Building An Affordable Home Gym Thread

[kluz1ve]

Since nobody gave a **** about my last thread, here how we'll do this!

Post here any cheap and good stuff you find for a good gym (bench, powercage, barbell e.t.c)
Post here good websites to buy stuff
I NEED HELP

PS: THIS IS FOR THOSE IN CANADA

[KBKB]

Here's one you should hit first...

http://www.craigslist.com/

OR, since you're in Canada:

http://www.kijiji.ca/

[kluz1ve]

I don't live in a major city so I can't drive to pick things, plus I already did

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found this power rack for 692$ with shipping, it's a bit expensive considering that I need a prack, a bench an olympic bar and 300 lbs pounds for around 1200bucks..
treadmillfactory.ca/index.php?goto=shoppingcart[/url]

[KBKB]

found this power rack for 692$ with shipping, it's a bit expensive considering that I need a prack, a bench an olympic bar and 300 lbs pounds for around 1200bucks..
treadmillfactory.ca/index.php?goto=shoppingcart[/url]

I doubt that anyone but you will be able to see what's in your Treadmill Factory shopping cart.

Have you looked at Rogue Canada?

[kluz1ve]

300$ for the economic bar isn't really cheap

[daniel327]

I don't live in a major city so I can't drive to pick things, .....

I'm confused.

Is there some strange force in Canada that prevents vehicle operation outside of major cities?

[kluz1ve]

I'm confused.

Is there some strange force in Canada that prevents vehicle operation outside of major cities?

forgot to say that I'm 16 + I live in Qc so I'm def not going to Ontorio to pick a bar

[KBKB]

300$ for the economic bar isn't really cheap

I'm guessing that that's $300 with shipping? When I checked Rogue's site, they had some bars for well less than $300.

In any case, it's best not to go too cheap on bars. According to Mark Rippetoe, you should plan on spending around $300 on a new bar. I'm guessing that's before shipping charges are figured in. In Canada, you might need to pay a bit more for a quality bar.

You might find these videos useful:

[Detrus]

Can you find CAP OB86 in Canada? Should be around $150. Only decent bar at that price.

[jackbravo]

I remember when I was 16, I had no money. Like zero money. Is that your situation, OP, or do you have a budget? If you can really spend 1200$, then you can get quite a bit of stuff.

Power rack around 600 used
Bench around 300 new, less used
Bar around 200 new, less used (or new if you get the CAP bar, which you should get)
Plates around 200 used


You will have to get someone to drive you to pick up the used stuff. Sometimes, people will deliver for an extra 20$. Look within a 30mile radius on the used market.

[kluz1ve]

I remember when I was 16, I had no money. Like zero money. Is that your situation, OP, or do you have a budget? If you can really spend 1200$, then you can get quite a bit of stuff.

Power rack around 600 used
Bench around 300 new, less used
Bar around 200 new, less used (or new if you get the CAP bar, which you should get)
Plates around 200 used


You will have to get someone to drive you to pick up the used stuff. Sometimes, people will deliver for an extra 20$. Look within a 30mile radius on the used market.

oh I do have a lot more than 1.2k, but I don't want to spend 3k when I could have anything for 1k.. and yeah I'll look into it

[SuperBison]

Copy/Paste from my reply to your original post (in page 2)

I got mine at Fitness Depot / Fitness Entrepot.
I didn't want to buy these items online.

If you don't mind buying online, you can try:
http://www.treadmillfactory.ca/
and
http://www.fitnessavenue.ca/

Both located in Canada.

If you are in Montreal, there is :
http://fitnessnutrition.ca/Fitness/index.php

[SuperBison]

Copy/Paste from another post asking about price for Canada


You can check this FAQ about equipment:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=113942001

For the price in canada:

If you get everything new:
300 lbs of olympic weight and a bar: +/-300$
a power rack +/- 700$
a good bench: +/- 250

If you are lucky enough to get some used stuff, you can get everything at half price.

