***READ THIS FIRST*** Official workout equipment FAQ

[deseee]

We've been talking about starting a thread like this a number of times... so I'll start out with some of the more common questions and I'm sure it'll expand from there.

Q: "I'm a newb and I want to know what I should get to start my home gym?"
A: The majority of people will be best served by getting a Power Rack, Flat-Incline-Decline Bench and a set of Olympic weights to start. The reason you want a power rack is that you can do roughly 90% of all the exercises you can think of with one and do them SAFELY. The spotters on Power Racks have saved myself and countless others a lot of pain and injury. check out this thread for info about power racks, http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=109657991
Other things to consider after you get the basic power rack package would be dumbbells (Olympic db bars are fairly inexpensive if you can't afford hexes, ironmasters or powerblocks) a lat pulldown/low row, glute ham raise/developer, leg press, rubber flooring and something for cardio.

Q: "Power racks are expensive, how can I get started without spending a couple thousand dollars?"
A: Craigslist, Ebay, Kijiji, garage sales and your local classifieds are the way to go. You can get higher quality equipment at a fraction of the price you would pay for new. Many of us have gotten our home gyms for free or nearly free just by buying things on Craigslist and selling what we don't need.
This thread has info on a great site called Craigshelper that makes it crazy easy to find what your looking for. http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=111442291

Q: "What about cardio? what should I get for that?"
A: Everyone has there own favorite piece of cardio equipment. From cheapest to most expensive here are a few popular choices (prices are for a quality brand bought new). Running outside (free) Jump Rope ($10) Punching Bag ($100) Stationary Bike ($200-700) Rowing Machine ($300-1000) Treadmill ($1000+) Elliptical ($1000+)

Q: "What are some good equipment manufacturers?"
A: by no means is this an exhaustive or complete list but, Body Solid, Life Fitness, Precor, Parabody, Tuff Stuff, Cybex, Hammer Strength, Icarian, Nautilus, Hoist, Magnum, Promaxima, Smooth, Octane, Landice, Vectra, Legend, Keys, Yukon, True, Nebula, Atomic, Power Lift, Ivanko, Eleiko, EFS, TDS, Hampton, Troy, Cemco, Diamondback, York, Powertec, Bodycraft

Q: "What are some bad equipment manufacturers?"
I tend to shy away from anything by the following companies (although if the price is right you never know...) Weider, Golds, Impex, Marcy, Body By Jake, Total Sports America, Apex, Bowflex, Image, Body Vision, Weslo, Pro-Form, Reebok, Icon, Tracker, Nordic Track and the vast majority of things you see advertised on television.

Q: "I don't have enough space for a ton of hex or pro style dumbbells, should I get Ironmasters or Powerblocks?"
A: Both have their strengths and weakness's, Ironmasters have a lifetime warranty, feel more like a real dumbbell, and can be dropped on the floor, but plate changes take about as long as they do with Olympic dumbbells. Powerblocks offer the quickest weight change but should not be dropped and some people don't like the feel of having their hand inside of the block.

Q: "How much does my bar weigh?"
A: They make these things called scales... failing that most "good" bars are going to weigh between 41 and 44 pounds. Competition bars are always going to weigh 44 pounds. The bar you got in that weight set from sears or you local sporting goods store most likely only weighs about 30-40 pounds. EZ Curl cambered bars weigh between 15-25lbs, the better ones are closest to 25.

Q: "Should I buy a Bowflex? How about their Dumbbells?"
No & No... Does your local gym have a Bowflex in it? Do you like dumbbells made of plastic that will break after minimal use? Stay away from their overhyped and overpriced crap.

Q: "My girlfriend doesn't like calluses, what kind of gloves should I get?"
A: "The two most popular gloves made for weightlifting seem to be Harbinger Big Grips/Training Grips or Schiek 530/540's. Others use batting gloves, football gloves, mechanix gloves or whatever is cheap at walmart.

Q: "I don't have enough ceiling height for a Power Rack, Now what should I get?"
A: You're going to want to look at whats called a "Sumo Rack" it's basically a power rack that had the top cut off, but it still has most of the same features. another option is to look at half racks with spotter bars. Most are well under 80". If you can find one, Parabody Power Racks are under 80" without the lat attachment

Q: "Should I use a belt?"
A: Generally speaking no, I tend to use my belt only for very heavy deadlifts and squats when my core would otherwise not allow me to lift as much.

Q: "I can't get a good grip on the bar when I do deadlifts what can I do?"
You need chalk... if you can't use regular chalk get liquid chalk http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/xf/chalk.html, if that's still not enough look into getting some straps. Pro straps - http://www.prowriststraps.com/lifting_straps or basic light duty - http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/straps.html

Q: I'm unable to make gains in full 5lb increments, how can I add extra smaller weights onto bars or dumbells?
A: Platemates, fractional plates, or even home-made chains can be added to the ends of barbells or dumbbells to add smaller weight amounts.

