View Full Version : What would you put in a home gym?
craigepo
08-24-2014, 19:59
As most of you have seen, I'm in the midst of building a house. I have already set aside the area in the basement for the home gym. Now, I have to figure how to set it up.
I have some outside workout gear now, i.e. rope climb, big tires, small tires, sledgehammer, railroad tie. Also have a 5k trail around the farm. What I need is a way to grab a good workout indoors during inclement weather. (yes, I'm getting soft).
I'm thinking of setting up an open area, a tv/DVD player for the workout dvd's, some room for some sandbag stuff. Was considering an olympic bar. Not real sure about machines (I despise treadmills). Was also thinking about a dumbbell rack, some medicine balls, etc.
Anybody that has anything, chime in. I'm all ears, and thanks.
I would love to have one of these. But i moved to Nashville and no longer have a basement for a gym room. :mad:
http://www.fitnesszone.com/product/BodyCraft-Jones-Club-Smith-Machine.html?source=googleps2&gclid=CjsKDwjwmuafBRCQ7ef6zJXhdRIkAFH2mefrQu_9D5tN SRuHOrvbPmV8AJYdST4Y-5ViNq04E0cxGgKSIfD_BwE
I too despise treadmills, that being said I have one that I use religiously. The wife bought it awhile back and it cost in the area of a grand. I thought it was a pretty nice one till I got on a really nice one at the local cardiac rehab that is more in the 5K range, a real Cadillac. Should you get one in spite of how you feel about them I would suggest that you get best one that you can afford. I also have an Airdyne, both pieces boring but effective if used.
I've seen quite a few places with these fitness/battle ropes, as well as resistance band training.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ScVKSbqhU
Wanted to add this for an idea ....
I worked on an episode of Gym Rescue on Spike.
Frank and Randy took this gym and turned it around. At the 36:40 mark you can see the "new" gym with the ropes and resistance band stations.
That floor that Frank describes is INCREDIBLE. It felt so great just walking on and working out on. Takes the pressure off of your knees and back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIPQPah_0ug
*This was a fun episode to work on. Frank is really a character. :D
twistedsquid
08-25-2014, 06:18
I love this piece of equipment. It's cheap, simple and probably the most effective body weight training one can do. It has stations for pull/chin ups, dips and bent vertical knee raises that really engage the core. I paid less than $200 and it assembles easily. Takes up about 10 square feet of floor space. It's light, too. 300 pound limit.
As most of you have seen, I'm in the midst of building a house. I have already set aside the area in the basement for the home gym. Now, I have to figure how to set it up.
I have some outside workout gear now, i.e. rope climb, big tires, small tires, sledgehammer, railroad tie. Also have a 5k trail around the farm. What I need is a way to grab a good workout indoors during inclement weather. (yes, I'm getting soft).
I'm thinking of setting up an open area, a tv/DVD player for the workout dvd's, some room for some sandbag stuff. Was considering an olympic bar. Not real sure about machines (I despise treadmills). Was also thinking about a dumbbell rack, some medicine balls, etc.
Anybody that has anything, chime in. I'm all ears, and thanks.
Sir,
What is your mindset? What are you and the wife wanting to improve? Overall health? Increase size with lean muscle mass? Strength and Conditioning?
Your Cardo..what are you wanting to do? Run a Mathron next Spring? Triathlon? Inprove for the Ski season? Keep in Shape for Cross Country during the Spring and Summer? Keep the Heart Rate down?
What you are wanting to do and how much you're wanting to spend drive this. I know you know this, but to say what I would throw in drives what I would suggest.
Do you want a rubber floor? Padded area?
Also what are the measurements of your basement area?
Kettlebells. I used the Skogg System for a while to get the basics down. A battle rope is next on the list.
Keep it simple. Lots of body weight exercises preclude the once-used equipment from becoming a place to hang your dirty clothing...
Definitely used stuff! I read once that exercise equipment is the least used, ergo the best deal in used equipment. People mean well spend good money, then it becomes a great place to hang clothes.
