Building a new home gym, thoughts on gear?

[BAVE]

I'm a 40 year old (as of this past Saturday) who has been training for approx 10 years with the exception of the past year. For years I've remained a lean 170-185 lb at 5' 9". Over the past year I've had so many issues related to work, health, family that I've only had one workout (literally). We're now in the process of building a home, whicjh will give me far more flexibility in hiting the weights again. The room is approx 14x13 (attached to master bath and bedroom) with wall to wall mirror on one side, a pair of 32" LCDs, and a B+W Zeppelin for music. I've used the Hoist website's planner to arrange the gear and deterimine that it fits. What are your thoughts on the gear selection?



-Tuff Stuff Smith/Half Cage ensemble w/ 200lb Hi Low pulley

-CAP Rubber Oly plates: 18x 45s, 4x 35s, 4x 25s, 6x 10s, 8x5s, 4x 2.5s = 1,160 lbs

-Rubber CAP hex dumbbells 5-25lbs (5,8,10,12,15,20,25)

-Pro dumbbells 30-120 lbs on Valor BG10 rack 30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,110,120 (I use the 2.5lb platemates for the 5lb increments) CAP plates and CFF handles

-Nautilus commercial 0-90 bench

-5' black Troy bar, 7' 1500lb Troy bar,Troy 47” curl bar, trap bar, Oly DB bars (use for heavy shrugs, heavy rows, etc.), 48" fat bar (on bar holder)

-T-bar handle and Body Solid T-bar mounting device

-Body Solid Dip (set up to break down using 4 wing nut bolts due to lack of space)

-Hoist V1 Gym w 200lb stack and approx 30 lb extra rubber weight plates and platemates

-Bodycraft F660 leg press

-Body Solid calf block

-Lifespan TR2000 compact treadmill (great because it is 32" wide and folds to 25" depth)

-80 lb weighted vest, dip belt, Inzer M Single Buckle Forever Belt

[techimike]

No home gym is complete without the ShakeWeight!

[jacked40]

I'm a 40 year old (as of this past Saturday) who has been training for approx 10 years with the exception of the past year. For years I've remained a lean 170-185 lb at 5' 9". Over the past year I've had so many issues related to work, health, family that I've only had one workout (literally). We're now in the process of building a home, whicjh will give me far more flexibility in hiting the weights again. The room is approx 14x13 (attached to master bath and bedroom) with wall to wall mirror on one side, a pair of 32" LCDs, and a B+W Zeppelin for music. I've used the Hoist website's planner to arrange the gear and deterimine that it fits. What are your thoughts on the gear selection?



-Tuff Stuff Smith/Half Cage ensemble w/ 200lb Hi Low pulley

-CAP Rubber Oly plates: 18x 45s, 4x 35s, 4x 25s, 6x 10s, 8x5s, 4x 2.5s = 1,160 lbs

-Rubber CAP hex dumbbells 5-25lbs (5,8,10,12,15,20,25)

-Pro dumbbells 30-120 lbs on Valor BG10 rack 30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,110,120 (I use the 2.5lb platemates for the 5lb increments) CAP plates and CFF handles

-Nautilus commercial 0-90 bench

-5' black Troy bar, 7' 1500lb Troy bar,Troy 47” curl bar, trap bar, Oly DB bars (use for heavy shrugs, heavy rows, etc.), 48" fat bar (on bar holder)

-T-bar handle and Body Solid T-bar mounting device

-Body Solid Dip (set up to break down using 4 wing nut bolts due to lack of space)

-Hoist V1 Gym w 200lb stack and approx 30 lb extra rubber weight plates and platemates

-Bodycraft F660 leg press

-Body Solid calf block

-Lifespan TR2000 compact treadmill (great because it is 32" wide and folds to 25" depth)

-80 lb weighted vest, dip belt, Inzer M Single Buckle Forever Belt

jealous here!

[BAVE]

jealous here!

