Pic's and discussion of your "Home Gym"

[PullBig]

Hey everyone. Im new here and to the lifting, etc. Many of you have outstanding home gyms. I currently just have a cheap bench with a wore out lat attachment. also have a 300lb set from sports authority and an ez curl bar. I have been trying to do research on items to replace my current equipment with. Mainly looking on Craigslist as it seems to be the best place to get equipment. I will post and notify as i upgrade.

One big ? I have is why do most of you use power racks and separate equipment for different excercises rather than say a good quality smith machine that would theoretically perform or give you the same benefits as a power rack plus more. I understand that there are certain equipment that would be needed, but with a smith machine you get the smith, lat attachment, some have pec decks; you can still do free weight benches and squats, etc and only cost a little bit more than a good power rack with lat attachment. Sorry this may be kind of in the wrong area but thought I would add it to my post. Thanks and keep up the great work on the home gym imporvements.

As smith bar does not use stabilizing muscles and is not a true lift. Most of your gains on a smith willnot transfer into actual lifts. They have there uses but for safety and results a power rack will save your back.

[deseee]

Hey everyone. Im new here and to the lifting, etc. Many of you have outstanding home gyms. I currently just have a cheap bench with a wore out lat attachment. also have a 300lb set from sports authority and an ez curl bar. I have been trying to do research on items to replace my current equipment with. Mainly looking on Craigslist as it seems to be the best place to get equipment. I will post and notify as i upgrade.

One big ? I have is why do most of you use power racks and separate equipment for different excercises rather than say a good quality smith machine that would theoretically perform or give you the same benefits as a power rack plus more. I understand that there are certain equipment that would be needed, but with a smith machine you get the smith, lat attachment, some have pec decks; you can still do free weight benches and squats, etc and only cost a little bit more than a good power rack with lat attachment. Sorry this may be kind of in the wrong area but thought I would add it to my post. Thanks and keep up the great work on the home gym imporvements.

The short answer is Smith's keep you in one plane of motion, The long answer is you can do 95% of the exercises you can think of w/ a power rack. That and squatting in a power rack instead of a smith utilizes more of your stabilizing muscles and gives a better overall squat.

edit:
+1 what pullbig said

[ExtremistPullup]

I'm getting a Leg press Machine Pics to come.

[rplass]

One big ? I have is why do most of you use power racks and separate equipment for different excercises rather than say a good quality smith machine that would theoretically perform or give you the same benefits as a power rack plus more.

I'm in the minority. I use a Smith Machine, no rack. I don't understand or believe what people say about stabilizer muscles or some very strange mumbling nonsense about planes of motion, weird stuff like that. My Smith goes up and down, it's real heavy when it has heavy weight on it and it works just fine with the same force of gravity on the same planet Earth as people who use a rack. I work out alone and I like the feel of the machine, so bleh. I do about half my movements on the Smith and the rest using dumbbells, pulleys, an EZ curl bar of course I use a bar on the floor for deadlifts.

If you like the Smith Machine, then go for it, you won't use equipment unless you like it, so just get whatever you will use. I feel 100% confident when using the Smith and it helps me go very heavy without worrying about the weights since I just set the safeties and catch out anywhere on the lift where I need to.

I have a cable thingy on my Smith machine, high and low, so I'm all set. I paid around $400 for it.

A rack is a perfectly fine piece of equipment too, I have nothing bad to say about racks, but it's just not my preference. If the Smith is your preference, then pick one up and you'll be just fine.

[ExtremistPullup]

I rearranged my mats for more workout space.

[HardKore79]

How many mats do you have there EP?

[ExtremistPullup]

How many mats do you have there EP?

Eight

[KASR5277]

Man, some of you guys have some great gyms!!
My humble setup.



I started this gym June of this year and I've already saved a boatload on a gym membership renewal, gas, and time just by having it at home - AND, my focus levels are off the chart. Hopefully this setup will last me a good many years, but I must admit, I'm anxious to grow out of it!

[JasonLane]

Man...

My home gym is pathetic. Then again I'd rather stay skinny than make that much of an investment. I just don't have the motivation, sorry.

I've got 4 things
- Pull Up Bar
- Open Room
- Ab Wheel
- Barbells with adjustable weights

[phillie]

Man...

