What should I put i...
 

[Closed] What should I put in my garage gym?

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Don't like the idea of a multi-gym so would be looking to start from scratch, e.g. pull up bar, punch bag, kettlebells, free weights, bench ...

What have you already got and what's good about it? What would you like to add?

FTR, garage has pitched roof with rafters.

Ta


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:32 pm
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Power Rack + bench (and some free weights)

that's all you need! 🙂

EDIT - just realised height may be an issue, you'd need around 2m


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:34 pm
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Get yourself a power rack made up, the rest is almost redundant then

get a pull up bar though


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:35 pm
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Peter file +1 (almost)
Chin bar, heavy bag, skip rope and some kettlebells.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:35 pm
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Nothing.

Pull ups from rafters, everything else body-weight (have you tried single leg deads or squats?)

Spend the money on more bikes.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:37 pm
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A sauna


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:38 pm
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most power racks come with pull up bars (ones that ive seen/used anyway), so two birds and all that.

if you get a reasonably good one, there are lots of add ons available too


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:38 pm
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I have squat rack, bench, dip bars, pull up bar, bag, loads of weights & kettle bells, incline bench for abs and a rope. And a radio.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:38 pm
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Wine rack, beer fridge, PS4, a [i]niiiiiiiiiice[/i] sound system...


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:43 pm
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Excellent responses guys. I forgot about power racks + don't know much about them. Will have a look now. Any good ones you know of?


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:44 pm
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hundredweight bag of cement for push press.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:44 pm
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[i]power racks[/i], FFS!! - it's like Rocky IV was never made


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:45 pm
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a telly.............


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:45 pm
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... unless, of course:

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:49 pm
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I very much like the look of [url= http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/premium-strength-package.php ]this[/url]. Not sure I can justify the cost but I can at least dream about putting it to good use 🙂


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 9:55 pm
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That's about what I spent on mine. Approx the same as 18 months gym membership. Which do you think is better value?


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:00 pm
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I'd go half rack and bench. The crossfit racks are very versatile. My gym has trojanfit ones but they're pricey.....


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:05 pm
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What are your training objectives ?


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:09 pm
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That's about what I spent on mine. Approx the same as 18 months gym membership. Which do you think is better value?

Agreed. 18 months gym membership I'll never have the time to use. Nor will it have resale value. I just need to hide the receipt and tell the missus I made the setup out of Meccano 😯


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:14 pm
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Oof, those Trojan racks are pricey, even the half racks!


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:16 pm
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Put some bikes in it and give over with the Schwartzenegger stuff. They're all on those steroids y'know...


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:17 pm
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Told you!!!
More reasonable;
https://www.savagestrength.co.uk/strength-shop-power-cage.html


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:19 pm
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training objectives ?

- core strength
- toning
- fat burning + increasing muscle mass (mainly upper body)

And basically having something I can turn to without having to get all my gear sorted + it's in the dry and warm + avec tunes.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:20 pm
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Absolutely no discussion on this.

Power rack or sumo rack (height dependant)
Olympic bar and weights
Chin up bar (if you have a sumo rack)

Done!


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:22 pm
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Freeweights and a stability ball are all you need then.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:24 pm
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Lots of good suggestions already so I would suggest, a nice big mat for stretching and floor exercises and a foam roller for deep muscle exercises.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:24 pm
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Olympic Rings you can adjust and a kettlebell.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:28 pm
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Some porn mags and a roll of tissue


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 10:33 pm
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Absolutely no discussion on this.

Power rack or sumo rack (height dependant)
Olympic bar and weights
Chin up bar (if you have a sumo rack)

For a proper home gym this is what you want.

I don't have space at home so I make do with dumbells, kettlebells and and a pull-up bar.


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 11:09 pm
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Mirror.

🙂


 
Posted : 11/06/2013 11:55 pm
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Sorry, and a bench!

Not a stability ball....


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 3:27 am
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ok here is mine

bench, freeweights, med balls, step up bench, big mirror, pull up bars, 2 bags, 32 inch lcd,dvd, surround sound, insulated and soundproofed, wooden floor, 8 bikes hangin around and best of all a sauna on the end.................. 😀


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 7:13 am
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Climbing wall, obviously.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 8:16 am
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I'm gymless at the moment... but before moving my old gym had:

Squat rack
Bench
250kg Olympic weights
Chin bar
Dip station
Cable pulldown/row machine
Punchbag
Rollers for a bike

That did me quite nicely. A 45 degree leg press and a smith machine would have been nice though.

I still have the kit I just need to build a gym to pit it in.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 8:22 am
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Giant hamster wheel.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 8:27 am
 ski
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 8:28 am
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Just get a weights rack with pull up bar and bench. That way you can do all the stuff you need to do ie squats, deadlifts, bench, overhead press etc.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 8:48 am
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So far I've got Olympic bar and plate set. A Squat stand is on order (should arrive today). Chin up bar is next....

This is the stand I've gone for.

[img] ?842[/img]

Power rack is too heavy as I'll need to move the stand out the way if I want to work on an 8'x4' sheet of ply etc.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 9:31 am
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Ive got a bodymax squat rack, fairly cheap but does the job, spotters also double up as spotters for benching too.

[img] [/img]

Ive got standard york spinlock bars with about 300kg of cast iron plates. majority of which are on my squat bar and my deadlift bar.

Also got a set of york fixed rubber dumbells in 7.5, 10, 15, 20, 25kg

[img] [/img]

all on this rack:

[img] [/img]

plus another spinlock set of dumbells at 27.5.

also got and EZ curl bar, wrist roller, press up stands and a pull up bar with olympic rings attached.

