Just after some advice about what are the most useful pieces of equipment for setting up a versatile and effective home gym? Will be using a single car garage space for my gym.
LiftingLynx
:
Yep, what pag68 said.
Olympic 2" diameter 45lb Barbell( don't waste your money on the 1" diameter ones) plus plates-Bumper plates come in handy for DLs.
Power Rack- I got one that I could add on a cable attachment to later on(which I did a few years later)
Bench- Get one that inclines, worth the extra money.
Adjustable DBs- I have Powerblocks that go up 90lbs each. I started with the basic handles and it went up to 50, then got the additional weights/blocks as I needed them.
For under and around your power rack you will want mats, Horse stall mats have been what I have seen recommended the most, I have MMA mats that fill the whole floor of my small workout room. Next house will be a bigger space and I'll be switching to horse stall mats.
salmong
:
Since you're dealing with very limited space, I can suggest what follows.
Good rubber flooring
Pullup bar
Adjustable bench
Adjustable dumbbells (get the ones that go higher in weight)
This is the bare minimum which will provide you with everything you need to continue building and maintaining for many years to come. If the budget is not a problem, get the good-quality stuff and you'll be happy.
anthony freeman
:
I am stopped for space, my garage is full. I have installed a small cable station, and a bench that is adjustable. I try to make the most of each piece of equip. also resistance bands/cables can be combined to suit possibly. I guess it really depends on you.
Double-A-Ron
:
A power rack with spotter straps or or bench bar with spotter arms is awesome for working out alone and not having to worry about going to failure.
At home i have:
1) adjustable bench
2) A bench rack with dips station in back and adjustable spotter arms on front
3) hex dumbbell trees from 1lb up to 40lbs plus a set of adjustable.
4) several olympic bar bells.
5) stationary bike
6) mats
7) doorway multi-grip pull up bar
I don’t feel limited. A cable machine would be nice but the dumbbells get just about everything done. I went with rubber hex so i can drop them which you can’t do with most adjustable. I’d also love to have a nice leg extension/curl machine since i can’t do squats.
Kogre
:
I exclusively workout at home. I have a double garage so have decent space. If I could recommend 5 things, they would be:
a) Olympic weight set
b) Barbell
c) Power Rack
d) Bench (with leg extension/curl)
e) Cable machine (a little costlier, but maybe a later purchase)
I also have regular non olympic weights and dumbbells that I rarely use (cable machine all but replaced the need to use dumbbells) and I also have a smith machine. You can get power racks with built in cable machines (mine is, so technically I have 1 power rack and a half rack with the smith machine).
My power rack and smith machine both have lat pull down and seated cable row, along with dip bars and regular spotter bars and j-cups.
There is very little I cannot workout with these things. The smith machine was a recent purchase and was more for accessory lifts, it isn't needed at all.
Kogre
:
If you're limited in budget, a good adjustable bench and adjustable dumbbell set (regular non-olympic) will be good enough to get you started if you're starting from scratch with a tight budget. That's how I started.
michaeleppich
:
I’d just say the same thing everyone else is saying. A power rack is great. Add that with an adjustable bench and you have a great variety of workouts that you just unlocked. I’d also recommend adjustable dumbbells because of how little space they take up and they are very convenient. Stationary bikes are great for cardio. An optional piece of equipment is a cable system. Some can be expensive but there are some online that are pretty decent price for how many ways they can be used.
22 comments
Olympic 2" diameter 45lb Barbell( don't waste your money on the 1" diameter ones) plus plates-Bumper plates come in handy for DLs.
Power Rack- I got one that I could add on a cable attachment to later on(which I did a few years later)
Bench- Get one that inclines, worth the extra money.
Adjustable DBs- I have Powerblocks that go up 90lbs each. I started with the basic handles and it went up to 50, then got the additional weights/blocks as I needed them.
For under and around your power rack you will want mats, Horse stall mats have been what I have seen recommended the most, I have MMA mats that fill the whole floor of my small workout room. Next house will be a bigger space and I'll be switching to horse stall mats.
A good barbell.
A power rack.
A solid bench, an incline if the budget allows.
Good adjustable dumbbells.
Good rubber flooring
Pullup bar
Adjustable bench
Adjustable dumbbells (get the ones that go higher in weight)
This is the bare minimum which will provide you with everything you need to continue building and maintaining for many years to come. If the budget is not a problem, get the good-quality stuff and you'll be happy.
At home i have:
1) adjustable bench
2) A bench rack with dips station in back and adjustable spotter arms on front
3) hex dumbbell trees from 1lb up to 40lbs plus a set of adjustable.
4) several olympic bar bells.
5) stationary bike
6) mats
7) doorway multi-grip pull up bar
I don’t feel limited. A cable machine would be nice but the dumbbells get just about everything done. I went with rubber hex so i can drop them which you can’t do with most adjustable. I’d also love to have a nice leg extension/curl machine since i can’t do squats.
a) Olympic weight set
b) Barbell
c) Power Rack
d) Bench (with leg extension/curl)
e) Cable machine (a little costlier, but maybe a later purchase)
I also have regular non olympic weights and dumbbells that I rarely use (cable machine all but replaced the need to use dumbbells) and I also have a smith machine. You can get power racks with built in cable machines (mine is, so technically I have 1 power rack and a half rack with the smith machine).
My power rack and smith machine both have lat pull down and seated cable row, along with dip bars and regular spotter bars and j-cups.
There is very little I cannot workout with these things. The smith machine was a recent purchase and was more for accessory lifts, it isn't needed at all.