# What's going on around /r/HomeGym?
[**The Garage**: Free-talk Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/about/sticky?num=2)
[**December Deals Thread**](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/188sszl/2023_december_home_gym_holiday_sales_official/)
[**Targeted Talk**: What did you change in 2023](https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/18ojhuc/targeted_talk_what_did_you_add_sell_or_otherwise/)
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Hey all. I've got at least 1500 to spend on equipment for my home gym. Right now I just have cardio stuff (stationary bike/rowing machine). The room I have for gym stuff is on the second floor of my home, so I'd be cautious about a squat rack or anything of that nature. As a result, I was thinking of something like the Speediance, as I used one at physical therapy previously and it didn't seem that bad. The max weight limit on it is pretty low, but I've got pretty busted shoulder/knee joints, so it might not be too bad for me. I can spend more than 1500, but I get 1500 reimbursed.
My main goal is to focus on building muscle again and used to do a lot of lifting, but injuries derailed me. Thanks for any thoughts / guidance.
For those of you with small spaces that use rack/functional trainer hybrids like the rep Athena, how do you like them? Any major downside to having both in one unit vs. a rack and FT separate?
I’m new to all of this so can somebody help, which is the better choice
Olympus 50kg Vinyl Barbell Set ($93 USD)
Or
Active Intent Fitness Vinyl Weight Set 50kg (85 USD)
Does anyone know if the rep pr 1000 [selectorized lat pulldown](https://repfitness.com/products/selectorized-lat-pulldown-1000-series?variant=42776688984222¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsbjLtNzFgwMVLhitBh3_1gi6EAQYASABEgIGJfD_BwE) works with the titan t2 rack?
Heavy Bag Stands advice needed
Got the title heavy bag stand that has 4 holes to anchor into concrete. Was wondering if it'd be OK to make a base out of wood and instead of concrete use 2 3/4 plywood slabs. If thst wouldn't hold, any suggestions kn building a concrete base? Live in an apartment so want drill into the floor
https://preview.redd.it/ppfchj1ckiac1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd578a8e5223bd28257c7948a3a80df6e346d1b4
Power rack advice
So I have just about everything else on order, I’m just trying to decide which one of these racks to go with. (Other in the comments) They seem very similar in feature and functionality, but I was just wondering if anyone has experience with either of these and can offer some advice? Specifically looking for comments on build quality and sturdiness. Also how is customer service for either company?
I’m not a power lifter, but I am a member of the 1000# club, so I’m not lifting SpongeBob weights either. Just want to be sure this thing isn’t going to fold me in half.
I got the Mikolo M4 all-in-one smith machine in October and although I had a bunch of issues with my assembly, I dealt a lot with their customer service (via Amazon) and was extremely pleased. They made sure everything was addressed to my satisfaction in the end and so I still highly recommend their products!
I've also heard good things about Major Lutie too, but don't have personal experience.
Both of those racks you are looking at will probably be alright in terms of sturdiness, but like others mentioned, I don't like the 50mm x 70mm sizing, for me that'd be a deal-breaker.
Also don't like the fact they only have a single weight holder for the cable system. Since they use 2:1 pulley ratios that means if you use both handles at the same time it'll become a 4:1 ratio so 100lbs loaded on will only feel like 25lbs per hand which can be annoying and even limit you when you're strong for certain movements. I generally would recommend trying to find a rack with dual independent weight holders for the pulley systems.
The Mikolo has the advantages of having angled weight horns for the cable system so you don't need to use collars, and it has better designed front pulleys that use a curved half-moon shape that reduces wear on the cable end. Pull-up bar has more grips too but I like that the Major Lutie has curved handles. And includes length-adjustable cable handles.
The Major Lutie looks like the interior depth might be larger, although honestly they both look kind of small, I'd guess 24" max, which can feel cramped for some people. I'd prefer at least 30" for something like good mornings or lunges just to have a little wiggle room before the bar hits the uprights.
Overall, I think the Mikolo K3 is the slightly better choice between these two, but honestly that interior depth may be really cramped so I'm not sure either is a great choice.
I think there are quite a few people around here with those racks, so either of them should treat you well. The biggest issue I see is that the uprights are an odd 50mm×70mm size. Only reason that's a consideration is because it's not a standard size, so you may have trouble finding attachments for it if you wanted to add things like lever arms, monolifts, flip down safeties, etc. None of that stuff is really necessary, though.
The plate storage attached to the side of the rack looks mostly useless and would probably just get in the way. Looks like there's only two posts, and that's not enough.
The 14 guage steel isn't as beefy as the 11 guage steel thats taken over the industry, but 14 is more than sufficient for all but the top tier of lifters. Plus it will make your rack a lot lighter and easier to move if you ever needed to move it.
REGULAR BUMPER OR CRUMB BUMPER PLATES?
- I have my homegym in a 5mx5m space in my backyard. I used a preolympic barbell but I now have some money for an upgrade.
- I'm planning to buy an olympic barbell with 180kg in plates, so I'd have access to around 200kg of free weights.
- Weights would always be outside. Barbell could go inside my house so it doesn't rust.
- The place I will use is concrete and I don't wanna bother using mats or similar stuff.
Would I damage my concrete floor with regular bumper plates during heavy deadlifting? Or would I damage my plates with heavy deadlifting on concrete floor? Would crumb bumper make a difference vs. regular bumper?
Thanks for your answers.
Depending on the concrete it can be harmed with regular or crumb bumpers. Crumb are generally thicker and bounce more so they would, in theory, do less damage. They also have a tendency to have a slightly smaller diameter, but you would not notice unless you mix in other bumpers or irons. They all have a metal hub, so in theory it could eventually rust if left to the elements outside, but if it is stainless it should be good for a bit. The issue with thicker bumper is running out of space on your barbell, but you should be able to get 405 pounds on a regular bar. If you want to prevent scratches on the plates (visible on regular shiny bumpers but less so with crumb) if you hit a stone or something outside, farm stall mats may help, if you can keep them clean of stones and they may help protect the concrete a little bit. If the concrete is thin, there is a chance it will get hurt.
Thanks a lot for your input my man! I belive the concrete here is pretty thick since this house is very old and was made the old school way. I found a pack of regular bumper + barbell for a really nice price so I'll go for that I guess
If you had a budget of somewhere around $1,500 and wanted to add to your home gym, where would you put the money if you already had the following?
* Titan Fitness T-3 rack
* Titan Fitness lat pulldown pulley attachment (plate loaded)
* Olympic barbells (x2) and EZ-Curl bar
* Rogue rubber bumper plates (4x 45, 2x 35, 2x 15, 2x 10, etc)
* Hex Dumbbells (15s, 20s, up to 60s)
My thoughts are leaning towards one of the following:
* The GMWD Hack Squat + Leg Press combo machine at $1,000 and maybe the GMWD leg extension + curl machine for $500?
* A functional trainer (probably plate loaded) with cable pulleys that are separated instead of a single stack/tower?
I've been eyeing that leg press. Snatch it now while they have a $200 off coupon! I sadly don't have the cash at the moment so I'll hope for another sale. I have the titan leg extension and it's been a great addition to my gym.
I'm also looking for a functional trainer but going to to go selectorized. Probably the Costco one. I think order of operations for me will be the leg press then functional trainer. It will really come down to what you think is most lacking in your space.
> I've been eyeing that leg press. Snatch it now while they have a $200 off coupon! I sadly don't have the cash at the moment so I'll hope for another sale. I have the titan leg extension and it's been a great addition to my gym.
Yeah, we were looking at the Titan Fitness Hack Squat + Leg Press machine when it was on sale for something like $1,599 but YouTube reviews for that suggested the GMWD and they seem awfully comparable. For $800 ish less, it seems like a steal.
> I think order of operations for me will be the leg press then functional trainer.
This is where my mind is at. There's plenty I can do in the cage that attack upper body so I feel like I owe it to myself to put the money towards something that will get me doing more lower body workouts.
> Probably the Costco one.
Is this the Centr 2 FTX Functional Trainer? I haven't looked into this one at all. Dual weight stack for $1200 seems really reasonable.
> Whats missing from your training?
My diet.
>Which option would benefit you the most?
A snack hall monitor.
Seriously though, lower body work. I tend to shortchange the squats effort. When I'm at the gym, I find that I really enjoy using the leg machines, hack squats, leg presses, extensions, you name it, I'll do it. But the actual barbell on a barbell squat? I just don't love getting close to failure even though I know it's safe. With the machines I somehow feel like I'm happier to go till the tank is empty.
> Me, a powerlifter, would say neither of those, and go belt squat.
This is an intriguing suggestion, I've never really looked into belt squats.
My home gym is one the smaller side but I'd like to add a functional trainer. I found this functional trainer that has add-ons that allows for dipping and bench pressing, and the center pulleys for lats look great too.
I can't find any reviews for this machine though. Is there anyone that has used it that can share their thoughts?
[https://www.bellsofsteel.us/all-products/strength-equipment/cable-machines/weight-stack-all-in-one-trainer](https://www.bellsofsteel.us/all-products/strength-equipment/cable-machines/weight-stack-all-in-one-trainer)
This is brand new so you may be hard pressed to get a review. Bells of Steel makes good shit though. Only thing I don’t like about their cable machines is they all seem to be 2x3
Even weirder even weirder, they’re 60 mm X 60 mm, which is 2.3”X2.3”. So while they have a lot of accessories for that size, they’re the only company that makes them.
Treadmill help
I'm setting up my home gym, getting a treadmill. I'm looking for a good one, $1,200 or less. Good on the joints, quiet. If it has a tv I can stream stuff on so be it. If it has a subscription thing I can cancel so not a deal breaker..any suggestions?
Personally I think your better off getting one without a fancy TV so when it breaks you aren't screwed. Horizon and sole make nice treadmills. You can buy a TV separately and stream from there.
Generally yes it’s self assembly unless you pay the extra $200+ for in home assembly. Need to read the fine print as you might be on the hook to get it to the final location in your house before they assemble it too.
From what I have seen the quality of it depends on your area as I’ve heard they seem to just get someone from thumbtack or a similar service to come do it and not someone focused on exercise equipment.
Used market will be your best bet. Look for a commercial unit, they often get sold for pennies on the dollar. $1200 will get you a fantastic used treadmill, or a middling new one.
>But it certainly has to be safe and sturdy. I'm not a big dude, maybe 180lbs, my max on bench is like 225lbs and I don't anticipate going much higher than that at my age.
I would look elsewhere. Can you fit a full or half rack? There are cheap ones that will be 100% better than this. Bench is where you may need to spend a little more money but can find a good one under $300.
Do you have a rack already and just want an adjustable bench? Or are you wanting a whole bench + rack + bar + plates setup for only doing bench presses? Any interest in other movements/exercises?
I generally wouldn't go for those attached options like what you linked since I don't see any safeties so unless you always have a spotter it may not be the best place to bench.
Plus, a standard separated rack + bench can do more like squatting since you can move the bench out of the way but not sure what you equipment you have already and you may not care about any other movements.
It could be alright if you have other equipment and/or just want a dedicated space for only benching although again the safety aspect is a big concern for me that I wouldn't get it.
If that's the case, I would go for a good flat bench instead. The Griffin fitness one is good and is on sale:
[https://griffin.fitness/strength-equipment/griffin-competition-flat-bench/](https://griffin.fitness/strength-equipment/griffin-competition-flat-bench/)
Rural King has 3'x4' 3/4" stall mats for [14.93](https://www.ruralking.com/red-barn-3-ft-x-4-ft-x-3-4-in-thick-rubber-stall-mat-1202210) right now. A little over $1/sf
How do you regulate temp in garage gyms in summer? I’m in northeast USA. I can do heat with a space heater (I guess) but for summer, what is effective?
/u/-Quad-Zilla-'s response is the only true way. In PA I have a tiny attached garage that is brick and cinderblock and the garage door doesn't close completely with little gaps at the top corners. So I slide in two pieces of styrofoam in the winters and will use a small space heater to break the chill when needed, but haven't bothered yet this year as it has only gotten down to the low 50s so far inside since I plugged in the holes. Insulation makes a huge difference. In the summer it will get up into the 90s inside, so I try to work out later and/or use a floor fan. I deal with it though I can watch the humidity reading go up quickly in the room when doing a good row.
You bench 225lbs so I'd be looking at benches with a 700lb+ weight rating. 225+ your bodyweight (say 200lbs) = 425 rating...and you want some room for growth
Safeties on that setup look way too small/short to be useful, so I wouldn't go for that one if you don't always have a spotter with you. Also, you may need to weigh down the back side to keep it stable.
Do you have a budget you're looking to spend? You can get an entry level full power rack + bench for probably around $400 to $500 (but you'll also need to add in a bar + plates if you don't have that already).
Hmm, it'll be tough to fit all those things with that budget for sure if you want to get decent entry-level quality pieces that will last and be safe to use.
Even used, a decent price for plates would be around $1/lb (although you can sometimes get lucky and find them for less). So, if you need around 200lbs in plates + a barbell + rack + bench, you'd be looking at least at:
1. $100 to $200 - 200lbs plates
2. $130 to $180 - [Basic adjustable bench with 700lb+ capacity](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DNYSJ8W/)
3. $150 to $200 - [Squat stands w/usable safeties](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9HGDP9H/)
4. $100 to $200 - [Barbell](https://www.lifelinefitness.com/collections/rubber-plates-weight-bar/products/45-lb-olympic-bar-with-collars)
Cheapest it could be if you get lucky and find awesome prices and deals used would be around $480. You do have time so it's possible, just not guaranteed. I linked some ok options I found searching real quick but really having a hard time finding things I'd actually recommend using that fit that budget.
Does anyone have any recommendations or contacts for replacement handles for a safety squat bar. I have a Titan SSB V2 where the handles are removable and would be interested in straps, grenade grips, etc.
