The Cheapo Setup

[Domicron]

Ok so let's go through the cheapest options for new equipment that you'd be willing to use for training.

While we all dream of buying that custom built rig, or finding a solid piece of used commercial or vintage equipment to outfit your gym, many times we just want to buy something that's usable to get started.

I think the Squat Rack that's recommended the most that doesn't get bad feedback is the Powerline PPR200X

the barbell is the CAP OB-86B

Academy Sports and Outdoors 300lb Olympic Plate Set is on sale for a good price (sell the barbell on Craigslist) buy 2 and the sales of the bars should pay for most of a better barbell.

For a bench, most people only really need a flat bench and the Rogue Flat Utility Bench 2.0 is great in terms of quality and value. Most people will want to buy an adjustable bench because they think they need to do incline and decline work right off the bat. in this case, the Powerblock Sport Bench seems like the way to go.

a couple of Tractor Supply Company Horse Stall Mats is far and away the best value for flooring.

i think you can buy all this for under a grand and be set to lift for a good long time. if you have more budget, i'd spend it first on the rack (GPR378 or better, and last on the plates (just because i think most of us have access to used iron weights for cheap).

i'm more than open to discussion and corrections on the gear and what you guys think is the best entry-level setup

[CliveWarren]

I like this recommendation Dom. Mostly because if you're in the Continental 48, this should be easily obtainable by anybody.

[Stasher1]

Good idea, Dom.

[Domicron]

I like this recommendation Dom. Mostly because if you're in the Continental 48, this should be easily obtainable by anybody.

thanks, i wish i had spent more, and recommend to people to either buy used or buy better, but this setup should be great for most beginners who don't want to go overboard and don't want to bother buying used.

Good idea, but I think the Fitness Gear Pro Utility Bench is the recommended model, and it doesn't fold.

thanks, fixed

[drrickso]

thanks, i wish i had spent more, and recommend to people to either buy used or buy better, but this setup should be great for most beginners who don't want to go overboard and don't want to bother buying used

good advice- repped. btw- really wish i didnt cheap out on some stuff for the home gym as well. i'm at the point where i want a bunch of different equipment, yet am stuck with stuff that has little resale value. considering the cost of new stuff combined with the loss on reselling old equipment, id have gotten away MUCH cheaper just to get what i thought was "too expensive" right out of the gate.

that said, the recommendations you gave are great for affordable and usueful equipment... but if you hang out in this forum, that list grows and grows

[Stasher1]

good advice- repped. btw- really wish i didnt cheap out on some stuff for the home gym as well. i'm at the point where i want a bunch of different equipment, yet am stuck with stuff that has little resale value. considering the cost of new stuff combined with the loss on reselling old equipment, id have gotten away MUCH cheaper just to get what i thought was "too expensive" right out of the gate.

that said, the recommendations you gave are great for affordable and usueful equipment... but if you hang out in this forum, that list grows and grows

True...but if you actually use you equipment on a regular basis, you may find that your list of necessary equipment will shrink back down to just a few [nicer] pieces.

[joem1cha3l]

Nice thread Dom. You guys have already saved me at least $500 by preventing me from ordering junk. Repped.

[chadsalt]

Nail on the head. Needs to be a sticky.

[drrickso]

True...but if you actually use you equipment on a regular basis, you may find that your list of necessary equipment will shrink back down to just a few [nicer] pieces.

im not there yet then:
1) i never even considered lifting chains before a month ago, but after seeing a few threads im now looking for every excuse to incorporate them.
2) two benches? sure. cause i need a dedicated flat bench vs the fid
3) got and use a couple of specialty bars... which is something in itself, but i HAD to get oso clamps to fit them
4) versa grips... fantastic and easy alterntative to straps... because the $5 canvas straps ive used over the years suddenly wasnt good enough
5) my cap hex dumbells arent cutting it and wish i had iron masters
6) my rack is 14g steel- and really wish i had something heavy duty... with monolifts obv
7) i DID spring for an OPB as my barbell right out of the gate too

i use all my stuff on a regular basis... but i still want more. to your point i would like to shrink my dumbell rack into a set of adjustable. my point remains tho- you guys are bad influences

[urbanlifter]

Nice thread Dom! Personally, I would swap out the bench with the Powerblock Sport bench. It may be $50 more but its lower to the ground, ladder style is quicker to adjust, and the Powerblock name is likely to hold its resale value better than Fitness Gear.

[Domicron]

I think each person will follow a slightly different path in terms of how they build up their gym. it depends on available budget, willingness to spend money, how much they lift, what's available in their market, etc...

if you use the stuff, then my all means go for it. but i think after a while most of us settle down and let training take the front seat in terms of determining what to add.

personally, i'm at the point where my training doesn't justify adding equipment, a problem i hope to fix over the course of this year. instead i let opportunity dictate what i spend my money on. i slowly add to and upgrade based on what i can find that's rare or exceptionally valued.

my goal is to train enough to justify spending some money on black friday

[bobcat255]

Dom, good idea! If this becomes stickied I'd recommend organizing the data into a table (Excel like). I think that's easier to read for most people and can be expanded to include cost, links, important notes/stats and an upgrade options for those that would like to spend more in a certain area.