I splurged to break up the staleness. I started and worked through 10 years using the same equipment in my office with no change: Nautilus power rack, Nautilus leg press, Nautulus universal machine, a dip stand, and a ton of pro dumbbells. I just don't want to feel like I'm missing something by staying home instead of running off to the gym.

[Sen8or]

No mention of external swipe card 24 hr access and fees?

Sounds like a sweet set up.

One thing, do you need a dip machine or can you get a dip attachment for your cage? If you are pressed for space, could save you some room?

[zakatak333]

holy budget, you're loaded!

[ironwill2008]

Where's the pics?

[BAVE]

No mention of external swipe card 24 hr access and fees?

Sounds like a sweet set up.

One thing, do you need a dip machine or can you get a dip attachment for your cage? If you are pressed for space, could save you some room?

Once I have the smith half cage together I'm going to see if I can find an attachment that will fit. A lot of companies cary adaptable variations now but I'd rather wait until its set up. I love weighted dips though I'd admit that they've caused some probelems with my AC joints in the past.
The Body Solid dip station is awesome (very solid and stable) but the only way it will work without taking up valuable space is using wing nuts to make it colapsable. I'd still prefer something on the rack though (ease of use). BTW, some of the gear I have in my office but half is in my garage (boxed) as my home still has a few months until completion.

[BAVE]

Where's the pics?

Probably not for a few months. I'm also still awating delivery of the rubber flooring, mirrors, Hoist V1, F660, Troy bars and CAP rubber plates (I have no idea where I'm going to store it all). The iron plates and bars in my office were in a previous office of mine that was flooded and saturated with wet air for weeks. The bars rusted and the plates started to really show their age. My wife will appreciate the new rubber coated plates. The back side of the rack is against the wall that will have our bed against it.

[orangegoblin]

Sounds like a fantastic setup. I see that your plates are rubberized, but have you considered some flooring? Horse stall mats from TSC work for me in my basement dungeon.

[BAVE]

Sounds like a fantastic setup. I see that your plates are rubberized, but have you considered some flooring? Horse stall mats from TSC work for me in my basement dungeon.

I took a look at their site. Those look great for half of what I was planning on spending.

[ironwill2008]

Horse stall mats from TSC ...

^^^^ This. They're the only really practical choice; relatively inexpensive, tough as nails, and so heavy that they never move around under your feet.

[-=FLEX=-]

Where's the pics?

x2

Pics would be nice.

Not sure what everything on that list si, but looks like a good setup.

[fishingeek]

Looks like a great start to a home gym.
If you are looking for ideas to set it up, Check out Ironwill's gym: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...postcount=3388
He has one of the best gyms on the forums.
My room is close to the same size as yours. I was able pack quite a bit in and still have plenty of room to get around. Here is my torture chamber: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=131836863

Check out the equipment section of the forums. There is a bunch of us home gym junkies there and plenty of good advice to sort through.

Good luck!

Geek

[drudixon]

I took a look at their site. Those look great for half of what I was planning on spending.

From what I understand, they reak. When you get them, set them outside on driveway, hose and leave out for a week.

[orangegoblin]

From what I understand, they reak. When you get them, set them outside on driveway, hose and leave out for a week.

Damn, all this time I thought it was me...

[Skidmarx]

The mats only smell like new tires for a couple weeks or so. They are worth every penny.

[JRT6]

I had nice expensive padded mat and then my dogs ate it so I got a 3/8" hard as nails mat for under $100- delivered. Can't remember where I got it. I have a rack, a weight set, an additional swiss bar, push-up handles and bands. Boxes, rings etc, I made my self.

[BAVE]

For flooring I was considering the 1/2" rolls of this rubberflooringinc.com/rubber-roll/heavy-duty-roll.html

[ironwill2008]

For flooring I was considering the 1/2" rolls of this rubberflooringinc.com/rubber-roll/heavy-duty-roll.html

Do you plan to go pick this stuff up yourself?

[BAVE]

Do you plan to go pick this stuff up yourself?

No. I'll have to have it shipped ($200 fee). Plus side is reviews don't seem to reflect a strong smell like the horse mats.

