Buying new weights & rack - recommendations ??

TheHobbit2017

Hi all,

I’m making the step from 1” bar and weights to Olympic 2”. I’ve bought a set of weights - Body Power 100Kg TRI-GRIP Olympic Weight Set (7Ft Bar) so that should last me for a fair while... I will add bigger plates as I go.

The bit I’m hoping for advice on buying a power cage. My supportive hubby is buying me one for my birthday (who said romance is dead). He is a little worried that as my squats and bench press get higher in weight and doesn’t want a squished wife

canadianlbs

i hope someone who does lift at home has suggestions for you. in the meantime, the only useful idea i have after my years in public rec centres is: make sure you check out how far apart the different 'heights' are. i've always had a bit of a struggle with benching, because it's so hard to find any benches that have just the right kind of height for my arms. four inches of graduation is bad enough, but i've seen some racks where the distance was six. if you're of some in-between 'height' then that can make things a bloody nuisance.

and the same goes for how low the safety bars go. that's another reason why i don't bench much these days. the lowest setting on the public cages might be great for male rib-cages. but for someone like mine, the bar doesn't even come close to my ribs.

i guess just bear in mind most lifting equipment is still made for men. damn it.

Sumiblue

I lift at home and have a power cage. It's a used Proviction (SP?) cage. Not fancy but does what I want. I bench inside it so I can set the safeties where I need them. I can set the rack pins at just the right distance for me. I have a pull up bar on top. I'd say think about any extras you may want--like pulley systems. Mine doesn't have that and sometimes I wish it did. I built a plywood deck for deadlifting. I have a bench, dumbbells, some bands. My workout room is small so I needed a smaller footprint but I had to make sure the power cage would clear the ceiling and that I wouldn't hit my head while doing pull ups. Just made it!

TheHobbit2017

Hi all I found a brand New power cage for £139. Someone bought it and didn’t even open the box! It’s only a starter one but rated to 200kg so I’m doubting I’ll need another. Put it together now so just waiting for a 7 foot Olympic bar. So excited!

mustb60

TheHobbit2017 wrote: »

Hi all I found a brand New power cage for £139. Someone bought it and didn’t even open the box! It’s only a starter one but rated to 200kg so I’m doubting I’ll need another. Put it together now so just waiting for a 7 foot Olympic bar. So excited!

I am all envy!! I wish I could buy one sadly my house is too small. Happy lifting!

TheHobbit2017

Hi thanks! I only have to go to the gym now for PT/physio. It’s nice to be able to workout at home and not worry about waiting for equipment etc. Good luck x