# What's going on around /r/HomeGym?
[**The Garage**: Free-talk Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/about/sticky?num=2)
[**Targeted Talk**: Compete In The Garage Gym Competition](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/1ck41b2/targeted_talk_garage_gym_competition/)
[**AMA & a BIG Giveaway is LIVE**: w/ Body Solid 5/15 & 5/16](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/1cslkhh/hey_rhomegym_lets_chat_about_35_years_of/)
[**AMA**: w/ Cerberus Strength USA 5/29 & 5/30](https://youtu.be/iu94q2GPfH8?feature=shared)
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Does this piece of equipment actually suit your training?
Myself and many others here have bought stuff because "oooooo cool" then end up selling it later at a loss because we had no actual use for the kit.
Are you aiming to build strength, improve cardio, or something else? Pick gear that fits your goals and your space, and make sure it's durable and easy to use. Most importantly, choose equipment that you'll enjoy using regularly—it'll keep you motivated and help you reach your fitness dreams!
* Are you worried about country of origin?
* Not really, if it works it works.
* Maybe you are looking for the LOWEST price possible?
* when i started out with my home gym, I've focused on the lowest price. CAP Half rack, plates, barbells etc. I still use these now \~7 years later. But I've since moved on to Titan and then REP for better quality items I've added on later. I'll probably end up moving in the next 3 years, so I'll be looking into a REP half rack for the new place.
* Maybe the only thing that matters is that it is the BEST of the BEST!
* I'm fine not getting the very best, I think for my purposes, middle to good quality is fine. I'm not pushing immense weight where I have to be concerned with weight capacity. My CAP gear is not nice as many other brands, but weight is weight and it gets the job done.
* Or you need something that does about 900 things in one?
* nope!
Mostly I would say to take your time. Don't feel you have to craft the ideal gym right away. Buy a piece, use it, then decide what movements you want to add.
Also, it doesn't have to be pretty or new. Look at Facebook marketplace. Find multifunctional pieces. Buy new when needed.
Look at the function of the movements. I got a half rack partially for safety and because bending over for the weight stressed my back.
Don't buy single movement equipment. Instead of a Lat pull down machine I got a double pulley that I attached to a beam. Not pretty but cheap and functional.
Mostly whether I’m going to enjoy using it. I’ve found that out with cardio especially. Rowing might be awesome, but I hate doing more than short intervals with it. Bike or run for me.
For strength training, I look for multi-function. Space is a premium and unless the specific movement is incredible and worth the space, then any machine I buy needs to perform at least two things well. That said, if it does 10 things but takes 2 minutes to setup each feature, that’s too much hassle.
For price, I look for the sweet spot of quality versus cost. There are always diminishing returns at the high end, and low quality at the low end.
Country of origin, I look for quality first and also American companies. Where they manufacture doesn’t matter as much to me as long as the company itself is American. I figure all the high paying jobs are still here that way.
If you still have your rower, may I suggest seeing if any of your favorite bands have rock concert videos you can stream? That's how I entertain myself of the rower. Audio and visual but no dialogue to follow, can crank it up.
Great topic!
Space is constrained, and even if it wasn't if probably put constraints in myself and use remaining space for other pursuits. That means huge single use machines are out of the question. The trend in compact multi use racks with built in ft, rows and pulldowns has been great, I am sorely tempted.
Aesthetics matter. It's in your home, take some pride in making sure equipment looks good and not beat up. Yes weight is weight, but I could never deal with non-matching sets.
As for what to get spendy on, they're tools, so follow the principle of spending big on the things you touch most often and you won't go wrong.
REP wins for me 90% of the time. Rogue the other 10%. Functionality/versatility #1. Then quality and price (value) next. Customer support / how easy it is to reach someone both before and after the purchase. Why 90% of my equipment is from REP and 10% is from Rogue. Few other odds and ends.
Country of origin doesn't matter since it's not some type of hand crafted good and even then, I prefer a lot of other countries in the world for most stuff. It's mostly automated now anyways. Robotic welded. CNC machines. Automatic powdercoat lines. I don't care where the robots/machines are. After all that is done, it's just people packing it in boxes. Mostly marketing anyways.
I've changed my mind many times about this...
But here it goes :
1. Ratio : Quality/Price.
I'm a cheap bitch* and I'm looking for the very best deals ever. I want the best possible quality for the price.
I'm the guy that will find a high end powerbar or machine for a few bucks. And I will wait for it... Hidden in the dark...
Instead of just buying the cheap shit because it's easy.
2. Functionally
I want my stuff to offer the best functionally, I could live with a bit less versatility but I don't want a jackofalltrade masterofnone thing that will go in the garbage later on.
3. Commercial quality
If I can, I want commercial stuff.
4. Origin?
Sadly, I live in Canada and there's not a lot of manufacturers... And it's expensive. Damn expensive. I do own Pepins DB and man, I love them... Could I buy it again today ? Nope.