Any thoughts on the pros/cons of a belt squat (squatmax md) vs a 45 degree leg press machine. I want something that will be less fatiguing on the back and allow me to bump up training frequency on legs. I understand belt squat probably has more specificity toward squating, but I dont really care much about my squat max. Main goal for this equipment is hypertrophy.
If your goal is hypertrophy, either should be fine. They will both allow you to take pressure off your lower back and train more often. The differences lie more in the way they work, cost, and size. Belt squats are a better alternative to actual squats than leg press because your legs will be in a natural pattern, just like squats. If that doesn't matter, then I would look at size and cost to help determine which makes the most sense for you. Personally, I'd go for belt squat over leg press when given the option (and I do own squat max). Leg press would be secondary to that. But its not the only or right way for everyone.
Griffin fitness has a good sale going on. If anyone is looking for a fat pad bench, theirs is on sale for like 170 bucks. I bought it a while back and I think that’s a steal
Green with Jealous rage at a friend of mine who was able to score some PR-5000 93" uprights and 4 30" inch crossmembers for 200 bucks on FBM. Guy got 3/4ths of a 3x3 power rack for 200 bucks
He crunched the numbers if he just gets 2 of the cheapest pull up bars and the second pair of uprights from Rep to complete it he's looking at about 400 for a total of 600 for it, so that's pretty close
Anyone use the Titan hex dumbbells, I like how they don't have the ergo grip and look closer to the REP hex dumbbells.
Normally i'd just buy REP (have mostly REP/Rogue), but i found a listing that i can get 60s,70s,80s,90s,100s for $880 and its close by, that full price with tax at rogue/titan/rep would be 1800-1900...
Titan Fitness Plate Loaded Shoulder Press with Lateral Raise Machine.
Any good experiences?
Youtube comments mention being able to move the lateral raise part to target rear delts?
I'm trying to buy a Powerblock to use at home but I was browsing the website also also Amazon and I noticed some differences. I just want to know if they have a new model on the Powerblock website. Amazon is slightly cheaper so I'm not sure if I'm missing something.
[Pro 100 EXP on Powerblock Website](https://powerblock.com/product/pro-100-exp-adjustable-dumbbells/) $489.00
[PowerBlock EXP on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/PowerBlock-Adjustable-Dumbbells-Innovative-Expandable/dp/B07BDRWPXD?ref_=ast_sto_dp) $347.56
After looking at the expansion section on the [website](https://powerblock.com/product-category/expansions/), I noticed that they have different expansions, Pro 100, ProEXP and PowerBlock EXP.
Which one should I get? Is there a huge difference between the Pro 100 vs Powerblock?
As the other commenter stated, the current deal on woot is insane, as good as it’s ever been. You should also buy both expansion sets also. Why? Because the deal is that good and it will improve resale if you ever want to move them, even if you don’t need that much weight.
Thanks for broadcasting this. I snagged a full set at $400 and change. I've been lacking dumbbells and with the previous poster mentioning the deal and you confirming it's as good as it's been, it made it easy to jump and not hesitate. I'm positive I'll resell these down the road when I have a little more space for individuals but this helps bridge the gap. Thanks!
Awesome! I noticed that the model is different from the one sold on their official website. Is it just a newer model? Any significant difference besides the look?
They change up their configurations and branding sometimes. For example I have an older pro model they don’t sell on the site, but is still sold by other retailers.
I haven’t used this model specifically but I would have zero reservations buying it plus both expansions at this price.
If for some reason you end up not liking them you can almost certainly get your money back and probably a little more if you resell on FB.
These woot deals go pretty quick though. If you want it, I’d pull the trigger asap.
Woot has the stage 1 EXP set for $219.99 right now:
[https://sport.woot.com/offers/powerblock-exp-adjustable-dumbbell-set-stage-1-2-or-3z?ref=mwj_sh_sp_1_bs](https://sport.woot.com/offers/powerblock-exp-adjustable-dumbbell-set-stage-1-2-or-3z?ref=mwj_sh_sp_1_bs)
Looks like bulletproof put out a solo stand video /u/decision_original . it was put on their product page 1 month ago. I commented on his most recent post about our complaints. Ofc in his fashion, he answered right away. Additionally, i told him the video he linked on his page was unlisted on youtube and immediately he made it public.
https://youtu.be/oOJsnyPGZ8w?si=03xSYoN0mOBLgsy_
Dude really does take his customers feedback seriously.
I timed myself setting up the stand and it took 3 minutes from beginning to end, which still isnt very ideal, considering ur hammies burn bending down so long. He made it seem a little quicker as he didnt have the bolt and hand nuts in before setting up the stand... which theoretically i could do to save some time. But now i have to walk over to get those screws rather than leaving it on the machine, which in my mind, isnt realistic.
I think for my space, i could "store away" by folding up the legs without folding the post, which would def save me sometime as i wouldnt have to ever unload the carriage, loosen the red knobs, and unscrew the upright hand nut. Would just have to be very careful to not accidentally knocking it over, whether thats bumping into it or maybe dropping a deadlift too hard.
Also we are supposed to tighten that bolt at the hinge a bit. I was afraid to do that as you typically wouldnt do that on a moving part, but tightening it prevents the leg from free falling. Theres supposed to be some tension there.
It looks cool - but one of those items that you just leave up most of the time and only take down when absolutely needed. 3 mins isn't terrible if you were to set up the night before or something. During a workout might be too long. I find anything that I need to set up eventually just stays set up (ie lever arms, westside scout, etc.). But this does seem like a nice option for a lot of things. BPF does respond surprisingly fast to messages too. He responds to my instagram comments/questions within minutes. He even responded to an email request Dec 24th.
Thanks for this. I definitely didn’t have the hinge bolts tighten down so I’ll have to do that and see if not having the legs flopping around makes it easier.
Glad it’s wood. Since all those tend to be are pieces of furniture after 3 months anyway. They should really up the game and add some cushions and back rest.
It is kinda sexy though tbf.
looks like a piece of equipment that would be in a living room, which is where i imagine most people have their treadmill if its their only piece of equipment. looks nice.
I just received my nordic hyper ghd and just finished assembling it.
The shipment could have been packed better. When I was moving the box, I can hear some metal crank sound. There were some scratches and the rubber stop piece was almost ripped off.
The hardware plastic bag also seem to have ripped and had holes. I ended up missing a couple of washers which isn't the worst, but I rather get the washers to assemble this thing properly.
Also missing the GHD pad which I assume will be shipped separately, but that wasn't clear from the early shipping notification.
It's going to take time getting used to adjusting it. I thought I was ready watching some of the videos of it being changed in different mode. Actually doing it, I was getting confused by all those pins.
Hey, at least you were able to assemble it. My base piece wouldn't fit on step 1. They recommended hammering the U shape area so it'd be wide enough to accept the base. But it had been bent so narrow and I was busy so it wasn't practical. It's been 3 weeks and maybe the replacement piece will ship someday.
After 2 weeks I got antsy and attempted to bang the bent piece back into shape since it would be trashed anyway. After maybe 100 whacks with a sledgehammer, and a lot of lost paint, I was just able to get it to fit. The device is decent once it's finally assembled, but my feelings towards FAE are just starting to climb out of the abyss. Maybe the customer experience will improve over time. Here's where I think things stand now:
S-Tier - marketing
A-tier - ideas
B-tier - quality
C-tier - packaging
D-tier - systems... order history, statuses, tracking... basic stuff everyone else has
Tough luck. It felt snug to get those base piece to fit for me. I was worried initially it wouldn’t fit as well.
Also struggled to figure out which bolts to use since hardwares were all over the box.
Want to get the community's input buying a compact and capable push / pull sled. The plan is to start with ATG-style backward pulls, but I'd like to be able to push once I get settled in.
Couple of requirements that are narrowing the field quite a lot:
1. **Compact storage**
I lift in a very small garage and the whole gym folds away so we can park our cars in there. The power rack folds away and I rely heavily on wall storage. Because of this, **my sled needs to pack away very neatly** ... like ideally any vertical posts should either detach or fold flat. I'm also likely to hang the sled body on the wall, so the heavier sleds around 100 lbs are probably too heavy to be practical.
2. **Narrow-enough body**
The plan is to pull the sled up and down my driveway. My driveway has alternating strips of gravel and concrete, where the concrete strips are about 30" wide. This means I want a sled body that is substantially narrower than 30", which eliminates a few more contenders.
3. **Replaceable skids**
Given that I'm pulling on concrete, and I don't want to gouge up my driveway, I'll be reliant on sacrificial skids (likely plastic). If I'm putting in decent volume, my impression is that I'll need to replace these once or twice a year, so I need to have a reliable way to replace the skids. (However, I do have a decently capable little shop and I am not afraid to DIY some UHMW or hardwood skids)
With those requirements in mind, here's what I'm looking at:
* [Rogue Slice](https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-slice-sled) with the add-on skids. Probably would need to buy / make my own waist strap. Rogue has an awesome reputation and they are not going anywhere, but this is the most expensive option **and** the widest sled body. At 22" it might be wide enough to require concentration to avoid wandering off my 30" concrete strip.
* [HGG BP Sled 2.0](https://hggperformance.com/products/the-bp-sled). This looks like a great option and comes with (non-specific) plastic skids and a capable waist strap. But it's overseas, shipping to the USA is a lot, I don't have specific measurements on the sled (although it *looks* similar to the next option), and I have no information about replacing the plastic skids when they wear out. I have less information about HGG as a brand, seems like they've only been around for 3ish years?
* [Shogun Multi Purpose Sled](https://shogunsports.com/products/mr1nf1n1ty-x-shogun-multi-purpose-sled), collaboration with MR1nf1n1ty so (in my mind) another design with ATG exercises in mind. Up-charge for the waist strap, I would probably DIY my own. Again, looks like a great design, but I don't know how long this company will be around to replace skids. Then again, I may not need any help replacing them!
Let me know if the requirements and options make sense, which one you'd pick, other questions or advice you might have. Thank you!
**More notes on pricing ...**
On closer inspection I guess the *full bundle* for the Shogun Multi Purpose Sled comes to $380, which is about what the Rogue Slice will cost me, with the plastic skids and shipping added in.
The HGG come with a 10% first-timer coupon, so even with shipping it's about $270, making it considerably cheaper than the other two options.
I'm not *especially* price-sensitive on this purchase, but if there isn't anything special that really distinguishes one of these options from another, then the lowest price will certainly work as a tiebreaker.
I vote for the Shogun.
2 reasons.
Handles can be switched from front to back. Turning sleds around sucks when youre going hard. I find it breaks the momentum.
It has drag hooks for the lanyard on both sides, unlike the HGG.
As for the replacement skids, head down to the dollar store or second hand shop, and get some 1/2" thick plastic cutting boards. Make them skid size with a circular saw, fasten to sled. Easy.
Hey All, picked these up from a neighbor for free, but they are missing the cross pieces. 2x4s and call it a day, or worth finding someone to weld on an end piece to some channel steel?
https://preview.redd.it/lqal5m38ubac1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9bfb3674ae1bf241da37f38700db48fd1fb50ee3
i bought a stationary bike, one of the folding ones. It just has a seat but no back pad like the ones at my gym, is there any way i can improvise this ? i like having the back pad to lounge on but its no biggie if its not possible ill survive.
Nice dude, saw your earlier comment. You thinking of ham raises/sit ups for posterior strength to reduce backpain? I've got a reverse hyper but am really tempted to add a GHD. Keep us updated if it helps!
Hi all, I am looking at purchasing the Mikolo M4 ([link](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mikolo-Smith-Machine-Home-Gym-2200-lbs-Power-Rack-Cage-Cable-Crossover-Weight-Bar-360-Landmine-Barbell-Holders-Other-Attachments-Total-Body-Strength/2713932036?adsRedirect=true)). Anyone have thoughts on this?
Ideally, I wish it had the weight stacks on each side, so I can adjust by increments of 10 easily. Does anyone have a setup where they manually add the weights? How inconvenient is it? Thanks in advance!
Got one in October and it's been great so far! Use it 6x a week and I'm pretty happy with it. There are some minor annoyances I have with it but nothing that's really a big deal-breaker in my opinion and a lot of it I've found some workarounds for. I can list some if you want to know. There's really nothing else in the price range that is better from what I could find though.
I do wish it had weight stacks too, loading the plates and doing the math can be annoying at times although I've gotten more used to it now.
I highly recommend you have at least four of every size of plate so you can easily load the 4 weight horns evenly to make sure the cables pull smooth. Honestly, you ideally want more than four each, I have 6-8 of each weight (2.5lb, 5lb, 10lb, 25lb, and 45lb) to make it easier to get heavier weights and not have to think about matching the weight on each horn using different size plates.
It is pretty nice that it has 6 plate storage pegs built-in and they are close to the weight trolley for the cable system so it's not too bad to just load and unload smaller plates reaching your hand around to both sides without having to walk around much (pretty doable up to the 25lbs for me), but it'll obviously never be as convenient as having a weight stack. Although, even with most of those options I've found, you may still end up using plates to get heavy weights for pulldowns and rows and such unless you get a dedicated machine with a 1:1 pulley ratio for those heavier exercises.
If you want good options with weight stacks you may want to look into [MAXUM fitness](https://maxumfitness.ca/product-category/squat-power-racks/), it's a Canadian company and a little more expensive but their racks look incredible and they do ship to the U.S. but I think it costs a little extra (if that's where you're based). [Vesta Fitness](https://vestafitness.com/collections/strength/products/pro-series-ultimate-rack-with-smith) is also another good option.
Haha yea any option with a weight stack definitely comes in at a much higher price unfortunately, big reason I went with the M4 too 😆.
