| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/12/2009 5:08:53 PM | Hello Everyone,
I'm looking to get some basic gym equipment to start a home gym. Maybe something I can build on after a bit. What I'm looking for probably would be:
A good Treadmill.
An adjustable bench for incline, decline and flat bench press and weights.
A curl bar.
Dumbbells for free weight activities.
And if I can figure out a way to set up a chin up bar I'll probably have one of them going too.
Anyone have any ideas for what other basic equipment I should look into? I am fairly limited on space but I do have bit to work with.
Also if anyone has any good places to look online for pricing and stuff for this kind of equipment that would be great. I'm having trouble finding a decent treadmill online.
Thanks,
Ryan | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/12/2009 5:15:49 PM | | I've also already got a punching bag out in my garage too. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/12/2009 7:00:55 PM | I love free weights, and if I had the room I would have a nice free weight gym, but there are house boats bigger than my house and I don't have a lot of room. So I bought a Schwin Bo Flex. I like the machine and if I had one regret it would be that I did not get the better machine. The higher cost one had more angles from which the weights could be pressed from. Plus a higher weight stack. Anyways the big plus for me is that the machine folds up and therefore has a smaller footprint. I still do free weights. I guess my one advice would be to buy a heavier load than what you think you need. That would be easier than upgrading later as I had to do.
From what I read about treadmills, the wider and the longer the belt the better. Don't remember why, cept that it had to do with the smothness of the exercise.
Good luck. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/12/2009 7:01:37 PM | try craigslist.
I'm extremely pleased with my Bayou Fitness machine
http://www.bayoufitness.com/Detail.bok?no=11
It seems to match Christie Brinkley's top of the line machine at 1/4 the price.
I'm not interested in bulking up, becoming conspicuously thick and bulky, or being able to say I do x movement with y 100 pounds z times. I'm only interested in maintaining fitness.
For cardio, I get my road bike. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/12/2009 10:46:29 PM | Buy a squat rack, an adjustable bench and an olympic barbell.
It's literally all you need, set you back bout 2-6 grand but you might find a deal. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 12:25:03 PM | Yeah, I'm not worried about anything like having to tuck it away or anything like that. Basically when the room is set up all the machinery or whatever I have in there will stay in place. I'm not interested in dragging things around or setting things up and putting them away constantly. I just want it so when it's there it functions. The treadmill is going to be the main piece because I want to focus on cardio bad. Basically the machine has to go up to 12 mph and not feel like it's going to fall apart while I'm running on it.
I hate machines for weight lifting. I'll use them from time to time but I much prefer to focus on free weights when possible so I'm hitting all my stablizing muscles too. Although my aunt has a bowflex of some kind so I might go try it out first anyways. Maybe the bowflex is different from other machines. I know the ones that seem like they are working off hydrolics just seem incredibly unnatural and all machines tend to concentrate on very specific muscles.
I'm also not looking to get huge either. The idea started with the treadmill to get my cardio back in check then just expanded from there.
It's starting to look like I probably have the main stuff I need here already. Thanks for the input guys. If anyone else has any ideas I always appreciate the thoughts of others. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 1:40:36 PM | - Power rack
- Olympic bench
- Tons of plates, a barbell and dumbell handles
Those are your basics but you might want to invest in at least one more barbell and pair of dumbbell handles. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 2:20:39 PM |
A good Treadmill.
An adjustable bench for incline, decline and flat bench press and weights.
A curl bar.
Dumbbells for free weight activities.
And if I can figure out a way to set up a chin up bar I'll probably have one of them going too.
The chin up bar would be good thing to add, along with some hanging straps.
http://www.ab-core-and-stomach-exercises.com/ab-straps.html
Exercise mat.
Stability Ball. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 7:39:56 PM | Some excellent advice here, I'll sort of consolidate two of the posts and add a little extra:
1. A squat cage with free weights. My local Sams Club used to sell a cage with about 300lbs of plates for the included Olympic barbell for a very reasonable price, I think around $400-500 or so. The barbell will allow you to do heavy squats, deadlifts, and jerks/cleans/overhead-presses which are simply not quite the same with dumbbells.
