Weights Equipment for Home

Forums › Health and fitness › Weights Equipment for Home

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#242204 16-Oct-2018 09:34

I'm looking for advice on and others experiences of buying weight-lifting equipment for home.

I've been to couple of retailers, but they are interested in 'selling what they have' rather than actually advising what is best suited for me.

My motivation for doing so is detailed under Background below.

The lifting is part of wider exercise program, which includes running and core. I don't have any specific goals. Just building a bit of volume and strength as part of on ongoing fitness and well-being.

I'll be working out alone so safety is a consideration. But other than that I'm open minded.

I'll have a reasonable amount of room - for example half a two car garage.

I'm currently using dumbbells, but starting to be be limited by them. Barbells or a multifunction machine could be in order.

I don't have a preference for new or used, although in a small region with an older population, I suspect second hand options will be limited.

Background: -

I'm moving towns. I'll no longer have access to the gym in our apartment building, which I currently use four or five times per week. Have been doing so for about two years, aside from an 8 week break following surgery.

By living semi-rurally I can save about $100k on a house and reduce my daily commute by about 30km per day.

The downside of this is I won't have access to a gym. The solution is to buy some weight lifting equipment from home.

Mike

1 | 2

Networkn
32353 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2108643 16-Oct-2018 09:36

Free weights are highly rated, but honestly, I've never enjoyed using them. I prefer to buy a machine and use that.

kobiak

1615 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2108648 16-Oct-2018 09:41

you'll find machine is more limiting

freewights + barbells + pullup bar are the best for core excersises.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2108649 16-Oct-2018 09:42

I have an Olympic bar and a bunch of bumper plates. A flat bench and a squat rack. Thats pretty much all you need if you stick to compound movements - squat, press, bench, row, deadlift. These will build all the strength and fitness you need. I brought my weights and bar from Industrial Athletic http://www.industrialathletic.com Rob knows his stuff so give them a call and talk to them.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2108651 16-Oct-2018 09:43

kobiak:

you'll find machine is more limiting

freewights + barbells + pullup bar are the best for core exercises.

To clarify: I don't need weights/equipment for the core exercises. I do a fairly simple, floor based routine.

Mike

sen8or

1789 posts

Uber Geek

#2108661 16-Oct-2018 10:12

Bang for the buck, you can't beat a cage, bench and barbell set.

I have the "heavy duty" cage from No1 Fitness with cable attachment. This is allows for significant variations on exercises -

Squat rack with height adjustable safety bars.

High and low cable for various back / arm exercises

Pull-up handles on exterior of the cage (wide, close, neutral grip variants)

Overhead press (pegs on the cage shifted to external / front supports)

A good bench will allow flat, incline or decline bench press (and with the variable height safety bars, no need to worry about being trapped by a missed rep). You can also get a leg extender / leg curl attachment for the bench if required.

There are 2 "weight classes" sold by No1, a standard range and a heavy duty range (this applies to the cages as well as the bench). The standard range is pretty solid and will suit most casual lifters, the heavy duty has a bit more wriggle room if you want to lift heavier weights (or are on the bulky side).

For the weight set, they do a couple of 100kg sets, one with a 16kg bar (and a few more weights) and one with a 20kg bar (I went the 20kg option as its more standard). I don't know what experience you have lifting, 100kg sounds like a lot but if you follow a standardised routine (Starting strength, Strong lifts, Wendler 5/3/1 etc) then both squats and deads will pretty quickly eat up a 100kg set.

kobiak

1615 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2108663 16-Oct-2018 10:19

MikeAqua:

kobiak:

you'll find machine is more limiting

freewights + barbells + pullup bar are the best for core exercises.

To clarify: I don't need weights/equipment for the core exercises. I do a fairly simple, floor based routine.

try shin ohtake

very simple and yet very demanding HIT 30-40 mins per training :) I've done it in full once, and second time stop half way :(

starting with body weight, and later add extra weights. it is pretty much continuous build up

helping others at evgenyk.nz

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2108664 16-Oct-2018 10:21

I used to compete in powerlifting.

For sure dumbells, kettle bells and barbells, pull up bar, dip bars, a cage etc are far better value for money and effective than any of those mutli-purpose machines.

Start with a pull up bar, then barbell then weights. Do lots of cleans, jerks, presses, front squats etc. If a cage is out of your budget, then squatting racks will work well.

Make sure to buy a bar of at least 20kg in weight, avoid second hand, and buy quality, a cheap bar can kill you when it snaps and rips through your throat or nose.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5877 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2108674 16-Oct-2018 10:41

I'd go with others suggestion as well: free weights are definitely more bang for bucks. A cage and flexible bench with weight stand, an ezy-bar, Olympic bar, preacher curl if require (or use the flexible bench for concentrate arm curl).

from the sound of your gym routine/experience, you seem to know your way around the gym so machine setup probably is limiting your progress with its limit usage.