[img] [/img]

and a Treadmill:

[img] [/img]

and punchbag

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 9:42 am
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Hmm, that's a good point re moving a power rack around. Hadn't thought of that. I think I'm going to have to look at partitioning off the workout area so nothing ever becomes invasive.

Plenty of good ideas from you guys - cheers.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 9:47 am
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My home gym consists of: dumbells, press up bars, pull up bar. It's surprising how much you can do with these things. Like someone else said though, it depends on your fitness objectives.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 9:52 am
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Apart from a chin up bar and some weights, I'd go for a punchbag and one of those wooden martial arts dummies.

To be honest, the wooden dummy is something that I've always wanted. Not because I do a Chinese style martial art, but because they are awesome and would scare the crap out of a burgler.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 10:06 am
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I reckon keep it simple, bag, few free weights, rope, & then it wont break the bank when you never even dust it off.


 
Posted : 12/06/2013 10:08 am
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organic355: I've had that rack myself, it's a fantastic value option if you want to use space efficiently and still have a solid rack.

It's equally as good for squats as bench press which is important as the bench is the one you want to cover most in solo training. I've recommended it to a couple of friends who've been equally impressed for £130ish delivered.


 
Posted : 13/06/2013 9:50 am
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Ski, is that a steam room? How much and where from?


 
Posted : 13/06/2013 10:45 am
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TRX set up, do your core a treat


 
Posted : 13/06/2013 1:52 pm
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i too have got that bodymax squat rack with spotters. it also has a dip station on the reverse. got a bench from there too with leg extension and preacher pad. chins/pullup bar and free weights too does all i'll ever need.


 
Posted : 13/06/2013 10:13 pm
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Almost there kit wise. I've added Gymnastic rings for pull ups off the RSJ. Had a slight cock up with the rubber matting, which is supposed to be for gyms. It's too slippy and makes doing the Jerk quite interesting as my feet drift about. I'm hoping it either roughens up or I'll have to glue some wet and dry to it in the right places so I can Clean and Jerk without risk of doing involuntary splits!

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/9331409939_00c7537249.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/9331409939_00c7537249.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9331409939/ ]Workshop Gym[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 21/07/2013 10:43 am
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Well the floor didn't last long, just dropped a bar bell through it!

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/9375410797_7b2603f0a6.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/9375410797_7b2603f0a6.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9375410797/ ]Oops![/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

Will have to build a proper weights platform...


 
Posted : 27/07/2013 3:19 pm
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I don't want to hijack but could I ask a question?

I have a bench and some weights in the garage which I pootle about with. However, I am fearful of pushing myself to muscle failure on bench presses as I train on my own and don't want the bar falling on my chest / getting stuck.

I there any piece of equipment out there that would protect me from the bar falling on me if my muscles failed?


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 1:28 pm
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look for a bench with spotters mate. plenty out there.


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 1:43 pm
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 Drac
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A poster or two.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 5:59 pm
 grum
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Heh - another thing I'd never thought of but now want thanks to STW!

Edit: the gym obviously. 😳


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 5:59 pm
 ART
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Well the floor didn't last long, just dropped a bar bell through it!

Thicker mats needed! Have a look at 'horse mats' used in stabling ... designed to take the weight of a big thing on four legs so fine for dropped barbells 🙂


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 7:15 pm
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Those mats are 15mm thick, weigh 40kg each (6' x 3') and are for gyms, so I was hoping they'd protect the floor. However, obviously not....

So I spent most of this afternoon repairing the floor and building a proper Olympic weights platform:

Using a very nifty tool I found recommended on STW, I cut out the collapsed bits of 18mm Ply:

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9384389511_e535f63271.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5467/9384389511_e535f63271.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9384389511/ ]Cutting out the broken bits[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/9387151998_b0643dbfea.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/9387151998_b0643dbfea.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9387151998/ ]Barbell damage[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

The insulation under the Ply was crushed, so I replaced the duff section with some old fence posts to re-inforce that spot:

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/9387148712_f239b132fc.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3829/9387148712_f239b132fc.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9387148712/ ]4" fence post used to repair insulation[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

Covered it all in foil to keep a complete vapour barrier:

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/9384360741_aac5684215.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/9384360741_aac5684215.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9384360741/ ]Foil Vapour barrier[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/9387134330_14d03b5569.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/9387134330_14d03b5569.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9387134330/ ]Repair complete[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

So I need something more robust under the bar:

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/9387130876_bb7557c3c9.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/9387130876_bb7557c3c9.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9387130876/ ]Barbell impact zones[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

Using 3 sheets of Ply, I made a 7' x 6' pad, with triple layer 18mm ply on the outer 2' each side:

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/9387123628_6357284e0e.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/9387123628_6357284e0e.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9387123628/ ]Ply base[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

I cut up the 15mm rubber sheets to cover the edges and filled the middle with scraps of 18mm ply:

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/9384343203_6a5f4ccb0a.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/9384343203_6a5f4ccb0a.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9384343203/ ]Matting on top[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

I put more rubber mat in the middle section with a final cover of Ply (as it gives better grip for shoes):

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/9384339641_c55a0a4441.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/9384339641_c55a0a4441.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/9384339641/ ]Untitled[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

So there are now 4 layers of Ply and 1 layer of matting over the Celotex, which hopefully will last a bit longer.....


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 7:41 pm
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haha, fantastic work, wish i had your DIY skills. YOU DA MAN!!!!! 😀


 
Posted : 28/07/2013 7:45 pm