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Think I am going to build a simple home gym, what do I need?

Posted on 4/24/23 at 3:24 pm
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
23376 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 3:24 pm
Or better question what is the right stuff/brands to get?

Basically looking for a squat rack, bench, bar and weights. Something to use those days I do not make it to gym and/or teenage kids can use, goal is to be able to do main barbell lifts and related accessory.

Will be in a tandem garage, enough space to park a car basically.
Posted by emanresu
Member since Dec 2009
9684 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 3:26 pm to
You can look and perform better than 99.9% of men on earth with diet, gymnastics rings, an a home lever squat machine.

e: bad typing day
This post was edited on 4/24/23 at 3:31 pm
Posted by TigerInCbus
Raymond
Member since Feb 2018
361 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 3:30 pm to
If you want it in your garage and want to park in there too, look into PRX. Folds up into the wall and everything.

I have a Titan X3 in my basement with a simple barbell/weight set from Dunham's sports. I also got some bumpers from Again Faster when they were on sale for $1/lb. I have Ironmasters and Bowflex 552's. I have a suspension trainer and bands also. I don't feel like I need anything else.
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
34991 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 3:33 pm to
do you want full rack or do you want half rack? essentially you need to decide what dedicated space you have. I would suggest wall mounted half rack

as far as what brands, depends on budget

top brands for home gym. in order imo only

top teir
legend
sorinex
rogue
straydog strength

mid teir
rep
elitefts/willaims strength(can be top depending on choice)

lower teir (but still more than anyone on here will ever need)
getrxd
bolt
titan


as far as what to get, i suggest 3x3 with 1" or 5/8" holes so you can add lots of attachments. I prefer 5/8" but many of the best attachments are 1" only now.

as far as what to get

rack- 2/4/or 6 post rack
adjustable bench- rep or rogue imo
bar- suggest rogue
weights- decide if you want steel or rubber

for flooring do 4x6x3/4" rubber stall mats from tractor supply

i would add gymnastics rings first, then bands from westside, elitefts or rogue.

from these add a strongman sandbag then you can branch to either dumbbells or kettlebells and all the attachments.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
23376 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 3:58 pm to
quote:

do you want full rack or do you want half rack? essentially you need to decide what dedicated space you have.


Kind of addressing what TigerInCbus also said. Will be no car there and could handle full or half rack. I like the idea of full from a safety standpoint though.
Posted by boxcarbarney
Above all things, be a man
Member since Jul 2007
24499 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 4:15 pm to
We got a Rogue rack with barbell and plates for an awesome price off of Facebook Marketplace when we were putting together our office gym.

I asked the guy why he was selling this high end stuff at such a good price. His answer was "I'm switching to a kettlebell program."

Ok... so you'll never switch back to a barbell program ever again?

Anyway, check Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. This is the time of year when lot of New Years Resolutioners are starting to give up on their "New Year, New Me" phase of their lives.

This post was edited on 4/24/23 at 4:19 pm
Posted by OysterPoBoy
City of St. George
Member since Jul 2013
40831 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 4:24 pm to
What are you guys doing with the gymnastics rings? I always see them talked about but I’ve never used them.
This post was edited on 4/24/23 at 4:24 pm
Posted by EyeOfTheFeTiger
Member since Apr 2021
468 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 4:47 pm to
I recently built out a garage gym using Bolt fitness. Mainly used them because they are local to me so I could avoid shipping costs. Got full 3x3 rack, bench, barbell, weights, and nuobell adjustable dumbbells from them. I’ve had no issues so far but have only had them for 2 months. Been running PPSA programs with no issues. Only complaint is the barbell is a little slick but once I got some gym chalk that issue went away
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
34991 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 7:03 pm to
Ring push-ups
Ring rows
Dips
Chins
Scare crows
Curls
Tricep ext
Flyes
Plus lots of static holds

Variations of the above
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
20337 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 7:32 pm to
I've got a titan rack, a titan adjustable bench, a set of rogue bumper plates and a rogue echo bar. Put some horse stall mats down and you got you a gym

ETA: If i remember correctly the Titan rack needs a 1" socket to assemble. Plan accordingly
This post was edited on 4/24/23 at 7:33 pm
Posted by Yeti_Chaser
Member since Nov 2017
10024 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 7:33 pm to
I have a rack from Rep, barbell from Rogue, and my bumpers are factory seconds from Sorinex.

Very happy with everything I've bought. Only issue I had was that the J cups from Rep fit too tightly on my rack and I couldn't get them on and off without a hammer. I contacted Rep and they asked for a video and then sent me a replacement right away.

Garage Gym Reviews has a lot of good information on their site
Posted by Lazy But Talented
Member since Aug 2011
14902 posts
Posted on 4/24/23 at 7:45 pm to
quote:

Think I am going to build a simple home gym


Don’t think about it anymore. Do it. It is the right decision.

I have Rogue wall mount rack, echo barbell, bumper plates, dip bar, curl bar. love all my rouge stuff.

Bow flex adjustable dumbbells

Titan adjustable bench
Marcy weight tree on wheels
Flooring mats from tractor supply
Various resistance bands
Rings

Can’t wait to continue building it out.
This post was edited on 4/24/23 at 7:46 pm
Posted by La Place Mike
West Florida Republic
Member since Jan 2004
30298 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 8:02 am to
Kettlebells, pull up bar, medicine balls, sandbags and you just of the top of my head.
Posted by FieldEngineer
Member since Jan 2015
2368 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 8:15 am to
quote:

I like the idea of full from a safety standpoint though.


That’s what I did. I workout alone a lot, so I like the idea of the safeties preventing me from getting crushed.
Posted by lsu777
Lake Charles
Member since Jan 2004
34991 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 8:38 am to
quote:

That’s what I did. I workout alone a lot, so I like the idea of the safeties preventing me from getting crushed.




well the front safeties should work under normal circumstances. I workout alone too and everyone else is in bed so i prefer the full cage too incase i suddenly pass out, the bar doesnt miss the safeties and fill me. It would just hit back post and go onto safties.

thats why i do everything but press and DL in the cage. all squats and bench are inside at all times and safeties set to correct height.
Posted by TigerInCbus
Raymond
Member since Feb 2018
361 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 8:48 am to
quote:

safeties set to correct height.



OP - I would recommend finding a rack that has specifically has Westside spacing in the bench region so that you can really dial in where the safeties go. I think most of the regular home gym names will have it, but some cheaper ones will not. Like the others, I work out alone and only bench heavy when I am at home so that I don't worry about crushing myself.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
23376 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 9:08 am to
quote:

I work out alone and only bench heavy when I am at home so that I don't worry about crushing myself.


Bench is my main worry, especially with dumb teenagers. Working out at gym, I sometimes need to ask for a spot if I want to hit a bench PR, would be cool to just go at it and not worry about a spotter doing dumb things.

I have failed a couple times in squats, but those are a little easier to escape from if you know you going to not make it. About 3 years ago though I passed out trying to grind one more, glad I was in a rack for that one.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
23376 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 9:09 am to
Thanks for all the input
Posted by Lazy But Talented
Member since Aug 2011
14902 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 1:08 pm to
Don’t forget to update the thread with pics when you’re done
Posted by Party At LSU
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2005
10823 posts
Posted on 4/25/23 at 2:54 pm to
I have a cheap Marcy adjustable bench, various dumbbells ranging from 75 lb to 10 lb, the door frame chin-up bar that came with p90x, perfect push-up devices and a weighted vest to supplement the dumbbells for squats.

Doesn’t take up much room at all and I get pretty much every exercise out of it.
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