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2108706 16-Oct-2018 10:51

Have another look around to see if anyone is opening a gym near you. In Auckland at least, a new gym seems to open every month. Despite there already being lots of gyms open.

The owner of the gym that I go to claims that he spent over $1 million on buying the weightlifting equipment for his gym. Even if he actually only spent $100K, it is still far cheaper for me to just "rent" his equipment (pay the membership fees). Than it is to buy my own equipment.

maoriboy

1007 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2108711 16-Oct-2018 11:03

As a runner, I use a lot of kettlebell exercises that work pretty much the entire body. I find the flexibility, ease of use, price and how little space they take up make them ideal for home. In saying that, I do use them at the gym where I have access to other equipment, but I rarely use much else.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2108867 16-Oct-2018 14:13

Aredwood: Have another look around to see if anyone is opening a gym near you. In Auckland at least, a new gym seems to open every month. Despite there already being lots of gyms open.

The owner of the gym that I go to claims that he spent over $1 million on buying the weightlifting equipment for his gym. Even if he actually only spent $100K, it is still far cheaper for me to just "rent" his equipment (pay the membership fees). Than it is to buy my own equipment.

No chance. As per OP I'll be living about 15km outside of a small rural town. One of the motives for living there is that it will be halfway between 'town' and 'work'. There is no gym where work is (much smaller rural town).

Aside from the added cost of driving into town more often , I know that I just won't workout very often if I have to drive into town.

Mike

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#2108871 16-Oct-2018 14:31

sen8or:

Bang for the buck, you can't beat a cage, bench and barbell set.

I have the "heavy duty" cage from No1 Fitness with cable attachment. This is allows for significant variations on exercises -

Squat rack with height adjustable safety bars.

High and low cable for various back / arm exercises

Pull-up handles on exterior of the cage (wide, close, neutral grip variants)

Overhead press (pegs on the cage shifted to external / front supports)

A good bench will allow flat, incline or decline bench press (and with the variable height safety bars, no need to worry about being trapped by a missed rep). You can also get a leg extender / leg curl attachment for the bench if required.

Sounds like a cage, a flexible bench and a barbell are the way to go. Maybe a set of dumbbells too?

Have I read correctly that if I get a bench with safety bars, I can safely do bench presses by myself?

Sadly, No1 fitness seems to have been acquired and obliterated by Torpedo 7.

I'm sure I can find the equipment from another decent manufacturer though.

Mike

sen8or

1789 posts

Uber Geek

#2108895 16-Oct-2018 15:10

Correct, if you set the safety bars at the right height and using good technique, you can safely lower the bar to your chest and press, without bumping the bar on the safeties, but, you can also lower the bar onto the safeties without risk of injury

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#2109172 16-Oct-2018 23:14

MikeAqua:
Aredwood: Have another look around to see if anyone is opening a gym near you. In Auckland at least, a new gym seems to open every month. Despite there already being lots of gyms open.

The owner of the gym that I go to claims that he spent over $1 million on buying the weightlifting equipment for his gym. Even if he actually only spent $100K, it is still far cheaper for me to just "rent" his equipment (pay the membership fees). Than it is to buy my own equipment.

No chance. As per OP I'll be living about 15km outside of a small rural town. One of the motives for living there is that it will be halfway between 'town' and 'work'. There is no gym where work is (much smaller rural town).

Aside from the added cost of driving into town more often , I know that I just won't workout very often if I have to drive into town.

Point taken. But I thought that you were doing the equivalent of moving between say Kumeu and Helensville in the Auckland area. Where even the rural areas are mostly lifestyle blocks instead of actual farms. And the towns are growing quickly due to people trying to escape suburban Auckland property prices.

I'm surprised that there are apartment buildings in tiny rural towns. Which are both big enough and modern enough that they have their own gyms. Unless that building is actually government related for a hospital, university, etc.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#2109192 17-Oct-2018 05:23

Aredwood: Have another look around to see if anyone is opening a gym near you. In Auckland at least, a new gym seems to open every month. Despite there already being lots of gyms open.

The owner of the gym that I go to claims that he spent over $1 million on buying the weightlifting equipment for his gym. Even if he actually only spent $100K, it is still far cheaper for me to just "rent" his equipment (pay the membership fees). Than it is to buy my own equipment.

Really? Over how many years? A good Barbell and weight set will last a lifetime. How much is a gym membership per year? I would say my full home gym including barbell, weights, some kettle bells a 9kg medicine ball, pull-up bar and a squat rack cost around $5000. Wouldn't take many years at a gym to pay that off plus the convenience of no one else using it and its in my basement so I can use it anytime without the need to travel.

1 | 2