[Other Sport] Home gyms

[Poojah]

So we're approaching a year since the original lockdown started, and almost a year since I last set foot in the gym. Having been a regular gym-goer 3 - 5 times a week, that on top of my newfound sedentary lifestyle has seen me decline from being in pretty good nick to full on dad bod. Realising that gyms might be shut for a little while longer yet, I've decided to press on and build one at home.

Fortunately, I have a small room in the corner of my garage, about 12 sq/m which is just about big enough to fit what I need. Having never seriously looked into buying decent gym equipment in the past, I could use some sage advice from the fitness freaks of NSC.

Long story short, I've gone to a local 'home gym specialist' to plan out the layout, source the kit etc. I had a budget in mind of between £6k - £7k, but it's coming out closer to £10k. I'm planning to build it around something like this:

https://www.exigo-uk.com/product/xf-1361-folding-rack/


Whilst some things seem reasonable enough (such as the folding rack above, even if you have to buy lots of little extras for it), certain elements took me a little by surprise, e.g.:

• Dumbells and rack (2kg - 30kg) - £2,500
• Rubber matting - c. £100 sq/m
• Folding treadmill (Life Fitness F3) - £2,800

Are these prices outlandish for some mid-to-high spec kit? Naturally, I know you can pick up treadmills etc. for much less than that, but at the lower end of the market I know they're going to be pap. Any recommendations for a moderately priced supplier of decent quality gear which is available sometime before 2023?

Any tips appreciated! Thanks.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Bags of sugar...books ...broom handle ..rope ..bit of old carpet etc..budget £50 ...a room in a garage eh

 

[nwgull]

Dumbells and rack seem very expensive, as does the rubber floor. Mine cost about 30 quid per sq metre. Folding rack is very neat looking, but again, you could get a very decent power rack for about £500 less.

One thing I didn’t mind spending a few quid on was in getting a good quality barbell at £750. Cheap ones get bent out of shape and the bearings on them are crap.

 

[Insel affe]

So we're approaching a year since the original lockdown started, and almost a year since I last set foot in the gym. Having been a regular gym-goer 3 - 5 times a week, that on top of my newfound sedentary lifestyle has seen me decline from being in pretty good nick to full on dad bod. Realising that gyms might be shut for a little while longer yet, I've decided to press on and build one at home.

Fortunately, I have a small room in the corner of my garage, about 12 sq/m which is just about big enough to fit what I need. Having never seriously looked into buying decent gym equipment in the past, I could use some sage advice from the fitness freaks of NSC.

Long story short, I've gone to a local 'home gym specialist' to plan out the layout, source the kit etc. I had a budget in mind of between £6k - £7k, but it's coming out closer to £10k.

Surely a personal trainer is cheaper than that, Christ worst comes to worst liposuction is only about 4K

Job done

 

[Poojah]

Bags of sugar...books ...broom handle ..rope ..bit of old carpet etc..budget £50 ...a room in a garage eh

Funnily enough I was going to make it into a bondage room, but many of those items would still apply. Maybe something multi-functional is the way forward; you want to be careful where that sugar ends up, mind.

 

[Pint of Ale and a Burger]

A bloke I used to work with used to say eBay was good for homegym stuff that people buy then don't use.
Also it's worth looking at adapting a workout to use bodyweight more than equipment.

 

[Wardy's twin]

What sort of work outs are you doing that is some serious money IMO. Depending on what you are doing I would always go second hand as I don't have money to burn. If you are doing very heavy weights then you probably need a buddy just in case thing go awry.

 

[Poojah]

What sort of work outs are you doing that is some serious money IMO. Depending on what you are doing I would always go second hand as I don't have money to burn. If you are doing very heavy weights then you probably need a buddy just in case thing go awry.

I don’t do anything I can’t do without reasonable confidence I can lift it without a spot. Pre-Covid I was benching 75kg on my own, and would go for 80kg with a spot. After a year off I wouldn’t be attempting much more than 50kg - 60kg.