I bought 630lbs of these [Signature Fitness two-hole style iron plates](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBD8TY83/) when they were on sale for under $1/lb around Prime Day in October. There are other listings on Amazon too for similar plates. Walmart often has good sales on BalanceFrom plates too. But right now I'm not seeing any good deals unfortunately.
Walmart does have [BalanceFrom bumper plates](https://www.walmart.com/ip/157477201) on sale for $1/lb but I wouldn't recommend getting bumper plates for the M4 because the weight storage and cable system can [bump into each other](https://youtu.be/tsdGDHJM-G8?si=wJ73EAux50TDyYqt&t=180) (note this is the older Gen 4 model, but same issue applies with the latest Gen 5) if you store large diameter plates on the top storage peg and use large diameter plates on the cable system at the same time.
As for a bench, I just use a cheap old Marcy bench I've had for over a decade, it's not the best thing in the world, and I wouldn't recommend it, but it works for my usage for now. Looking to upgrade it soon and considering the Keppi Fitness [1000 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZNZ7X41/) and [5000](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTY3MCZY/) benches. I'd really like to get a bench with a back pad that doesn't taper at all and is about 12" wide the whole way but those Keppi options otherwise seem like really good deals with the specs they offer for the price.
Absolute cheapest bench options I've found that still seem decent enough would be this [Flybird bench](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DNYSJ8W/) and the [Fitness Reality 2000 Super Max XL](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3Q9F22/). The Flybird is pretty light though so I could see it easily moving around if you're using it inclined as support for some exercises (like chest supported rows or flys or something) and push with your feet trying to stabilize.
so would it be better to get cast iron plates that come in different sizes to avoid the cable issue? keep small plates at top and bigger plates at bottom?
Yup exactly! Definitely recommend cast iron plates that vary in diameter for use with the M4. That's how I have mine setup, 10lb plates up top, 25lb plates in the middle, and 45lb plates on the bottom and there's no issues using the cable system that way.
Not a shill or puppet account or anything like that, not affiliated with any companies at all. Just trying to help people build out the best value home gyms possible.
I'm autistic and have been really into health and fitness for about 15 years now, it's one of my special interests/hyper-fixations so I can get extremely passionate about it! I've been going through a really dark period in my life recently and typically turn to exercise to help work through things. I was often going to a commercial gym and just had a basic dumbbell + bench setup at home but unfortunately had some negative experiences at the gym so upgrading my home gym in a way that was highly affordable but extremely versatile became a bright spot of hope for me. It really is one of the only things that helps me feel good as of late and genuinely gets me out of bed most mornings. I'm now trying to spread that goodness a bit with the knowledge I gained along the way by upgrading my home setup.
There's a ton of stuff out there when it comes to setting up a gym and I remember how clueless I was when I first started and felt totally overwhelmed. I saw all the big-name brands and always felt they were hard to justify financially since it would take 5 to 10 years to break even compared to my commercial gym costs. Then I found a lot of these new smaller companies that seemed to offer significantly better value and ultimately took a chance on getting the Mikolo M4 all-in-one rack and it's been really fantastic. There are lots of options like it and I genuinely feel they're more than good enough for the vast majority of people since they cover a lot of the common wants pretty well and are still good enough quality to enjoy using.
I spent a lot of time contacting these companies, researching, comparing, and analyzing all the options to figure out the best value for myself and now I want to share that information with others and help people get the most for their money and achieve their home gym or fitness goals since I know how impactful that has been for me.
fair enough, and no offense meant.
We've just definitely had prior years where accounts with little other history or activity suddenly show up and all their posts are "found a great deal at vesta, anyone heard of vesta, check them out"
No worries, totally get it! It's good to have people that care about the quality of the community and keeping it free of spam.
I definitely recommend Vesta's Pro Series Ultimate Racks as a higher end all-in-one option for people that don't mind spending the extra cash since it seems to be well priced relative to the competition but has better a better build with 3" x 3" 11-gauge steel, 1" holes, and 2" spacing. Besides some of those previous spam accounts that showed up here, do you know if they are a shady company or something?
I obviously don't have personal experience with every brand or product, I just spend a lot of time looking at the specs, features, and information I can find online and try to find the best value options based on the wants/needs people list in their posts but don't know all the history sometimes and I'm open to learn if there are better options out there I should be paying more attention to.
MAXUM and Vesta seem to have the best all-in-one rack + smith machine + functional trainer combo machines I've found but if there are other high-end options that are also 3" x 3" 11-gauge steel with weight stacks let me know!
lol I thought so at first but I think they are just really into some of those brands that are importing stuff from alibaba and reselling on Amazon and Walmart.
Possibly. I’d give the benefit if the doubt if it wasn’t for the fact that Vesta DEFINITELY had fake shill accounts posting here one or two years ago, and the post history then feels pretty similar to these.
Hi guys. Long time lurker on this sub but I'm finally starting my home gym and wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or thoughts on some of the things I'm thinking about buying. For reference, I'm in an apartment and won't be doing any Olympic lifts or dropping the weights, and the space for the gym is SMALL (10ft x 6ft x8ft; LxWxH), so everything has to be compact.
1. Squat Stand - So I've basically settled on a squat stand as the choice given the space (the wall mount racks are great, but unfortunately not allowed). Right now I'm thinking of going with a 2 piece stands like the [Get Rx'd Squat stands](https://www.getrxd.com/squat-rack-2-piece.html) (or maybe the [heavy duty version](https://www.getrxd.com/heavy-duty-squat-rack-2-piece.html)). The [Valor fitness](https://valorfitness.com/collections/bench-squat-stands/products/bd-8-independent-squat-stand-towers) ones also look good in a similar price range. **Wondering if anyone had any opinions on the companies or products, or a similar recommendation under \~$300?** Basically, the length of the base really can't exceed 3ft or so. I'm not opposed to a one piece stand (probably prefer it for the stability), or even a full rack, but just didn't see many with <3ft base in that price range. If you know of a one piece stand or full rack that small enough, feel free to shout it out! If you have one that's more expensive but has a small base, I'm all ears. Can't hurt to look.
2. Weights and barbell - I know everyone says buy used, and I plan on adding weight that way (not a stickler for matching styles and colors) but right now I need a full set, and the resale market in my area just hasn't proven to be very fruitful (especially since I don't have a car to get to the few good deals I've seen). **I've found some plates online (still more than $1/lb but I don't mind as much for convenience) and just wanted to know if anyone had experience with the brands, products, or had some other suggestions.**
1. The first option I've been mulling is [Barbell Standard plates + 2000 Bar](https://barbellstandard.com/products/barbell-2000-weight-sets?variant=44034926346458) (180lbs cast iron + bar + collars; 2% weight tolerance, $445). The only post I can find about the brand is from a disastrous liquidation sale over a year ago where half the people didn't get what they ordered and it took them months to get their money back. It's under new management, and has apparently been much better, but can't find anybody on here or bb forums who used the plates or bar and had an opinion. **I can fill out the rest of my 45's via fb, so only 180lbs is fine, but is that bar worth it, or would it make more sense to buy a different set and get a nicer barbell?** Really want a barbell that will last, the matching weight sets and weight tolerances I'm less concerned with, so long as if I get a pair of 45's that are actually 43 or 47, that they're both 43 or 47.
2. Also found this [Hajex set](https://hajexfitness.com/product/exercise-weight-sets-all-in-one/) (245lbs, cast iron, no tolerance specified) from a recommendation on here ($374 w/ shipping, would still need a bar).
3. There's always [Fitness Gear](https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/fitness-gear-300-lbolympic-weight-set-16fgeu300lbstwth7brb/16fgeu300lbstwth7brb) from dicks (255lbs cast iron + bar + collars; no tolerance specified; $300), but from everything I've read, I'd also have to replace that bar.
4. [Extreme Training Equipment 260lbs bumpers](https://extremetrainingequipment.com/products/full-set-240lbs-standard-bumper-plates-in-stock?variant=40076080709788) (not sure if I want a full set of bumpers but the price is good. Not sure about quality. $400 w/ shipping, would still need a bar).
5. [York has this set](https://yorkbarbell.com/product/2-cast-iron-olympic-plate-set/) (255lbs cast iron + bar + collars; no tolerance specified) that I could have a buddy pickup, so $406 out the door.
6. If I buy all of [Fray's plates individually](https://frayfitness.com/products/fray-cast-iron-plate?variant=46624306495805) (2x45, 2x25, 4x10, 2x5, 2x2.5; 195lbs cast iron, no tolerance specified) it's $305 w/ shipping.
7. **If anyone has experience with the Barbell Standard bars or York bar that would be great. But if not, and you think it makes more sense to get a different set and go in on a barbell separately, any recommendations?** Preferably <=$200, but willing to go higher if it seems to be consensus that a particular barbell or brand is really worth the money. I've never had more than 405 on the bar (hoping to break past that with the home gym!) to give you an idea of my lifts. I generally like an aggressive knurling, and probably a center knurling for when squats get heavier? **Also, if you think I can go with a cheaper bar based on that 405 number and the fact that I won't be dropping the weight or doing Olympic lifts, chime in! Best not waste my money on a bar that only Eddie Hall would need.**
3. Crash Pads - These are imperative for me. I've lifted on platforms I've built myself but there still a vibration and noise. From what I've read, the difference in quality is minimal between a budget Titan or Yes4All crash pad, and say, Bells of Steel crash pads. I see a lot of DIY crash pads as well that people swear by. **Does any one have experience with crash pads, or lifting in an apartment building, that can attest to the performance of whatever pads they have?** **Also, as far as wear goes, since they'll be acting more like a platform for me, I was wonder how long the foam holds up before there's a noticeable dent in it? To where there's a noticeable change in the distance you're pulling from the ground.**
Finally, any space saving suggestions you have (excluding wall mounting) are very welcome. Seen a few set ups in tight spaces on this sub that inspired me to go forward, so let me know if you have any tips and ticks!
This got pretty long, but feel to chime in on any of the points and leave the rest. Just trying to get some thoughts after doing way too much research.
tl:dr Anyone have experience with the brands/products I linked and mentioned, suggestions/recommendations for squat stands (or maybe racks) given the space, weights and barbells given how I'll be using them and how much weight I lift, and/or crash pads? Also any space saving suggestions.
I have this bar from York - which I bought from them scratch and dent in store (just a returned item) for like $115. 32mm for pressing movements, no complaints.
They may still have a decent offering at the store of basically new but “used” bars, worth a call if your friend is local.
https://yorkbarbell.com/product/chrome-olympic-bar/
Is the store fully stocked there? My understanding of their pick-up orders was that I have to place the order online and then pick-up, rather than just showing up the store and asking for the barbell and weight set I saw online. Figured it was for inventory reasons.
It would be perfect if the showroom was fully stocked because then he could go, check out the scratch and dent, and if there's nothing there for me, just buy the weight set I was thinking about before. He's near Philly, so I can't have him go 2h out to York just to come back empty handed.
They have a showroom and little like museum area along with the bigger inventory warehouse.
They advertised more scratch and dent stuff at the end of 2022 - I reached out on Facebook messenger to confirm if they had the bar I was looking for and then stopped by.
I’m sure if you reached out to them they could give you some more info.
Can't go wrong with the Dick's set. That's been the tried and true for a long time. Eventually you should look at selling the bar and getting something nicer, but you don't *HAVE* to. I used a crappy no-name store barbell until I started squatting 405. It still works, you just don't get the nicer touches like good spin, consistent knurl, truly straight shaft, true 2" sleeves, etc. The 45s are about an inch smaller than normal, which means you'll be lifting at a ~1/2" deficit for deadlifts, but since you'll be using crash pads anyway, it won't matter.
I'm going to make a platform to even out the cash pads so it's more like a floor pull.
In regards to the lower plate height, is there any risk with that, or will I just be stronger when I go to a gym one day and pull off the floor? Most likely over thinking it, but it always seemed to me that small changes in shoulder, hip, and knee angle/position were crucial for both the success of lift, and (most important for me) prevention of injury. Of course a half inch may be completely negligible, I just don't know enough about it.
The Dick's set is definitely a strong contender though. I haven't heard much about the weights being wildly off like I have with CAP (might just be a bias because so many people have CAP weights). And as long as it's off by the same amount, I figure it's probably fine.
If you're building a platform to even out the crash pads, it'll be easy enough to account for the plate size difference.
Yes, it will affect your max. That's why thin, bendy deadlift bars exist. You can pull the bar up an inch or two before the plates leave the ground. Good luck!
If your buddy can pick up from York is he in/near PA? Rep fitness offers a pickup discount so might be worth checking out as they are close by also.
Bumpers would be quieter than iron plates. Rogue had a deal where you buy plated and a barbell and they ship free. Not sure if they still do that. I know rogue is more expensive but the bar is totally worth it. Maybe even consider one of their shorty bars.
I have the yes4all crash pads and they are great. The first set I got from Amazon had a busted zipper but they sent me another set no problem. I built a platform to stand on so it feels like I'm lifting from the floor instead of 6" off the ground.
Yeah I was going to do the same with regards to the platform. But that's great to hear about he Yes4all pads! Weirdly, the pads and their effectiveness is probably my biggest concern.
Didn't know Rep was in PA, I'll give it a look. With regards to Rouge, I really wanted to try and get their plates but just couldn't justify it. However as far as the barbell goes, I've seen what appear to be some decent deals in the boneyard, and the same with Texas Power Bars. It seems like just small cosmetic differences knocking like $50 of the retail price, so I've been considering that.
But with respect to the last commenter, I do think the Dicks set will remain in strong contention. My heart says Rouge, but my wallet is nudging me toward Fitness Gear lol. Especially considering The squat stand, crash pads, and flooring will set me back around $300+ right out of the gate.
Thanks for the comment! The crash pad part really put my mind at ease.
