what do you think of home gyms?

[diecast747]

Hey all,
I am sick of going to the gym, waiting for machines, waiting for old people to get off the machines while doing 100 reps of 5 pounds leg presses.

I am thinking about starting to buy some weight equipment, does anyone in here train at home? I want to get some weight, barbells, db's a bench......etc
I think the home gyms (multi gym sets) limit your range of motion, and are to isolated.

anyways, any tips on what to get would be appreciated

[J65]

Have only been workin out for a week so I am no expert, but can give you some observations.

You could do a web search and check out weight supply retailers. Go to google and put the words "weights retailers, wholesalers" and see what comes up. The shipping probably will be killer, though.

Earlier this year got 5,10,15,20,25 Lb. dumbells at Wal-Mart. I bought them seperately and I estimate the cost at about $100 and they do have weight benches and stuff like that, so check them out. Also look in your local phone book and see if there are any retailers in your area that specialize in home gym stuff. You'll probably have to look under "exercise equipment" in the yellow pages.

Also check out the ads at the top of the main page of the forum. If there are none dealing with weights, just refresh your browser, and some usually pop up.

No a lot information but hope it helps.

[ChrisC]

How about a power cage?



get a cage, bench and olympic barbell + plates.

now you can do pretty much any exercise you need to build serious mass:

squats, deadlift, bench, militay press,rows, etc. etc.

you can pick up the equipment used at good prices.

[Mystic79]

After working out at home I would never want to join a gym again. I have a power rack, bench, adjustable dumbbells, chin up bar, and that's all I need. Here are some benefits of working out at home:

1.) $$$. The money you invest in a home gym setup will be much cheaper than spending $30+/month at a commercial gym.

2.) convenience. If the weather is bad, or you're car broke down, you can stiil work out.

3.) freedom. You can listen to any music you want, and you can also use the equipment without having to wait for others to get done with it.

4.) cleanliness. It's great knowing that some unknown person isn't using the bench or equipment being all sweaty and gross. Here, you know it's clean because you are the only person using it.

5.) concentration. No distractions or annoying people to worry about.. just you and the iron.

6.) customizability. You can setup your gym to your likeing and nobody can say anything about it.

[WireNWood]

I'd hafta echo all the positive things the guys have said about training at home. In additon, I like not having to spend time in traffic or packing and carrying towell/shirt/soap/stuff.

I like being able to choose my own music, and my choice is usually no music at all. Lots of gyms have televisions rattling on constantly, which I find ANNOYING. I'm a TV hater.

I've got a dip/chinup rack, an ordinary $99 bench, DBs up to 60 lbs (I'll need to buy more soon), a variety of bars and a maybe 500lb of plates. I started out small and then every week I'd spend just a little, maybe buy a couple of plates or something.

Of course I'll have to bend my knees to do chinups, and all the way around because I'm nowhere near as far along in my training as others here my equipment needs aren't as demanding yet.

The stuff takes up my garage, but I'm blessed with a wife who doesnt' mind this. She's just happy that I'm improving myself. When I need to work on a car I can put all the stuff over to one side and still get the car in.

[NWSaint]

Mystic79 put it how it should be put... and same goes here... I'LL NEVER join another friggin' gym again... Got what I need right here at the house and have totally converted my garage into my gym.. wouldn't have it any other way either.. I can crank up the tunes loud as hell, don't have to wait for nothin', don't have a bunch of eye-candy distracting me from what i'm trying to accomplish.. In other words the positives outweigh the negs. by a longshot.. Once ya do it you'll see what I mean, it's the best.. Oh, and one last thing, it has this way of creating an extremely hardcore atmosphere that modern gyms seemed to have gotten away from, reckon that's why they're called "fitness clubs" rather than a gym.... And I don't care what machines are in a fitness club, "weights" are in a gym, and in fact that's where i'm off to RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!..got work to do gentlemen .........................lata'.



"NW"

[Chuck]

I've been training at home for over 10 years now. I like going to the gym on occaison, but have my best workouts at home with no distractions.

I have:

Smith Machine
Lat Machine
Lying Leg Press
Commercial Bench Press
3 Olympic Sets of Weight
Dumbbells
Treadmill
Boom Box and a Fan ;D

[hossjob]

Mystic,
I had a home gym at my parents in college, used my leftover money to buy it. It was Yukon International Fitness. Not the best, but good quality if you're not pulling off 500 pound squats. However, I LOVE the gym. I work at one. I just put my headphones on and lift to decipher distractions. I do hate waiting though and if I had the money and space here's what I'd do for my own home gym (in the order)

1. GOOD power rack w/ GOOD adjustable bench
2. 300 lb olympic weight set w/ barbell
3. Get a power rack from a company that can add built in cable systems - theres many out there.
4. DB set or adjustable DB's
4. Leg Press or Hip Sled - (Fitness Factory or Yukon)
5. Powertec Multi station gym
6. Seated Leg Curl
*add bars and attachments as you can

From here it depends on your goals. Look at bigfitness.com, yukon-international.com, fitnessfactory.com, powertec equipment (leverage, some nice stuff)

Hoss

[whssenior]

my first couple of years of working out was at home. i made some excellent gains and built my foundation from it. but of course i have some good equipment, maybe not as much as a public gym, but being creative always gave me good workouts.