[Domicron]

Nice thread Dom! Personally, I would swap out the bench with the Powerblock Sport bench. It may be $50 more but its lower to the ground, ladder style is quicker to adjust, and the Powerblock name is likely to hold its resale value better than Fitness Gear.

i was going to call this thread the best value, or the most bang for the buck, but i went with Cheapo because at my heart, i'm a cheap bastard.

i think the sport bench is better to go to, but i think the fitness gear bench being so cheap is the bottom line. i'll add it as an upgrade option though.

[Mechanon84]

i was going to call this thread the best value, or the most bang for the buck, but i went with Cheapo because at my heart, i'm a cheap bastard.

i think the sport bench is better to go to, but i think the fitness gear bench being so cheap is the bottom line. i'll add it as an upgrade option though.

Good start. This forum really needs a sticky overhaul. (hah!) half the links in the stickies are dead, and a good portion of the info is just flat out dated. Most of the questions people ask aren't "what equipment do I need" but more "which 'x' is the best value," the answer to which changes too frequently to be found in a static sticky that never gets updated.

[Stasher1]

Good start. This forum really needs a sticky overhaul. (hah!) half the links in the stickies are dead, and a good portion of the info is just flat out dated. Most of the questions people ask aren't "what equipment do I need" but more "which 'x' is the best value," the answer to which changes too frequently to be found in a static sticky that never gets updated.

It wouldn't matter if the info in the stickies was updated every 15 seconds and the titles flashed like strip joint neon, nobody would read them. They'd just start new threads asking the same damn questions over and over.

[Domicron]

It wouldn't matter if the info in the stickies was updated every 15 seconds and the titles flashed like strip joint neon, nobody would read them. They'd just start new threads asking the same damn questions over and over.

so much this.

[Mechanon84]

It wouldn't matter if the info in the stickies was updated every 15 seconds and the titles flashed like strip joint neon, nobody would read them. They'd just start new threads asking the same damn questions over and over.

You're right, but that's not really the problem. The knee-jerk reaction will always be to send people to the stickies, which most of the time would be ok if the information in the stickies was mostly relevant, but it's not. On top of that, the the search function here is absolutely horrible. There are 3 separate search boxes that all do different things. You can essentially only narrow your search to threads newer than a year old. Otherwise it shows you mostly 10+ year old threads.

[Seatard]

You're right, but that's not really the problem. The knee-jerk reaction will always be to send people to the stickies, which most of the time would be ok if the information in the stickies was mostly relevant, but it's not. On top of that, the the search function here is absolutely horrible. There are 3 separate search boxes that all do different things. You can essentially only narrow your search to threads newer than a year old. Otherwise it shows you mostly 10+ year old threads.

I cringe whenever someone asks a beginner question and gets a bunch of predictable responses about reading the stickies and using the search. They both just lead to pages of garbage.

[RandyMcdonald]

Good recommendations for the new lifter! I might also throw a pair of these in the basket. Enough weight for a beginner to advance to a decent level at a bare bones price....assuming he/she can't find some deals on Craigslist.

http://www.amazon.com/One-Pair-Adjus...able+dumbbells

[obey46]

You're right, but that's not really the problem. The knee-jerk reaction will always be to send people to the stickies, which most of the time would be ok if the information in the stickies was mostly relevant, but it's not. On top of that, the the search function here is absolutely horrible. There are 3 separate search boxes that all do different things. You can essentially only narrow your search to threads newer than a year old. Otherwise it shows you mostly 10+ year old threads.

Totally agree, even the Mods know it. I've had better luck finding old threads from digging through member's "view forum posts".

[Synthetickiller]

This is a great ideal Dom. Repped.

Is there a way to renew the stickies in general & provide relevant info?

[Ramcharger310]

Nice thread Dom! Personally, I would swap out the bench with the Powerblock Sport bench. It may be $50 more but its lower to the ground, ladder style is quicker to adjust, and the Powerblock name is likely to hold its resale value better than Fitness Gear.

The FG bench regular price is $179, so usual about only $20 more than the PB bench. Plus, the FG bench is made out of tin can material and crappy workmanship. The powerblock quality from what I have seen from their large stand and sports blocks are great. I suspect the PB bench follows suit.

Also the PB bench and the PL/BS racks match colors lol.

You guys are usual on target for most things, but not on the FG bench. I can't personally recommend the PB bench as I have never seen it in person. I CAN personally recommend to NOT buy the FG bench @ the $180 price.

[rlundregan]

The FG bench regular price is $179, so usual about only $20 more than the PB bench. Plus, the FG bench is made out of tin can material and crappy workmanship. The powerblock quality from what I have seen from their large stand and sports blocks are great. I suspect the PB bench follows suit.

Also the PB bench and the PL/BS racks match colors lol.