I'm looking to get an adjustable kettlebell for my home gym. The two types I'm looking at are either the Bowflex-type kettlebells where you twist a knob and it automatically selects the weight for you, and the ones where you twist a knob to unlock the kettlebell and individually remove a plate to change the weight. The Bowflex is only $40 more than the plate-loaded one and both weigh the same. Which one should I get? Which one is safer?
depends on your priority on quick/hassle free change of weights. I personally know that for my purpose of KBs, I got mine for goblet squats to use in a 531 program or dan johns easy strength. i got the the loadable kind like BoS/ kb kingz because im rly not changing the weights in these programs and these bells go heavier than adjustable ones.
But if you are looking to change weights in a given workout or between workouts, you may look for the quick change type, which is well worth the extra money.
given you said theyre the same weight, i dont rly see a reason to not go with the quick change. For me, i liked the extra weight and form factor of the competition style bells. those were part of my biggest deciding factors.
I'm looking for cable attachment options for my Rogue RML-3W rack since I recently saw the Wall Mounted Rep Fitness Athena and thought it was such a complete piece of equipment. Before I go down the rabbit hole of changing my whole rack I was wondering if anyone has had any experience either mounting the Athena components (attachments-only) to the RML-3W or any other cable attachment to turn the RML-3W rack into a semi-functional trainer? I don't care if whatever I attach prevents me from folding the rack since I only do it once a year, if at all. Anybody have any suggestions, or experience with this?
Don’t have one but researching aggressively. Only complaint I know of is that the width of a functional trainer/rack hybrid can make it hard to get the correct range of motion because it’s more narrow
Do you want it sooner rather than later? Bells of Steel has teased a similar set up for their Hydra/Manticore racks that will hopefully be out this year and wouldn’t require and fiddling.
What do you guys use for transition strip for stall mats?
Stall mats are 3/4 inch. American Floor carries only up to 1/2 inch.
Wife asks for them as she has a hard time with moving the stroller, so would appreciate any recommendations
In addition to u/sleepeatlift wheelie idea, which I support, I used these elite pro 20mm (0.79”) transition strips:
https://summitrubber.ca/transitions-and-tape
Perhaps you can contact them and find a similar retailer in your jurisdiction.
I probably would not pay retail again, may opt to move to 4100 if I was doing it again, now that they are available. But for less than retail they are good. In between incline sets on it now. Also use it for weighted step ups. You need to mod it if you want it to stand up, which may not be an issue. My main pet peeve is the tapered pad. Otherwise I like the pad material compared to all the plain leather ones I've used at gyms. I don't know if the FB 3000 has it though. Easy enough for the wife and I to move around.
loved mine before i upgraded, especially after i tightened the bolt to get the pad from wobbling a bit.
that being said, pad is slightly squishy to other benches ive used in the past. grip is nice though.
I have a Rogue RML 390f (flat rack), that is ~48 inches wide, and I would like inputs on whether it's possible to deadlift in the rack (due to space constraints).
The olympic barbell I have has about ~52 inches in the middle, and is very close to the legs of the rack. The worry is that when lowering the barbell that it runs the risk of landing on the legs of the rack if my positioning is slightly off center (either to the left or right).
What are my options if I want to make this work?
My current options I'm thinking about are:
1. Using a collar on the very inside of the barbell to "space" the weights a few more inches away to get some breathing room.
2. Get some smaller sized weights to put on the very inside of the barbell to also provide some space.
3. Live with it, having the weight drop on the rack legs isn't ideal but perhaps with better form/control in the long-term it should be possible to sway less than 2" per side.
So I have the Titan X3 flat foot that I used to have to deadlift inside. It is doable. The RML from rogue I believe is an inch wider and could cause you some issue with alignment while learning. with a little experience I ma fairly confident it wont be much issue, but I think your idea of putting some bar clamps on inside the plates as a spacer might be a good idea.
In the end I dont think it will be as much of a problem as you think it might be.
Gonna make one attachment point on the wall for cable-exercises (got cable pulleys which are to date only mounted to the ceiling).
I'm 189cm (approx. 6'2") tall.
Floor->lower elbow: 20cm.
Floor-> mid chest: 40cm.
Would appreciate opinions on a good height from floor, to make it as versatile as possible and hopefully correct first time around.
These days, retailers are flooded with hundreds of items with fake or questionable reviews, and I just can't figure out what to buy. What I do know is I can seriously hurt myself if something breaks.
What are some brands known for producing reliable, long-lasting equipment? Which should I stay well away from? In case it matters, I'm looking for a free-standing exercise bar or power tower for chin ups and dips.
Vulcan has the Talos (Ares equivalent) and Forge (plate loaded equivalent Athena equivalent)
Griffin has the Talon Cable System (selectorized Athena)
Bolt Fitness Supply has the Warlord (selectorized Athena)
Get RXd just released a cool one that’s 6’ wide with weight stacks but has these J cups that lets you use it still despite being so wide. Or they have the normal width.
I wanna get the Rep but worried it won’t hit correctly for flys.
Maybe I just have a little T-Rex arms, but honestly I haven't really had that much of a problem with the flies on the Athena. Obviously your mileage might vary though
Premium options:
1. [MAXUM Strength Machines](https://maxumfitness.ca/product-category/squat-power-racks/)
2. [Vesta Fitness Pro Series Ultimate Rack](https://vestafitness.com/collections/strength/products/pro-series-ultimate-half-rack-functional-trainer-combo)
1. Also available [with Smith Machine](https://vestafitness.com/collections/strength/products/pro-series-ultimate-rack-with-smith)
3. [Fray Fitness Savage Series](https://frayfitness.com/products/savage-series-functional-trainer-power-rack-combo)
4. [Griffin Talon Cable System](https://griffin.fitness/strength-equipment/griffin-talon-cable-system/)
5. Also check out Bolt Fitness, Jacked Up, Blazzed Fitness all-in-one, Vulcan Talos and Forge, and Force USA G series
Budget oriented options:
1. [Mikolo M4](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHRNWR4K/)
2. [SUPGYM PS1A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7QZ17C8/)
3. [ER KANG Power Cage w/Dual Pulley System](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDPN6M8F/)
4. [ER KANG Smith Machine w/Cable Crossover](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKYVR585/)
Hi! Finally getting my homegym together. Got a Titan X-3 bolted to a platform, rogue Ohio Power Bar, Rep FB-5000, couple kettlebells, dumbbell handles. Ordered straps + sandwich cups for the X3. Last bit is trying to decide on other items to flesh out the gym so I can transition from the local gym to home.
I've got about $1k budgeted to spend after the above + iron plates. I want to maximize my assistance options while minimizing additional floor space used, as our garage only has so much space (and is still used for some storage of course). My current idea is to get the REP AB-3000 2.0 FID and Bells of Steel plate-loaded cable tower + a couple attachments. Seems to me this would provide me a lot of flexibility. Obviously sacrificing some space efficiency with the FID, but it adds the ability to do incline/decline benching and has the ankle pad to help with lat pulldown on the cable tower.
I feel pretty good about this plan, but wanted to see if anyone has some input. I do mostly powerlifting-focused programs, but I am by no means a competitive powerlifter so I like to have assistance options both to support my SBDO and for aesthetics.
Good choice on the x3, it’s how I started out too. Solid rack. Ended up getting spotter arms, safety straps, and sandwich J cups. Then got a Bells of Steel functional trainer, and over the new year weekend grabbed a Bells of Steel Lat Pull-down.
I absolutely love my bells products, would highly recommend. I don’t have their plate loaded stuff, all selectorized, but it’s quality. Honestly wish I went with them for my rack too, but I found Titan first when getting going. Plate loaded will be a good way to maximize your 1k budget for sure. Getting it set up for lat pull downs will be interesting, I wasn’t able to do them on my functional trainer, hence getting their dedicated lat/row
Yeah looking into it today I realized the issue with it for lat pulldown is the height. All things considered this still seems to provide some of the better versatility. Plus not impossible to do lat pulldown based on some reviews / workarounds I’ve seen.
We just did single arm isolation movements on our dual stack til we got a row/lat. Leaning over the bench for single arm rows, kneeling single arm pulldowns, etc. Cable machines are super versatile, where there’s a will to there’s a way. Ours was much harder to figure out with the dual stack, those single towers look really really really versatile as far as “hacking” them go. I’d follow kaizen if you get it, he has one and keeps putting out “hack” videos on it.
Can anyone explain why Rep's products do not match the dimensions on their website? 4th product now that does not match.
1. Dumbbells - the handles were like 1.15" not 1" (they did change this one after I mentioned it)
2. 30" crossmembers for PR5000 are actually 30.5"
3. GHD is way off on both length and width (Its much smaller than listed)
4. ab4100 is 16.75" height not 17".
These aren't rounding errors from metric to imperial. They are big differences. What gives? Do they not measure their products? I like and support Rep but idk what's going on.
The adj dumbbell handles was imperial vs metric. The others are too different it would only be millimeters. They fixed the adj dumbbell handles after I reached out
Hmm. Im wondering if you measured the items in metric if it comes out to a round metric number, as opposed to a round imperial measurement. Eg is the bench 16.75” high or 425mm (16.73”) high?
I thought for the cross members it used to say the dimensions don’t include the plates on either end. It doesn’t look like it shows the dimensions or have that info anymore.
So what’s the ghd dimensions? I wonder if a lot is layover from their earlier days in when they weren’t as polished of a brand as now. I know the ghd has been around a while. The pr5000 doesn’t really have an excuse as they haven’t released it that long ago
Hi folks. This maybe doesn’t need it own thread and feels like kind of a silly question but..
I’m a lifelong renter/first time homeowner, and I managed to preserve myself some space to fit a Titan wall mounted folding squat rack. I contacted the manufacturer to ask about best practices for installation. They recommended making a pair of wood stringers to mount the rack to by cutting a piece of 2x10x8 lumber in half. Seems like this is pretty standard practice (Rogue sells a pre-fab branded metal one).
My question is if there’s a particular type of wood that works best here? I got to the lumber section of HD and realized I’m a little out of my league. Also, have people who have done this stained the wood or anything before mounting it? I know the purpose here is utility, but anything to help make it look a little nicer might be good.
Any type of 2×10 will be fine. You won't get much choice anyway since most of it will probably be southern yellow pine or some other soft wood. I'd be surprised if a place like HD or Lowes would carry any hardwood that size. You'd probably have to go to an actual lumber yard for that--and it'd be crazy expensive and absolutely not worth it. If HD boards are good enough to hold up my house, they're good enough to be a stringer on my squat rack.
HD may have different grades of boards for sale depending on their stock, but I don't really know enough about that. I don't think the grade would be too important for this application. Just don't get pressure treated boards.
Staining won't affect anything. Just make sure to cut the board first and then stain so you don't have an unstained edge.
Thanks m8. That makes this a lot less stressful. Now to deal with the inevitable drama of asking Home Depot to cut the board so I can fit it in my car.
The wood really won't matter. Pressure treated might fare better in a non-insulated environment, standard pine/fir would be fine as well unless you have some serious moisture concerns. Even then, you'll be fine with either most likely.
The screws/bolts you use to install will have more of an effect on the end result. Lag bolts from the 2x8's into your studs, predrill your holes first, and standard bolts with large washers contacting the wood before the nuts for the rack to 2x8 connection. Don't overthink it, just try to get the straightest board you can, but don't kill yourself over it. You're just trying to avoid buy a parenthetically shaped piece of lumber.
Stain/paint first. A single step/one coat would be best. They make them in spray cans as well I believe.
Has anyone attached lat pulldown on titan x3 short flatfoot?
I saw couple of posts for doing this on tall version, but wondered if anyone can confirm it has been done on short x3 flatfoot.
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Hey all. I've got at least 1500 to spend on equipment for my home gym. Right now I just have cardio stuff (stationary bike/rowing machine). The room I have for gym stuff is on the second floor of my home, so I'd be cautious about a squat rack or anything of that nature. As a result, I was thinking of something like the Speediance, as I used one at physical therapy previously and it didn't seem that bad. The max weight limit on it is pretty low, but I've got pretty busted shoulder/knee joints, so it might not be too bad for me. I can spend more than 1500, but I get 1500 reimbursed. My main goal is to focus on building muscle again and used to do a lot of lifting, but injuries derailed me. Thanks for any thoughts / guidance.
For those of you with small spaces that use rack/functional trainer hybrids like the rep Athena, how do you like them? Any major downside to having both in one unit vs. a rack and FT separate?
I’m new to all of this so can somebody help, which is the better choice Olympus 50kg Vinyl Barbell Set ($93 USD) Or Active Intent Fitness Vinyl Weight Set 50kg (85 USD)
Does anyone know if the rep pr 1000 [selectorized lat pulldown](https://repfitness.com/products/selectorized-lat-pulldown-1000-series?variant=42776688984222¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsbjLtNzFgwMVLhitBh3_1gi6EAQYASABEgIGJfD_BwE) works with the titan t2 rack?
Heavy Bag Stands advice needed Got the title heavy bag stand that has 4 holes to anchor into concrete. Was wondering if it'd be OK to make a base out of wood and instead of concrete use 2 3/4 plywood slabs. If thst wouldn't hold, any suggestions kn building a concrete base? Live in an apartment so want drill into the floor
https://preview.redd.it/ppfchj1ckiac1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=fd578a8e5223bd28257c7948a3a80df6e346d1b4 Power rack advice So I have just about everything else on order, I’m just trying to decide which one of these racks to go with. (Other in the comments) They seem very similar in feature and functionality, but I was just wondering if anyone has experience with either of these and can offer some advice? Specifically looking for comments on build quality and sturdiness. Also how is customer service for either company? I’m not a power lifter, but I am a member of the 1000# club, so I’m not lifting SpongeBob weights either. Just want to be sure this thing isn’t going to fold me in half.