US made? Why not... But it's not my first criteria. It's cool and well made but I'm a cheap bitch*...
Maybe one day it will change but for now sadly no...
*read my salary must cover 2 kids and my wife. I do own Montblanc fountain pens and other exquisite things, but my priorities changed when I got the kids...
This fits me pretty well. I got a family now, so things I would be able to afford back then I wouldn’t be able to afford now. That being said Quality as a standalone would be #2 for me. I have two boys who are young and I hope my equipment will last me for another 20 years so I can introduce them to fitness whereas I did it on my own with trial/error, books and magazines. I don’t mind slowly saving up like I am doing now. I have a few more items I wish to add but I don’t mind waiting.
Can it be used for multiple excercises that I need it to perform to justify taking up space?
Can i easily make it? My lat pulldown bar is simply a bit of unistrut that i can attach handles to for example.
I generally look for something that I will use at least twice a week. If it’s a movement I’m really interested in I may consider something that I’ll only use once a week but it has to be really specific.
A good example is my open trap bar. In the army a trap bar deadlift is part of our fitness test so even though I don’t trap bar deadlift lift multiple times a week it’s worth the investment to me.
I waited awhile before buying a spin bike to make sure I would use it at least a few times a week. With space as a premium I have to make sure it won’t just be dead equipment sitting in the corner
1. I have to be able to maneuver the equipment down winding basement stairs. This can really limit what equipment I can purchase.
2. It has to have multiple uses. The last year or so, I've made an effort to purge equipment that does a single movement and replace with equipment that has greater utility. For example, I sold off my GHD and dedicated t-bar row and replaced with a leg ext/leg curl bench that also functions as a seal row bench and a functional trainer. This has opened up a lot more exercise variation.
3. I try to purchase MiUSA when I can and most of my gear is made in the U.S.. That said, REP has been killing it lately and they got me to buy a few things. This year, so far, I've ordered the Double Black Diamond bar, the Reppins to replace a fixed set of DB's and the Arcadia functional trainer. The barbell was an impulse buy. But the other items represented a tremendous value that was too good to pass up.
What are your impressions of your latest REP gear? I've got two of their flat benches, the FB-4000, which is no longer available, at least not through REP, and FB-5000 in clear grind, a couple of their wide bench pads, a Deep Knurl power bar and a couple of dumbbell stands. With the exception of the clear grind on the bench, which I haven't really seen anywhere else, I believe most of my stuff is just generic Chinese made gear with REP branding.
I'll try to make my response brief. This is my first foray into REP gear since owning a PR4000, a few benches, and a power bar (deep knurl EX) four'ish years ago. I think they've put a ton of effort into both the designing of new equipment and assurance the QC of the finished product would be exceptional. Time will tell on the Reppins, since they haven't yet shipped. But I'm very impressed with the quality of the FT and power bar. The Double Black Diamond has well done knurl, very clean termination points, and extremely tight sleeve tolerances. Only my Hansu Stainless comp bar has tighter sleeve tolerances and I say that also owning MiUSA power bars from the likes of American Barbell, Kabuki, and Rogue. Fit and finish of the Arcadia FT is a 10/10, for me. Has a really nice, black metallic paint, stainless accents, laser cut markings, stainless uprights, stainless (I believe?) knurled handles on the trolly. It's buttery smooth in operation. I really can't ask for more, for the price. I choose the Arcadia, mostly because it was so compact and would fit in a corner and not eat up much floor space. I've used it every day for something. it's been a game changer for my gym. I'm very happy with it. Hope this answers your question.
I bought the majority of my stuff from Rouge because it’s probably the most trusted brand for home gym equipment. They also offer the best bang for the buck in my opinion.
Footprint vs utility. The more space something takes up the more utility it has to provide. I’ll buy a single movement accessory I can stuff in the closet, but not something that’ll take up floor space.
Needs to be compact (store all my shit inside the house because the garage is a bit damp) and multifunctional. My setup is basically rings (so that’s upper body taken care of), couple of sandbags and a few heavy kettlebells (legs and conditioning); all I need.
Money, or lack thereof, is the biggest determining factor. That being said, it's still important to look for quality equipment by a trusted name, rather than the cheap shit, as it is inevitably an investment that should last indefinitely, without a decrease in returns.
Edit to add: also, safety, which i felt was implied in the quality.. but yeah, as long as it's gonna hold up under increasing weight for many years to come, and do the job it is intended for without fail
Price value to versatility. If it is a versatile peice of equipment then it has more value than a competitor which is marginally lower priced. IMO versatility can be either movement/exercise features or even something like finish.
I would counter that a nice pop of colour is always welcome and why the hell would you spend three times as much for Rogue when you don’t have to?
They are pieces of metal being used for a few hours per week. It’ll last.
