Home gyms.

hesn92
hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
Who has a home gym and what do you have? I would prefer to invest in some equipment rather than get a gym membership.. But my dilemma is a squat rack. Does anyone have one? Where did you get it and how much was it? My problem is that they take up so much space and are expensive! But can you do squats without one? What are my options??
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Replies

  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
    I spent about $700 on my home gym a couple years ago. Best investment for me. I do weightlifting with it. I looked around for sales and deals to find equipment. Probably could have spent less if I looked around even harder.

    I have:

    Power cage
    Olympic bar with set of 320lb weights
    Flat bench
    Mat flooring to protect actual floor

    If you plan to do any barbell squats, then at the least you'll need a squat rack, and best is a power cage. Having failed on squats before, I say you really need something to catch that bar on a fail.

    You could do goblet squats or dumbbell squats without any safety gear.
  • FullOnBurn
    FullOnBurn Posts: 43 Member
    edited February 2015
    Over the years my basement has become my gym, elliptical, treadmill, spin bike, and most recently a power rack, 300lbs Olympic weights, bench and a bunch of standard weights with a curl bar. You'd think I'd be in better shape with all this stuff.

    The rack was gift from my wife (should I take a hint?), but was ~$300 Cdn, weights were another $300, $50 for flooring, another $40 for fractional weights
  • I bought a squat rack and weights from Scheels for about $700. I looked around at all the sports stores in the area, focusing more on sturdiness than price. I often workout at home when the kids are in bed and I can't leave the house. It's worth the investment to me.
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    If you're lifting then either a squat rack or a power cage will be necessary. You can find used ones on craigslist for pretty cheap. I saw a listing last night that included a good looking squat rack, bench, barbell and plates (2x45, 2x25, 2x10, 2x5, 2x2.5) for $340.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I bought squat stands off of Craigslist for $50. Then I got a pair of these sawhorses, which I use as safeties. They are a nice height to use as a rack for rows and Romanian deadlifts too. I set my bench ($25 used, came with 80 lbs of plates) inside the sawhorses when I am benching so they are my safeties for that as well.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member


    Plus dumbbells, bunch of different bands, recovery stuff, pull up bar, one kb, yoga mat.

    I have a commercial grade rack which is def overkill but I feel safer.
    Plates and dumbells from CL. Bar from Play it Again. Rack and bench from a used gym store lol
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member


    Plus dumbbells, bunch of different bands, recovery stuff, pull up bar, one kb, yoga mat.

    I have a commercial grade rack which is def overkill but I feel safer.
    Plates and dumbells from CL. Bar from Play it Again. Rack and bench from a used gym store lol
    That is easily the most beautiful thing I've seen all day. How much was it?
  • subversive99
    subversive99 Posts: 273 Member
    We got a cheap olympic bar and 270 pounds of weights from Canadian Tire for like $100 (it was being discontinued and the last one we could find). Got a power cage from Flaman Fitness for $600. Got the bench and some dumbbells off kijiji (think Craigslist for Canadians). Had the treadmill for a few years, but I think it was around $800 from Costco. We recently bought a proper 45 pound Olympic bar for $140, also from Flaman Fitness, and added some interlocking mats to the floor. We're not using the dip bars and other stuff that came with the cage yet, just doing StrongLifts 5x5, but so far REALLY happy with the investment.

    MfFt1uc.jpg
  • Sutnak
    Sutnak Posts: 227 Member
    edited February 2015
    4lT17qV.jpg

    Rogue R3 rack with crossover grips
    Rogue rippetoe bar and rogue beater bar
    rogue hitemp plates (hate these)
    rogue flat bench
    rogue dip bar attachment
    also have a suspension trainer attached at the top

    Metal plates i found on craigslist for .55c/lb. Wish I bought more 45s.

    I think everything together was about 2500 or so
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    edited February 2015
    yusaku02 wrote: »


    Plus dumbbells, bunch of different bands, recovery stuff, pull up bar, one kb, yoga mat.

    I have a commercial grade rack which is def overkill but I feel safer.
    Plates and dumbells from CL. Bar from Play it Again. Rack and bench from a used gym store lol
    That is easily the most beautiful thing I've seen all day. How much was it?