2. A free standing adjustable bench, which you can use in the squat cage for your flat/incline/decline bench presses.
3. A couple pairs of metal dumbbells, or if you lack the space and have the budget, a pair of quick-change dumbbells that go from say 10 to 60 in 5lb or 10lb increments.
4. If the squat cage does not have an overhead bar for chin/pull-ups, you can jerry-rig your own by buying some polypropolene rope, a heavy duty carabiner, and a lat pull-down bar...hang it from one of the cage's top frame support bars.
5. An exercise mat and Swedish ball.
And I wouldn't bother with the treadmill...unless you live somewhere that has incredibly bad weather all the time, you're much better off walking or running outside. A treadmill that can actually allow you to do any serious running will cost at least $1K and up. Plus treadmills tend to encourage really bad (injury-causing) running biomechanics (heel-striking and overstriding) that will come back to haunt you esp. if you later start running outside. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 8:26:14 PM | | Ditch the treadmill and get a skipping rope :) and a tension band is also really good | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 8:27:57 PM | if your just starting into weighlifting walmart has a 100 lb cast iron set of weight sfor 80 bucks which is prety good..
if your interested on how to work out properly http://bodybuilding4me.blogspot.com for supplementation, work out routines, fat burning routines. etc | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/13/2009 8:55:26 PM | Asiandragon, fantastic suggestions.
Though if you do live in a crappy weather region I'd suggest a cheap bike for the cardio.
But remember mixing heavy lifting and endurance training can have negative effects on your results! | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/14/2009 1:11:42 PM | I live in Nova Scotia, Canada so it's really only fit to run outside on a regular basis like 4-6 months of the year. Also, I find that running is one of the very few cardio exercises I actually enjoy so to fit me I pretty much need the treadmill. I plan on spending over $1000 on it but I have someone else splitting the cost of that part with me so it makes it easier. I'm thinking if I get a real good treadmill that it should be easy enough on my joints and stuff. I also have a heavy punching bag too I just need to get some wraps and gloves for it and I've got some training behind that too.
I do like the idea of a skipping rope though. I can't believe I missed that one.
I'll check out that link asiandragon18 once I get home from work. I did see all the hex dumbbells at Walmart that seemed really solid to me. I imagine that's probably what you were talking about and will probably be what I go for. No way will I ever use those garbage plastic weights with the cement or whatever in them.
Thanks for the advice guys :D | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/14/2009 2:09:03 PM |
I live in Nova Scotia, Canada so it's really only fit to run outside on a regular basis like 4-6 months of the year. Also, I find that running is one of the very few cardio exercises I actually enjoy so to fit me I pretty much need the treadmill. I plan on spending over $1000 on it but I have someone else splitting the cost of that part with me so it makes it easier. I'm thinking if I get a real good treadmill that it should be easy enough on my joints and stuff. I also have a heavy punching bag too I just need to get some wraps and gloves for it and I've got some training behind that too.
Weather should never be an excuse to get outside.
You are fortunate to live in an area with tons of wilderness only minutes away.
Save the $1000 and pick up a set of snow shoes and water proof hiking boots and hit the trails in the winter.
Not only will you get the benefits of the exercise, but your body will thank you for the fresh air. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/14/2009 3:23:34 PM | If I was going to buy cardio machine, I'd probably go with the concept II rowing machine.
Far less expensive (a good treadmill is gonna cost you), and easier on the joints. And involves the whole body. Of course you could easily just do a barbell complex for conditioning/ cardio. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/14/2009 7:35:35 PM |
I live in Nova Scotia, Canada so it's really only fit to run outside on a regular basis like 4-6 months of the year. Also, I find that running is one of the very few cardio exercises I actually enjoy so to fit me I pretty much need the treadmill.
You'd be surprised at just how much a difference the right gear can make in terms of extending your running season. Don't know just what the coldest conditions are in Nova Scotia, but I have a friend in Wisconsin who manages to run there during the winter, and they get down to minus 40 some weeks!
