on ether side, but im gona have to look into them because a decent set of fixed DBs would cost a bomb.

17

Surely Oly DBs would be a bit a awkward to lift with the big ass weights on ether side, but im gona have to look into them because a decent set of fixed DBs would cost a bomb.

18

It sucks that I have to share my weight/laundry room with a cat litter box. My low ceiling blows too. That’s all gonna change when the boy moves out lol.

19

you can get a bowflex for 10 dollars a month…

20

[quote]HolyMacaroni wrote:
you can get a bowflex for 10 dollars a month…[/quote]

Um, Alex? I’ll take “Every-ting I want!” for ten dollars please…