Q: I think I found an awesome deal on Craigslist what do you guys think?
A: post your find in this thread here: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=109374491

Q: What kind of shoes should I wear for weightlifting?
A: Chuck Taylors/Converse All Stars, Wrestling shoes, Indoor Soccer shoes, Barefoot or get a pair of real Weightlifting shoes with a heel. You definitely do not want a shoe with a spongy sole like running shoes.

Q: What is the difference between standard and Olympic Plates?
A: Standard plates have a one inch hole where they slide onto the bar, Olympic Plates have a 2 inch hole.

List of essentials for powerlifters: Bands, Chains, Box squat, chalk, knee wraps, pylo boxes, grippers (COC, heavy grip, etc)

List of essentials for Olympic lifters: Platform, Bumper plates

List of essentials for strongmen: Tractor tires, yoke, farmers bars, atlas stones/molds, logs, grippers, grip machine

Mark Rippetoe talks equipment: http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Equipment
No Training Equipment, No Problem: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5310323
Links to home made equipment:
Grunt & Shen Homemade equipment http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenand...unt/grunt.html
Another Home Made site http://geocities.com/briangl2002/index.htm
Home Gym bodybuilding http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com...equipment.html
Biggerfoot's creations http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...11&postcount=7
FightTraining http://www.geocities.com/fightraining/
Wooden Power Rack http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=113216251
Steel Power Rack http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=113374901
Leg Machine http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=113220621
Microplates http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=112942631
Another Rack http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=112074531
Dumbbells http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=1003751
Lifting Platform http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displa...le.php?aid=152

Links to vendors not located in the USA
http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/

[Rage Beast]

I smell a sticky.

...and for the love of all that is good, please people, put your craigslist questions and comments in the CRAIGSLIST THREAD!!! I did say please.

[eb02z06]

Great Start!

Might want to add to list of brands: York barbells, True (treadmills), Nebula, Atomic, Power Lift, Ivanko, Eleiko, EFS, TDS

Full power rack alternatives: Look at half racks with spotter bars as well. Most are well under 80"


New categories:

List of essentials for powerlifters: Bands, Chains, Box squat, chalk, knee wraps, pylo boxes, grippers (COC, heavy grip, etc)

List of essentials for oly lifters: Platform, Bumper plates

List of essentials for strongmen: Tractor tires, yoke, farmers bars, atlas stones/molds, logs, grippers, grip machine

[deseee]

Great Start!

Might want to add to list of brands: York barbells, True (treadmills), Nebula, Atomic, Power Lift, Ivanko, Eleiko, EFS, TDS

Full power rack alternatives: Look at half racks with spotter bars as well. Most are well under 80"


New categories:

List of essentials for powerlifters: Bands, Chains, Box squat, chalk, knee wraps, pylo boxes, grippers (COC, heavy grip, etc)

List of essentials for oly lifters: Platform, Bumper plates

List of essentials for strongmen: Tractor tires, yoke, farmers bars, atlas stones/molds, logs, grippers, grip machine

updated... added hampton, troy and cemco too

[Keetman]

Hey great post Desee, helpful as usual.

BTW, the new bold formatting was a really good idea, nice job.

[deseee]

Hey great post Desee, helpful as usual.

BTW, the new bold formatting was a really good idea, nice job.

lol... i wonder who suggested that?!?! updated again and added a question about chalk and straps.

[HardKore79]

Deseee, edit the first post and put this in there: http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Equipment

[Accutron]

Heres a good link too:

No Training Equipment, No Problem...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=5310323

[Rage Beast]

How can you add extra smaller weights onto bars or dumbells?

Platemates, fractional plates, or even home-made chains can be added to the ends of barbells or dumbbells to add smaller weight amounts.

[buffbrown21]

Nice work desee.

[ctgblue]

I smell a sticky.

...and for the love of all that is good, please people, put your craigslist questions and comments in the CRAIGSLIST THREAD!!! I did say please.

me too

gotta get someone to do that, oh wait, I can...

done... changed the name a bit too and added some stuff

[Wildtim]

Thanks blue

[deseee]

How can you add extra smaller weights onto bars or dumbells?

Platemates, fractional plates, or even home-made chains can be added to the ends of barbells or dumbbells to add smaller weight amounts.

done

Nice work desee.

thank you

me too

gotta get someone to do that, oh wait, I can...

done... changed the name a bit too and added some stuff

Hopefully it'll keep some of these commonly recurring questions from being asked as much. I like the changes you made too... good stuff

So what you think guys any more stuff need to be added?

[Rage Beast]

Shoes for weightlifting:
Chuck Taylors, wrestling shoes, weightlifting shoes. Definitely want a shoe without spongy sole. May want some heel. (whatever, I'm sure you could word it much better than me)

Also, what about a few links to some of the sites that show homemade equipment, or would that be breaking a rule of some sort?

[rto]

definately add this one:

What's the difference between Standard and Olympic weight sets?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

and also, maybe a couple of good links to websites with the best prices on equipment?

