I’ve been recently looking over my home gym, and noticed there’s a lack of gear. Since Christmas is coming, and I think this is what I’m going to get myself. I have a couple of options:
1.) Sears Weider 300 lb set with a 45 lb olympic bar
2.) Off brand (same weights and same bar) from Dick’s that come with 2 olympic dumbell bars.
I have right now a good Bowflex that I haven’t maxed out and it was FREE, so I can’t complain about it. an 8, 10, and 15 lb set of balls that I use on and off again. A floor stand boxing bag from Everlast that I’ve gotten a new neck for since I broke the old one. One of those ab wheels (haven’t used it yet, got it last Christmas.)
I’m leaning to the set from Dick’s since it’s lower cost and I get the dumbell bars. Am I missing something that would be a benifit to my gym? I’m always open to suggestion.
I suggest you get some power tools and lumber and various parts, maybe make friends with a welder instead…
There are some great threads on here about how to make dip stations, squat racks, and other stuff.
Someone with an engineer’s mind could make a squat rack out of steel plumbing stuff.
If I were you I’d take advantage of training at home and collect cheap, unconventional implements.
-Tractor tire (if you can find it)
-A sled made from harnessing line and a tire
-Weighted backpacks (sand, contractor’s bag, zip ties, duct tape - you figure out the rest)
-Rocks
-Sandbags
-A “Prowler” type implement. Just use your imagination on this one.
-Slosh pipe (Dan John)
The other option instead of a squat rack is to just mostly take it off the floor. Get good at doing cleans, and front squat your ass off. Snatch it and overhead squat it. Zercher squats…
In other words, make your disadvantage an advantage.
Oh yeah, add keg to that list above. Filled with liquid of your choice or empty. I had a nice “want” list of home gym equipment, can’t find it right now though.
I’m leaning to the set from Dick’s since it’s lower cost and I get the dumbell bars. Am I missing something that would be a benifit to my gym? I’m always open to suggestion.
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On the weight sets.
Whatever else can be said about Weider their Olympic plates and bars are pretty decent mid quality fare. The bar will actually be 45 pounds and strong enough for what most home trainees will throw at it and the plates will weigh pretty much what they say. Bargain sets often have very cheap bars I’ve seen as low as 33 pounds and the plates are also a few pounds lite a lotta times.
In my opinion for your only set for now it would be prudent to spring for the Weider set. It’ll probably also be rubber rimmed which is a plus and the holes are beveled to allow easy placement on the bar.
Best way to get weights is to find someone who gave up on lifting. Check high schools, colleges, and gyms…put up a want ad. Paper, craigslist, bulletin board, etc. Stick around a few months and you’ll be able to STEAL a used weight set for next to nothing.
Trust me. I mean, get a good brand, but by no means should you buy a brand new set!
If I were you I’d use the above process to get 2 300 lb olympic weight sets…that will give you enough to work out with two bars and do supersets, etc.
[quote]Audi wrote:
1.) Sears Weider 300 lb set with a 45 lb olympic bar
2.) Off brand (same weights and same bar) from Dick’s that come with 2 olympic dumbell bars.
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I do pretty much all my lifting with a 300lb starter set from Dunhams(olympic bar + 255lbs of plates) that was on sale for $99 when I got them. Otherwise I would check craiglist for someone getting out of lifting as you can pick up a set like that for $50 or less usually. You will eventually want more equipment but if your a beginner(like me) this will get you a good start until you get a bench and a squat rack eventually.
I second the opinion of getting a squat rack. The uprights can be used for all bench pressing movements. I would also look inot an adjustable bench (really nice ones also decline).
Most racks also have a chin-up bar across the top. So if you have a rack, bench and barbell, you are already very well rounded!
And if money allows ,I would buy some screw-collar dumbbells (they are fairly cheap).