You guys are usual on target for most things, but not on the FG bench. I can't personally recommend the PB bench as I have never seen it in person. I CAN personally recommend to NOT buy the FG bench @ the $180 price.

The PB bench used to get a fair amount of love around here before most of the regulars got commercial benches.

[rlundregan]

This is a great ideal Dom. Repped.

Is there a way to renew the stickies in general & provide relevant info?

I think this is a matter of someone creating a thread, which means doing a fair amount of rewriting in some cases.

[chadsalt]

I think this is a matter of someone creating a thread, which means doing a fair amount of rewriting in some cases.

Can't the old ones just be 'un-stickied' and allowed to float away when a new replacement stickie is created?

[FoolsErrand]

I think the Squat Rack that's recommended the most that doesn't get bad feedback is the Powerline PPR200X...

the next steps in terms of upgrade, btw:
GPR378 rack
Powerblock Sport Bench...

If your ceiling is a major concern, Garage Gym suggests the Body-Solid Multi Press Rack (74" - 1000 lb. limit). He says it's commercial grade equipment without the commercial grade price.

https://www.fitnessfactory.com/Home/...ti_Press_Rack/

FF has sold refurbs of this for $480.

[Domicron]

The FG bench regular price is $179, so usual about only $20 more than the PB bench. Plus, the FG bench is made out of tin can material and crappy workmanship. The powerblock quality from what I have seen from their large stand and sports blocks are great. I suspect the PB bench follows suit.

Also the PB bench and the PL/BS racks match colors lol.

You guys are usual on target for most things, but not on the FG bench. I can't personally recommend the PB bench as I have never seen it in person. I CAN personally recommend to NOT buy the FG bench @ the $180 price.

The PB bench used to get a fair amount of love around here before most of the regulars got commercial benches.

change made, thanks guys.

If your ceiling is a major concern, Garage Gym suggests the Body-Solid Multi Press Rack (74" - 1000 lb. limit). He says it's commercial grade equipment without the commercial grade price.

not bad. my ppr200x has been cut to fit. i paid someone, but they did a **** job; i wish i had tried to do it myself. if i was lucky i would have messed it up and had an excuse to upgrade...

anyhow i'm not a fan of that rack.

[Stasher1]

If your ceiling is a major concern, Garage Gym suggests the Body-Solid Multi Press Rack (74" - 1000 lb. limit). He says it's commercial grade equipment without the commercial grade price.

https://www.fitnessfactory.com/Home/...ti_Press_Rack/

FF has sold refurbs of this for $480.

I don't think I'd ever recommend that multi-press rack over a full power rack, regardless of ceiling height, due to the miniscule spotter arms. I'd rather see new lifters buy something like the PPR200X, Titan, Deltech, Atlas, etc and cut the uprights to make it fit their space.

Also, BS (and many of their customers) like to use the word "commercial" to describe their equipment, but it's not accurate. It's actually "light commercial", which means that it's sturdy enough for a hotel or office gym, but isn't likely to fare well in a commercial gym. Big, big difference. Be wary of any equipment advice from people who don't know the difference.

As far as benches go, I don't think the FG bench is a terrible option for new lifters, but I'd rather see someone buy a solid flat bench than a questionable FI/FID bench for about the same price. Rogue has a couple flat benches in the same price range (Rogue Flat Utility Bench 2.0 for $175, or their Bolt Together Utility Bench for $182.50) that would undoubtedly be stronger than the FG and retain more of their value for resale later on...but there's no real reason to get rid of them unless you're stepping up to a heavy commercial piece.


http://www.roguefitness.com/strength...aining/benches

[Domicron]

I don't think I'd ever recommend that multi-press rack over a full power rack, regardless of ceiling height, due to the miniscule spotter arms. I'd rather see new lifters buy something like the PPR200X, Titan, Deltech, Atlas, etc and cut the uprights to make it fit their space.

Also, BS (and many of their customers) like to use the word "commercial" to describe their equipment, but it's not accurate. It's actually "light commercial", which means that it's sturdy enough for a hotel or office gym, but isn't likely to fare well in a commercial gym. Big, big difference. Be wary of any equipment advice from people who don't know the difference.

As far as benches go, I don't think the FG bench is a terrible option for new lifters, but I'd rather see someone buy a solid flat bench than a questionable FI/FID bench for about the same price. Rogue has a couple flat benches in the same price range (Rogue Flat Utility Bench 2.0 for $175, or their Bolt Together Utility Bench for $182.50) that would undoubtedly be stronger than the FG and retain more of their value for resale later on...but there's no real reason to get rid of them unless you're stepping up to a heavy commercial piece.


http://www.roguefitness.com/strength...aining/benches

agree on all points. i had thought about what you said about the flat bench vs the FID, but figured since most people (myself included) start with an adjustable, before they realize they should have gotten a flat first, i'd list the adjustable.

i have edited the OP.

[chadsalt]

Dom,

It's not Sport's Authority that was on sale, it's a Cap brand oly set at Academy. Sports Authority (and I believe Dicks also) has their 'own' oly set which do not have standard size 45# plates and IMO should be avoided.