Home gym questions.

[CJ93UK]

I've got a 5 foot standard barbell with just over 250 pounds of weights, and was wondering how much you guys reckon it can hold. I wasn't able to find any accurate figures around, most of them vary, and I'm sure those figures are probably out by a safe margin from the actual maximum, so was curious if anyone has an idea.

Also, along with this, I've also got dumbbells, a bench, a bar, a few other things, and a multi gym for leg curls, leg extensions, chest presses, flies, and lat pulldowns. It's effectively 2 questions. First, is there anything else I need that you'd think of as necessary in a home gym to be able to get by? If not, is there anything else that would be optimal, or more useful, whether it be equipment, more weight, so on, so basically, if I were to buy something else, only 1 thing, what would be best?

[iportal]

I've got a 5 foot standard barbell with just over 250 pounds of weights, and was wondering how much you guys reckon it can hold. I wasn't able to find any accurate figures around, most of them vary, and I'm sure those figures are probably out by a safe margin from the actual maximum, so was curious if anyone has an idea.

Also, along with this, I've also got dumbbells, a bench, a bar, a few other things, and a multi gym for leg curls, leg extensions, chest presses, flies, and lat pulldowns. It's effectively 2 questions. First, is there anything else I need that you'd think of as necessary in a home gym to be able to get by? If not, is there anything else that would be optimal, or more useful, whether it be equipment, more weight, so on, so basically, if I were to buy something else, only 1 thing, what would be best?

It can hold safely 80kg or so and at a very max 100kg.

You need a power rack, fid bench and 300lbs / 130kg Olympic weight set. That's the standard answer as it's a good one.

You won't be able to use your current bar in a rack though...

[Detrus]

Yea you bought a bunch of stupid crap.

5ft standards are rated for 200 lbs, will probably hold 300. There is the $20-40 5' Hampton beefy bar that might take 350 lbs but only has 8" sleeves.

Ivanko has http://www.ivankobarbell.com/products/b66/ and http://www.ivankobarbell.com/products/b86/ if you're staying with standards. Didn't get a weight rating on B66, except "as much as it can fit." I'll guess 400 lbs.

From http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=148569283 you could get a trap bar and build a raised platform to simulate squats. And it's the only way besides a power rack to do safe squats.

You should aim for 300-500 lb deadlifts and trap bar squats but have to decide if you'll stay with standards or switch to olympics first.

[8ball1621]

You should get a good bar. The 45 pound oly bars. Also a power rack.

[CJ93UK]

Thanks for the help guys. I've purchased an oly barbell, with 370 or so pounds of weights, and I'm looking at some of the other suggestions here. Something I'm wondering though, olympic dumbbells. At the moment I've got standard 14 inch spinlock dumbbells, should I also consider consider buying olympic dumbbells? This looks a lot less obvious, I've looked around, and quite a few quality users here say they're fine using, or even prefer, standard dumbbells, so I'm not sure if they're needed. I just loaded and lifted 100 pounds on 1, and it seemed fine, also I don't expect to be going too high on these obviously, so I'm wondering whether my current ones will do it for now. Thanks for any responses, and the ones so far.

[Detrus]

Most people prefer standard dumbbells, what you have now. Olympic dumbbells are 20" long and awkward. They really exist for olympic assistance lifts like one arm snatches.

[KeithTheSnake]

Good call on the purchase of an olympic bar and plenty of weight. You won't regret it.

I'd keep the spin lock dumbbell handles and use them. You might consider picking up a couple extra sets as you find them inexpensively used, and make multiple sets. You could always sell off the larger standard plates in favor of plenty of tens, fives, two and a halves for use on the dumbbells.