Home Gym Equipment

[Michael]

   What kind of equipment do You feel is essential to Your home gym? For me I have an old Body Solid power rack that has a pull up bar and removeable dip bars. The power rack itself is not essential but I can put my anchors for using the Sierra isometric/suspension trainer and cables anywhere I want on it. I would say now the Sierra stuff I have is all essential for me. I have a couple of dumbbels that I feel are essential. I would like to get a couple of heavier ones but haven't gotten around to it.

[mr potatohead]

Essential tools?
Something or things to lift and carry around and my handled-rope-stretching-loop thingy.

Most anything moderately heavy that can be grasped, lifted and carried somehow will do. I don't need dedicated tools for it, although I do have tools that I use specifically for the purpose of loaded carry.

The stretching moves that I do with the loop of rope with vinyl tubing handles that I hang on my The Hook door anchor are harder to duplicate some other way and to so so without it requires some creative thinking on the spot - like when traveling if I forget to take it with me. That probably won't happen since I have one at home and one I carry in the vehicle. The Sierra Exercise Equipment Suspension Trainer would also work.

[TexasRanger]

Running shoes.  You can walk, run -- just plain get outside and move.  For some people, a bike.

For strength training -- the basics to begin with.  Either a set of heavy DBs or adjustable DBs, a sturdy pole and a chinning bar.  A cheap bench (you could build a small one) is optional. With the DBs, you can do just about everything -- rows, farmer's walks, deadlifts of various kinds, squats -- goblet, wall, etc., presses, curls, triceps work, ab work, calf raises, swings, clean and press, etc., etc.  You can do dips on the backs of chairs, modified rows with a pole off of a chair if you're not ready for chins.  You can use the pole to warm up for presses, squat warm up, etc.   

Right now I've got the perfect push up handles, DBs, KB, a chinning bar (http://www.pullupbar.com/doorway-pull-up-bar.php#.W98WsGhKhHo ...have had this for 12 years?) , the TRX, Heavyhands, Samson cables & TO cables (rarely use the latter any more), V-dip rack (still need to figure out how to safely mount it on the wall), and, a $20 towing strap with loops sewn in the ends I've used for isometrics since 2000.  was recently resurrected for teh Drew Baye workout.

But, have downsized and sold/given away: squatting belt (got rid of this in the 90s -- you had two chains hanging off of a belt which looped around the bar), just gave away the second of two Olympic weight sets (paying it forward since they were given to me), a leg curl/extension machine (no room in the garage), 100lbs in 1" weight plates and handles.

And you always have Arthur Jones' timeless advice regarding dips, chins and BW squats, or, even less complicated, the SimpleFit approach.

I'm thinking...perhaps I should just go head and get rid of everything since this is all you need!  www.x3bar.com/

[Michael]

Texas I would say not to get rid of You stuff for that thing. Do You ever use the Samson cables?

[gruntbrain]

Vertical loading pins are useful for those who have limited workout space while desiring to lift heavy.

[Bruce Tackett]

The only things I need in my home gym are my Sierra Isometric/Suspension Trainer and Hook Gym, my incline bench, my curling bar, and a couple dumbbells.

I disagree with the guy on the dumbbells. You don't need a complete set of from 5-95 lbs., and that Dumbbell Block costs over $700. I actually only use two sets of dumbbells in my workouts, homemade, utilizing plates, and I keep the weights as they are, until I'm ready to move up.

[TexasRanger]

Nov 5, 2018 19:15:22 GMT Bruce Tackett said:

The only things I need in my home gym are my Sierra Isometric/Suspension Trainer and Hook Gym, my incline bench, my curling bar, and a couple dumbbells.

I disagree with the guy on the dumbbells. You don't need a complete set of from 5-95 lbs., and that Dumbbell Block costs over $700. I actually only use two sets of dumbbells in my workouts, homemade, utilizing plates, and I keep the weights as they are, until I'm ready to move up.

How about this...there are the optional plate-loading DB handles and 1" plates.  But, price them out...you'll end up spending 60 - 70% of real DBs when you're done buying all of the plates as you'll need to step up to the 15 or 20lb plates if you want to go heavier than say 80lbs.  I had a set of those in the late 80s/90s and gave them away as I wasn't going to buy all of the bigger plates, plus, keeping the "nut" secured on the weights was impossible.

[TexasRanger]

Nov 5, 2018 0:31:40 GMT Michael said:

Texas I would say not to get rid of You stuff for that thing. Do You ever use the Samson cables?

 Hi Michael,

I was kidding.  

But, there are places around the US where you can make an appointment to try it out.  I would like to see how easy it is to use for someone who is taller/longer arms.

Don't use the Samson cables too often...more than the TO Cables (think Bodylastics makes them?), for sure.  However, my wife & I took a short trip recently and they did go in my suitcase along with the Iso-Bow since the workout options were limited.  I used them twice and really liked them for rowing, surprisingly.  They're also (for me) the just the right size for overhead pulldowns. 

[mr potatohead]

Nov 5, 2018 19:15:22 GMT Bruce Tackett said:

I disagree with the guy on the dumbbells. You don't need a complete set of from 5-95 lbs., and that Dumbbell Block costs over $700. I actually only use two sets of dumbbells ...... and I keep the weights as they are .....

Same here. For neophytes who don't know that you never use all of those options and don't know much about what to do with them anyway, his $700 DB Block set sounds great, since they have no experience to know what is really necessary, but his marketing hype will probably attract some newbies to spend the ridiculous $$.