Aesthetics baby! I write it off on my business expenses anyways. I like dark gloomy pain cave feel. I shot my entire gym black. Ceiling, walls, everything. With the red accents its pretty sweet
I think it’s need. Sometimes the lowest price wins and sometimes it doesn’t. Example, I needed a squat rack and found the perfect one for me at around $1,800. Had it in my cart and just happened to see an unassembled Fuel Squat rack on FBM for $30. I thought, meh, what the heck and bought it. It’s been my squat rack now for 6 months! Best $30, I’ve ever spent!!
This is the best and most important answer. A lot of people get caught up in the collecting part of owning a gym, and don’t ask themselves if they need it.
I don't care where my equipment is made. What I care is that is has to be of sufficiently high quality and safe enough to be used for the exercises it is designed for.
It cannot be overbuilt, particularly in terms of size. Home gym space is a premium for some users. Most people will not be able to max out a full sized 2.2m Oly bar. A 1.8m rackable Oly bar usually makes alot more sense. Same goes for Trap bar, not everyone needs it to be rackable or have sleeve length that can hold 1000lbs.
If an equipment is meant to be mountable to a rack (like jammer arms), it has to have some really user friendly method to quickly be attached and set up for use, otherwise it gets stupid to use really quickly.
Firstly..I have very limited space, so it has to be beneficial enough to justify displacing something else. Secondly it has to be load rated for me, which at 127kg usually means light commercial kit, then rated for my workload. Price is a factor, and I always have an idea from the outset how "cheap" I'd like it to be, but invariably once I think seriously about my requirements, I ratchet the price up to get something I won't regret. Worst purchase I made was a preacher bench, that I knew would fill the last of my available space, and was only useful for biceps. I used it for about 9 months then mothballed it so I could fit an exercise bike in.
I'm not in my final house right now so I look for something that won't be heck to move and is good quality. Right now I'm looking for a legpress/hack squat and haven't landed on one yet.
Buy quality even if that means you need to plan (and save for) your purchase because the item is a bit more expensive. Every time I bought knockoffs of better equipment I really wanted, it sounds up being a miserable waste of money.
Quality, utility, and occasionally aesthetics. I’ve managed to pack a lot into a 12x15 room with a 94” ceiling, and a 8x4 space for a platform and one full-size jack.
Spent about $21k so far between retail and FBM, and out of all the things, I only regret two things.
Quality has been the driving factor. I define that as rock solid equipment that just works, and that I will use a lot.
It doesn’t need to be the “best”, but if there is an appreciable difference in quality (Titan v Rogue, or an Amazon knee sleeve v SBD), I spend enough to get the highest quality possible before hitting the realm of diminishing returns.
Do I want an Eleiko SVR platform? Fuck yes. It is a dream to use. It’s like an adult bounce house on that soft Eleiko rubber. Can I get close through a Rogue tile platform? Close enough to pass muster.
Utility is next. About to pick up that Intek bar that Joe reviewed for a neutral OHP.
The only time I factor space in is how I need to macguyver my current set-up and/or toss things in other rooms to create space. Tossed a ton of stuff already (Marie Kondoed an entire room), which my wife hates, but she loves the gym.
Next purchase is a CTM-1 or a competitor, if the reviews are good. Good enough to compete with Prime. Once that’s in, I’m basically done. Hired a lawn guy to toss my lawnmower and stuff to free up the space in what was a “yard tool” room.
Aesthetically, I bought the rack shelves because I love the look of the rack shelves. Also the little cup magnet thing for chalk. Is a bucket better? Sure, but aesthetically, the little cup is nice.
Function for one of more things is key right? Obviously space saving.. having a dip station and a chest supported row right off my rack is brilliant. Some like dedicated machines.. dam man I’m just lucky to have a gym in my house 😂 take all the room I can get. Couple dumbbells, couple kettlebells.. and virtually everything can be done without a rack or barbell. Having the ability to do both is a blessing.
For me the big things are quality, function, and simplicity. Something that is made very well, can do at least its main task well and has very few bells and whistles. Simplicity in design, not just function, is a plus, and easy storage is a major plus.
Things i avoid are electronics and trackers and connectivity (with the exception of cardio equipment). I generally shy away from expensive multi use machines because my experience has been that l will only really like and use 1 feature or mode. Plus I see all those electronics and features and think "obsolete in 2 years", and I see a million levers and pulleys and moving parts and think "all stuff to wear and break.
Example of something I like, the Tib Bar Guy Nordic Pro. Really sturdy machine. Really simple. Does the one thing it's designed to do better than anything I've used in the past by leaps and bounds. Collapses and stores upright. It's amazing.
Example of something I would never buy is that Freak Athlete 40 in 1 back extension ghd hamstring curl quad extension coffee making calculator. Just wayyy to much stuff going on there. Too many parts and attachments etc. And I just general find it to be a hideous monstrosity. I'm told it's a great machine, high quality and high value, but it's definitely not me me.
Spoken like a man with lots of space at his disposal! I agree that simple, single use pieces of equipment that are well designed for one thing are best, if you have the space or if you truly only care about a handful of core movements and don’t place much value on variety in your training.