    Haha plates and dumbbells were like 270$ from CL. Worked out to be less than 60cents/lb. [ Pairs of db: 15, 25, 30, 40. Pairs of plTes: 2.5, 2x 5, 10, 25, 35, 45]
    Bar was 50$ plus tax at play it again.
    Rack and bench was 1100$ with tax and delivery. I talked them down on it. I got it at a place that only sells commercial grade equipment hence the price.

    I have a door frame pull up bar, pull up assistance bands, 1 kb, pair pf 5lb and 10lb dbs, bosu ball, half foam, other resistance bands, airex pad, stability balls, yoga mat, 2 yoga dvds, 4 books about lifting, 2 for running, extra fractionals, bunch of stuff for recovery.

    Need 20lb dbs, heavy bag, treadmill, and trainer for my bike and I'm set hahaha
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    Welcome new friend haha
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Sweet, another chance to *kitten* out my pics.

    51163485433173627074.jpg

    52522497578703419904.jpg
  • subversive99
    subversive99 Posts: 273 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    Sweet, another chance to *kitten* out my pics.

    Epic.

  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    Sweet, another chance to *kitten* out my pics.

    51163485433173627074.jpg

    52522497578703419904.jpg

    Im still jealous of your set up. Largely due to the space haha
  • Sutnak
    Sutnak Posts: 227 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    Sweet, another chance to *kitten* out my pics.

    51163485433173627074.jpg

    52522497578703419904.jpg

    Did you build thta lifting platform? Plywood and horse stall mat? Been thinking about doing that myself.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    damnit this thread is just making me jealous.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    You can build a rack out of wood. I believe @mireygal76 has a stand she made of wood , cement, buckets, and brackets
  • I bought the total gym after working on it for years in physical therapy they run about 300 dollars including shippong on HSN awesome got a squat and a bunch of different attachment s came with it check it out online it weighs felt 70 to 75 pounds but it does fold up so you can stow away somewhere.
  • Don't have a home gym myself, just graduated college. The best thing imho is a pull up bar, and some dumbbells. The amount of leg work you can do without a squat rack is pretty substantial. I for one find pistol squats while holding a weight to be amazing, especially if you can work your way up to 50lbs or more.
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
    edited February 2015
    You can build a rack out of wood. I believe @mireygal76 has a stand she made of wood , cement, buckets, and brackets

    I made them using this template:
    http://homemadestrength.blogspot.ca/2011/04/more-than-just-squat-stands.html

    It was pretty easy, and they have served me well :smiley:
    20140209_181547_23524-1_zpstfp7xnko.jpg
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    Sweet, another chance to *kitten* out my pics.

    51163485433173627074.jpg

    52522497578703419904.jpg

    Did you build thta lifting platform? Plywood and horse stall mat? Been thinking about doing that myself.

    Yup, it's just 3/4" plywood and 3/4" horse stall mats. I used cabinet-grade plywood for the top layer so it looks "nice". And some screws just to keep the layers from shifting. Pretty simple and cheap. Been deadlifting on it for a year and it looks perfect still.
  • blktngldhrt
    blktngldhrt Posts: 1,053 Member
    MireyGal76 wrote: »
    You can build a rack out of wood. I believe @mireygal76 has a stand she made of wood , cement, buckets, and brackets

    I made them using this template:
    http://homemadestrength.blogspot.ca/2011/04/more-than-just-squat-stands.html

    It was pretty easy, and they have served me well :smiley:
    20140209_181547_23524-1_zpstfp7xnko.jpg

    Amazing! I love you for sharing this. New spring project (after kitchen is done)!!

    I'm working on a home gym. So far all I have is a curl bar, various dumbells (adjustable and set weight), resistance bands, yoga mat, pull up bar and a CycleOps mag trainer for my bike. Have to start somewhere. Barbell, squat rack, and bench are next on the list.
  • lishie_rebooted
    lishie_rebooted Posts: 2,973 Member
    @blktngldhrt can you tell me more about this bike trainer? I'm looking into one for my gym

    If you have a play it again near you, pop in!
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,472 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    Sweet, another chance to *kitten* out my pics.