Here are my cold weather tips, from a couple of weeks I spent in upstate NY one February:
1. Layer, layer, layer. Start with a base layer of wicking compression material, like Under Armour Cold Gear mock turtleneck, and long ankle-length tights. Then add a mid layer of fleece top or bottom (if it's like under 15-20 degrees F). And an outer layer of wind-blocking and water resistant nylon shell---a nylon jacket and, if it's TRULY freezing, nylon pants over your tights.
2. Make sure your extremities are warm: this means good gloves. You can also layer your gloves---a base layer of a lightweight polyester glove, with an outer layer of thicker nylon mittens. Or a cheaper solution would be an outer layer of some thick woolen/synthetic hiking socks with the toes cut out, which you can roll up out of the way as your hands get warmer later in the run.
3. Make sure your head/face/ears are warm. In extreme conditions, this means a base layer of a ski mask or baclava, with an outer layer of a nylon wind-blocking cap. Asics makes a nice winter nylon cap with fold-down/up earflaps. Also, wear sunglasses (clear lenses if needed) just for the additional wind-blocking capabilities.
4. Make sure your feet are warm. This means wearing thicker hiking socks, or layer your socks---it might entail needing to buy another pair of your favorite shoes perhaps 1/2 to 1 size larger than normal, for winter wear only.
5. Make sure your shoes get enough traction if you have to run over snow or icy surfaces...Google up "Yak Trax"---like putting chains on your tires, but on your shoes instead.
6. Warm up thoroughly INSIDE before you start your run outside. This could mean skipping rope, doing calisthenics (like burpees), etc. That will decrease the thermal shock your body will undergo at the beginning of your run.
All of the above will still cost only a fraction of the price for a decent treadmill. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/15/2009 7:43:11 AM | Haha I realize I'm not the most cooperative person to give assistance to so I'm extra appreciative of the suggestions.
The weather is a factor because if I have to get dressed in 10 layers of clothing than I won't be comfortable running and if I'm not comfortable I'll only do it for a week before I say screw it and give up. I've tried running even before it was cold enough for snow and still couldn't handle it. I prefer to run wearing shorts, socks and sneakers. But I really enjoy just running and I find it great stress relief. I also would not be able to run in boots which I would need around this area. I know the treadmill is gonna be expensive, but since it's the only major cardio exercise I can do that I enjoy and doesn't feel like an annoying chore I gotta stick with it. I don't really know anything about buying treadmills though. I plan on going to the city tomorrow and checking out a fitness store.
I enjoy boxing too actually. I want to pick that back up again like I said above, the only issue there is I'm also a type 1 diabetic. For diabetics, anything involving the effort of an outstretched arm tends to drop their blood sugars faster than most other exercises (I've been diabetic for 11 years and found this out earlier this year.. lol but it makes so much since looking back on my past) so I don't really know how long of a session I can do for boxing at any one time until I get back into it and my body gets used to it.
I think I may just be too picky on everything.. haha | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/15/2009 7:45:27 AM | | Also, regarding running: When the weather is acceptable for me to run outside I will definitely take that opportunity first every time. I use to train during the summers for running real hard and already have distances measured around my town that I enjoy running. The treadmill would just be for the other half of the year. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/15/2009 9:32:50 AM |
Power rack
- Olympic bench
- Tons of plates, a barbell and dumbell handles
^^^^^^ The only thing I would change is get an adjustable incline bench in lieu of the olympic bench so you can do inclines as well. The power rack should have a chin up bar (for back width) and you can do Pendlay rows along with deads for back thickness. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/15/2009 9:35:13 AM | You can get adjustable Olympic benches. Olympic bench doesn't mean fixed flat bench, as far as I'm aware.
My bench is an Olympic bench and it goes to various degrees or incline and decline too. | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/15/2009 9:55:16 AM |
You can get adjustable Olympic benches. Olympic bench doesn't mean fixed flat bench, as far as I'm aware.
My bench is an Olympic bench and it goes to various degrees or incline and decline too.
Good deal, I figured that is what you probably meant, but wanted to clarify.
Apparently the terminology has changed. Once upon a time an 'olympic bench' was a flat (only) bench... | |
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| Gym equipment ideas
Posted: 10/15/2009 9:58:09 AM | Yeah, tomato, tomato.
Hmmmm, that seems not to work quite so well when you type it. | |
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