I have no recommendations on what to buy, but when you decide, look for used and save a bundle.:lifter (just because he's lifting)
I'm not sure what your overall goals are, however if strength training is a part of your agenda and you are willing to spend, rogue fitness makes high quality equipment.
with a simple power rack;
http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-r-3-power-rack
along with one of their plate and bar kits (get the rubber coated, same diameter plates);
http://www.roguefitness.com/bravo-bar-bumper-set
You can work out any muscle group you want.
You would also need a bench;
http://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-flat-utility-bench
Stay away from cable driven racks such as the smith mentioned before. They do not allow for your joints natural movement while lifting the weight. They also encourage poor form and take away from training the stabilizer muscles while performing dynamic lifts.
Just my $.02
He's an old fart who sits behind a desk now. He just wants to stay in shape. :D
Just kidding, he's probably training for an Ironman. :lifter
craigepo
08-25-2014, 18:26
Sir,
What is your mindset? What are you and the wife wanting to improve? Overall health? Increase size with lean muscle mass? Strength and Conditioning?
Your Cardo..what are you wanting to do? Run a Mathron next Spring? Triathlon? Inprove for the Ski season? Keep in Shape for Cross Country during the Spring and Summer? Keep the Heart Rate down?
What you are wanting to do and how much you're wanting to spend drive this. I know you know this, but to say what I would throw in drives what I would suggest.
Do you want a rubber floor? Padded area?
Also what are the measurements of your basement area?
I am definitely going to have a padded area, probably the entire gym area. Gym area is about 15 feet by 20 feet with a 9 foot ceiling.
I don't run for time anymore, and now run exclusively on trails. I like to be able to knock out a 10-miler on a trail without any notice.
I am also hitting the cardio fairly hard, but in more ways than just running. I have been doing a bunch of tabata workouts, using the sandbag, big tire, sledgehammer, log, etc. Also doing some of the dvd workouts for cardio (Insanity, p90x3, etc).
As far as strength, I am tending more toward functional stuff. I.e., I don't care about benching 2x my body weight, but I do want to be able to climb a rope at any time. I am starting to see the genius of sandbag stuff, and will probably order a 2nd, larger sandbag in the near future.
I have also started paying more attention to flexibility. Back when I was fighting, I could do the splits. Now, not so much. So, I've been hitting the p90x3 dynamic stretching and yoga stuff.
Additionally, I am doing more core stuff. Besides the stuff above, I have been doing some p90x3 Pilates, which is pretty good.
Finally, I live too far from town, and work unpredictable hours, to ever make it to a gym. So, I need to be able to accomplish all of the above here on the farm.
DIYPatriot
08-25-2014, 21:59
If running and rucking is your thing, then I highly recommend this iFit enabled treadmill (http://www.nordictrack.com/fitness/en/NordicTrack/Treadmills/x9i-incline-trainer). We bought one last Christmas and have absolutely loved it.
My wife competes in triathlons and I've hiked and ran trails my entire life. If you've never used iFit, then you're missing out. Imagine pulling up an app that allows you to literally trace your route on your smart phone, tablet or pc and then transfer that route to your treadmill. It allows customizations to your resistance, elevation, etc to help you train for a specific route, which rocks whenever you're training for a 5k, half or full marathon.
Aside from that, we train in Krav Maga, BJJ and Kali/silat. So, our gym is atypical - kick shields, heavy bags, tombstone pads, ropes, rubber knives and guns, kettle bells, etc. BTW, your house looks awesome! You've done a great job and should be proud! Oh...and back to iFit...if you do have a smart phone, then download the free app and give it a whirl. Maybe you'll discover some added benefits to how it logs your activities and integrates into your overall cardio and fitness plans.
Best of luck!
Collected over time, but here's what I ended up with in my garage gym.
Pull up bar (homemade from scrap stainless) , mounted to the ceiling
Concept 2 rower, rogue fitness tends to have good prices
Rings, hung from pull up bar for ring rows and dips
Kettlebells, 35 40 53 70 lb
Dumbell pairs, 25 30 40 45
Barbell, also from rogue fitness
Bumper plates, started with 1 pair each 10 15 25 35 45, have added more for heavy deadlift work.
Plyo box 24", home made
Sand bags.
I tend to add items as I see that I will use them, but set the space up with room for the box and rower.