My home gym is pathetic. Then again I'd rather stay skinny than make that much of an investment. I just don't have the motivation, sorry.

I've got 4 things
- Pull Up Bar
- Open Room
- Ab Wheel
- Barbells with adjustable weights

That just means you're not that motivated and serious enough to body build. Maybe one day you will be but I think it has to do with your youth.

[boxertim]

Here's pics of my basement gym, almost entirely put together with stuff from Craigslist:

Parabody Rack with lat pulldown & attachments, Tuff Stuff Bench and 300lb Hampton weight set $250 (Thanks again Hardkore and Ferrum!) CL
Barbell weight set free CL
Keys weight tree $30 on clearance at MC sports
Reebok weight wree $5 and Reebok belt $5 on clearance at Target
Quick Collars $15 local shop
Thick ass 70's rug free Grandmas estate

Schiek 540 Gloves $28 local shop
Preacher and Leg Extension for bench
Manta Ray & Chalk $44 local shop

The other side of the basement where i have the couch, guitar, computer and Punching bag

Century 100lb bag, everlast speedbag, TKO stand $60 CL

Still to get: Olympic Dumbbells, 7ft trap bar
Still to do: pull insulation and paint concrete walls, put in epoxy flooring, some sort of soundproofing and ceiling, more electrical, ethernet and phone

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to put on drywall over the insulation and paint it? This way you keep the r-value from the insulation. I don't mean mud and tape...just drywall and paint.

tim

[deseee]

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to put on drywall over the insulation and paint it? This way you keep the r-value from the insulation. I don't mean mud and tape...just drywall and paint.

tim

Oh yeah that'd be way easier but unfortunately I have to seal up the concrete as we get an occasional leak in that room after a hard rain.

[geoff.lu]

still need to get a new bar, FID bench, and tree.

CL $200 - rack with lat pull down, 300lb olympic weight set and bench
CL $100 - 2 mats, db and 100lb+ of plate for it
new $80 - ring
new $80 - 24kg kb

[Lehner]

still need to get a new bar, FID bench, and tree.

CL $200 - rack with lat pull down, 300lb olympic weight set and bench
CL $100 - 2 mats, db and 100lb+ of plate for it
new $80 - ring
new $80 - 24kg kb

I'm wearing those shoes.

[Keelan]

Hey, gang. First time posting here. Lots of cool home gyms. I've been putting mine together for about a year, myself. Had a hard time taking the photo, with the depth of the room, so there's a slight "warp" here, but it gives you a good idea.

[Skidmarx]

Hey, gang. First time posting here. Lots of cool home gyms. I've been putting mine together for about a year, myself. Had a hard time taking the photo, with the depth of the room, so there's a slight "warp" here, but it gives you a good idea.

Sweet. How much did those giant mirrors cost ya?

[INFRNL]

got more stuff today! I will post pics when i get it all set up.
now have all tuff stuff equipment.
Have: Power rack, FID bench, cable crossover syst, hex DB's (approx 1360lb.s, 5-80lbs in 5lb incs) with (2) 3 tier HD racks, weight tree, 935lbs of plates, 2 oly bars, 2 oly curl bars, separate lat machine hi/lo, preacher curl bench, leg ext/ curl machine, and misc handles/attachnets for pully systems. I think thats it. should keep me busy for a very long time.

[new2lifting]

got more stuff today! I will post pics when i get it all set up.
now have all tuff stuff equipment.
Have: Power rack, FID bench, cable crossover syst, hex DB's (approx 1360lb.s, 5-80lbs in 5lb incs) with (2) 3 tier HD racks, weight tree, 935lbs of plates, 2 oly bars, 2 oly curl bars, separate lat machine hi/lo, preacher curl bench, leg ext/ curl machine, and misc handles/attachnets for pully systems. I think thats it. should keep me busy for a very long time.

nice setup bro!!!

you got all the basics covered and some extras

sounds like an awesome gym
look forward to the photos

glad we talked you out of the smith machine

[HardKore79]

got more stuff today! I will post pics when i get it all set up.
now have all tuff stuff equipment.
Have: Power rack, FID bench, cable crossover syst, hex DB's (approx 1360lb.s, 5-80lbs in 5lb incs) with (2) 3 tier HD racks, weight tree, 935lbs of plates, 2 oly bars, 2 oly curl bars, separate lat machine hi/lo, preacher curl bench, leg ext/ curl machine, and misc handles/attachnets for pully systems. I think thats it. should keep me busy for a very long time.