Second hand’s an option, I’m not that fussy. I just want to make sure I’ve got some decent gear as regardless of when gyms reopen I had always squeezed it in on my lunch break to keep in with family routine, and I’m not that confident of being back in the office before the end of this year.

 

[scamander]

A bloke I used to work with used to say eBay was good for homegym stuff that people buy then don't use.
Also it's worth looking at adapting a workout to use bodyweight more than equipment.

I've been a gym user for the past few decades, so I've not been able to access weights to any great extent. I have been utlising bodyweight movements which are pretty tough.

I gave also been watching Athlean X on Youtube. I've been doing this for years as his tips and suggedtions are brilliant. Some of his home workout suggestions are good as well.

Don't underestimate the use cables have as well. These are easy to setup anywhere and can be a good alternative.

 

[Mr Banana]

Lucky! Looks good. Exigo stuff is great. Would definitely go down eBay route, lots of good kit out there. Cables are cheap, as are sets of good quality iron kettlebells.

 

[B-right-on]

I bought a Cross trainer mid lockdown. Brilliant for an overall workout. Never really got on with them before but now love it.

 

[BBassic]

I've been a gym user for the past few decades, so I've not been able to access weights to any great extent. I have been utlising bodyweight movements which are pretty tough.

I gave also been watching Athlean X on Youtube. I've been doing this for years as his tips and suggedtions are brilliant. Some of his home workout suggestions are good as well.

Don't underestimate the use cables have as well. These are easy to setup anywhere and can be a good alternative.

AthleanX is great. Jeff Nippard is also worth watching. He goes into the science behind exercises and diets etc.

I don't have a home gym personally but I do have some cables and some dumbbells. Combine those with a few bodyweight exercises and it does enough for me.

Been looking into doing some YouTube yoga as well. Bruno swears by yoga so it must be worthwhile.

 

[nwgull]

I don’t do anything I can’t do without reasonable confidence I can lift it without a spot. Pre-Covid I was benching 75kg on my own, and would go for 80kg with a spot. After a year off I wouldn’t be attempting much more than 50kg - 60kg.

Second hand’s an option, I’m not that fussy. I just want to make sure I’ve got some decent gear as regardless of when gyms reopen I had always squeezed it in on my lunch break to keep in with family routine, and I’m not that confident of being back in the office before the end of this year.

The rack you're looking at has adjustable spotter bars so you can lift heavy in safety. You just set them at a height that's at the bottom of your lift, and if you fail the bar just rests on them and you can slide out from under a bench press, or duck out from under a failed squat. I do it all the time when I'm at the end of my sets.

I have a squat rack (with pull up bar), bench, a decent Olympic bar and about 200kg of weights. The convenience of being able to do a 45-60 min session at any time of day is brilliant, even when gyms are open, especially if you have family commitments.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Bullworker, must be still available somewhere

 

[WATFORD zero]

I don't know whether it's changed since lockdown but the second hand market was always full of brand new, hardly used gear, some of it very high quality. It seems willpower, attention span and blind optimism has no relationship whatsoever to disposable income

 

[Normal Rob]

View attachment 133633

Bullworker, must be still available somewhere

Oh yes - takes me back to my younger teenage days, trying to pull the ladies with my impressive physique

This piece of equipment was utter garbage. Or maybe my effort and application was. Or both.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Oh yes - takes me back to my younger teenage days, trying to pull the ladies with my impressive physique

This piece of equipment was utter garbage. Or maybe my effort and application was. Or both.

I found one in a skip, obviously didn’t work for someone else

 

[nwgull]

View attachment 133633

Bullworker, must be still available somewhere

What a shame it didn't do lower body strength. It might have given Shilts the ability to out jump a bloke 8" shorter than himself.

 

[islingtonseagull]

I bought a wall mounted rig from BLK BOX.

Got the rig, incline bench, barbell and 150kg of Olympic bumper plates for around £1,300. Although this was pre COVID.

It’s a fantastic bit of kit and is super sturdy. I got the Goliath wall mounted rig.

It’s modular so you can add stuff as you go, such as a dipping station and spotting arms.

After purchase I found out they kit out the Albion gym! [emoji123]


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