Racks are nice but can be a temptation for putting yourself in danger with no spotter.
Also horse stall mats make decent flooring, but have a smell when new that may be hard to vent from inside your house.
One thing I planned poorly was overhead space, between my pull up bar and garage door motor and tracks I have very limited space for overhead barbell lifts.
Collected over time, but here's what I ended up with in my garage gym..................
Also horse stall mats make decent flooring, but have a smell when new that may be hard to vent from inside your house.
If you think they have a smell when they are new that is hard to vent out of your house you should check out the used ones I got from my neighbor. :p
Some thoughts from designing my home gym that I will open up to some folks as well:
Get an Airdyne (or Assault Bike), Concept2 rower or Concept2 skierg. Those are the best bang for your buck for cardio that can run the gamut from endurance work to hard intervals. Register online for the concept2 stuff and work your way through the world rankings (this adds competition to the mix, which keeps things more interesting).
A decent bar (20KG from rogue is a good one fore the price) and some decent bumpers are a must. I have a nice spreadsheet with a list of items for my gym I can send you, I will be able to outfit with a bar, 550 lbs of bumpers, an outdoor rig, sled, 2x medicine balls (20# and 14#), climbing ropes, a full set of KBs from 8kg to 32kg, and one of those big ass timers that mount on the wall. Total cost is just shy of $5k, but if you already have the outside stuff, the cost will be much less. Stay away from machines, particularly cable machines, they lose their luster pretty quick and become clothes rack before you know it.
craigepo
08-28-2014, 19:08
That Rogue gear looks pretty good; pretty pricey but pretty good.
The cardio machine thing is tricky. I hate treadmills, but you can burn some calories on them. I used to use a Versa climber-great workout. But not a lot of versatility. I have seen a couple of gyms use the rowers.
I will definitely have some sort of plyometric box. Actually, I have some huge white oak stumps that I have set around my fire pit that might get used for the purpose.
The rings look promising and cheap. I have a chin-up/dip/roman chair/push-up tower. Would have to figure out a way to suspend the rings.
DontPanic
09-05-2014, 19:19
I don't work for this company, and do not specifically recommend that you buy from them, but a gym would be pretty much complete with everything found in this package.
http://www.xtrainingequipment.com/Elite-Series-Garage-Package-Set_p_1336.html
Regular strength training; including the squat, deadlift, and press is pretty much essential to anyone serious about athletic training.
Regular sessions of cardio 2-3 times a week combined with a simple strength routine will keep you strong, fast, injury free which is what the majority of people want.
The good thing about equipment like this is that it will last forever. I lift on the same eleiko barbell that my father trained with in his 20's and its almost 30 years old now. Your kids can fight over it when you die.
Other than the equipment, I would invest in a number of mobility and prehab/rehab tools. A roller like the one found here:
http://www.rumbleroller.com/
Will do wonders on your quads and lower back. If you're cheap like me, you can just use a large pvc pipe. Add in a lacrosse ball, maybe some acute compression bands, and if you've got the coin, a marcpro type tens unit, and you'll be pretty damn limber.:lifter
We've destroyed almost a half dozen 35 and 45 lb plates from Xtraining at our gym - our Rogue plates (not the bargain plates) lasted and are still going strong. This is using them for the usual lifts, not dragging them through the parking lot or anyting. Rogue is a bit more expensive, but you can get free shipping on a lot of stuff, and their quality and guarantees are top notch. Just my experience, YMMV. I've always been of the mindset to pay for the quality equipment and only buy once, instead of going for the bargain and having to replace more than once.
I am definitely going to have a padded area, probably the entire gym area. Gym area is about 15 feet by 20 feet with a 9 foot ceiling.
I don't run for time anymore, and now run exclusively on trails. I like to be able to knock out a 10-miler on a trail without any notice.
I am also hitting the cardio fairly hard, but in more ways than just running. I have been doing a bunch of tabata workouts, using the sandbag, big tire, sledgehammer, log, etc. Also doing some of the dvd workouts for cardio (Insanity, p90x3, etc).