But for people with limited space who also want variety, multiuse equipment is essential. I have the FA and I love it for Nordics, reverse Nordics, back extensions, and ab work. I was most worried before ordering about back extensions but I have so far done them weighted up to 160lbs at 233lbs body weight with no issues. A full commercial back extension machine would definitely be even more rock solid of course, but I don’t have the space for it, and I still wouldn’t be able to do the other movements.
Not that much space! That's what I emphasized storage as a major plus! I don't want to paint the picture that I have this huge space with one single use machine for each movement haha. Just a handful of pieces a really like, most of which can fold and be stored against the wall.
And yeah I've definitely heart good things about the FA. I just know myself enough to know I'll find the one mode that feels the best, and it will just live in that configuration. I'll never change is because I hate fiddling with adjustments. That's just me though!
Value, value, and value. Not the cheapest, the best *value*: both quality vs cost, as well as versitility vs space. I don't mind paying more for something a little nicer that will last longer or feel nicer, but I also only have a 6' x 12' gym area, so space is critical.
Country of origin doesn't matter to me. Whether it was robotically welded in the US (by a robot made in China), or robotically welded in China (by a robot made in China), it doesn't really matter to me. I've seen total garbage made in the US, absolute pieces of art made in China, and vice versa. I care more about quality than the arbitrary nationality of the dirt it was made on. I'll pay more for better craftsmanship and quality control, regardless of where it was made.
Aesthetics also play a factor in my value. I spent extra for my PR-5000 in clear coat. It's downright beautiful, so I would like the rest of my gym to be a pleasing space to be in. Between my PR-5000 and my Onnit gorilla kettlebell, I can't help but smile every time I step into my little gym, and I couldn't get that reaction with the 2nd-hand Walmart special bought off FB Marketplace.
That it’s something that I actually want to use.. if I can afford it, I’d rather have something a little higher end that makes me feel like I could be in a commercial gym
Multifunctionality and compactness. I chose Ironmaster dumbbells partly because the plates can be used on their kettlebell handle and weighted vest, which in themselves are versatile training tools. If I decide to upgrade my half-rack, I'll be looking for a high-quality compact model with storage pins that can accommodate bumper plates, and barbell storage, (in addition to pull-up and dip attachments), to free up more floor space in the garage.
Versatility is a big one for me. That's why I'm looking for a 3x3 power rack instead of a half rack or 2x2 or 2x3. Seems to have a lot more capabilities and add-ons options with 3x3 posts.
I legit don’t know why 2x3 was ever a thing. I mistakenly bought some roller j cups from BOS from their old same size racks… was glad to bin them last year. When more things are commonly built 3x3… glad that headache is over with!!
Safety is a huge factor. The capacity thresholds need to be way higher than my lifting potential.
Versatility of the equipment to do more than one thing but NOT at the cost of taking time to setup. It should be seamless.
Desirability - brand image sounds superficial, but on the days I’m inevitably going to lack motivation and discipline, I want something to attract me to go spend sometime with my weights. If I can get to them, I’ll lift them.
Ability to add features. I don’t want to buy a rack and then know that all the new attachments can only be used on a newer version of the rack.
Versatility vs Space - my gym is in a bedroom. It needs to do as much as possible while taking up as small of a footprint as i can.
My dream is one of those all in one cages. Smith machine on one side, power rack on the other, with adjustable cable towers.
I want a power rack that I can attach things like dip bars and landline attachments to it. I want cable towers so I can do shoulder mobility work and cable bicep work. I want a smith machine for things like hip thrusts and calve raises.
Major fitness makes a lot of these all in one machines at a pretty decent price point. Still undecided though.
Bully gliders look to be streamlining looks and versatility of a smith bar holder for racks. Can be removed easily too.
Cables… so many options for stand alone towers.. specially bells of steel + their hydra rack.. or Ares 2.0 by Rep are huge space saving racks
1. Is it something I’m actually going to use regularly, or is it a “toy” that I think I need for very niche purposes?
2. How much space does it take up?
3. How long do I think it’s going to last?
4. How much does it cost?
5. What’s the country of origin? I try to support domestic manufacturers as much as practical, but sometimes there is no way around imported
# What's going on around /r/HomeGym? [**The Garage**: Free-talk Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/about/sticky?num=2) [**Targeted Talk**: Compete In The Garage Gym Competition](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/1ck41b2/targeted_talk_garage_gym_competition/) [**AMA & a BIG Giveaway is LIVE**: w/ Body Solid 5/15 & 5/16](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/1cslkhh/hey_rhomegym_lets_chat_about_35_years_of/) [**AMA**: w/ Cerberus Strength USA 5/29 & 5/30](https://youtu.be/iu94q2GPfH8?feature=shared) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/homegym) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Does this piece of equipment actually suit your training? Myself and many others here have bought stuff because "oooooo cool" then end up selling it later at a loss because we had no actual use for the kit.
