Buying stuff for home gym - advice please.....

Nix143
Nix143 Posts: 522 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey guys, got a birthday coming up and can spend about £200 on home weights equipment.

I've managed to get hold of a wide variety of dumbells and a couple of kettlebells but I really need barbells and a bench. I did initially think I'd like a squat rack but as I'm only 5'3 then a bench should be ok to use for squats.

So my question is - in the UK - what would you buy? I'm haunting Ebay at the moment for weights and benches but locally there doesn't seem to be much coming up.

I'm a 40+ year old 5'3 overweight bird who is just starting out, who knows the end goal is to lift heavy but who has to start somewhere.

If you were me what kit would you get? I'm really aware I won't get the best quality of anything with the cash I have at the moment but you have to start somewhere.

Do I get a bench like this? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Golds-Gym-Deluxe-Weight-Bench/dp/B006BS0ND4/ref=sr_1_41?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1348841341&sr=1-41
Or this http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-Heavy-Incline-Decline-Bench/dp/B000N3T0T6/ref=sr_1_3?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1348842037&sr=1-3
and pick up cheap/second hand weights as and when? Are those benches *kitten*?

Do I spend the money on an olympic bar and 'some' weights and get a bench where I can? Do I get a cheaper bar and weights and upgrade to olympic later?

Feedback please - and cut me some slack will you please, everyone starts somewhere and I know I've probably said/posted something so incredibly noob like that has some of you snorting your bro shakes down your nose - but I've been stalking a lot of you lifting peeps and wanna join your gang - I just need to know how to get there and what's my best move right now.

Cheers ears :)

Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Sometimes a half squat rack can be perfect for this. You can also use it as a safety for benches, depending on the adjustability. Usually a lot cheaper than a full squat rack or power cage.
  • OneFitDude16
    OneFitDude16 Posts: 169
    get a weight bench and dumbbells. I have 5's 8's 10's 15's 20's 25's 50's and I have a set of adjustable bars that i can adjust between 30 and 45 pounds
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Sounds like you're off to a good start. A squat rack is going to be MUCH safer than squatting from a bench rack. I have a half squat rack and it works well too, though in an ideal world I'd rather have a full rack.

    .
  • jonchew
    jonchew Posts: 239 Member
    Have you considered resistance bands? I have a set of BodyLastics bands that I've been very happy with, the added bonus being that they weight (a whole lot) less, and are portable. Just a thought.
  • Nix143
    Nix143 Posts: 522 Member
    So this

    418WHwFNCtL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

    as opposed to this?

    51JYFddvoSL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    So this

    418WHwFNCtL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

    as opposed to this?

    51JYFddvoSL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

    Yes, as long as the safety bars are low enough to allow you to squat, bench, etc.

    Something like this would be even better, but probably a little more money. At some point you'd probably want to put a bench with either of them, but that (along with the weights to use them) is about all you'd ever need for a solid workout.

    HalfRack.jpg
  • Nix143
    Nix143 Posts: 522 Member
    That looks shiny and gorgeous - but hella expensive.......... plus I still have to get my bar and weights from somewhere....... need a lottery win ;)
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    That looks shiny and gorgeous - but hella expensive.......... plus I still have to get my bar and weights from somewhere....... need a lottery win ;)

    Look for used stuff. Sooo many people buy gear and end up not using it then turn around and try to sell it. THere are some good deals to be found - that's how I got mine... AWESOME shape, less than half of the retail price.

Categories