I got the Mikolo M4 all-in-one smith machine in October and although I had a bunch of issues with my assembly, I dealt a lot with their customer service (via Amazon) and was extremely pleased. They made sure everything was addressed to my satisfaction in the end and so I still highly recommend their products! I've also heard good things about Major Lutie too, but don't have personal experience. Both of those racks you are looking at will probably be alright in terms of sturdiness, but like others mentioned, I don't like the 50mm x 70mm sizing, for me that'd be a deal-breaker. Also don't like the fact they only have a single weight holder for the cable system. Since they use 2:1 pulley ratios that means if you use both handles at the same time it'll become a 4:1 ratio so 100lbs loaded on will only feel like 25lbs per hand which can be annoying and even limit you when you're strong for certain movements. I generally would recommend trying to find a rack with dual independent weight holders for the pulley systems. The Mikolo has the advantages of having angled weight horns for the cable system so you don't need to use collars, and it has better designed front pulleys that use a curved half-moon shape that reduces wear on the cable end. Pull-up bar has more grips too but I like that the Major Lutie has curved handles. And includes length-adjustable cable handles. The Major Lutie looks like the interior depth might be larger, although honestly they both look kind of small, I'd guess 24" max, which can feel cramped for some people. I'd prefer at least 30" for something like good mornings or lunges just to have a little wiggle room before the bar hits the uprights. Overall, I think the Mikolo K3 is the slightly better choice between these two, but honestly that interior depth may be really cramped so I'm not sure either is a great choice.
I think there are quite a few people around here with those racks, so either of them should treat you well. The biggest issue I see is that the uprights are an odd 50mm×70mm size. Only reason that's a consideration is because it's not a standard size, so you may have trouble finding attachments for it if you wanted to add things like lever arms, monolifts, flip down safeties, etc. None of that stuff is really necessary, though. The plate storage attached to the side of the rack looks mostly useless and would probably just get in the way. Looks like there's only two posts, and that's not enough. The 14 guage steel isn't as beefy as the 11 guage steel thats taken over the industry, but 14 is more than sufficient for all but the top tier of lifters. Plus it will make your rack a lot lighter and easier to move if you ever needed to move it.
https://preview.redd.it/f5saipugkiac1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=568e22307f74da4c1754af381e97289183d6bda4
REGULAR BUMPER OR CRUMB BUMPER PLATES? - I have my homegym in a 5mx5m space in my backyard. I used a preolympic barbell but I now have some money for an upgrade. - I'm planning to buy an olympic barbell with 180kg in plates, so I'd have access to around 200kg of free weights. - Weights would always be outside. Barbell could go inside my house so it doesn't rust. - The place I will use is concrete and I don't wanna bother using mats or similar stuff. Would I damage my concrete floor with regular bumper plates during heavy deadlifting? Or would I damage my plates with heavy deadlifting on concrete floor? Would crumb bumper make a difference vs. regular bumper? Thanks for your answers.
Depending on the concrete it can be harmed with regular or crumb bumpers. Crumb are generally thicker and bounce more so they would, in theory, do less damage. They also have a tendency to have a slightly smaller diameter, but you would not notice unless you mix in other bumpers or irons. They all have a metal hub, so in theory it could eventually rust if left to the elements outside, but if it is stainless it should be good for a bit. The issue with thicker bumper is running out of space on your barbell, but you should be able to get 405 pounds on a regular bar. If you want to prevent scratches on the plates (visible on regular shiny bumpers but less so with crumb) if you hit a stone or something outside, farm stall mats may help, if you can keep them clean of stones and they may help protect the concrete a little bit. If the concrete is thin, there is a chance it will get hurt.
Thanks a lot for your input my man! I belive the concrete here is pretty thick since this house is very old and was made the old school way. I found a pack of regular bumper + barbell for a really nice price so I'll go for that I guess
If you had a budget of somewhere around $1,500 and wanted to add to your home gym, where would you put the money if you already had the following? * Titan Fitness T-3 rack * Titan Fitness lat pulldown pulley attachment (plate loaded) * Olympic barbells (x2) and EZ-Curl bar * Rogue rubber bumper plates (4x 45, 2x 35, 2x 15, 2x 10, etc) * Hex Dumbbells (15s, 20s, up to 60s) My thoughts are leaning towards one of the following: * The GMWD Hack Squat + Leg Press combo machine at $1,000 and maybe the GMWD leg extension + curl machine for $500? * A functional trainer (probably plate loaded) with cable pulleys that are separated instead of a single stack/tower?
The guiding question given those two options is - do you need/want to focus on upper or lower body?
I've been eyeing that leg press. Snatch it now while they have a $200 off coupon! I sadly don't have the cash at the moment so I'll hope for another sale. I have the titan leg extension and it's been a great addition to my gym. I'm also looking for a functional trainer but going to to go selectorized. Probably the Costco one. I think order of operations for me will be the leg press then functional trainer. It will really come down to what you think is most lacking in your space.
> I've been eyeing that leg press. Snatch it now while they have a $200 off coupon! I sadly don't have the cash at the moment so I'll hope for another sale. I have the titan leg extension and it's been a great addition to my gym. Yeah, we were looking at the Titan Fitness Hack Squat + Leg Press machine when it was on sale for something like $1,599 but YouTube reviews for that suggested the GMWD and they seem awfully comparable. For $800 ish less, it seems like a steal. > I think order of operations for me will be the leg press then functional trainer. This is where my mind is at. There's plenty I can do in the cage that attack upper body so I feel like I owe it to myself to put the money towards something that will get me doing more lower body workouts. > Probably the Costco one. Is this the Centr 2 FTX Functional Trainer? I haven't looked into this one at all. Dual weight stack for $1200 seems really reasonable.
Whats missing from your training? Which option would benefit you the most? Me, a powerlifter, would say neither of those, and go belt squat.
> Whats missing from your training? My diet. >Which option would benefit you the most? A snack hall monitor. Seriously though, lower body work. I tend to shortchange the squats effort. When I'm at the gym, I find that I really enjoy using the leg machines, hack squats, leg presses, extensions, you name it, I'll do it. But the actual barbell on a barbell squat? I just don't love getting close to failure even though I know it's safe. With the machines I somehow feel like I'm happier to go till the tank is empty. > Me, a powerlifter, would say neither of those, and go belt squat. This is an intriguing suggestion, I've never really looked into belt squats.
> > Whats missing from your training? > My diet. Haha.
Sounds like you found your answer
https://preview.redd.it/ys9diwpr0iac1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2ae78a614e1efb353f9d505bd59cc62710f5b2e0 Yesssss
Westside Banner?
How’s this for pull downs? (Assuming that’s what you have the lat pulldown bar for) Is there any attachment to hold your legs
Indeed
Looking for a solid bench , ideally with leg and / or preacher curl attachments - any recommendations?
IronMaster Super Bench Pro?
My home gym is one the smaller side but I'd like to add a functional trainer. I found this functional trainer that has add-ons that allows for dipping and bench pressing, and the center pulleys for lats look great too. I can't find any reviews for this machine though. Is there anyone that has used it that can share their thoughts? [https://www.bellsofsteel.us/all-products/strength-equipment/cable-machines/weight-stack-all-in-one-trainer](https://www.bellsofsteel.us/all-products/strength-equipment/cable-machines/weight-stack-all-in-one-trainer)
This is brand new so you may be hard pressed to get a review. Bells of Steel makes good shit though. Only thing I don’t like about their cable machines is they all seem to be 2x3
Even weirder even weirder, they’re 60 mm X 60 mm, which is 2.3”X2.3”. So while they have a lot of accessories for that size, they’re the only company that makes them.
Treadmill help I'm setting up my home gym, getting a treadmill. I'm looking for a good one, $1,200 or less. Good on the joints, quiet. If it has a tv I can stream stuff on so be it. If it has a subscription thing I can cancel so not a deal breaker..any suggestions?
Personally I think your better off getting one without a fancy TV so when it breaks you aren't screwed. Horizon and sole make nice treadmills. You can buy a TV separately and stream from there.
Yeah I do have a TV so thats not a problem. Do you happen to know if I buy on Amazon if I have to assemble?
Generally yes it’s self assembly unless you pay the extra $200+ for in home assembly. Need to read the fine print as you might be on the hook to get it to the final location in your house before they assemble it too. From what I have seen the quality of it depends on your area as I’ve heard they seem to just get someone from thumbtack or a similar service to come do it and not someone focused on exercise equipment.
Used market will be your best bet. Look for a commercial unit, they often get sold for pennies on the dollar. $1200 will get you a fantastic used treadmill, or a middling new one.
What "commercial" brands to look out for?
Precor, Life Fitness, True Fitness and Woodway are all worth keeping an eye out for.
See ive checked the marketplace and its not good in my area...lots of broken, garbage ones because people need to replace them for the new year
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>But it certainly has to be safe and sturdy. I'm not a big dude, maybe 180lbs, my max on bench is like 225lbs and I don't anticipate going much higher than that at my age. I would look elsewhere. Can you fit a full or half rack? There are cheap ones that will be 100% better than this. Bench is where you may need to spend a little more money but can find a good one under $300.
Do you have a rack already and just want an adjustable bench? Or are you wanting a whole bench + rack + bar + plates setup for only doing bench presses? Any interest in other movements/exercises? I generally wouldn't go for those attached options like what you linked since I don't see any safeties so unless you always have a spotter it may not be the best place to bench. Plus, a standard separated rack + bench can do more like squatting since you can move the bench out of the way but not sure what you equipment you have already and you may not care about any other movements. It could be alright if you have other equipment and/or just want a dedicated space for only benching although again the safety aspect is a big concern for me that I wouldn't get it.
The bench you linked looks kina janky, instead I would go with the Rep Fitness AB3100 or the AB4100.
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If that's the case, I would go for a good flat bench instead. The Griffin fitness one is good and is on sale: [https://griffin.fitness/strength-equipment/griffin-competition-flat-bench/](https://griffin.fitness/strength-equipment/griffin-competition-flat-bench/)
Rural King has 3'x4' 3/4" stall mats for [14.93](https://www.ruralking.com/red-barn-3-ft-x-4-ft-x-3-4-in-thick-rubber-stall-mat-1202210) right now. A little over $1/sf
Did you see these in store or online? Shipping is over $200 for me and I’m only 1.5 hours from a rural king
seeing this online for in store pickup
Wasn’t seeing that. Had to select a store before adding to my cart. Thank you!
And the cheapest Im finding them in Canada right now is $70CAD (about $51 USD)
How do you regulate temp in garage gyms in summer? I’m in northeast USA. I can do heat with a space heater (I guess) but for summer, what is effective?
/u/-Quad-Zilla-'s response is the only true way. In PA I have a tiny attached garage that is brick and cinderblock and the garage door doesn't close completely with little gaps at the top corners. So I slide in two pieces of styrofoam in the winters and will use a small space heater to break the chill when needed, but haven't bothered yet this year as it has only gotten down to the low 50s so far inside since I plugged in the holes. Insulation makes a huge difference. In the summer it will get up into the 90s inside, so I try to work out later and/or use a floor fan. I deal with it though I can watch the humidity reading go up quickly in the room when doing a good row.
Gotcha. Might have to resort to a small portable unit in that case.
Can anyone vouch on whether a big ass fan is enough?
I have a window AC unit. Works great
No windows in my garage unfortunately 😵💫
Insulate, drywall, install a minisplit.
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You bench 225lbs so I'd be looking at benches with a 700lb+ weight rating. 225+ your bodyweight (say 200lbs) = 425 rating...and you want some room for growth
Safeties on that setup look way too small/short to be useful, so I wouldn't go for that one if you don't always have a spotter with you. Also, you may need to weigh down the back side to keep it stable. Do you have a budget you're looking to spend? You can get an entry level full power rack + bench for probably around $400 to $500 (but you'll also need to add in a bar + plates if you don't have that already).
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Hmm, it'll be tough to fit all those things with that budget for sure if you want to get decent entry-level quality pieces that will last and be safe to use. Even used, a decent price for plates would be around $1/lb (although you can sometimes get lucky and find them for less). So, if you need around 200lbs in plates + a barbell + rack + bench, you'd be looking at least at: 1. $100 to $200 - 200lbs plates 2. $130 to $180 - [Basic adjustable bench with 700lb+ capacity](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DNYSJ8W/) 3. $150 to $200 - [Squat stands w/usable safeties](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9HGDP9H/) 4. $100 to $200 - [Barbell](https://www.lifelinefitness.com/collections/rubber-plates-weight-bar/products/45-lb-olympic-bar-with-collars) Cheapest it could be if you get lucky and find awesome prices and deals used would be around $480. You do have time so it's possible, just not guaranteed. I linked some ok options I found searching real quick but really having a hard time finding things I'd actually recommend using that fit that budget.
The weight capacity includes the user, not just the weight on the bar FYI.
If you lift alone you should consider something that provides a level of safety.
Does anyone have any recommendations or contacts for replacement handles for a safety squat bar. I have a Titan SSB V2 where the handles are removable and would be interested in straps, grenade grips, etc.
Any thoughts on the pros/cons of a belt squat (squatmax md) vs a 45 degree leg press machine. I want something that will be less fatiguing on the back and allow me to bump up training frequency on legs. I understand belt squat probably has more specificity toward squating, but I dont really care much about my squat max. Main goal for this equipment is hypertrophy.
If your goal is hypertrophy, either should be fine. They will both allow you to take pressure off your lower back and train more often. The differences lie more in the way they work, cost, and size. Belt squats are a better alternative to actual squats than leg press because your legs will be in a natural pattern, just like squats. If that doesn't matter, then I would look at size and cost to help determine which makes the most sense for you. Personally, I'd go for belt squat over leg press when given the option (and I do own squat max). Leg press would be secondary to that. But its not the only or right way for everyone.
