Advice on Home Gym Equipment

[gb14772]

I currently have a Cybex PG-400 Home Gym, 5-50lb PowerBlocks, a True 500HRT treadmill, a Vision Fitness R200 semi-recumbent fitness cycle, and two sizes of Swiss balls.

My wife/I are mid-50's, want to improve muscle tone and strength.

My wife would like to have a leg press machine. What would be a good leg press machine to get?

Things I don't like about the Cybex Home Gym:
- single leg leg curls, I'd like a bench that I can lie flat and do two legs at once
- presses. The pressing arm is fixed width and has an arc. This is OK, but would like more variety on presses, and more variety on other exercises
- squat attachment is uncomfortable, it loops more around my neck than I like, uncomfortable at higher weight levels, I'm just at about 120 lbs now.

Should I add a Smith machine or Power Rack? My son tells me that a power rack is not good for "old guys", his euphemism for me :-) and a smith machine would be better. I've never used either, so I don't know. so I guess my question is, what other equipment, if any, should I add?

thanks.

[vikingsrule92]

well power racks are always good but I definitely wouldn't recommend a smith machine, racks are MUCH better. Power racks make squats a lot more comfortable using a bar as apposed to a fixed machine. I would recommend a rack above a leg press machine and most people on this forum would agree however if you want to get the leg press search these forums for advice because I dont know much about em.

[BDI6942]

Power racks(cages) are just fine for older folks. Just be smart and take your time and learn to do free wieght excercises with CORRECT FORM first before trying to pile on too much weight.

We have a few older folks(men and women)over the age of 50 who come to our college field house and do purely free weight movements like squats,deadlifts,clean and press's etc.

[LockOut]

I train with older powelifters 58 and 65 years old...so you can use power rack with free weights at any age...Body Solid makes a nice leg press hack squat combo...will cost around $1,200.00

[surfgod777]

Here is a solid leg press machine that you can add to your gym that takes up a smaller amount of room than standard press machines.
http://www.powertecfitness.com/legsled.htm

Here are some other good machines for legs...
http://bodysolid.com/Item.aspx?ItemI...%26+Hack+Squat
(This one is what LockOut mentioned, and is good because you can to both a press and squat with it.)

http://bodysolid.com/Item.aspx?ItemI...%26+Calf+Raise
(Another alternative which combines a hack squats with a calf raise.)


As far as getting a bench that you can utilize to the fullest, look for something like this
http://bodysolid.com/Item.aspx?ItemI...fDecline+Bench
(It does incline/decline/flat, and also has the attachment for leg extensions and leg curls.)

[DeborahJunebug]

I currently have a Cybex PG-400 Home Gym, 5-50lb PowerBlocks, a True 500HRT treadmill, a Vision Fitness R200 semi-recumbent fitness cycle, and two sizes of Swiss balls.

My wife/I are mid-50's, want to improve muscle tone and strength.

My wife would like to have a leg press machine. What would be a good leg press machine to get?

Things I don't like about the Cybex Home Gym:
- single leg leg curls, I'd like a bench that I can lie flat and do two legs at once
- presses. The pressing arm is fixed width and has an arc. This is OK, but would like more variety on presses, and more variety on other exercises
- squat attachment is uncomfortable, it loops more around my neck than I like, uncomfortable at higher weight levels, I'm just at about 120 lbs now.

Should I add a Smith machine or Power Rack? My son tells me that a power rack is not good for "old guys", his euphemism for me :-) and a smith machine would be better. I've never used either, so I don't know. so I guess my question is, what other equipment, if any, should I add?

thanks.

I am writing to see if you still have your Cybex PG400? I recently inherited one and am having a very hard time trying to find the assembly and parts manual. Would you happen to have a copy? I would gladly pay you for a copy. Everywhere, so far, does not have a copy availiable. Even Cybex? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Deborah Liberatore

[ironwill2008]

I am writing to see if you still have your Cybex PG400? I recently inherited one and am having a very hard time trying to find the assembly and parts manual. Would you happen to have a copy? I would gladly pay you for a copy. Everywhere, so far, does not have a copy availiable. Even Cybex? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Deborah Liberatore

This thread is 9 years old, and the OP never returned after that initial post. It's unlikely he'll see your post, but someone else here who may be able to assist you might see it.


I did a quick Google search of some usual sources of old manuals, etc., but didn't turn up anything.


GL.

[aclockworkoi]

On TV, Deborah would have inherited this machine from OP.

On the SciFi channel, OP replies.

[AttyGuy]

Should I add a Smith machine or Power Rack? My son tells me that a power rack is not good for "old guys", his euphemism for me :-) and a smith machine would be better. I've never used either, so I don't know. so I guess my question is, what other equipment, if any, should I add?

OP needs to smack his son upside his head and remind him that he needs to show more respect to his elders and betters.

[Stasher1]

OP needs to smack his son upside his head and remind him that he needs to show more respect to his elders and betters.

OP's son has moved out, gotten married, had kids, and his kids are now calling him an "old guy".

[AttyGuy]

OP's son has moved out, gotten married, had kids, and his kids are now calling him an "old guy".

Hope he got his a-- beat by the old man. Probably not.

[DavidSpr]

I am writing to see if you still have your Cybex PG400? I recently inherited one and am having a very hard time trying to find the assembly and parts manual. Would you happen to have a copy? I would gladly pay you for a copy. Everywhere, so far, does not have a copy availiable. Even Cybex? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Deborah Liberatore

I have a user/assembly manual for the Cybex PG 400. If you still need it, I can send you a PDF

[dagdafitness]

I have a user/assembly manual for the Cybex PG 400. If you still need it, I can send you a PDF

Oh theyre going to give you a big old money bag for this! Theyve been waiting 13 years

[hothanhtam]

You should buy some Pilates equipment, really worth it!

[poojasharma143]

My advice would be to get a simple rack, bench, Olympic barbell, and plates. There's so much versatility in that setup, and it can be a lot cheaper. (It can also be a lot more expensive if you opt for pro-level gear, which you totally don't have to do.) Between the bench press, deadlift, squat, and overhead press, that will work everything.

[nopassword]

I have a user/assembly manual for the Cybex PG 400. If you still need it, I can send you a PDF

If you still have a user manual I would love one! I just purchased one and it is disassembled.
Thanks