Which strength gym package?

[Sway]

Hi chaps, sorry to be a pain.

Have been waiting ages for British Fitness Outlet on ebay to get some stock, and have given up! Properly fed up with my local gym, and I have cleared space that's begging to be filled...

Was going to order from Powerhouse Fitness a full cage, bench and weights package: http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/deluxe-strengt... when I noticed that they've loaded a new option in for a similar price: http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/cf376-strength...

Now, whilst I appreciate a half rack is much less safe than a full cage, this half cage seems pretty good - the front uprights are quite tall (no measurements online that I can find, but the YouTube video gives an idea). It's design would also be very useful for the space I've got dedicated - it's very narrow, so feeding a 7' bar out to do standing shoulder press would be a pain, whereas I can do them within the cage. If I do want the bar out, I can just lift it over the front uprights.

Also, it comes with a seemingly better, more versatile bench, and more weight. Whilst I'm only 60some kg I'll not be hitting big weights, but the bigger plates would be useful for deads etc.

50 quid in it, which isn't a lot - but that is the top end of my budget. The missus would kill me if I spent more (or more likely, demand something of equal value!).

Which one should I go for? Leaning towards the half cage as per my logic above, but happy to be persuaded otherwise for good reason...

Cheers,

Sam

[frank hovis]

I have the

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf475-...

Be aware that the body max stuff isn't that well built , the side bars can be a bit sloppy and have to use shims to keep them in place and there is no real bearings in the pulley system so the wheels take a battering

The metal plates clank and bang , I have bought rubber ones instead

There is a fair bit of play in the bench too so you feel it wobble under you which is not nice

It's a ok home solution but I wish I had spent a bit more and got something line this

https://www.savagestrength.co.uk/strength-shop-pow...

Looks much more sturdy or waited and got a proper rack

https://www.savagestrength.co.uk/jordan-fitness-po...

[Mojooo]

The only reason you NEED a cage/rack is to protect you from the bar dropping when you are doing squats or bench presses - both of those racks look like they will do that

the full rectangle one might be a bit sturdier but I imagine the other one will be safe.

Overheard presses would also be easier in the half rack unless you were short enough to do them inside the full cage - but to be honest it wont be that much of a hassle to put it on the pins outside will it?

[Juanco20]

I feed the bar out of mine to do shoulder press, takes about 5 seconds

[bobmcgod]

Id personally go for cf475 cage instead

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf475-...

http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodymax-cf122-...


I've got the stuff you've been looking at and I do wish id of got the above. The cf375 is fine I think it'd just be nice to have a cage that feels sturdier. The bench I've suggested is also good as it'll be quick to change angles quickly but looks pretty solid.

[Sway]

Looking around for stiffer, yet still cheapish versions then.

Came across this - looks much the same as the bodycraft/higher end ones in that the safeties are contained and box section - yet looks bloody good value?

http://www.exercise.co.uk/sporttech-power-rack-cag...

Gonna phone them tomorrow and see if they'll do a deal...

[frank hovis]

Looks solid enough and good that the safeties are fixed with pins

Def prefer the look of that to my body max one

[Sway]

It's arrived!



Now, seeing as I have to fly out to work on Monday (bank holiday was this week in Switzerland), gonna have a very busy weekend clearing the back of the garage even more and getting it all built.

Went for the sport-tech cage, heavy duty flat bench and 140kg of marcy tri grip iron plates (not fussed about clanking considering the price difference). Ordered yesterday afternoon, turned up this morning on a pallet. He threw in a belt and gloves without telling me too.

Really good service from a shop I chanced upon as it doesn't really appear on Google searches.