Home Gym Advice - UK

[donsonic]

I'm planning to put together a home gym and was wondering if I could get some feedback on my options as I'm having trouble decideing between pieces of kit.

The total for all the kit reagardless of the options I choose will come to about ?800 pounds ($1300). This may seem a bit steep but us UK users get a raw deal with prices compared to you in the US. There doesnt seem to be much 2nd hand kit available on ebay etc. locally, and the options below are listed from "cheap" retailers. I'm hoping to get a reasonable discount when I purchase. If not, I will probably have to look at some cheaper kit.

If anyone knows an American retailer that can ship to the UK, info would be much appreciated.

I'm going to get a power rack, bench and olympic set. I've converted prices to dollars to so you can have an idea how much the stuff is costing. As I said though, price is not the issue as the options cost roughly the same. I just want to know what the best equipment is for my money.

I've already looked at all the threads on these items on the forum, but obviosuly if you are spending so much, you want as much info as possible 1st!

Sorry there are no links. I havent posted enough yet to be able to use them.

1. Power Rack

a) Powertec Power Rack ?369 pounds ($603)
Supposedly it wobbles when doing pullups.

b) Bodycraft F430 Power Rack ?369 ($603) (if you but the dip handles with it, which are included in the powertec rack)
To me this seems like a sturdier rack than the powertec 1.
But you can only have hooks on 1 side of the rack. Even purchasing an extra set (which I'm not sure you can do in the UK) you would only have hooks on 2 sides. Is this a major disadvantage?
And supposedly the pullup/dip bars have a slippery surface?
Could any owners of the rack please comment on these points?


2. Bench - Which 1 would be best for power rack work?

a) Bodycraft F320 Flat-Incline-Decline Bench ?165 ($270)
I've heard that this is the best bench for a power rack. Would those who own 1 agree? What's putting me off is how low the seat is in full incline. I'm 6 foot 1 so it seems to me that it would be pretty uncomfortable.

b) Bodycraft F602 Deluxe F/I/D Dumbell Bench ?199 ($325)

c) Bodymax CF430 Heavy Duty Flat/Incline/Decline Bench ?145 ($237) (sale price)

d) Powertec - Utility Bench (P-UB-S) ?199 ($325) Newest version of the bench I think
I've heard older versions of the bench were unreliable. Is the new version an improvement?

e) Body-Solid - Flat/Incline/Decline Bench (GFID 31) ?199 ($325)

f) Ironmaster Superbench - I am tempted to get the ironmaster bench as I've heard so much great feedback about it on this forum and it's available from 1 UK online retailer at ?199 ($325). However, I don't think the ab attachment is availbale anywhere in the UK, so I wouldnt be able to use it for decline work. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know!


3. Weights

a) Bodymax 145KG Olympic Cast Barbell Kit ?226 ($370) (in sale)
I've heard theyre not very reliable weights. Is this true?

b) Bodypower - 145Kg Olympic Weight Set ?239 ($390)


Thanks for reading

[Essexlad]

Forget shipping from the US. With customs tax, and vat, plus the cost of the shipping itself (300+ on a power rack easily) it will end up more expensive.

1) I own the F430, very nice rack, nicer in construction, quality and size than the Powertec, which I have used and tested before. Yeah you only get 1 set of bar holders, but I don't find it a problem when paired with the F320 at all. The pull up bar is just powder coated steel, I don't find grip a problem especially with chalk. If it's a problem, you have a weak grip, just man up and do some grip work.

2) F320 is what I got with the F430, excellent little bench, not as heavy duty as the F602, but the sliding seat means I don't need an extra set of bar holders. It's probably not going to hold well under a 500lb press, but for me it's more than enough for the forseeable.

FORGET Bodymax at this price point. Much poorer construction than any of your alternatives.

Powertec utility bench - fidly, complex adjustment mechanism, I didn't like it.

Bodysolid - I take it you mean the FID 31, very nice bench. Similar to the F602, both great benches. Both a bit tall for me though.

Ironmaster - never tried, heard many good things.

3) Bodypower.

Edit: Dip bars on the F430 have plastic coats, even if they were bare metal it doesn't matter what they are coated with for dips.
Edit 2: the low seat on the F320 just takes some getting used to by the way. A guy who occasionally uses my gym is 6'4 and does fine on it at full incline. It doesn't appear to be an issue, and makes dumbell work a doddle.

[donsonic]

Forget shipping from the US. With customs tax, and vat, plus the cost of the shipping itself (300+ on a power rack easily) it will end up more expensive.

1) I own the F430, very nice rack, nicer in construction, quality and size than the Powertec, which I have used and tested before. Yeah you only get 1 set of bar holders, but I don't find it a problem when paired with the F320 at all. The pull up bar is just powder coated steel, I don't find grip a problem especially with chalk. If it's a problem, you have a weak grip, just man up and do some grip work.

2) F320 is what I got with the F430, excellent little bench, not as heavy duty as the F602, but the sliding seat means I don't need an extra set of bar holders. It's probably not going to hold well under a 500lb press, but for me it's more than enough for the forseeable.

FORGET Bodymax at this price point. Much poorer construction than any of your alternatives.

Powertec utility bench - fidly, complex adjustment mechanism, I didn't like it.

Bodysolid - I take it you mean the FID 31, very nice bench. Similar to the F602, both great benches. Both a bit tall for me though.

Ironmaster - never tried, heard many good things.

3) Bodypower.

Edit: Dip bars on the F430 have plastic coats, even if they were bare metal it doesn't matter what they are coated with for dips.

Thanks for the info. Really helpful. Just a few more questions.
Why would you need to get an extra set of bar holders if you opt for the F602 over the F430? And does the F430 become awkward and uncomfortable when set at fully vertical? From the pictures of it it looks like youd be very close to the ground at this setting.
Finally, do you know of any other UK retailer where you can get an olympic bar and weights for a similar price or is bodypower a safe choice?

[Essexlad]

Thanks for the info. Really helpful. Just a few more questions.
Why would you need to get an extra set of bar holders if you opt for the F602 over the F430? And does the F430 become awkward and uncomfortable when set at fully vertical? From the pictures of it it looks like youd be very close to the ground at this setting.
Finally, do you know of any other UK retailer where you can get an olympic bar and weights for a similar price or is bodypower a safe choice?

Added edit 2, probably whilst you were writing that!

And bodypower weights are great for the price. They are machined not cast, so pretty accurate. Coat on them is paper thin and comes off easy, but that doesn't bother me. The only thing that bugs me is their 20kg plates are not regulation height, I think thier 25kg are though.
Best 'cheap' plates I've found. Thier bars are not great, but unless you want to pay 200+ just for a good bar, they are the best you'll get.

[donsonic]

Anyone else got some advice?