As far as strength, I am tending more toward functional stuff. I.e., I don't care about benching 2x my body weight, but I do want to be able to climb a rope at any time. I am starting to see the genius of sandbag stuff, and will probably order a 2nd, larger sandbag in the near future.
I have also started paying more attention to flexibility. Back when I was fighting, I could do the splits. Now, not so much. So, I've been hitting the p90x3 dynamic stretching and yoga stuff.
Additionally, I am doing more core stuff. Besides the stuff above, I have been doing some p90x3 Pilates, which is pretty good.
Finally, I live too far from town, and work unpredictable hours, to ever make it to a gym. So, I need to be able to accomplish all of the above here on the farm.
Sorry I missed this post. Did you get your answer Sir?
Also if NO, then on your padded, you looking more at Rubber matting or like old school Gym padded mats? Or both?
We've destroyed almost a half dozen 35 and 45 lb plates from Xtraining at our gym - our Rogue plates (not the bargain plates) lasted and are still going strong. This is using them for the usual lifts, not dragging them through the parking lot or anyting. Rogue is a bit more expensive, but you can get free shipping on a lot of stuff, and their quality and guarantees are top notch. Just my experience, YMMV. I've always been of the mindset to pay for the quality equipment and only buy once, instead of going for the bargain and having to replace more than once.
The difference here is home gym/and commercial gym. Although I agree completely with your reasoning; I'm not sure if I would recommend all Rogue gear for limited use by one person. I would however say that Rogue bars are worth the money spent.
CH
craigepo
09-13-2014, 10:04
Sorry I missed this post. Did you get your answer Sir?
Also if NO, then on your padded, you looking more at Rubber matting or like old school Gym padded mats? Or both?
I'm getting there. I'm thinking rubber matting for the floor. Also, I'm getting swayed toward the Rogue stuff, but crap it's expensive.
I still haven't figured what type of aerobic machine, if any, to get. These p90x/insanity-type hiit routines work so well, and I will have a tv in the gym, plus I have a good 5k here on the farm, make it a little tough to justify the extra $.
I'm getting there. I'm thinking rubber matting for the floor.
In your neck of the woods, you might check out cow pads/mats. They come in large sizes and are relatively cheap.
Pat
In your neck of the woods, you might check out cow pads/mats. They come in large sizes and are relatively cheap.
Pat
Horse stall mats are well worth the PITA it takes to move them around. You can get them at Tractor Supply and other places. Thin mats won't protect your floor from the inevitable kettlebell or plate drop.
Hotshot - the gym is a home gym with folks from the neighborhood coming in every now and again when they can. It may be that I got a bad batch of bumpers, I've heard of that sort of thing happening. I see your point though, ROI on Rogue gear for one person is probably not worth the it for most people. I started out with a weight set from a box store, bent the bar doing deadlifts. Still use the plates but the bar saw the exit pretty quickly.
PhyrricVictory
09-18-2014, 10:28
I started with a $300 craigslist deal with 300lb of free weights, oly bar, ez-curl bar and a Marcy bench/squat/pulldown station with adjustable bench. Last year I bought a Rogue Economy Bar because the chrome was flaking off my cheap-o bar. The difference is HUGE in quality, I also think it gives you a different feel. I highly recommend one if you are to replace any one piece of equipment from an economy set. I started with using puzzle mats, but once you get around 300lbs on a squat (I weigh 215) your heels start really sinking into the mat when you drive out of the hole.
I'm getting there. I'm thinking rubber matting for the floor. Also, I'm getting swayed toward the Rogue stuff, but crap it's expensive.
I still haven't figured what type of aerobic machine, if any, to get. These p90x/insanity-type hiit routines work so well, and I will have a tv in the gym, plus I have a good 5k here on the farm, make it a little tough to justify the extra $.
I personally would not buy ROUGE for the cost. You can find cheaper equipment at or just about at the same quality. I could provide you some links if you haven't purchased any. The Large Animal Matting is something I was going to suggest. Or going on line and purchasing 1/2" rolled rubber matting.
On your Cardo Equipment are you looking something that is low impact or you good with just running on a treadmill or want a treadmill over something else? They are making elliptical that give you a running strides.
The only bar I'd put in a home gym for a good workout....