I have a few pairs of matching weight DBs that I found at thrift store, garage sale or Play Again Sports (PAS has cast hex DBs for $0.79/lb last I checked).
I also have two spin-on handles that I've 'permanently' loaded to make each a different wt from the other. (I think I posted a pic of them sometime ago on the old Zen forum?) Thrift stores, flea market/trunk/garage sales are quite cheap and, of course, free from a friend is, well, free.
Anyway, they never come un-spun until I undo them because I use washers over the plates, then a lock washer, then the spin-on nut. The flat washers are loaded in multiples to fudge up the weight slightly too. Newbies are easily convinced that they need all of those weight options for DBs, but once they begin using them, discover that they use only a couple different weights making those block thingys overkill. It is rare indeed when I change the wt on my two spin-ons. I think I only changed one of them once in 4 or 5 years.

Anyone, who has a real desire to exercise to obtain strength/hypertrophy or whatever, needs no equipment whatsoever to create TUT, which 'TUT' is all that is required to build strength/hypertrophy. On the other hand, I do appreciate the joy of a 'new' tool, whether I made it, it was given to me or I bought it. 

As far as collecting effective equipment - my collection of store-bought-new equipment is very small. Most of it I have DIY'd (DIY is my favorite), been given for free or buy at the thrifty shops-flea markets-garage/trunk sales. eg, the spin-on handles came with 20# each of 5# plates, all for $15 at a garage sale. I then bought some more iron plates in 5# & 10# from PAS or thrifty at a fraction of $/# from original. A tiny fraction of the DB set Jeff is selling. I doubt that my entire collection of all exercise equipment - EVERYTHING - , purchased or DIY, totals $700. That's just nuts, but hey, a guy needs to make lots of money, right? He just won't get mine! Ha!

[TexasRanger]

I also have two spin-on handles that I've 'permanently' loaded to make each a different wt from the other. (I think I posted a pic of them sometime ago on the old Zen forum?) Thrift stores, flea market/trunk/garage sales are quite cheap and, of course, free from a friend is, well, free.

Anyway, they never come un-spun until I undo them because I use washers over the plates, then a lock washer, then the spin-on nut. The flat washers are loaded in multiples to fudge up the weight slightly too. (1) Newbies are easily convinced that they need all of those weight options for DBs, but once they begin using them, discover that they use only a couple different weights making those block thingys overkill. It is rare indeed when I change the wt on my two spin-ons. I think I only changed one of them once in 4 or 5 years.



Anyone, who has a real desire to exercise to obtain strength/hypertrophy or whatever, needs no equipment whatsoever to create TUT, which 'TUT' is all that is required to build strength/hypertrophy.(2) On the other hand, I do appreciate the joy of a 'new' tool, whether I made it, it was given to me or I bought it.

(1) Right...so you're adding the washers...now, if I wanted to load up the spin-on handles with a bunch of 10lb plates, you're not going to squeeze 8 x 10lbs on there safely.  That star nut or whatever you call it won't seat all the way on standard handles.  So now, you have to step up to the 15 or 20lb plates.  Well, there is another $21 to $25 ea (per plate), depending on how heavy you want your DB to go.  And, pick up a pair of +100lb DBs using those handles -- the ends don't balance and are unwieldy.  Basically, not the safest thing to use. 

Real DBs and those block DBs are better balanced, safer to handle, IMHO/experience.

(2) No. Wrong. Not even close.

One of my goals once I hit 315lbs on my bench press was 405lbs.  Ended up at 415lbs but that is another story.  Tell me how I would have done that without the weights, the progressive resistance training, etc.   Another goal was 150lb DBs on an incline bench...there was an old picture of Ken Waller doing them and I wanted to do the same thing.  The only way I met that goal was training with equipment...weights and a bench.

[Michael]

Yeah I would not buy those DB blocks. I think TR's suggestion, which I believe Whiffet also suggested in the past, for the plate-loading DB handles is a good idea for a home gym. When I use DBS I use Bruce's KSDH so I don't use much weight myself. But If someone is interested in progressive overload via heavier weights you would need more weight, of course.

[TexasRanger]

Nov 5, 2018 22:27:33 GMT Michael said:

Yeah I would not buy those DB blocks. I think TR's suggestion, which I believe Whiffet also suggested in the past, for the plate-loading DB handles is a good idea for a home gym. When I use DBS I use Bruce's KSDH so I don't use much weight myself. But If someone is interested in progressive overload via heavier weights you would need more weight, of course.

Just to make sure we're talking the same thing --   -- we're all referring to the plate loading DB handles below? 

If your goal is to go heavy, IMHO, they're not the right training tools. 

While Mikey figured out how to keep the collars/star-nuts from slipping and make them safer, he had to add washers to the DBs and weights. That reduces the space on the handles regarding the number of plates you can load, so, you'll need to step up from the 10s to the heavier plates (which are thicker -- again, it becomes a question of space on the handles) and more $$. 

And when I've tried them, the handle ends are smaller which makes the weights harder to balance (especially if you're sweating).  

They're probably the prefect tool for a lot of people.  But, I found they didn't work for me for the reasons mentioned above and felt they were not safe when used with heavier plates.

[Michael]

I've never used those kind but I figured that's what you guys were talking about. When I lifted heavier I always used the hex DBs. The hex are what I have now, not many. The only plate loaded ones I've ever used were the ones with the bolt in the end and that was in the 80s. Yeah I can see how these would not be safe with heavier weight.

But again I have no experience with plate loaded DBs. For myself, 50lb DBs would be enough because I'd rather feel the muscle work and use tension with good form.

[gruntbrain]

My only use of heavy DBs(200#+) is single arm deadlifts(much safer than using 32 DBs)

[Bob50]