[kluz1ve]

Well I think I found my bar, amazon.ca/Barbell-1000-Pound-Solid-7-Feet/dp/B001K4OPY2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375795851&sr=8-1&keywords=OB86 (can't copy link coz of lack of posts...)

any thoughts?

EDIT: I'd say my major problem is finding a cheap place to buy 300lbs of pounds..
the guy said that I could ifn a bar and pounds for around 300$ and they sell 45lbs plates around 50$.. what the fck

I also found this rack for 599$ + 60$ of shipping treadmillfactory.ca/p-352-c--powertec-power-rack-pr-11.html

[kluz1ve]

Well I think I found my bar, amazon.ca/Barbell-1000-Pound-Solid-7-Feet/dp/B001K4OPY2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375795851&sr=8-1&keywords=OB86 (can't copy link coz of lack of posts...)

any thoughts?

EDIT: I'd say my major problem is finding a cheap place to buy 300lbs of pounds..
the guy said that I could ifn a bar and pounds for around 300$ and they sell 45lbs plates around 50$.. what the fck

I also found this rack for 599$ + 60$ of shipping treadmillfactory.ca/p-352-c--powertec-power-rack-pr-11.html

Does this bench looks good too? amazon.ca/Iron-Body-Fitness-92295-3-Exercise/dp/B00BIFXH74/ref=sr_1_18?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1375796842&sr=1-18&keywords=bench

[Cleveland33]

Does this bench looks good too? amazon.ca/Iron-Body-Fitness-92295-3-Exercise/dp/B00BIFXH74/ref=sr_1_18?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1375796842&sr=1-18&keywords=bench

No.

Read through the rack and the FAQ stickies - if you really read them, you will not have too many questions about brands, prices, or anything else.

I had to just consult my gym equipment spreadsheet - my whole gym cost under $1200 total and the only thing I flipped was a cheap 300lb weight set.

[maltralson]

I've said this a few times before, hands down the best bench available in Canada is the Pendlay Elite 0-90 http://www.muscledrivercan.com/, also as many others have said the CAP OB-86B from Amazon very good bar, I have the Powertec Rack, I got mine from Exercise Direct in Winnipeg, and my 300 lb weight set from Fitness Depot. And read Starting Strength.

Or even better than buying new would be to find someone selling any and all of this stuff for sale used.

[kluz1ve]

DUDE I LOVE YOU, these plates are so cheap I can't believe it! Repped!
Let's see if I can get some with cheap shipping

[kluz1ve]

DUDE I LOVE YOU, these plates are so cheap I can't believe it! Repped!
Let's see if I can get some with cheap shipping

160$ of shipping for 375 lbs, **** my life

[KBKB]

160$ of shipping for 375 lbs, **** my life

You're often better off buying plates locally. Look at local sporting goods stores as well as at stores like Sears. These will not be high quality plates, but it's more important to spend more on your bar and rack.

[kluz1ve]

SO I got the CAP bar for 188$
and for the rack Idk if I'll take the powertec or the powerline..

[thr_wedge]

Cheap power rack $280 (but they are more like $380 now thanks to steel prices)
cheap FID bench $100
2 rubber horse mats $80
Cheap CAP barbell set from big box store $170-190

That's how i built mine a year ago, still going strong (except the cheap cap barbell that came with the set...it is about to die).

It's not great, but it's a start, wasn't that expensive.

[joegreen690]

Cheap power rack $280 (but they are more like $380 now thanks to steel prices)
cheap FID bench $100
2 rubber horse mats $80
Cheap CAP barbell set from big box store $170-190

That's how i built mine a year ago, still going strong (except the cheap cap barbell that came with the set...it is about to die).

It's not great, but it's a start, wasn't that expensive.

When you guys talk about "cheap", which brands are you talking about. I'm also on budget and from atlantic canada. I scan kijiji.ca everyday as I'm looking for FID bench and a power rack. I had a hard time to see why a bench would costs over 200?


