Draft: Assembling a home gym
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:36 am
Brilliant. You're going to put together a home gym! Now you can do laundry and smoke meats between sets! This thread is intended to point out a few of the more popular options at a few different price points so as to pre-answer some common questions about building a home gym. This can be either cheap, and save you some money over a membership, or you can blow $10K quicker than you know what hit you. All of this assumes you are in the US, spending freedomBux, and are getting things new. "Search Craigslist at least twice a day" is a good recommendation, but that makes for a pretty short thread, and is wildly dependent on the local market.
Basics
Minimums
Space requirements-
At the very least, you will need a mostly flat surface at least 8' wide, 5' deep, and 7' feet high. Some of these can be fudged- there are ways around the depth and height, and you really just need a flat surface 5'-6' wide, but you're going to need some clearance in the area you are lifting while you are lifting, especially if you are new to squatting/benching/deadlifting. Width is different- even at 8' you are going to have trouble loading and unloading the bar. 10' is strongly recommended, at least while you are doing your lifting.
Structural requirements-
Ideally, you want your lifting area to be directly on the ground floor, over concrete. You can get around this, there are people with a gym set up in their attic. But you will have 600lbs+ on this area regularly (figure you, the weights, the power cage/etc, bench, so on, even if you only have 200lbs on the bar, you'll still hit 600lbs on the structure really quick!). If you are not on the lowest floor, it's not a bad idea to have someone look at the structure.
Equipment requirements-
You are, at a minimum, going to need a bar, some weights, a bench, and a rack to hold the bar up. Something with safety attachments is highly recommended. It's certainly possible to come up with ways around having a rack/cage/stands (you could do a deadlift/clean & press type programming, for instance), but for our purposes we will assume you will be squatting, benching, pressing, and deadlifting, and you can't do all that safely with the bar starting on the floor.
Lets start with the most important thing: the Barbell
Barbells
Get a CAP-OB86. It sometimes goes on sale for under $100, and it will be perfectly serviceable as an only bar for a novice or early intermediate lifter, or as a second bar for intermediate lifters and beyond. It's not fantastic, but its worth the price. If you have a few more bucks to spend, or want something immediately and the price of the CAP is drifting up over $150, the next best option is going to be:
The bare steel Rogue Ohio Power bar. $250 gets you a bar many people actually PREFER over much more expensive options for the 4 main lifts. This bar will provide more than a lifetime of training. You might never need another bar (unless the CAP goes under $100, then get a second bar just because... or a deadlift bar... or some specialty bars... or...). If you plan to put as much effort into Olympic lifting as you do power lifting, and again want to get started with just one bar, the:
Rogue B&R bar is generally considered a good general purpose bar. The sleeves spin a little better, and it has a little softer knurling (the grippy pattern cut into the bar, basically), making it easier to use for cleans & snatches than the Ohio Power bar, while still being very good for the big 4 lifts.
From there, there are literally hundreds of options for barbells. But lift for a year with the CAP, first, and you will know what you want/need. Generally, the used option is not recommended for a bar, and with proper care they will last for many decades of use. Quality used bars can sometimes be found, but many will be used CAP bars that were bent up/abused/dropped, so be careful. Next up, something to throw on those sleeves!
Weights
Here is where the big "Just check Craigslist every day!" recommendation comes in. Everyone has a 200lb set of Olympic (2in hole diameter) weights rusting away in their basement that they will sell you for $100. Do that, for sure. You will want at least 6x45lb plates, 2x25lb, 2x10lbs, 2x5lbs, and 2x2.5lbs (as long as you are lifting under 400lbs including the bar), but will probably need more weight in short order. Besides the internet and garage sales, new plates are always an option. The lower cost choice would probably be:
CAP plates at WalMart. Watch for free shipping and sales on these. The actual weight can vary, sometimes significantly, on these weights, so if you can take advantage of the in-store pick up and return policy- bring them home and weigh them! As of writing these come to about $1.23 per pound. This comes to $445 with in-store pickup right now, but you'll have to find the 2.5lb plates elsewhere. For a little bit more, you could also get:
Troy calibrated plates. These sit at $1.67 per pound, but are also calibrated, meaning they will weigh within 2% of the stated weight. These will be good forever- competitive powerlifters often use these plates. You can also get free shipping on orders over $500 (currently). So the quantity above will run $592 with free shipping.
Keep in mind, though, that lower cost plates may not always be the proper size. It is important to try and find 45lb plates that are as close to 45cm, the "official" size. Obviously, there are other options than the above. Bumper plates (made mostly from rubber) are good for protecting floors and bars from impacts, but only really necessary for the Olympic lifts or less-structurally-sound floors, and no one really needs competition plates except for very serious competitors (but... so pretty...). The two options above, particularly if you can find them used, will be more than enough for the basic home gym. Now, the (mostly) final piece of the puzzle- the stands and safety equipment you need to actually perform the lifts.
