You favourite DIY home gym equipment?!

Bellchick91
Bellchick91 Posts: 148 Member
edited November 25 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey!

I thought this would be a fun thread to start. Obviously, working out at home the odd time has it's advantages (stuck for time, no car, no money etc). I aim to get to the gym at least 3 days a week, but if I cant, I do a home workout. I've started to make my own "equipment" like using heavy books/bags as weights, and my dad's making me a pull up bar (out door-frames aren't made to suit a pull up bar - so he's making one in the shed for me out of some pipe!).

There's obviously loads more out that and alternatives you can do/make at home...what are your favourites?
I also like to use a broom to practice squat form - and using clean face towels on a wooden floor to do leg sliders and pikes! They're great!

So - what's your favourite?

:)
«1

Replies

  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    I'm already having fun with these:

    so7go5tgo40y.jpg
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    I started out with something like this for my squats and OHP; worked great:

    3tgv41lvade5.jpg
  • Bellchick91
    Bellchick91 Posts: 148 Member
    ....no need to brag
    :p

    Sweet, though
  • Bellchick91
    Bellchick91 Posts: 148 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    I started out with something like this for my squats and OHP; worked great:

    3tgv41lvade5.jpg

    That's brilliant!
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    I constructed this diy bamboo barbell which I'm rather fond of.
    http://youtu.be/Lh4_8kHYC7A
    Then I made this calf raise.
    kyig36qqo74t.jpg
    Then there's 4" jerk blocks.
    epqpm83oyr55.jpg

    And I'm currently building a prowler from an old Gold Gym multi bench.

    4gtbv50m8uko.jpeg
    hvx8fubohuby.jpeg
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    Few more pics....
    n0wjh9vsfvlt.jpeg6n9bvtc8yxmy.jpeg
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    OMG the barbell bamboo press would drive me insane keeping it steady...

    My favorite is the new bench we got with the leg curl and leg lift attached to it. Also the pull up bar, I learned some great things to do with abs on this, forget just the pull ups.... LOL
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I have a portable step, a balance pad, and a set of resistance bands
  • Bellchick91
    Bellchick91 Posts: 148 Member
    nakedraygun wrote: »
    Few more pics....
    n0wjh9vsfvlt.jpeg6n9bvtc8yxmy.jpeg

    I want your entire gym. Like now. I wish I had the room for this in my house!


    Cool ideas everyone!! Keep em coming!!
    47Jacqueline wrote: »
    I have a portable step, a balance pad, and a set of resistance bands

    I LOVE pull up bars - FULL body exercise. Seriously - should have started them on day one.

    Great ideas people - keep em coming! This is a fun thread - share your ideas and construction work!
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    gia07 wrote: »
    OMG the barbell bamboo press would drive me insane keeping it steady...

    My favorite is the new bench we got with the leg curl and leg lift attached to it. Also the pull up bar, I learned some great things to do with abs on this, forget just the pull ups.... LOL

    That's most of the fun with the bamboo bar ... The harder you try and control it the more it shakes.
  • V_Keto_V
    V_Keto_V Posts: 342 Member
    Cool pics!
    I'm a bit crunched for space but use adjustable Dumbbells & a folding treadmill make a pretty versatile, small home gym. Throw in some mats & mirrors. It gets the job done in a pinch when strapped for time during hectic work days by saving a good half-hour or so traveling to & from a gym.
  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    Loving the bamboo bar. That is pretty awesome
  • Bellchick91
    Bellchick91 Posts: 148 Member
    I second that. Creative thinking!
  • rbakedq
    rbakedq Posts: 142 Member
    I use these for pullups etc. Easier on the wrists.

    m0blncyba1dp.jpg



    http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/rock_rings.html

  • Wiz_Joe
    Wiz_Joe Posts: 476 Member
    Bamboo bar is pretty awesome
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    I found a DIY solution to increase strength in forearms, wrist and grip. Take a length of PVC pipe and drill a hole through the center. Thread a rope through the hole and tie it off. Hang a kettlebell at the end of the length. Grip the pipe and twist the kettlebell up and then back down.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    edited November 2015
    I made a slingshot for benching out of an old pair of Titan THP wraps.

    I also made something like this from pipe. You can load however much weight you want. I usually have about 50lbs sitting on it and use it for swings

    xaxg3n6mmik2.jpg
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    I'm about to make a wall mount for resistance bands like the one in the video.