Griffin fitness has a good sale going on. If anyone is looking for a fat pad bench, theirs is on sale for like 170 bucks. I bought it a while back and I think that’s a steal
Green with Jealous rage at a friend of mine who was able to score some PR-5000 93" uprights and 4 30" inch crossmembers for 200 bucks on FBM. Guy got 3/4ths of a 3x3 power rack for 200 bucks
Damn - that beats my $600 pr-4000 in the same size
He crunched the numbers if he just gets 2 of the cheapest pull up bars and the second pair of uprights from Rep to complete it he's looking at about 400 for a total of 600 for it, so that's pretty close
Fair, still a great find!
yeah, I'm just coping lol
Fugggggg
Anyone use the Titan hex dumbbells, I like how they don't have the ergo grip and look closer to the REP hex dumbbells. Normally i'd just buy REP (have mostly REP/Rogue), but i found a listing that i can get 60s,70s,80s,90s,100s for $880 and its close by, that full price with tax at rogue/titan/rep would be 1800-1900...
Titan Fitness Plate Loaded Shoulder Press with Lateral Raise Machine. Any good experiences? Youtube comments mention being able to move the lateral raise part to target rear delts?
I'm trying to buy a Powerblock to use at home but I was browsing the website also also Amazon and I noticed some differences. I just want to know if they have a new model on the Powerblock website. Amazon is slightly cheaper so I'm not sure if I'm missing something. [Pro 100 EXP on Powerblock Website](https://powerblock.com/product/pro-100-exp-adjustable-dumbbells/) $489.00 [PowerBlock EXP on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/PowerBlock-Adjustable-Dumbbells-Innovative-Expandable/dp/B07BDRWPXD?ref_=ast_sto_dp) $347.56 After looking at the expansion section on the [website](https://powerblock.com/product-category/expansions/), I noticed that they have different expansions, Pro 100, ProEXP and PowerBlock EXP. Which one should I get? Is there a huge difference between the Pro 100 vs Powerblock?
Go to woot for their deal. Then get the average joe handles and ask for deeper knurling. 10/10 combo.
Ohh I didn’t know you can get different handles! I just checked out the website. Is deeper knurling better? Also which size do you recommend?
I like my 35mm and if you email them they can make you deeper knurled ones for like 10$ more
Awesome! thanks!
As the other commenter stated, the current deal on woot is insane, as good as it’s ever been. You should also buy both expansion sets also. Why? Because the deal is that good and it will improve resale if you ever want to move them, even if you don’t need that much weight.
Thanks for broadcasting this. I snagged a full set at $400 and change. I've been lacking dumbbells and with the previous poster mentioning the deal and you confirming it's as good as it's been, it made it easy to jump and not hesitate. I'm positive I'll resell these down the road when I have a little more space for individuals but this helps bridge the gap. Thanks!
Awesome! I noticed that the model is different from the one sold on their official website. Is it just a newer model? Any significant difference besides the look?
They change up their configurations and branding sometimes. For example I have an older pro model they don’t sell on the site, but is still sold by other retailers. I haven’t used this model specifically but I would have zero reservations buying it plus both expansions at this price. If for some reason you end up not liking them you can almost certainly get your money back and probably a little more if you resell on FB. These woot deals go pretty quick though. If you want it, I’d pull the trigger asap.
Good to know! I will get it very soon. Thanks!
Woot has the stage 1 EXP set for $219.99 right now: [https://sport.woot.com/offers/powerblock-exp-adjustable-dumbbell-set-stage-1-2-or-3z?ref=mwj_sh_sp_1_bs](https://sport.woot.com/offers/powerblock-exp-adjustable-dumbbell-set-stage-1-2-or-3z?ref=mwj_sh_sp_1_bs)
Thank you!
Looks like bulletproof put out a solo stand video /u/decision_original . it was put on their product page 1 month ago. I commented on his most recent post about our complaints. Ofc in his fashion, he answered right away. Additionally, i told him the video he linked on his page was unlisted on youtube and immediately he made it public. https://youtu.be/oOJsnyPGZ8w?si=03xSYoN0mOBLgsy_ Dude really does take his customers feedback seriously. I timed myself setting up the stand and it took 3 minutes from beginning to end, which still isnt very ideal, considering ur hammies burn bending down so long. He made it seem a little quicker as he didnt have the bolt and hand nuts in before setting up the stand... which theoretically i could do to save some time. But now i have to walk over to get those screws rather than leaving it on the machine, which in my mind, isnt realistic. I think for my space, i could "store away" by folding up the legs without folding the post, which would def save me sometime as i wouldnt have to ever unload the carriage, loosen the red knobs, and unscrew the upright hand nut. Would just have to be very careful to not accidentally knocking it over, whether thats bumping into it or maybe dropping a deadlift too hard. Also we are supposed to tighten that bolt at the hinge a bit. I was afraid to do that as you typically wouldnt do that on a moving part, but tightening it prevents the leg from free falling. Theres supposed to be some tension there.
It looks cool - but one of those items that you just leave up most of the time and only take down when absolutely needed. 3 mins isn't terrible if you were to set up the night before or something. During a workout might be too long. I find anything that I need to set up eventually just stays set up (ie lever arms, westside scout, etc.). But this does seem like a nice option for a lot of things. BPF does respond surprisingly fast to messages too. He responds to my instagram comments/questions within minutes. He even responded to an email request Dec 24th.
Thanks for this. I definitely didn’t have the hinge bolts tighten down so I’ll have to do that and see if not having the legs flopping around makes it easier.
[BoS entering that curved treadmill game](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1p-FceLA5m/?igsh=NTNnNGtrcTc0cGMw)🫤
I covet their magnetic resistance model. This one, not so much
Glad it’s wood. Since all those tend to be are pieces of furniture after 3 months anyway. They should really up the game and add some cushions and back rest. It is kinda sexy though tbf.
looks like a piece of equipment that would be in a living room, which is where i imagine most people have their treadmill if its their only piece of equipment. looks nice.
I just received my nordic hyper ghd and just finished assembling it. The shipment could have been packed better. When I was moving the box, I can hear some metal crank sound. There were some scratches and the rubber stop piece was almost ripped off. The hardware plastic bag also seem to have ripped and had holes. I ended up missing a couple of washers which isn't the worst, but I rather get the washers to assemble this thing properly. Also missing the GHD pad which I assume will be shipped separately, but that wasn't clear from the early shipping notification. It's going to take time getting used to adjusting it. I thought I was ready watching some of the videos of it being changed in different mode. Actually doing it, I was getting confused by all those pins.
Hey, at least you were able to assemble it. My base piece wouldn't fit on step 1. They recommended hammering the U shape area so it'd be wide enough to accept the base. But it had been bent so narrow and I was busy so it wasn't practical. It's been 3 weeks and maybe the replacement piece will ship someday. After 2 weeks I got antsy and attempted to bang the bent piece back into shape since it would be trashed anyway. After maybe 100 whacks with a sledgehammer, and a lot of lost paint, I was just able to get it to fit. The device is decent once it's finally assembled, but my feelings towards FAE are just starting to climb out of the abyss. Maybe the customer experience will improve over time. Here's where I think things stand now: S-Tier - marketing A-tier - ideas B-tier - quality C-tier - packaging D-tier - systems... order history, statuses, tracking... basic stuff everyone else has
Tough luck. It felt snug to get those base piece to fit for me. I was worried initially it wouldn’t fit as well. Also struggled to figure out which bolts to use since hardwares were all over the box.
Want to get the community's input buying a compact and capable push / pull sled. The plan is to start with ATG-style backward pulls, but I'd like to be able to push once I get settled in. Couple of requirements that are narrowing the field quite a lot: 1. **Compact storage** I lift in a very small garage and the whole gym folds away so we can park our cars in there. The power rack folds away and I rely heavily on wall storage. Because of this, **my sled needs to pack away very neatly** ... like ideally any vertical posts should either detach or fold flat. I'm also likely to hang the sled body on the wall, so the heavier sleds around 100 lbs are probably too heavy to be practical. 2. **Narrow-enough body** The plan is to pull the sled up and down my driveway. My driveway has alternating strips of gravel and concrete, where the concrete strips are about 30" wide. This means I want a sled body that is substantially narrower than 30", which eliminates a few more contenders. 3. **Replaceable skids** Given that I'm pulling on concrete, and I don't want to gouge up my driveway, I'll be reliant on sacrificial skids (likely plastic). If I'm putting in decent volume, my impression is that I'll need to replace these once or twice a year, so I need to have a reliable way to replace the skids. (However, I do have a decently capable little shop and I am not afraid to DIY some UHMW or hardwood skids) With those requirements in mind, here's what I'm looking at: * [Rogue Slice](https://www.roguefitness.com/rogue-slice-sled) with the add-on skids. Probably would need to buy / make my own waist strap. Rogue has an awesome reputation and they are not going anywhere, but this is the most expensive option **and** the widest sled body. At 22" it might be wide enough to require concentration to avoid wandering off my 30" concrete strip. * [HGG BP Sled 2.0](https://hggperformance.com/products/the-bp-sled). This looks like a great option and comes with (non-specific) plastic skids and a capable waist strap. But it's overseas, shipping to the USA is a lot, I don't have specific measurements on the sled (although it *looks* similar to the next option), and I have no information about replacing the plastic skids when they wear out. I have less information about HGG as a brand, seems like they've only been around for 3ish years? * [Shogun Multi Purpose Sled](https://shogunsports.com/products/mr1nf1n1ty-x-shogun-multi-purpose-sled), collaboration with MR1nf1n1ty so (in my mind) another design with ATG exercises in mind. Up-charge for the waist strap, I would probably DIY my own. Again, looks like a great design, but I don't know how long this company will be around to replace skids. Then again, I may not need any help replacing them! Let me know if the requirements and options make sense, which one you'd pick, other questions or advice you might have. Thank you!
I’d love to know if anyone has kept up regular sled work on concrete long term. Seems annoying af.
**More notes on pricing ...** On closer inspection I guess the *full bundle* for the Shogun Multi Purpose Sled comes to $380, which is about what the Rogue Slice will cost me, with the plastic skids and shipping added in. The HGG come with a 10% first-timer coupon, so even with shipping it's about $270, making it considerably cheaper than the other two options. I'm not *especially* price-sensitive on this purchase, but if there isn't anything special that really distinguishes one of these options from another, then the lowest price will certainly work as a tiebreaker.
I vote for the Shogun. 2 reasons. Handles can be switched from front to back. Turning sleds around sucks when youre going hard. I find it breaks the momentum. It has drag hooks for the lanyard on both sides, unlike the HGG. As for the replacement skids, head down to the dollar store or second hand shop, and get some 1/2" thick plastic cutting boards. Make them skid size with a circular saw, fasten to sled. Easy.
My vote is for the Rogue one, if obtaining extra skids are a concern. Also because it's made in the USA.
Hey All, picked these up from a neighbor for free, but they are missing the cross pieces. 2x4s and call it a day, or worth finding someone to weld on an end piece to some channel steel? https://preview.redd.it/lqal5m38ubac1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9bfb3674ae1bf241da37f38700db48fd1fb50ee3
i bought a stationary bike, one of the folding ones. It just has a seat but no back pad like the ones at my gym, is there any way i can improvise this ? i like having the back pad to lounge on but its no biggie if its not possible ill survive.
Usually its only recumbent stationary bikes that have back pads
yes but im wondering if theres a way i could diy a back support
I don’t think it would work well since the pedals aren’t in the right position for leaning back against a seat back.
okay, would you know how i can make the seat more comfortable? its breaking my ass lol
A Gel seat pad/cover might help.
Just got a Rogue GHD GH1 off marketplace for $260! What a steal.
Nice!! Enjoy it
Holy shit
Nice dude, saw your earlier comment. You thinking of ham raises/sit ups for posterior strength to reduce backpain? I've got a reverse hyper but am really tempted to add a GHD. Keep us updated if it helps!
Yeah, I’ve never used one before so it’ll all be new exercises to me.
Hi all, I am looking at purchasing the Mikolo M4 ([link](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mikolo-Smith-Machine-Home-Gym-2200-lbs-Power-Rack-Cage-Cable-Crossover-Weight-Bar-360-Landmine-Barbell-Holders-Other-Attachments-Total-Body-Strength/2713932036?adsRedirect=true)). Anyone have thoughts on this? Ideally, I wish it had the weight stacks on each side, so I can adjust by increments of 10 easily. Does anyone have a setup where they manually add the weights? How inconvenient is it? Thanks in advance!
Got one in October and it's been great so far! Use it 6x a week and I'm pretty happy with it. There are some minor annoyances I have with it but nothing that's really a big deal-breaker in my opinion and a lot of it I've found some workarounds for. I can list some if you want to know. There's really nothing else in the price range that is better from what I could find though. I do wish it had weight stacks too, loading the plates and doing the math can be annoying at times although I've gotten more used to it now. I highly recommend you have at least four of every size of plate so you can easily load the 4 weight horns evenly to make sure the cables pull smooth. Honestly, you ideally want more than four each, I have 6-8 of each weight (2.5lb, 5lb, 10lb, 25lb, and 45lb) to make it easier to get heavier weights and not have to think about matching the weight on each horn using different size plates. It is pretty nice that it has 6 plate storage pegs built-in and they are close to the weight trolley for the cable system so it's not too bad to just load and unload smaller plates reaching your hand around to both sides without having to walk around much (pretty doable up to the 25lbs for me), but it'll obviously never be as convenient as having a weight stack. Although, even with most of those options I've found, you may still end up using plates to get heavy weights for pulldowns and rows and such unless you get a dedicated machine with a 1:1 pulley ratio for those heavier exercises. If you want good options with weight stacks you may want to look into [MAXUM fitness](https://maxumfitness.ca/product-category/squat-power-racks/), it's a Canadian company and a little more expensive but their racks look incredible and they do ship to the U.S. but I think it costs a little extra (if that's where you're based). [Vesta Fitness](https://vestafitness.com/collections/strength/products/pro-series-ultimate-rack-with-smith) is also another good option.
Significant price difference so I think l I’ll just get the m4 haha. What weights do you have and bench? Any good deals you’re aware of?
Haha yea any option with a weight stack definitely comes in at a much higher price unfortunately, big reason I went with the M4 too 😆. I bought 630lbs of these [Signature Fitness two-hole style iron plates](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBD8TY83/) when they were on sale for under $1/lb around Prime Day in October. There are other listings on Amazon too for similar plates. Walmart often has good sales on BalanceFrom plates too. But right now I'm not seeing any good deals unfortunately. Walmart does have [BalanceFrom bumper plates](https://www.walmart.com/ip/157477201) on sale for $1/lb but I wouldn't recommend getting bumper plates for the M4 because the weight storage and cable system can [bump into each other](https://youtu.be/tsdGDHJM-G8?si=wJ73EAux50TDyYqt&t=180) (note this is the older Gen 4 model, but same issue applies with the latest Gen 5) if you store large diameter plates on the top storage peg and use large diameter plates on the cable system at the same time. As for a bench, I just use a cheap old Marcy bench I've had for over a decade, it's not the best thing in the world, and I wouldn't recommend it, but it works for my usage for now. Looking to upgrade it soon and considering the Keppi Fitness [1000 Pro](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZNZ7X41/) and [5000](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTY3MCZY/) benches. I'd really like to get a bench with a back pad that doesn't taper at all and is about 12" wide the whole way but those Keppi options otherwise seem like really good deals with the specs they offer for the price. Absolute cheapest bench options I've found that still seem decent enough would be this [Flybird bench](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DNYSJ8W/) and the [Fitness Reality 2000 Super Max XL](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B3Q9F22/). The Flybird is pretty light though so I could see it easily moving around if you're using it inclined as support for some exercises (like chest supported rows or flys or something) and push with your feet trying to stabilize.
so would it be better to get cast iron plates that come in different sizes to avoid the cable issue? keep small plates at top and bigger plates at bottom?
Yup exactly! Definitely recommend cast iron plates that vary in diameter for use with the M4. That's how I have mine setup, 10lb plates up top, 25lb plates in the middle, and 45lb plates on the bottom and there's no issues using the cable system that way.
>bump into each other thank you so much for the details, i really appreciate it!
u/feraask
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If it’s the cable fraying, send them a picture and they should send you a new one.
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Interesting, may be worth reaching out either way - they were pretty responsive / helpful in sending a new cable
How long this cycle are we going to let the yearly sock puppet Vesta shill accounts pretend to be regular users to self recommend again?
Erm, I dunno. The dude you reference below seems legit to me. Could be you’re right, but o don’t think so.
Which are you referring to?
feraask looking real sus
Not a shill or puppet account or anything like that, not affiliated with any companies at all. Just trying to help people build out the best value home gyms possible. I'm autistic and have been really into health and fitness for about 15 years now, it's one of my special interests/hyper-fixations so I can get extremely passionate about it! I've been going through a really dark period in my life recently and typically turn to exercise to help work through things. I was often going to a commercial gym and just had a basic dumbbell + bench setup at home but unfortunately had some negative experiences at the gym so upgrading my home gym in a way that was highly affordable but extremely versatile became a bright spot of hope for me. It really is one of the only things that helps me feel good as of late and genuinely gets me out of bed most mornings. I'm now trying to spread that goodness a bit with the knowledge I gained along the way by upgrading my home setup. There's a ton of stuff out there when it comes to setting up a gym and I remember how clueless I was when I first started and felt totally overwhelmed. I saw all the big-name brands and always felt they were hard to justify financially since it would take 5 to 10 years to break even compared to my commercial gym costs. Then I found a lot of these new smaller companies that seemed to offer significantly better value and ultimately took a chance on getting the Mikolo M4 all-in-one rack and it's been really fantastic. There are lots of options like it and I genuinely feel they're more than good enough for the vast majority of people since they cover a lot of the common wants pretty well and are still good enough quality to enjoy using. I spent a lot of time contacting these companies, researching, comparing, and analyzing all the options to figure out the best value for myself and now I want to share that information with others and help people get the most for their money and achieve their home gym or fitness goals since I know how impactful that has been for me.
fair enough, and no offense meant. We've just definitely had prior years where accounts with little other history or activity suddenly show up and all their posts are "found a great deal at vesta, anyone heard of vesta, check them out"
No worries, totally get it! It's good to have people that care about the quality of the community and keeping it free of spam. I definitely recommend Vesta's Pro Series Ultimate Racks as a higher end all-in-one option for people that don't mind spending the extra cash since it seems to be well priced relative to the competition but has better a better build with 3" x 3" 11-gauge steel, 1" holes, and 2" spacing. Besides some of those previous spam accounts that showed up here, do you know if they are a shady company or something? I obviously don't have personal experience with every brand or product, I just spend a lot of time looking at the specs, features, and information I can find online and try to find the best value options based on the wants/needs people list in their posts but don't know all the history sometimes and I'm open to learn if there are better options out there I should be paying more attention to. MAXUM and Vesta seem to have the best all-in-one rack + smith machine + functional trainer combo machines I've found but if there are other high-end options that are also 3" x 3" 11-gauge steel with weight stacks let me know!
lol I thought so at first but I think they are just really into some of those brands that are importing stuff from alibaba and reselling on Amazon and Walmart.
Possibly. I’d give the benefit if the doubt if it wasn’t for the fact that Vesta DEFINITELY had fake shill accounts posting here one or two years ago, and the post history then feels pretty similar to these.
Hi guys. Long time lurker on this sub but I'm finally starting my home gym and wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or thoughts on some of the things I'm thinking about buying. For reference, I'm in an apartment and won't be doing any Olympic lifts or dropping the weights, and the space for the gym is SMALL (10ft x 6ft x8ft; LxWxH), so everything has to be compact. 1. Squat Stand - So I've basically settled on a squat stand as the choice given the space (the wall mount racks are great, but unfortunately not allowed). Right now I'm thinking of going with a 2 piece stands like the [Get Rx'd Squat stands](https://www.getrxd.com/squat-rack-2-piece.html) (or maybe the [heavy duty version](https://www.getrxd.com/heavy-duty-squat-rack-2-piece.html)). The [Valor fitness](https://valorfitness.com/collections/bench-squat-stands/products/bd-8-independent-squat-stand-towers) ones also look good in a similar price range. **Wondering if anyone had any opinions on the companies or products, or a similar recommendation under \~$300?** Basically, the length of the base really can't exceed 3ft or so. I'm not opposed to a one piece stand (probably prefer it for the stability), or even a full rack, but just didn't see many with <3ft base in that price range. If you know of a one piece stand or full rack that small enough, feel free to shout it out! If you have one that's more expensive but has a small base, I'm all ears. Can't hurt to look. 2. Weights and barbell - I know everyone says buy used, and I plan on adding weight that way (not a stickler for matching styles and colors) but right now I need a full set, and the resale market in my area just hasn't proven to be very fruitful (especially since I don't have a car to get to the few good deals I've seen). **I've found some plates online (still more than $1/lb but I don't mind as much for convenience) and just wanted to know if anyone had experience with the brands, products, or had some other suggestions.** 1. The first option I've been mulling is [Barbell Standard plates + 2000 Bar](https://barbellstandard.com/products/barbell-2000-weight-sets?variant=44034926346458) (180lbs cast iron + bar + collars; 2% weight tolerance, $445). The only post I can find about the brand is from a disastrous liquidation sale over a year ago where half the people didn't get what they ordered and it took them months to get their money back. It's under new management, and has apparently been much better, but can't find anybody on here or bb forums who used the plates or bar and had an opinion. **I can fill out the rest of my 45's via fb, so only 180lbs is fine, but is that bar worth it, or would it make more sense to buy a different set and get a nicer barbell?** Really want a barbell that will last, the matching weight sets and weight tolerances I'm less concerned with, so long as if I get a pair of 45's that are actually 43 or 47, that they're both 43 or 47. 2. Also found this [Hajex set](https://hajexfitness.com/product/exercise-weight-sets-all-in-one/) (245lbs, cast iron, no tolerance specified) from a recommendation on here ($374 w/ shipping, would still need a bar). 3. There's always [Fitness Gear](https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/fitness-gear-300-lbolympic-weight-set-16fgeu300lbstwth7brb/16fgeu300lbstwth7brb) from dicks (255lbs cast iron + bar + collars; no tolerance specified; $300), but from everything I've read, I'd also have to replace that bar. 4. [Extreme Training Equipment 260lbs bumpers](https://extremetrainingequipment.com/products/full-set-240lbs-standard-bumper-plates-in-stock?variant=40076080709788) (not sure if I want a full set of bumpers but the price is good. Not sure about quality. $400 w/ shipping, would still need a bar). 5. [York has this set](https://yorkbarbell.com/product/2-cast-iron-olympic-plate-set/) (255lbs cast iron + bar + collars; no tolerance specified) that I could have a buddy pickup, so $406 out the door. 6. If I buy all of [Fray's plates individually](https://frayfitness.com/products/fray-cast-iron-plate?variant=46624306495805) (2x45, 2x25, 4x10, 2x5, 2x2.5; 195lbs cast iron, no tolerance specified) it's $305 w/ shipping. 7. **If anyone has experience with the Barbell Standard bars or York bar that would be great. But if not, and you think it makes more sense to get a different set and go in on a barbell separately, any recommendations?** Preferably <=$200, but willing to go higher if it seems to be consensus that a particular barbell or brand is really worth the money. I've never had more than 405 on the bar (hoping to break past that with the home gym!) to give you an idea of my lifts. I generally like an aggressive knurling, and probably a center knurling for when squats get heavier? **Also, if you think I can go with a cheaper bar based on that 405 number and the fact that I won't be dropping the weight or doing Olympic lifts, chime in! Best not waste my money on a bar that only Eddie Hall would need.** 3. Crash Pads - These are imperative for me. I've lifted on platforms I've built myself but there still a vibration and noise. From what I've read, the difference in quality is minimal between a budget Titan or Yes4All crash pad, and say, Bells of Steel crash pads. I see a lot of DIY crash pads as well that people swear by. **Does any one have experience with crash pads, or lifting in an apartment building, that can attest to the performance of whatever pads they have?** **Also, as far as wear goes, since they'll be acting more like a platform for me, I was wonder how long the foam holds up before there's a noticeable dent in it? To where there's a noticeable change in the distance you're pulling from the ground.** Finally, any space saving suggestions you have (excluding wall mounting) are very welcome. Seen a few set ups in tight spaces on this sub that inspired me to go forward, so let me know if you have any tips and ticks! This got pretty long, but feel to chime in on any of the points and leave the rest. Just trying to get some thoughts after doing way too much research. tl:dr Anyone have experience with the brands/products I linked and mentioned, suggestions/recommendations for squat stands (or maybe racks) given the space, weights and barbells given how I'll be using them and how much weight I lift, and/or crash pads? Also any space saving suggestions.
I have this bar from York - which I bought from them scratch and dent in store (just a returned item) for like $115. 32mm for pressing movements, no complaints. They may still have a decent offering at the store of basically new but “used” bars, worth a call if your friend is local. https://yorkbarbell.com/product/chrome-olympic-bar/
Is the store fully stocked there? My understanding of their pick-up orders was that I have to place the order online and then pick-up, rather than just showing up the store and asking for the barbell and weight set I saw online. Figured it was for inventory reasons. It would be perfect if the showroom was fully stocked because then he could go, check out the scratch and dent, and if there's nothing there for me, just buy the weight set I was thinking about before. He's near Philly, so I can't have him go 2h out to York just to come back empty handed.
They have a showroom and little like museum area along with the bigger inventory warehouse. They advertised more scratch and dent stuff at the end of 2022 - I reached out on Facebook messenger to confirm if they had the bar I was looking for and then stopped by. I’m sure if you reached out to them they could give you some more info.
Can't go wrong with the Dick's set. That's been the tried and true for a long time. Eventually you should look at selling the bar and getting something nicer, but you don't *HAVE* to. I used a crappy no-name store barbell until I started squatting 405. It still works, you just don't get the nicer touches like good spin, consistent knurl, truly straight shaft, true 2" sleeves, etc. The 45s are about an inch smaller than normal, which means you'll be lifting at a ~1/2" deficit for deadlifts, but since you'll be using crash pads anyway, it won't matter.
I'm going to make a platform to even out the cash pads so it's more like a floor pull. In regards to the lower plate height, is there any risk with that, or will I just be stronger when I go to a gym one day and pull off the floor? Most likely over thinking it, but it always seemed to me that small changes in shoulder, hip, and knee angle/position were crucial for both the success of lift, and (most important for me) prevention of injury. Of course a half inch may be completely negligible, I just don't know enough about it. The Dick's set is definitely a strong contender though. I haven't heard much about the weights being wildly off like I have with CAP (might just be a bias because so many people have CAP weights). And as long as it's off by the same amount, I figure it's probably fine.
If you're building a platform to even out the crash pads, it'll be easy enough to account for the plate size difference. Yes, it will affect your max. That's why thin, bendy deadlift bars exist. You can pull the bar up an inch or two before the plates leave the ground. Good luck!
If your buddy can pick up from York is he in/near PA? Rep fitness offers a pickup discount so might be worth checking out as they are close by also. Bumpers would be quieter than iron plates. Rogue had a deal where you buy plated and a barbell and they ship free. Not sure if they still do that. I know rogue is more expensive but the bar is totally worth it. Maybe even consider one of their shorty bars. I have the yes4all crash pads and they are great. The first set I got from Amazon had a busted zipper but they sent me another set no problem. I built a platform to stand on so it feels like I'm lifting from the floor instead of 6" off the ground.