    51163485433173627074.jpg

    52522497578703419904.jpg

    Duuude. That's amazing.
  • blktngldhrt
    blktngldhrt Posts: 1,053 Member
    MireyGal76 wrote: »
    You can build a rack out of wood. I believe @mireygal76 has a stand she made of wood , cement, buckets, and brackets

    I made them using this template:
    http://homemadestrength.blogspot.ca/2011/04/more-than-just-squat-stands.html

    It was pretty easy, and they have served me well :smiley:
    20140209_181547_23524-1_zpstfp7xnko.jpg

    Amazing! I love you for sharing this. New spring project (after kitchen is done)!!

    I'm working on a home gym. So far all I have is a curl bar, various dumbells (adjustable and set weight), resistance bands, yoga mat, pull up bar and a CycleOps mag trainer for my bike. Have to start somewhere. Barbell, squat rack, and bench are next on the list.

    @lishie_rebooted‌ I miss typed..I have a cycleops fluid 2 trainer for my bike. My SO always says mag..and it's ingrained in me to call it that. I'm not sure if there are superior brands. That's just the one I have and it's never given me any issues. It's almost 8 years old and still working like the first day..even with being used by two people. It's really easy to set up, too. Once your bike has the quick release skewer on, it takes a minute or less. The resistance is good and can be controlled with your gears. It's pretty quiet. You can also use climbing blocks to simulate a hill. I love it.

    I don't think there's a play it again around here. I've never even heard of it!
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I've seen plenty of bench press benches and racks on Craigslist and the person selling says it doubles as a squat rack. How is that? I guess you could raise the rack to the right height to where you can get under it but there's nothing there as far as a "safety net" to catch the bar should I not be able to get back up or something. Isn't that an important component of a squat rack? Or is it not that important? I've never actually needed those safety bars before but used them when I worked out at a gym.
  • jhc7324
    jhc7324 Posts: 200 Member
    hesn92 wrote: »
    I've seen plenty of bench press benches and racks on Craigslist and the person selling says it doubles as a squat rack. How is that? I guess you could raise the rack to the right height to where you can get under it but there's nothing there as far as a "safety net" to catch the bar should I not be able to get back up or something. Isn't that an important component of a squat rack? Or is it not that important? I've never actually needed those safety bars before but used them when I worked out at a gym.

    I can use mine as a squat rack for warmup level weights, but I would never be able to do a full working set using it.

    Most of the racks that say they double as a squat rack have a curved lower bracket where the bench rests on when its down flat. These benches usually incline, so when you squat you just flip the bench all the way forward, out of the way, and the curved bar lets you get in under the bar without having to bend awkwardly. Still, its not the same as a real squat rack, and you don't have any safeties, and with mine at least, I'm still having to take the bar off the rack much lower than I prefer, and at a slightly odd angle, so I basically have to "goodmorning" the bar out of the rack, then step back and squat. Re-racking is a similar pain.

    If someone tells you their bench doubles as a squat rack, they probably don't squat.
  • njfitnessmom
    njfitnessmom Posts: 345 Member
    Okay, this thread is now making me want to work on my home gym. I have plenty of space in my basement. I already have a treadmill and a weight bench. I have dumbbells up to 25lbs. I may have to add this to my hunny-do list :wink:
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    jhc7324 wrote: »
    hesn92 wrote: »
    I've seen plenty of bench press benches and racks on Craigslist and the person selling says it doubles as a squat rack. How is that? I guess you could raise the rack to the right height to where you can get under it but there's nothing there as far as a "safety net" to catch the bar should I not be able to get back up or something. Isn't that an important component of a squat rack? Or is it not that important? I've never actually needed those safety bars before but used them when I worked out at a gym.

    I can use mine as a squat rack for warmup level weights, but I would never be able to do a full working set using it.

    Most of the racks that say they double as a squat rack have a curved lower bracket where the bench rests on when its down flat. These benches usually incline, so when you squat you just flip the bench all the way forward, out of the way, and the curved bar lets you get in under the bar without having to bend awkwardly. Still, its not the same as a real squat rack, and you don't have any safeties, and with mine at least, I'm still having to take the bar off the rack much lower than I prefer, and at a slightly odd angle, so I basically have to "goodmorning" the bar out of the rack, then step back and squat. Re-racking is a similar pain.

    If someone tells you their bench doubles as a squat rack, they probably don't squat.
    I'm also pretty tall so that would not work. From looking at the pictures it doesn't look like you can raise the rack up very high at all. It might work for a shorter person but would be really awkward for me