[JRT6]

Come to think of it my mat is 1/4. Unless you plan on dumping weight onto the ground then 1/4 is plenty assuming the floor is concrete underneath. I have the puzzle mats from the local sporting goods store for when I'm moving weights off the ground.

[BAVE]

Come to think of it my mat is 1/4. Unless you plan on dumping weight onto the ground then 1/4 is plenty assuming the floor is concrete underneath. I have the puzzle mats from the local sporting goods store for when I'm moving weights off the ground.

The floor is concrete and I do tend to drop weights (heavy dumbbells, T-bar rows, etc) though it's usually a pretty controlled drop and not tossing the weights around.

[BAVE]

Looks like a great start to a home gym.
If you are looking for ideas to set it up, Check out Ironwill's gym: ......
He has one of the best gyms on the forums.
My room is close to the same size as yours. I was able pack quite a bit in and still have plenty of room to get around. Here is my torture chamber: ......

Check out the equipment section of the forums. There is a bunch of us home gym junkies there and plenty of good advice to sort through.

Good luck!

Geek

Looks good. My wife's questioning me fitting a leg press, small universal, half cage, treadmill and dumbbell rack in there but according to exact measurements using Hoist's software it fits fine (well just enough for some room to do DB work, etc. in middle of room).

[62Wolf]

Once I have the smith half cage together I'm going to see if I can find an attachment that will fit. A lot of companies cary adaptable variations now but I'd rather wait until its set up. I love weighted dips though I'd admit that they've caused some probelems with my AC joints in the past.
The Body Solid dip station is awesome (very solid and stable) but the only way it will work without taking up valuable space is using wing nuts to make it colapsable. I'd still prefer something on the rack though (ease of use). BTW, some of the gear I have in my office but half is in my garage (boxed) as my home still has a few months until completion.

Save yourself some money and space by using 2 olympic bars in your rack. Just put the two of them side by side and you can do dips right in your rack. You can angle them to suit your wrist positions and bring them in narrower or wider so you can focus on either the pecs or triceps. Doesn't take up any more space and you'll have an extra bar to boot. I gave my dip attachment away after I started doing them this way. You can also toss some fatgrips on them too for hand comfort.

[JRT6]

The floor is concrete and I do tend to drop weights (heavy dumbbells, T-bar rows, etc) though it's usually a pretty controlled drop and not tossing the weights around.

Then I would go with the thicker mat too.

[BAVE]

Save yourself some money and space by using 2 olympic bars in your rack. Just put the two of them side by side and you can do dips right in your rack. You can angle them to suit your wrist positions and bring them in narrower or wider so you can focus on either the pecs or triceps. Doesn't take up any more space and you'll have an extra bar to boot. I gave my dip attachment away after I started doing them this way. You can also toss some fatgrips on them too for hand comfort.

I was thinking of trying this when I was looking at options. Initially I was set on purchasing a Bodycraft cage with stack, dip attachment, extra hooks etc. or even a Legend half cage with 300lb stack & dip attachment. An offer to pick up the Tuff Stuff at low price was too hard to pass.

[JRT6]

My rack has a built in dip but it's way to narrow.

[BAVE]

Here's the dream rack I'm awaiting a quote on: legendfitness.com

Pro Series Modular Half Cage with LLR Fusion
3251 Independant dip attachments
3235 Dual LandMine attachment
3221-T Technique Trays
3252 Swivel Pull-Up Handles
3222 Pro Series Bench


It's essentially the same size as the Tuff Stuff (TS is 80L x 67W Legend is71L x 69W)

Pros:
built like a tank
more similar to full cage
300 lb stack!
technique trays
landmines (rows, etc)
dip attachment
chin attachment
better weight storage
has bar storage
damn sexy!

Cons:
cost
no smith
no pec deck (joking)
taller (my room is 120" tall and Legend is 104")

[JRT6]

I bought the landmine attachment with my prowler. Screw the smith attachment you're buying a power rack.