Definetly check Craigslist in your local area. I know my area always has tons of used equipment in the “Sporting Goods” category.
I bought my cage, bench, dumbell rack/dumbells, lat pulldown and rubber flooring new from Sacramento Exercise Equipment Center. Most of the pieces are “Tuff Stuff” brand which is a very high quality solid company. Actually one of my favorites for light commercial/home use.
As far as the mirrors, dip station, Olympic plates, barbells, curl bars, etc., I got all of that stuff off Craigslist. It was a huge cost saver. This was years ago but it would be an even bigger cost saver today because the price of iron has gone up incredibly. I think alot of the metal that is used weight plates is manufactured in China and the price is getting ridiculous per pound. So Craigslist is a great place to look locally for used stuff.
Not to be vain, but mirrors in a home gym make my sanctuary a much more appealing place to train, it just gives me that “gym feeling”. The rubber flooring has the same effect and it’s safer than working out on concrete. I actually train bare foot when doing squats and deadlifts. That’s what is cool about working out in your own place, you can do whatever you want, blast heavy metal with no headphones, scream, grunt and not have to worry about scaring any of the “family fitness” type gym goers - for me, it’s zero distractions, no holding back, I push myself to the threshold every session and the only one to witness it is me or my training partner. I love training in my own place.
[quote]KeepAwaySheeple wrote:
Definetly check Craigslist in your local area. I know my area always has tons of used equipment in the “Sporting Goods” category.
Definately check Craig’s List. Great cash saver, especially if you’re not picky.
I’m in the starting phases of assembling a home gym, and bought a used power rack and 300 lb olympic weight set (barely used from appearances) for $175. I plan to find an adjustable bench and some extra dumbbell lbs there, too. Granted, my gym AINT going to look anything like the one in Keepawaysheeple’s garage anytime soon (awesome), but it’ll allow me to do the big basic stuff I want for now.
I have worked out at home for 15+ yrs and and have done well with an adjustable bench, power rack with chin station, olympic barbell and weights, dip station, and powerblocks. Powerblocks are well constructed and I have 2 sets, my oldest is 12+ yrs old and go up tp 45 lbs and recently purchased a pair that will go up to 100 lbs. Big space saver.
[quote]bwhitwell wrote:
I have worked out at home for 15+ yrs and and have done well with an adjustable bench, power rack with chin station, olympic barbell and weights, dip station, and powerblocks.
Powerblocks are well constructed and I have 2 sets, my oldest is 12+ yrs old and go up tp 45 lbs and recently purchased a pair that will go up to 100 lbs. Big space saver.[/quote]
Yes I agree, Powerblocks are very nice and work great. They save a ton of space. I actually bought Powerblocks with the two expansion kits (I believe they went up to 120 lb.) when first setting up my home gym. However the only con to them was that I didn’t feel comfortable dropping them if I needed to.
I don’t always have a spotter, so if I need to bail when going heavy, the Powerblocks just freaked me out to much if I had to drop them. I didn’t want anything to get bent or warped (too expensive).
I ended up returning them and getting a TKO dumbell rack with hampton wide 32 mm dumbells. I built the dumbells in 10 lb. increments and the bought a set of “Plate Mates” 2.5 lb dumbell magnets. This way I only need one dumbell rack and I won’t take up as much space as having dumbells that go from 5 to 100 pounds in 5 pound increments.
That would require two dumbell racks. So now I have dumbells that go from 5 to 105 in 5 pound increments with the Plate Mates. Although I have grown out of the 100’s with magnets which makes them 105’s. That’s the thing is you have to keep buying more as you grow. They aren’t enough to do rows and things like that with.
Having a good set of dumbells with rack really gives me that “gym feeling” again that I keep talking about. I’ve thrown these things around when need be without any problems. And with the rubber flooring, it’s even that much more safe.
[quote]KeepAwaySheeple wrote:
bwhitwell wrote:
I have worked out at home for 15+ yrs and and have done well with an adjustable bench, power rack with chin station, olympic barbell and weights, dip station, and powerblocks.
Powerblocks are well constructed and I have 2 sets, my oldest is 12+ yrs old and go up tp 45 lbs and recently purchased a pair that will go up to 100 lbs. Big space saver.
Yes I agree, Powerblocks are very nice and work great. They save a ton of space. I actually bought Powerblocks with the two expansion kits (I believe they went up to 120 lb.) when first setting up my home gym. However the only con to them was that I didn’t feel comfortable dropping them if I needed to.
I don’t always have a spotter, so if I need to bail when going heavy, the Powerblocks just freaked me out to much if I had to drop them. I didn’t want anything to get bent or warped (too expensive).
I ended up returning them and getting a TKO dumbell rack with hampton wide 32 mm dumbells. I built the dumbells in 10 lb. increments and the bought a set of “Plate Mates” 2.5 lb dumbell magnets. This way I only need one dumbell rack and I won’t take up as much space as having dumbells that go from 5 to 100 pounds in 5 pound increments.
That would require two dumbell racks. So now I have dumbells that go from 5 to 105 in 5 pound increments with the Plate Mates. Although I have grown out of the 100’s with magnets which makes them 105’s. That’s the thing is you have to keep buying more as you grow. They aren’t enough to do rows and things like that with.
Having a good set of dumbells with rack really gives me that “gym feeling” again that I keep talking about. I’ve thrown these things around when need be without any problems. And with the rubber flooring, it’s even that much more safe.[/quote]
I could only dream of having your gym. If I win the lotto, I"ll have it. One more child to get thru college. And yes, I do not drop my powerblocks.
[quote]bwhitwell wrote:
I could only dream of having your gym. If I win the lotto, I"ll have it. One more child to get thru college. And yes, I do not drop my powerblocks.[/quote]
I hear ya. I have a 4 year old and a 4 month old. I’m glad that I don’t have to worry about their college just yet!
Whilst my gym wont look like keepawaysheeple’s… i’m looking for the same basic concept. Looking at the link posted i don’t have the same options in terms of brands here in the UK (bodymax, powertec?).
these power blocks you’re reffering to, do you mean the weight towers…the attachemtns for the racks?
Also, what’s the sitation with those weight slector dumbells? are they any good?
[quote]kaleel86 wrote:
Whilst my gym wont look like keepawaysheeple’s… i’m looking for the same basic concept. Looking at the link posted i don’t have the same options in terms of brands here in the UK (bodymax, powertec?).
these power blocks you’re reffering to, do you mean the weight towers…the attachemtns for the racks?
Also, what’s the sitation with those weight slector dumbells? are they any good?
[/quote]
Powerblocks are the selectorized dumbells. Here you go -
There really isn’t any substitute as far as selectorized dumbells go. I would stick stricktly with this brand if you go with an “all in one dumbell”.