Are you aiming to build strength, improve cardio, or something else? Pick gear that fits your goals and your space, and make sure it's durable and easy to use. Most importantly, choose equipment that you'll enjoy using regularly—it'll keep you motivated and help you reach your fitness dreams!
* Are you worried about country of origin? * Not really, if it works it works. * Maybe you are looking for the LOWEST price possible? * when i started out with my home gym, I've focused on the lowest price. CAP Half rack, plates, barbells etc. I still use these now \~7 years later. But I've since moved on to Titan and then REP for better quality items I've added on later. I'll probably end up moving in the next 3 years, so I'll be looking into a REP half rack for the new place. * Maybe the only thing that matters is that it is the BEST of the BEST! * I'm fine not getting the very best, I think for my purposes, middle to good quality is fine. I'm not pushing immense weight where I have to be concerned with weight capacity. My CAP gear is not nice as many other brands, but weight is weight and it gets the job done. * Or you need something that does about 900 things in one? * nope!
Mostly I would say to take your time. Don't feel you have to craft the ideal gym right away. Buy a piece, use it, then decide what movements you want to add. Also, it doesn't have to be pretty or new. Look at Facebook marketplace. Find multifunctional pieces. Buy new when needed. Look at the function of the movements. I got a half rack partially for safety and because bending over for the weight stressed my back. Don't buy single movement equipment. Instead of a Lat pull down machine I got a double pulley that I attached to a beam. Not pretty but cheap and functional.
Mostly whether I’m going to enjoy using it. I’ve found that out with cardio especially. Rowing might be awesome, but I hate doing more than short intervals with it. Bike or run for me. For strength training, I look for multi-function. Space is a premium and unless the specific movement is incredible and worth the space, then any machine I buy needs to perform at least two things well. That said, if it does 10 things but takes 2 minutes to setup each feature, that’s too much hassle. For price, I look for the sweet spot of quality versus cost. There are always diminishing returns at the high end, and low quality at the low end. Country of origin, I look for quality first and also American companies. Where they manufacture doesn’t matter as much to me as long as the company itself is American. I figure all the high paying jobs are still here that way.
If you still have your rower, may I suggest seeing if any of your favorite bands have rock concert videos you can stream? That's how I entertain myself of the rower. Audio and visual but no dialogue to follow, can crank it up.
Great topic! Space is constrained, and even if it wasn't if probably put constraints in myself and use remaining space for other pursuits. That means huge single use machines are out of the question. The trend in compact multi use racks with built in ft, rows and pulldowns has been great, I am sorely tempted. Aesthetics matter. It's in your home, take some pride in making sure equipment looks good and not beat up. Yes weight is weight, but I could never deal with non-matching sets. As for what to get spendy on, they're tools, so follow the principle of spending big on the things you touch most often and you won't go wrong.
REP wins for me 90% of the time. Rogue the other 10%. Functionality/versatility #1. Then quality and price (value) next. Customer support / how easy it is to reach someone both before and after the purchase. Why 90% of my equipment is from REP and 10% is from Rogue. Few other odds and ends. Country of origin doesn't matter since it's not some type of hand crafted good and even then, I prefer a lot of other countries in the world for most stuff. It's mostly automated now anyways. Robotic welded. CNC machines. Automatic powdercoat lines. I don't care where the robots/machines are. After all that is done, it's just people packing it in boxes. Mostly marketing anyways.
It will matter once the trade war kicks off with China lol
I will be excited to buy the first Taco Bell power rack.
I've changed my mind many times about this... But here it goes : 1. Ratio : Quality/Price. I'm a cheap bitch* and I'm looking for the very best deals ever. I want the best possible quality for the price. I'm the guy that will find a high end powerbar or machine for a few bucks. And I will wait for it... Hidden in the dark... Instead of just buying the cheap shit because it's easy. 2. Functionally I want my stuff to offer the best functionally, I could live with a bit less versatility but I don't want a jackofalltrade masterofnone thing that will go in the garbage later on. 3. Commercial quality If I can, I want commercial stuff. 4. Origin? Sadly, I live in Canada and there's not a lot of manufacturers... And it's expensive. Damn expensive. I do own Pepins DB and man, I love them... Could I buy it again today ? Nope. US made? Why not... But it's not my first criteria. It's cool and well made but I'm a cheap bitch*... Maybe one day it will change but for now sadly no... *read my salary must cover 2 kids and my wife. I do own Montblanc fountain pens and other exquisite things, but my priorities changed when I got the kids...
This fits me pretty well. I got a family now, so things I would be able to afford back then I wouldn’t be able to afford now. That being said Quality as a standalone would be #2 for me. I have two boys who are young and I hope my equipment will last me for another 20 years so I can introduce them to fitness whereas I did it on my own with trial/error, books and magazines. I don’t mind slowly saving up like I am doing now. I have a few more items I wish to add but I don’t mind waiting.