As a biggner, should I buy something like this treadmillfactory.ca/p-454-c-27-best-fitness-olympic-bench.html or a free FID and power rack?

I'm very confused if I should buy a bench like about that is attached to barbell stand. Any suggestions? I have enough room a power rack and a bench. So I'm being very cautious in what I buy.

[KBKB]

I'm very confused if I should buy a bench like about that is attached to barbell stand. Any suggestions?

Don't get a bench attached to a barbell stand. You won't be able to use it within a power rack and the stand will usually have no safeties at all. If it does have safeties, they're usually not long enough to be effective.

You should continue to look for a power rack and a standalone bench.

[Ken92]

Post here any cheap and good stuff you find for a good gym (bench, powercage, barbell e.t.c)

You are not going to find a bench or a powercage for a "Cheap" price unless you want ugly multi colored second gym. One last thing, I bought LOADS of cheap stuff and it all was crap. Save up and invest in better.

If not, do as you wish..

[joegreen690]

You are not going to find a bench or a powercage for a "Cheap" price unless you want ugly multi colored second gym. One last thing, I bought LOADS of cheap stuff and it all was crap. Save up and invest in better.

If not, do as you wish..

What do you think of Preacher Curl and leg curl extensions to the bench. I think Leg curl extension is useful but not quite sure if Preacher curl extension is useful or not. When you see the standalone benches on sites like kijiji or sears, they rarely come with these attachments. Any suggestions?

[Cleveland33]

What do you think of Preacher Curl and leg curl extensions to the bench. I think Leg curl extension is useful but not quite sure if Preacher curl extension is useful or not. When you see the standalone benches on sites like kijiji or sears, they rarely come with these attachments. Any suggestions?

No joke - the answers to these, and actually every question in this thread (except Daniel's) is in these two threads:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=113942001

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=126624063

I am not joking, if you read those two threads in their entirety you will know everything you will need to know about what items to get for your home gym.

[KBKB]

What do you think of Preacher Curl and leg curl extensions to the bench. I think Leg curl extension is useful but not quite sure if Preacher curl extension is useful or not. When you see the standalone benches on sites like kijiji or sears, they rarely come with these attachments. Any suggestions?

If you're going to get a bench with attachments, make sure that they can be completely and easily removed from the bench. If they stay attached to the bench, they just get in the way when using the bench for other purposes.

The other thing to be mindful of is that leg extension attachments negatively influence the design of the bench. In order to be used as a leg extension, the bench has to be taller than is desirable for doing things like a flat bench press. That said, it's not uncommon for FID benches to be taller than desirable anyway, but benches with leg extension attachments are often way too tall.

I have an Ironmaster Super Bench for which I purchased the leg extension / curl attachment and the preacher curl attachment. I'm not especially fond of the preacher curl attachment. See: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=134161741

The Ironmaster leg extension and curl attachments works quite well, but I rarely use it. I think there are much better ways to work the legs. That said, if you're a bodybuilder, then this attachment may be useful for isolating the quads and hamstrings.

[thr_wedge]

My gear is cheap. Cheap to purchase, cheap in quality. But I put together the whole gym for about $800 (it was about $630-650 for all the gear below, plus I already had a bunch of dumbbells, jump rope, ab wheel, ab straps, etc.) It is pro quality? no. But at $50/month to join a gym, I've almost paid for everything this Sept., I haven't outgrown it yet (unfortunately), and I can sell the stuff and upgrade as needed. I am in Texas, my prices might be different than yours.

Powerline PPR200X. - sam's club (was cheaper than Amazon at the time)
Body solid FID - sam's club (cheaper than Amazon at the time). The FID is a little tall. I don't mind it, but anyone shorter than me would find it a uncomfortable to unusable.
CAP barbell 300lb. set - academy
horse mats - tractor supply

[Muscle Mania Matt]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/go-b...-home-gym.html
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/how-...-part-two.html