[deseee]

Shoes for weightlifting:
Chuck Taylors, wrestling shoes, weightlifting shoes. Definitely want a shoe without spongy sole. May want some heel. (whatever, I'm sure you could word it much better than me)

Also, what about a few links to some of the sites that show homemade equipment, or would that be breaking a rule of some sort?

shoes are done, anyone have the home made links?

definately add this one:

What's the difference between Standard and Olympic weight sets?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

and also, maybe a couple of good links to websites with the best prices on equipment?

standard/olympic is done... I wouldn't know much about good websites as I bought everything I have off craigslist for the most part.

Also how about some International stuff? I'm always seeing questions by guys in Canada, Europe, Austrailia etc.. looking for good deals.. what have you guys found to be helpful in your respective corners of the world?

[Keetman]

This is a question that CTG will probably have to answer, but can a mod edit a post after the "edit window" is closed?
It will be easier if everything can be viewed in the first post. But there is no doubt things will need to be added, subtracted, or changed over time.

[rto]

Also how about some International stuff? I'm always seeing questions by guys in Canada, Europe, Austrailia etc.. looking for good deals.. what have you guys found to be helpful in your respective corners of the world?

I've bought all of my stuff from craigslit as well but so far the best site I've come across for Canada is http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/

------------------------

Only other thing I can think of is Smith vs. Squat rack? I'm not sure if that gets asked a lot here though..

[animalfan]

Also, what about a few links to some of the sites that show homemade equipment, or would that be breaking a rule of some sort?

homemade equipment links:
http://www.geocities.com/fightraining/
http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com...equipment.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenand...unt/grunt.html

how to build a lifting platform:
http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displa...le.php?aid=152

nice thread deseee!

[deseee]

This is a question that CTG will probably have to answer, but can a mod edit a post after the "edit window" is closed?
It will be easier if everything can be viewed in the first post. But there is no doubt things will need to be added, subtracted, or changed over time.

Yeah I got no clue

I've bought all of my stuff from craigslit as well but so far the best site I've come across for Canada is http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/

------------------------

Only other thing I can think of is Smith vs. Squat rack? I'm not sure if that gets asked a lot here though..

thanks for the link
anyone know a good smith v. power rack thread?

homemade equipment links:
http://www.geocities.com/fightraining/
http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com...equipment.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenand...unt/grunt.html

how to build a lifting platform:
http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displa...le.php?aid=152

nice thread deseee!

thanks much buddy! I'd never seen that fighttraining one before

[yankeemarko1]

Nice thread. Hopefully people will actually read it and use it a resource before we see 5 glove or "how much does my bar weigh" threads.

Good work!!!

[ctgblue]

I will work on this over the weekend, I will add some of the additional ideas and delete the subsquent posts with the requests, trying to streamline this to make it easy to flame someone for not reading it, I mean to make it easy for newbies to find stuff.

[Keetman]

Thanks ctg.

That seems to be one of the problems with the power rack thread, too much for people to sift through. Keeping this thread tidy will benefit new members and us.

Good work to all.

[Rage Beast]

Q: "How much does my bar weigh?"
A: They make these things called scales... failing that most "good" bars are going to weigh between 41 and 44 pounds. Competition bars are always going to weigh 44 pounds. The bar you got in that weight set from sears or you local sporting goods store most likely only weighs about 30-40 pounds. EZ Curl cambered bars weigh between 15-25lbs, the better ones are closest to 25.

Shouldn't the above bolded text be "between 44 and 45 lbs"? Or at least have it include 45 lbs?

[HardKore79]

Shouldn't the above bolded text be "between 44 and 45 lbs"? Or at least have it include 45 lbs?

If someone comes out with his bar weighing 45lbs, than we can gladly put it on there. 45lb bar is a mystery.

[Rage Beast]

If someone comes out with his bar weighing 45lbs, than we can gladly put it on there. 45lb bar is a mystery.

Examples:

Texas Power Bar

Pendlay Weightlifting Bar

[HardKore79]

Examples:

Texas Power Bar

Pendlay Weightlifting Bar

Like I said, when someone comes out and posts that their bar is exactly 45lb than we can put it on here. Almost all, claim that you're getting a 45lb bar, but when you go home and weigh it, you're going to be very disappointed when your 45lb weighs 35lb.

[deseee]

Shouldn't the above bolded text be "between 44 and 45 lbs"? Or at least have it include 45 lbs?

45lbs is simply 20kg x 2.2 =44.something rounded up =45... I've yet to see an actual 45lb bar. Hampton and a few other companies have bars that arent' quite 44 lb (even though they are rated high) which is why i said 41-44... I'll let you all decide if we want it at 45 or 44

[HardKore79]

Just weighed my Pendlay HD bar which is 20kg(44lb), and it came in at 43lb.

[ThaBoomer]

my TPB weighs closer to 20 KG than 45 pounds, but when I put my pins on then it is almost exactly 45. I say stick with 44 pounds, or go metric and stick with the 20 kg because that's the International Powerlifting Federation standard.