Congrats on your gym. It didn't take you long to piece it together.

[deseee]

got more stuff today! I will post pics when i get it all set up.
now have all tuff stuff equipment.
Have: Power rack, FID bench, cable crossover syst, hex DB's (approx 1360lb.s, 5-80lbs in 5lb incs) with (2) 3 tier HD racks, weight tree, 935lbs of plates, 2 oly bars, 2 oly curl bars, separate lat machine hi/lo, preacher curl bench, leg ext/ curl machine, and misc handles/attachnets for pully systems. I think thats it. should keep me busy for a very long time.

I feel like Obi-Wan now. Use the craigslist Luke.

[DiamondDelts]

I feel like Obi-Wan now. Use the craigslist Luke.

LMFAO.

[INFRNL]

nice setup bro!!!

you got all the basics covered and some extras

sounds like an awesome gym
look forward to the photos

glad we talked you out of the smith machine

LOL, I'm glad you guys did too. thanks

Congrats on your gym. It didn't take you long to piece it together.

No, lol; I tend to get impatient. I know I could have waited and maybe found some better deals, but I went to denver this weekend which is pretty much where this guy lives. So I decided to just get it all.

I feel like Obi-Wan now. Use the craigslist Luke.

Thanks Deseee for all your help and words of advise. as to all the others that helped me. I know you said I could wait but I talked that guy selling the full setup for 3k down to 2k for the setup as you recommended. also got everything from CL as everyone recommends as well. I think I did pretty good; was more than I planned on spending but i have a good selection to get me going for a while. Thanks Obi, lol

Thanks to everyone for helping me out and once I figure out how to do the reps thing; I will give reps to everyone that help with getting my equip.

I should be able to post pics by tomorrow.

[FERRUM_MAXIMUS]

still need to get a new bar, FID bench, and tree.

CL $200 - rack with lat pull down, 300lb olympic weight set and bench
CL $100 - 2 mats, db and 100lb+ of plate for it
new $80 - ring
new $80 - 24kg kb

What kind of power rack is that?

[geoff.lu]

What kind of power rack is that?

i'm not sure... its pretty old... but it doesn't matter for me cause i dont lift tht heavy yet.. so dont need to worry about the max cap.

[FERRUM_MAXIMUS]

i'm not sure... its pretty old... but it doesn't matter for me cause i dont lift tht heavy yet.. so dont need to worry about the max cap.

I don't believe that I've ever seen one like it,I don't think you have to worry about capacity,I'm sure it's plenty strong.

[geoff.lu]

I don't believe that I've ever seen one like it,I don't think you have to worry about capacity,I'm sure it's plenty strong.

maybe its just the dust and rust... i think the guy i bought it off from, found it in his the basement.. lol i think i'll take it out in the summer and repaint it

but dam... there is not really good deal in toronto's CL

[new2lifting]

got more stuff today! I will post pics when i get it all set up.
now have all tuff stuff equipment.
Have: Power rack, FID bench, cable crossover syst, hex DB's (approx 1360lb.s, 5-80lbs in 5lb incs) with (2) 3 tier HD racks, weight tree, 935lbs of plates, 2 oly bars, 2 oly curl bars, separate lat machine hi/lo, preacher curl bench, leg ext/ curl machine, and misc handles/attachnets for pully systems. I think thats it. should keep me busy for a very long time.

hey bro
you get that set up yet?

[Skidmarx]

What kind of power rack is that?

That looks like a BodySmith

[FERRUM_MAXIMUS]

That looks like a BodySmith

Yeah but look at the bottom behind the rear lateral brace.I'm thinking that it's a Bodysmith that's been modified.

[geoff.lu]

That looks like a BodySmith

omg... how did you know... i saw the mark when i was cleaning it today...

i turn the rack around so i can use the pulley system for seated row... and i put all my 10lb plates on it... double as tree.... dont know if thats good for the pulley