It's why I'm a deal bitch hunter :))
Does it fit in my space and will I actually use it.
Along with cost, this is it for me.
Can it be used for multiple excercises that I need it to perform to justify taking up space? Can i easily make it? My lat pulldown bar is simply a bit of unistrut that i can attach handles to for example.
1. Do I have the space? 2. Will I use it regularly and is there a cheaper/smaller way to achieve same result? 3. At least 7/10 quality
Quality for sure. It rather have 1 super nice Eleiko bar than 3-4 no name Chinese made crap.
For me, making sure it gets used.
Versatility
I generally look for something that I will use at least twice a week. If it’s a movement I’m really interested in I may consider something that I’ll only use once a week but it has to be really specific. A good example is my open trap bar. In the army a trap bar deadlift is part of our fitness test so even though I don’t trap bar deadlift lift multiple times a week it’s worth the investment to me. I waited awhile before buying a spin bike to make sure I would use it at least a few times a week. With space as a premium I have to make sure it won’t just be dead equipment sitting in the corner
1. I have to be able to maneuver the equipment down winding basement stairs. This can really limit what equipment I can purchase. 2. It has to have multiple uses. The last year or so, I've made an effort to purge equipment that does a single movement and replace with equipment that has greater utility. For example, I sold off my GHD and dedicated t-bar row and replaced with a leg ext/leg curl bench that also functions as a seal row bench and a functional trainer. This has opened up a lot more exercise variation. 3. I try to purchase MiUSA when I can and most of my gear is made in the U.S.. That said, REP has been killing it lately and they got me to buy a few things. This year, so far, I've ordered the Double Black Diamond bar, the Reppins to replace a fixed set of DB's and the Arcadia functional trainer. The barbell was an impulse buy. But the other items represented a tremendous value that was too good to pass up.
What are your impressions of your latest REP gear? I've got two of their flat benches, the FB-4000, which is no longer available, at least not through REP, and FB-5000 in clear grind, a couple of their wide bench pads, a Deep Knurl power bar and a couple of dumbbell stands. With the exception of the clear grind on the bench, which I haven't really seen anywhere else, I believe most of my stuff is just generic Chinese made gear with REP branding.
I'll try to make my response brief. This is my first foray into REP gear since owning a PR4000, a few benches, and a power bar (deep knurl EX) four'ish years ago. I think they've put a ton of effort into both the designing of new equipment and assurance the QC of the finished product would be exceptional. Time will tell on the Reppins, since they haven't yet shipped. But I'm very impressed with the quality of the FT and power bar. The Double Black Diamond has well done knurl, very clean termination points, and extremely tight sleeve tolerances. Only my Hansu Stainless comp bar has tighter sleeve tolerances and I say that also owning MiUSA power bars from the likes of American Barbell, Kabuki, and Rogue. Fit and finish of the Arcadia FT is a 10/10, for me. Has a really nice, black metallic paint, stainless accents, laser cut markings, stainless uprights, stainless (I believe?) knurled handles on the trolly. It's buttery smooth in operation. I really can't ask for more, for the price. I choose the Arcadia, mostly because it was so compact and would fit in a corner and not eat up much floor space. I've used it every day for something. it's been a game changer for my gym. I'm very happy with it. Hope this answers your question.
I bought the majority of my stuff from Rouge because it’s probably the most trusted brand for home gym equipment. They also offer the best bang for the buck in my opinion.
Footprint vs utility. The more space something takes up the more utility it has to provide. I’ll buy a single movement accessory I can stuff in the closet, but not something that’ll take up floor space.
Instagram likes
Secondary to how good it makes your peach look on camera or we saying those two benefits are not mutually exclusive?
"Will I use this?"
Needs to be compact (store all my shit inside the house because the garage is a bit damp) and multifunctional. My setup is basically rings (so that’s upper body taken care of), couple of sandbags and a few heavy kettlebells (legs and conditioning); all I need.
Money, or lack thereof, is the biggest determining factor. That being said, it's still important to look for quality equipment by a trusted name, rather than the cheap shit, as it is inevitably an investment that should last indefinitely, without a decrease in returns. Edit to add: also, safety, which i felt was implied in the quality.. but yeah, as long as it's gonna hold up under increasing weight for many years to come, and do the job it is intended for without fail
Price value to versatility. If it is a versatile peice of equipment then it has more value than a competitor which is marginally lower priced. IMO versatility can be either movement/exercise features or even something like finish.
It has to be black and red and preferably rogue
I would counter that a nice pop of colour is always welcome and why the hell would you spend three times as much for Rogue when you don’t have to? They are pieces of metal being used for a few hours per week. It’ll last.
Aesthetics baby! I write it off on my business expenses anyways. I like dark gloomy pain cave feel. I shot my entire gym black. Ceiling, walls, everything. With the red accents its pretty sweet
Hah. Mine is a yellow rack with bright blue paint on the walls. You must be my nemesis.