Stands/Cages/Racks
This is probably the place where you don't want to skimp. A non-zero number of people die every year or two or three when they fail a bench press and the bar lands on their head/neck. A failed or poorly re-racked squat has the potential to injure your neck/back/knees. Squat stands like these are appealing for cost and space-saving, and plenty of videos can be found of people squatting 700+lbs off of similar stands, but don't really have a place in a home gym with a lone lifter. A good, solid cage or rack, like plates and barbells, will last through decades of use- even a $7/mo Planet Fitness membership will cost you more over that time than a quality power cage. What you should get will primarily depend on a few factors: space available, price, and your need for accessories. Since this is intended as a starting guide, we won't be getting into things like monolift attachments, multi-grip chin bars, etc, but on most of the recommended pieces those can be added.
The Titan T-3 Squat rack with optional spotter arms provides a solid, and safe, base for your home gym. It doesn't take up much room, can be moved fairly easily, and can be had for under $400. It's not the cheapest thing you can buy, nor is it the absolute smallest, but it IS a very good compromise between cost, mobility, size, and safety.
The similar, slightly more space-intensive but sturdier Titan T-3 Power Rack will cost a few extra bucks, but once you bolt it to the floor it's not going anywhere, and might be better in the long run, as the sturdier nature of a power cage makes it easier to add many of the attachments you might want later on, such as a dip station or cool pull up bar.
Besides Titan Fitness, there are plenty of other companies making quality equipment- the Rogue R-Series might be slightly better in quality than Titan, made in the US, and are often considered to have the best customer service in the fitness industry, but command a a price premium. Legend makes highly customizable power stations, but will again cost more than Rogue. And there are plenty of people on this forum squatting 500+ who will highly recommend Titan products.
Something else to think about when selecting a rack is weight storage- leaning weights up against a wall is fine, and low-cost A-frame weight trees can be found on Amazon, but all of the linked power cages/squat racks either come equipped or can be built to include weight storage. An added bonus of built-in storage on your rack or power cage is additional stability. You won't need to bolt it down if there is an extra 100-300lbs hanging from it!
Bench
The last piece you will need is a solid bench. You need a solid bench, ideally about 12" wide and about 17" tall, with a firm pad that isn't made of a slippery vinyl. Just like with cages, Rogue and Titan are probably the go-to manufacturers.Another good option is a solid adjustable bench, such as the Rep Fitness bench. Also note that Rogue sometimes runs free shipping promotions (they've done it on Black Friday before) that can save you a significant amount.
Cost: (Oct 2017, no sales, assume free shipping)
A bar (OB) $150
Titan T3 Squat Rack & Spotter Arms $387
Titan Flat Weight Bench $120
WalMart Cap iron plates, 355lbs $445
$1110(rounded)
There's your home gym! Order it up, bolt everything together, and feel the gainzZz flow while cooking dinner between sets.
Extra toys
You've got your space picked out and everything you need to get started lifting. There are a few things left you will probably want: platform, shoes, and a lifting belt. Instructions and recommendations for these can be found in other threads- this one is just getting you started with basic equipment.
Basics
Minimums
Space requirements-
At the very least, you will need a mostly flat surface at least 8' wide, 5' deep, and 7' feet high. Some of these can be fudged- there are ways around the depth and height, and you really just need a flat surface 5'-6' wide, but you're going to need some clearance in the area you are lifting while you are lifting, especially if you are new to squatting/benching/deadlifting. Width is different- even at 8' you are going to have trouble loading and unloading the bar. 10' is strongly recommended, at least while you are doing your lifting.
Structural requirements-
Ideally, you want your lifting area to be directly on the ground floor, over concrete. You can get around this, there are people with a gym set up in their attic. But you will have 600lbs+ on this area regularly (figure you, the weights, the power cage/etc, bench, so on, even if you only have 200lbs on the bar, you'll still hit 600lbs on the structure really quick!). If you are not on the lowest floor, it's not a bad idea to have someone look at the structure.
Equipment requirements-
You are, at a minimum, going to need a bar, some weights, a bench, and a rack to hold the bar up. Something with safety attachments is highly recommended. It's certainly possible to come up with ways around having a rack/cage/stands (you could do a deadlift/clean & press type programming, for instance), but for our purposes we will assume you will be squatting, benching, pressing, and deadlifting, and you can't do all that safely with the bar starting on the floor.
Lets start with the most important thing: the Barbell
Barbells
Get a CAP-OB86. It sometimes goes on sale for under $100, and it will be perfectly serviceable as an only bar for a novice or early intermediate lifter, or as a second bar for intermediate lifters and beyond. It's not fantastic, but its worth the price. If you have a few more bucks to spend, or want something immediately and the price of the CAP is drifting up over $150, the next best option is going to be:
The bare steel Rogue Ohio Power bar. $250 gets you a bar many people actually PREFER over much more expensive options for the 4 main lifts. This bar will provide more than a lifetime of training. You might never need another bar (unless the CAP goes under $100, then get a second bar just because... or a deadlift bar... or some specialty bars... or...). If you plan to put as much effort into Olympic lifting as you do power lifting, and again want to get started with just one bar, the:
Rogue B&R bar is generally considered a good general purpose bar. The sleeves spin a little better, and it has a little softer knurling (the grippy pattern cut into the bar, basically), making it easier to use for cleans & snatches than the Ohio Power bar, while still being very good for the big 4 lifts.