    Watch "How to Build an Exercise Band Wall Mount Station For Cheap" on YouTube
    https://youtu.be/D7wcyoSpW7A

  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    edited November 2015
    Here's the platform build for my garage gym.

    6tt9s41un53b.jpeg
    li2l93m1d4lt.jpeg
    9m3ouu24ugb8.jpeg

    9k0bd53aqhvw.jpeg
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,899 Member
    rileyes wrote: »
    I found a DIY solution to increase strength in forearms, wrist and grip. Take a length of PVC pipe and drill a hole through the center. Thread a rope through the hole and tie it off. Hang a kettlebell at the end of the length. Grip the pipe and twist the kettlebell up and then back down.

    I did this with a 1" wooden dowel for my hockey playing kid. She is 12 and uses a 2.5 lb weight at the end to strengthen her wrists and forearms.

    We also have a removable door mounted pull-up bar that my 13yo son abuses. No day is complete without at least three sets of ten pull-ups. The 12yo does them too, but she pulls overhand, more like 2-3 sets of 5 or 6.
  • riffraff2112
    riffraff2112 Posts: 1,756 Member
    Nothing fancy for me. Nice elliptical, basic bench, lots of free weight, ab ball, ab roller, chin up bar.

    n3wq44eylrbk.jpg




    I recently purchased a chin up assist strap, which has helped me work out the back at home. I am very very close to not needing it any more but I find if I want to do 4 or 5 sets of chin-ups of assorted grip lengths it has allowed me to use proper form and to concentrate on the full range of motion.
  • lingo10
    lingo10 Posts: 305 Member
    I dont have a pic but i did a diy a year ago with lebert equalizers using PVC pipes from home depot :) My friend and I did it! the diy instructions are easy to find online.
  • TonnnnUK
    TonnnnUK Posts: 132 Member
    edited November 2015
    I just have a small spare room I use as a homemade gym consisting of:

    Bench with barbell spotter - Adjustadble back rest for incline.
    Barbell, EZ curl bar & 2 pairs of dumbells.
    About 90kgs of assorted weights.
    Door frame pull up/chin up bar - Like the JML ones.
    Military strap for suspension training - NOT TRX, one that was just £20 new.
    Exercise bike - But it's a bit small for a good exercise.

    All that is sufficient for full body workouts. Though it would be cool to make or buy a squat rack thing.
    I'm in the process of moving house so maybe in future.

    In terms of best equipment, the military strap is my latest purchase and although I haven;t used it too much so far, it looks like it will be a really useful bit of kit.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    riffraff2112 wrote: »
    Nothing fancy for me. Nice elliptical, basic bench, lots of free weight, ab ball, ab roller, chin up bar.

    n3wq44eylrbk.jpg




    I recently purchased a chin up assist strap, which has helped me work out the back at home. I am very very close to not needing it any more but I find if I want to do 4 or 5 sets of chin-ups of assorted grip lengths it has allowed me to use proper form and to concentrate on the full range of motion.

    You made all that stuff? Including the elliptical? Great craftsmanship!
  • jeremywm1977
    jeremywm1977 Posts: 657 Member
    DopeItUp wrote: »
    riffraff2112 wrote: »
    Nothing fancy for me. Nice elliptical, basic bench, lots of free weight, ab ball, ab roller, chin up bar.

    n3wq44eylrbk.jpg




    I recently purchased a chin up assist strap, which has helped me work out the back at home. I am very very close to not needing it any more but I find if I want to do 4 or 5 sets of chin-ups of assorted grip lengths it has allowed me to use proper form and to concentrate on the full range of motion.

    You made all that stuff? Including the elliptical? Great craftsmanship!

    He also drew by hand and painted those iconic images of Ali and Jordan. He is a renaissance man.
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    ^^^ tee hee
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    My resistance band wall mount is coming along.


    qdkw1ymrgwz3.jpg
  • dlm7507
    dlm7507 Posts: 237 Member
    Ross has quite a bit of DIY training equipment ideas. Here's one https://instagram.com/p/-UPJnTmsVd/
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    My resistance band wallmount is just about complete. I have to wait for the man of the house to finish screwing in those top two screw eyes, I totally ran out of upper body strength on that. Oak and the large screw eyes I used might have been a bit of overkill. They go all the way into the stud along with the screws. I forgot how HARD oak is! The only thing that will take this wall mount down is termites from the stud side!


    ldqd1xbpqlpo.jpg

  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Huh, I was envisioning a horizontal mount so that each band/set of bands would hang down vertically and separately from each other. Guess it works either way.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories