Building a home gym

[chrspayn]

I am moving to a new place and will finally have room to build a home gym. I am picturing a squat rack, some sort of mat or platform to do o-lifts on, and obviously the barbell and plates (is there a reason not to go all bumper plates?). I would also like if part of this setup allowed for pullups.

Can anyone recommend brands or sites to chose from? I have no experience buying any of this equipment and would love to hear what's good.

 

[Geordie "Shadow" Munro]

If you live in Canada
https://www.treadmillfactory.ca/p-1788-c-8-sa-half-rack.html

That's the half rack I have in my home gym $200

 

[Oblivian]

Where do you live? In my neck of the woods, besides Craigslist, you can't beat buying new plates at Dunhams. You can often get a 300 lbs set for $150.

For a rack, I purchased my sumo rack here newyorkbarbells.com. I have a clothesline that I use for pullups so I didn't go for the power rack. I'd probably go for the power rack if I was you.

In regards to flooring, I'd just get horse stall mats. If you want to make an area for oly lifts, I'd just go horse stall mat on bottom, plywood in middle, and horse stall mat on top.

 

[Quadrivium]

rosstraining.com

He's a high level strength/conditioning coach for fighters.

Low tech (and therefore cost)/high effect.

Check out the 'home-made gym equipment' bit. Good luck.

 

[anaconda]

If you live in Canada
https://www.treadmillfactory.ca/p-1788-c-8-sa-half-rack.html

That's the half rack I have in my home gym $200

Damn, that looks awesome. I wish I had something like that when I bought mine. I bought a small full cage.

 

[hatchoo]

If you live in the US, then craigslist is your friend. Most of my home gym was from there.

You can buy a power rack and do pullups on them. If you go for a squat rack/stands, you can just get those door pullups contraption that you can get on any sports store.

is there a reason not to go all bumper plates?

Metal plates are cheaper.

 

[JRT6]

Outside of my rack, bench and bar and plates I made everything else. Just ordered on of these after getting frustrated with the "natural GHR" versions. Expensive but I'll be using it twice a week till the day I die:

http://www.legendfitness.com/produc...velopers/partner_gluteham_developer_3350.aspx

The rep I bought it off said I can anchor my feet with my rack and even use added weight for the raises.

 

[Mike Y History]

Unless you plan on doing a lot of olympic lifting or you're loaded, I don't think bumper plates are worth the 2x to 3x as much over normal olympic plates.

In order of importance:

Barbell and Plates

Power Rack (Squat stands an acceptable substitute)

Bench

 

[aries]

Metal plates are cheaper.

Plus space. Bumper plates take up a lot of room.

 

[Midnighter]

If you have the money, definitely get bumper plates.