From there, there are literally hundreds of options for barbells. But lift for a year with the CAP, first, and you will know what you want/need. Generally, the used option is not recommended for a bar, and with proper care they will last for many decades of use. Quality used bars can sometimes be found, but many will be used CAP bars that were bent up/abused/dropped, so be careful. Next up, something to throw on those sleeves!
Weights
Here is where the big "Just check Craigslist every day!" recommendation comes in. Everyone has a 200lb set of Olympic (2in hole diameter) weights rusting away in their basement that they will sell you for $100. Do that, for sure. You will want at least 6x45lb plates, 2x25lb, 2x10lbs, 2x5lbs, and 2x2.5lbs (as long as you are lifting under 400lbs including the bar), but will probably need more weight in short order. Besides the internet and garage sales, new plates are always an option. The lower cost choice would probably be:
CAP plates at WalMart. Watch for free shipping and sales on these. The actual weight can vary, sometimes significantly, on these weights, so if you can take advantage of the in-store pick up and return policy- bring them home and weigh them! As of writing these come to about $1.23 per pound. This comes to $445 with in-store pickup right now, but you'll have to find the 2.5lb plates elsewhere. For a little bit more, you could also get:
Troy calibrated plates. These sit at $1.67 per pound, but are also calibrated, meaning they will weigh within 2% of the stated weight. These will be good forever- competitive powerlifters often use these plates. You can also get free shipping on orders over $500 (currently). So the quantity above will run $592 with free shipping.
Keep in mind, though, that lower cost plates may not always be the proper size. It is important to try and find 45lb plates that are as close to 45cm, the "official" size. Obviously, there are other options than the above. Bumper plates (made mostly from rubber) are good for protecting floors and bars from impacts, but only really necessary for the Olympic lifts or less-structurally-sound floors, and no one really needs competition plates except for very serious competitors (but... so pretty...). The two options above, particularly if you can find them used, will be more than enough for the basic home gym. Now, the (mostly) final piece of the puzzle- the stands and safety equipment you need to actually perform the lifts.
Stands/Cages/Racks
This is probably the place where you don't want to skimp. A non-zero number of people die every year or two or three when they fail a bench press and the bar lands on their head/neck. A failed or poorly re-racked squat has the potential to injure your neck/back/knees. Squat stands like these are appealing for cost and space-saving, and plenty of videos can be found of people squatting 700+lbs off of similar stands, but don't really have a place in a home gym with a lone lifter. A good, solid cage or rack, like plates and barbells, will last through decades of use- even a $7/mo Planet Fitness membership will cost you more over that time than a quality power cage. What you should get will primarily depend on a few factors: space available, price, and your need for accessories. Since this is intended as a starting guide, we won't be getting into things like monolift attachments, multi-grip chin bars, etc, but on most of the recommended pieces those can be added.
The Titan T-3 Squat rack with optional spotter arms provides a solid, and safe, base for your home gym. It doesn't take up much room, can be moved fairly easily, and can be had for under $400. It's not the cheapest thing you can buy, nor is it the absolute smallest, but it IS a very good compromise between cost, mobility, size, and safety.
The similar, slightly more space-intensive but sturdier Titan T-3 Power Rack will cost a few extra bucks, but once you bolt it to the floor it's not going anywhere, and might be better in the long run, as the sturdier nature of a power cage makes it easier to add many of the attachments you might want later on, such as a dip station or cool pull up bar.
Besides Titan Fitness, there are plenty of other companies making quality equipment- the Rogue R-Series might be slightly better in quality than Titan, made in the US, and are often considered to have the best customer service in the fitness industry, but command a a price premium. Legend makes highly customizable power stations, but will again cost more than Rogue. And there are plenty of people on this forum squatting 500+ who will highly recommend Titan products.
Something else to think about when selecting a rack is weight storage- leaning weights up against a wall is fine, and low-cost A-frame weight trees can be found on Amazon, but all of the linked power cages/squat racks either come equipped or can be built to include weight storage. An added bonus of built-in storage on your rack or power cage is additional stability. You won't need to bolt it down if there is an extra 100-300lbs hanging from it!
Bench
The last piece you will need is a solid bench. You need a solid bench, ideally about 12" wide and about 17" tall, with a firm pad that isn't made of a slippery vinyl. Just like with cages, Rogue and Titan are probably the go-to manufacturers.Another good option is a solid adjustable bench, such as the Rep Fitness bench. Also note that Rogue sometimes runs free shipping promotions (they've done it on Black Friday before) that can save you a significant amount.
Cost: (Oct 2017, no sales, assume free shipping)
A bar (OB) $150
Titan T3 Squat Rack & Spotter Arms $387
Titan Flat Weight Bench $120
WalMart Cap iron plates, 355lbs $445
$1110(rounded)
There's your home gym! Order it up, bolt everything together, and feel the gainzZz flow while cooking dinner between sets.
Extra toys
You've got your space picked out and everything you need to get started lifting. There are a few things left you will probably want: platform, shoes, and a lifting belt. Instructions and recommendations for these can be found in other threads- this one is just getting you started with basic equipment.