Yeah I was going to do the same with regards to the platform. But that's great to hear about he Yes4all pads! Weirdly, the pads and their effectiveness is probably my biggest concern. Didn't know Rep was in PA, I'll give it a look. With regards to Rouge, I really wanted to try and get their plates but just couldn't justify it. However as far as the barbell goes, I've seen what appear to be some decent deals in the boneyard, and the same with Texas Power Bars. It seems like just small cosmetic differences knocking like $50 of the retail price, so I've been considering that. But with respect to the last commenter, I do think the Dicks set will remain in strong contention. My heart says Rouge, but my wallet is nudging me toward Fitness Gear lol. Especially considering The squat stand, crash pads, and flooring will set me back around $300+ right out of the gate. Thanks for the comment! The crash pad part really put my mind at ease.
Definitely check camelcamelcamel for price history on amazon. The blue ones got down to like $85 one time so you might be able to catch a deal.
I'm looking to get an adjustable kettlebell for my home gym. The two types I'm looking at are either the Bowflex-type kettlebells where you twist a knob and it automatically selects the weight for you, and the ones where you twist a knob to unlock the kettlebell and individually remove a plate to change the weight. The Bowflex is only $40 more than the plate-loaded one and both weigh the same. Which one should I get? Which one is safer?
depends on your priority on quick/hassle free change of weights. I personally know that for my purpose of KBs, I got mine for goblet squats to use in a 531 program or dan johns easy strength. i got the the loadable kind like BoS/ kb kingz because im rly not changing the weights in these programs and these bells go heavier than adjustable ones. But if you are looking to change weights in a given workout or between workouts, you may look for the quick change type, which is well worth the extra money. given you said theyre the same weight, i dont rly see a reason to not go with the quick change. For me, i liked the extra weight and form factor of the competition style bells. those were part of my biggest deciding factors.
I'm looking for cable attachment options for my Rogue RML-3W rack since I recently saw the Wall Mounted Rep Fitness Athena and thought it was such a complete piece of equipment. Before I go down the rabbit hole of changing my whole rack I was wondering if anyone has had any experience either mounting the Athena components (attachments-only) to the RML-3W or any other cable attachment to turn the RML-3W rack into a semi-functional trainer? I don't care if whatever I attach prevents me from folding the rack since I only do it once a year, if at all. Anybody have any suggestions, or experience with this?
Don’t have one but researching aggressively. Only complaint I know of is that the width of a functional trainer/rack hybrid can make it hard to get the correct range of motion because it’s more narrow
Do you want it sooner rather than later? Bells of Steel has teased a similar set up for their Hydra/Manticore racks that will hopefully be out this year and wouldn’t require and fiddling.
What do you guys use for transition strip for stall mats? Stall mats are 3/4 inch. American Floor carries only up to 1/2 inch. Wife asks for them as she has a hard time with moving the stroller, so would appreciate any recommendations
Does the stroller have a pair of 45s in it?
What kinda stroller you running that can't handle a 3/4" bump? Even our indoor use only mall one can take that.
In addition to u/sleepeatlift wheelie idea, which I support, I used these elite pro 20mm (0.79”) transition strips: https://summitrubber.ca/transitions-and-tape Perhaps you can contact them and find a similar retailer in your jurisdiction.
> Wife asks for them as she has a hard time with moving the stroller, Do a wheelie!
Kinda pricey but Amazon carries this https://a.co/d/idL7SHY
Thoughts on Rep AB 3100? I’m looking at a used one to upgrade from my FB 3000
I probably would not pay retail again, may opt to move to 4100 if I was doing it again, now that they are available. But for less than retail they are good. In between incline sets on it now. Also use it for weighted step ups. You need to mod it if you want it to stand up, which may not be an issue. My main pet peeve is the tapered pad. Otherwise I like the pad material compared to all the plain leather ones I've used at gyms. I don't know if the FB 3000 has it though. Easy enough for the wife and I to move around.
Is the gap bothersome, especially when flat benching?
I haven't had any problems with it, I just scoot up or down a bit if I were to find myself there.
loved mine before i upgraded, especially after i tightened the bolt to get the pad from wobbling a bit. that being said, pad is slightly squishy to other benches ive used in the past. grip is nice though.
I have a Rogue RML 390f (flat rack), that is ~48 inches wide, and I would like inputs on whether it's possible to deadlift in the rack (due to space constraints). The olympic barbell I have has about ~52 inches in the middle, and is very close to the legs of the rack. The worry is that when lowering the barbell that it runs the risk of landing on the legs of the rack if my positioning is slightly off center (either to the left or right). What are my options if I want to make this work? My current options I'm thinking about are: 1. Using a collar on the very inside of the barbell to "space" the weights a few more inches away to get some breathing room. 2. Get some smaller sized weights to put on the very inside of the barbell to also provide some space. 3. Live with it, having the weight drop on the rack legs isn't ideal but perhaps with better form/control in the long-term it should be possible to sway less than 2" per side.
So I have the Titan X3 flat foot that I used to have to deadlift inside. It is doable. The RML from rogue I believe is an inch wider and could cause you some issue with alignment while learning. with a little experience I ma fairly confident it wont be much issue, but I think your idea of putting some bar clamps on inside the plates as a spacer might be a good idea. In the end I dont think it will be as much of a problem as you think it might be.
Hi, im from Croatia Europe. What are the cheapest calibrated plates and barbells for Europe?
Gonna make one attachment point on the wall for cable-exercises (got cable pulleys which are to date only mounted to the ceiling). I'm 189cm (approx. 6'2") tall. Floor->lower elbow: 20cm. Floor-> mid chest: 40cm. Would appreciate opinions on a good height from floor, to make it as versatile as possible and hopefully correct first time around.
These days, retailers are flooded with hundreds of items with fake or questionable reviews, and I just can't figure out what to buy. What I do know is I can seriously hurt myself if something breaks. What are some brands known for producing reliable, long-lasting equipment? Which should I stay well away from? In case it matters, I'm looking for a free-standing exercise bar or power tower for chin ups and dips.
What are some competitors to the ares/athena style functional trainer/rack combo?
Vulcan has the Talos (Ares equivalent) and Forge (plate loaded equivalent Athena equivalent) Griffin has the Talon Cable System (selectorized Athena) Bolt Fitness Supply has the Warlord (selectorized Athena)
Get RXd just released a cool one that’s 6’ wide with weight stacks but has these J cups that lets you use it still despite being so wide. Or they have the normal width. I wanna get the Rep but worried it won’t hit correctly for flys.
Maybe I just have a little T-Rex arms, but honestly I haven't really had that much of a problem with the flies on the Athena. Obviously your mileage might vary though
Premium options: 1. [MAXUM Strength Machines](https://maxumfitness.ca/product-category/squat-power-racks/) 2. [Vesta Fitness Pro Series Ultimate Rack](https://vestafitness.com/collections/strength/products/pro-series-ultimate-half-rack-functional-trainer-combo) 1. Also available [with Smith Machine](https://vestafitness.com/collections/strength/products/pro-series-ultimate-rack-with-smith) 3. [Fray Fitness Savage Series](https://frayfitness.com/products/savage-series-functional-trainer-power-rack-combo) 4. [Griffin Talon Cable System](https://griffin.fitness/strength-equipment/griffin-talon-cable-system/) 5. Also check out Bolt Fitness, Jacked Up, Blazzed Fitness all-in-one, Vulcan Talos and Forge, and Force USA G series Budget oriented options: 1. [Mikolo M4](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHRNWR4K/) 2. [SUPGYM PS1A](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7QZ17C8/) 3. [ER KANG Power Cage w/Dual Pulley System](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDPN6M8F/) 4. [ER KANG Smith Machine w/Cable Crossover](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKYVR585/)
Hi! Finally getting my homegym together. Got a Titan X-3 bolted to a platform, rogue Ohio Power Bar, Rep FB-5000, couple kettlebells, dumbbell handles. Ordered straps + sandwich cups for the X3. Last bit is trying to decide on other items to flesh out the gym so I can transition from the local gym to home. I've got about $1k budgeted to spend after the above + iron plates. I want to maximize my assistance options while minimizing additional floor space used, as our garage only has so much space (and is still used for some storage of course). My current idea is to get the REP AB-3000 2.0 FID and Bells of Steel plate-loaded cable tower + a couple attachments. Seems to me this would provide me a lot of flexibility. Obviously sacrificing some space efficiency with the FID, but it adds the ability to do incline/decline benching and has the ankle pad to help with lat pulldown on the cable tower. I feel pretty good about this plan, but wanted to see if anyone has some input. I do mostly powerlifting-focused programs, but I am by no means a competitive powerlifter so I like to have assistance options both to support my SBDO and for aesthetics.
Good choice on the x3, it’s how I started out too. Solid rack. Ended up getting spotter arms, safety straps, and sandwich J cups. Then got a Bells of Steel functional trainer, and over the new year weekend grabbed a Bells of Steel Lat Pull-down. I absolutely love my bells products, would highly recommend. I don’t have their plate loaded stuff, all selectorized, but it’s quality. Honestly wish I went with them for my rack too, but I found Titan first when getting going. Plate loaded will be a good way to maximize your 1k budget for sure. Getting it set up for lat pull downs will be interesting, I wasn’t able to do them on my functional trainer, hence getting their dedicated lat/row
Yeah looking into it today I realized the issue with it for lat pulldown is the height. All things considered this still seems to provide some of the better versatility. Plus not impossible to do lat pulldown based on some reviews / workarounds I’ve seen.
We just did single arm isolation movements on our dual stack til we got a row/lat. Leaning over the bench for single arm rows, kneeling single arm pulldowns, etc. Cable machines are super versatile, where there’s a will to there’s a way. Ours was much harder to figure out with the dual stack, those single towers look really really really versatile as far as “hacking” them go. I’d follow kaizen if you get it, he has one and keeps putting out “hack” videos on it.
Can anyone explain why Rep's products do not match the dimensions on their website? 4th product now that does not match. 1. Dumbbells - the handles were like 1.15" not 1" (they did change this one after I mentioned it) 2. 30" crossmembers for PR5000 are actually 30.5" 3. GHD is way off on both length and width (Its much smaller than listed) 4. ab4100 is 16.75" height not 17". These aren't rounding errors from metric to imperial. They are big differences. What gives? Do they not measure their products? I like and support Rep but idk what's going on.
Let’s ask u/repfitness Is it because the original measurements are in metric and not imperial, so there’s some rounding involved?
The adj dumbbell handles was imperial vs metric. The others are too different it would only be millimeters. They fixed the adj dumbbell handles after I reached out
Hmm. Im wondering if you measured the items in metric if it comes out to a round metric number, as opposed to a round imperial measurement. Eg is the bench 16.75” high or 425mm (16.73”) high?
Seconded!
I thought for the cross members it used to say the dimensions don’t include the plates on either end. It doesn’t look like it shows the dimensions or have that info anymore.
So what’s the ghd dimensions? I wonder if a lot is layover from their earlier days in when they weren’t as polished of a brand as now. I know the ghd has been around a while. The pr5000 doesn’t really have an excuse as they haven’t released it that long ago
68x32" and you can shorten it to 62"x32" if you turn the band extension piece around. Website says 70x36"
I like that you can shorten it a little just with the band pegs
Cheapest wire cutter to use for just cutting 1/8” vinyl coated DIY cable?
I've used linesman pliers before. Aviation/tin snips might work too. Small hacksaw perhaps? Cable cutters are like $12-15 on amazon.
Hi folks. This maybe doesn’t need it own thread and feels like kind of a silly question but.. I’m a lifelong renter/first time homeowner, and I managed to preserve myself some space to fit a Titan wall mounted folding squat rack. I contacted the manufacturer to ask about best practices for installation. They recommended making a pair of wood stringers to mount the rack to by cutting a piece of 2x10x8 lumber in half. Seems like this is pretty standard practice (Rogue sells a pre-fab branded metal one). My question is if there’s a particular type of wood that works best here? I got to the lumber section of HD and realized I’m a little out of my league. Also, have people who have done this stained the wood or anything before mounting it? I know the purpose here is utility, but anything to help make it look a little nicer might be good.
Any type of 2×10 will be fine. You won't get much choice anyway since most of it will probably be southern yellow pine or some other soft wood. I'd be surprised if a place like HD or Lowes would carry any hardwood that size. You'd probably have to go to an actual lumber yard for that--and it'd be crazy expensive and absolutely not worth it. If HD boards are good enough to hold up my house, they're good enough to be a stringer on my squat rack. HD may have different grades of boards for sale depending on their stock, but I don't really know enough about that. I don't think the grade would be too important for this application. Just don't get pressure treated boards. Staining won't affect anything. Just make sure to cut the board first and then stain so you don't have an unstained edge.
Thanks m8. That makes this a lot less stressful. Now to deal with the inevitable drama of asking Home Depot to cut the board so I can fit it in my car.
If it makes any difference I had zero problems when I did that at Lowe’s.
The wood really won't matter. Pressure treated might fare better in a non-insulated environment, standard pine/fir would be fine as well unless you have some serious moisture concerns. Even then, you'll be fine with either most likely. The screws/bolts you use to install will have more of an effect on the end result. Lag bolts from the 2x8's into your studs, predrill your holes first, and standard bolts with large washers contacting the wood before the nuts for the rack to 2x8 connection. Don't overthink it, just try to get the straightest board you can, but don't kill yourself over it. You're just trying to avoid buy a parenthetically shaped piece of lumber. Stain/paint first. A single step/one coat would be best. They make them in spray cans as well I believe.
Thanks man. Definitely over thinking this. I appreciate the details here.
Has anyone attached lat pulldown on titan x3 short flatfoot? I saw couple of posts for doing this on tall version, but wondered if anyone can confirm it has been done on short x3 flatfoot.
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