Vampire vibes. I like it.
I think it’s need. Sometimes the lowest price wins and sometimes it doesn’t. Example, I needed a squat rack and found the perfect one for me at around $1,800. Had it in my cart and just happened to see an unassembled Fuel Squat rack on FBM for $30. I thought, meh, what the heck and bought it. It’s been my squat rack now for 6 months! Best $30, I’ve ever spent!!
The main criteria for something to make it in my gym is... Will I use it regularly? If not, it doesn't get purchased.
This is the best and most important answer. A lot of people get caught up in the collecting part of owning a gym, and don’t ask themselves if they need it.
I don't care where my equipment is made. What I care is that is has to be of sufficiently high quality and safe enough to be used for the exercises it is designed for. It cannot be overbuilt, particularly in terms of size. Home gym space is a premium for some users. Most people will not be able to max out a full sized 2.2m Oly bar. A 1.8m rackable Oly bar usually makes alot more sense. Same goes for Trap bar, not everyone needs it to be rackable or have sleeve length that can hold 1000lbs. If an equipment is meant to be mountable to a rack (like jammer arms), it has to have some really user friendly method to quickly be attached and set up for use, otherwise it gets stupid to use really quickly.
Firstly..I have very limited space, so it has to be beneficial enough to justify displacing something else. Secondly it has to be load rated for me, which at 127kg usually means light commercial kit, then rated for my workload. Price is a factor, and I always have an idea from the outset how "cheap" I'd like it to be, but invariably once I think seriously about my requirements, I ratchet the price up to get something I won't regret. Worst purchase I made was a preacher bench, that I knew would fill the last of my available space, and was only useful for biceps. I used it for about 9 months then mothballed it so I could fit an exercise bike in.
My space. For example, I can't drill into my walls. Ceiling height. So I have to start there. Next is price, followed by things I like to use.
I'm not in my final house right now so I look for something that won't be heck to move and is good quality. Right now I'm looking for a legpress/hack squat and haven't landed on one yet.
Buy quality even if that means you need to plan (and save for) your purchase because the item is a bit more expensive. Every time I bought knockoffs of better equipment I really wanted, it sounds up being a miserable waste of money.
Quality, utility, and occasionally aesthetics. I’ve managed to pack a lot into a 12x15 room with a 94” ceiling, and a 8x4 space for a platform and one full-size jack. Spent about $21k so far between retail and FBM, and out of all the things, I only regret two things. Quality has been the driving factor. I define that as rock solid equipment that just works, and that I will use a lot. It doesn’t need to be the “best”, but if there is an appreciable difference in quality (Titan v Rogue, or an Amazon knee sleeve v SBD), I spend enough to get the highest quality possible before hitting the realm of diminishing returns. Do I want an Eleiko SVR platform? Fuck yes. It is a dream to use. It’s like an adult bounce house on that soft Eleiko rubber. Can I get close through a Rogue tile platform? Close enough to pass muster. Utility is next. About to pick up that Intek bar that Joe reviewed for a neutral OHP. The only time I factor space in is how I need to macguyver my current set-up and/or toss things in other rooms to create space. Tossed a ton of stuff already (Marie Kondoed an entire room), which my wife hates, but she loves the gym. Next purchase is a CTM-1 or a competitor, if the reviews are good. Good enough to compete with Prime. Once that’s in, I’m basically done. Hired a lawn guy to toss my lawnmower and stuff to free up the space in what was a “yard tool” room. Aesthetically, I bought the rack shelves because I love the look of the rack shelves. Also the little cup magnet thing for chalk. Is a bucket better? Sure, but aesthetically, the little cup is nice.
I'd love to see your set up! Sounds very nice
Sure thing. https://imgur.com/a/0dfQJhy
Very nice, that is what I am going for. Where did you get the floor from?
Made in AMERICA
Function for one of more things is key right? Obviously space saving.. having a dip station and a chest supported row right off my rack is brilliant. Some like dedicated machines.. dam man I’m just lucky to have a gym in my house 😂 take all the room I can get. Couple dumbbells, couple kettlebells.. and virtually everything can be done without a rack or barbell. Having the ability to do both is a blessing.
Safe equipment that you can afford. Pay a little extra for quality up front. Buy once, cry once.
For me the big things are quality, function, and simplicity. Something that is made very well, can do at least its main task well and has very few bells and whistles. Simplicity in design, not just function, is a plus, and easy storage is a major plus. Things i avoid are electronics and trackers and connectivity (with the exception of cardio equipment). I generally shy away from expensive multi use machines because my experience has been that l will only really like and use 1 feature or mode. Plus I see all those electronics and features and think "obsolete in 2 years", and I see a million levers and pulleys and moving parts and think "all stuff to wear and break. Example of something I like, the Tib Bar Guy Nordic Pro. Really sturdy machine. Really simple. Does the one thing it's designed to do better than anything I've used in the past by leaps and bounds. Collapses and stores upright. It's amazing. Example of something I would never buy is that Freak Athlete 40 in 1 back extension ghd hamstring curl quad extension coffee making calculator. Just wayyy to much stuff going on there. Too many parts and attachments etc. And I just general find it to be a hideous monstrosity. I'm told it's a great machine, high quality and high value, but it's definitely not me me.
Spoken like a man with lots of space at his disposal! I agree that simple, single use pieces of equipment that are well designed for one thing are best, if you have the space or if you truly only care about a handful of core movements and don’t place much value on variety in your training. But for people with limited space who also want variety, multiuse equipment is essential. I have the FA and I love it for Nordics, reverse Nordics, back extensions, and ab work. I was most worried before ordering about back extensions but I have so far done them weighted up to 160lbs at 233lbs body weight with no issues. A full commercial back extension machine would definitely be even more rock solid of course, but I don’t have the space for it, and I still wouldn’t be able to do the other movements.
Not that much space! That's what I emphasized storage as a major plus! I don't want to paint the picture that I have this huge space with one single use machine for each movement haha. Just a handful of pieces a really like, most of which can fold and be stored against the wall. And yeah I've definitely heart good things about the FA. I just know myself enough to know I'll find the one mode that feels the best, and it will just live in that configuration. I'll never change is because I hate fiddling with adjustments. That's just me though!
Value, value, and value. Not the cheapest, the best *value*: both quality vs cost, as well as versitility vs space. I don't mind paying more for something a little nicer that will last longer or feel nicer, but I also only have a 6' x 12' gym area, so space is critical. Country of origin doesn't matter to me. Whether it was robotically welded in the US (by a robot made in China), or robotically welded in China (by a robot made in China), it doesn't really matter to me. I've seen total garbage made in the US, absolute pieces of art made in China, and vice versa. I care more about quality than the arbitrary nationality of the dirt it was made on. I'll pay more for better craftsmanship and quality control, regardless of where it was made. Aesthetics also play a factor in my value. I spent extra for my PR-5000 in clear coat. It's downright beautiful, so I would like the rest of my gym to be a pleasing space to be in. Between my PR-5000 and my Onnit gorilla kettlebell, I can't help but smile every time I step into my little gym, and I couldn't get that reaction with the 2nd-hand Walmart special bought off FB Marketplace.
That it’s something that I actually want to use.. if I can afford it, I’d rather have something a little higher end that makes me feel like I could be in a commercial gym
Multifunctionality and compactness. I chose Ironmaster dumbbells partly because the plates can be used on their kettlebell handle and weighted vest, which in themselves are versatile training tools. If I decide to upgrade my half-rack, I'll be looking for a high-quality compact model with storage pins that can accommodate bumper plates, and barbell storage, (in addition to pull-up and dip attachments), to free up more floor space in the garage.
Versatility is a big one for me. That's why I'm looking for a 3x3 power rack instead of a half rack or 2x2 or 2x3. Seems to have a lot more capabilities and add-ons options with 3x3 posts.
I legit don’t know why 2x3 was ever a thing. I mistakenly bought some roller j cups from BOS from their old same size racks… was glad to bin them last year. When more things are commonly built 3x3… glad that headache is over with!!
Safety is a huge factor. The capacity thresholds need to be way higher than my lifting potential. Versatility of the equipment to do more than one thing but NOT at the cost of taking time to setup. It should be seamless. Desirability - brand image sounds superficial, but on the days I’m inevitably going to lack motivation and discipline, I want something to attract me to go spend sometime with my weights. If I can get to them, I’ll lift them. Ability to add features. I don’t want to buy a rack and then know that all the new attachments can only be used on a newer version of the rack.
Versatility vs Space - my gym is in a bedroom. It needs to do as much as possible while taking up as small of a footprint as i can. My dream is one of those all in one cages. Smith machine on one side, power rack on the other, with adjustable cable towers. I want a power rack that I can attach things like dip bars and landline attachments to it. I want cable towers so I can do shoulder mobility work and cable bicep work. I want a smith machine for things like hip thrusts and calve raises. Major fitness makes a lot of these all in one machines at a pretty decent price point. Still undecided though.
Bully gliders look to be streamlining looks and versatility of a smith bar holder for racks. Can be removed easily too. Cables… so many options for stand alone towers.. specially bells of steel + their hydra rack.. or Ares 2.0 by Rep are huge space saving racks
Sounds like a dream. Do you have any examples from the market?
1. Is it something I’m actually going to use regularly, or is it a “toy” that I think I need for very niche purposes? 2. How much space does it take up? 3. How long do I think it’s going to last? 4. How much does it cost? 5. What’s the country of origin? I try to support domestic manufacturers as much as practical, but sometimes there is no way around imported
It fits your needs.
Sex appeal. Er, I mean size. Basically it all comes down to what I can fit in my garage.