Best place to buy weights and a bench?
Best place to buy weights and a bench?
Author
Discussion

andthensome

Original Poster:

3,296 posts

208 months

Tuesday 16th June 2009
quotequote all
After much debate , well some , it is pointless of me being member at the gym anymore as i hardly touch the place!

Now ive done more exercise this past week by cycling to work than i have done in the last 2 months of being at the gym!

So with that i think i might get a bunch of weights, couple of bells, couple of bars and a bench

Really what a need is a decent website or a decent outlet in the midlands somewhere that i can get my hands on some stuff thumbup

Cheers!

Daniel1

2,931 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th June 2009
quotequote all
argos jdsports etc will be fine as they use main brands

RJB_666

1,677 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th June 2009
quotequote all
I got some from argos couple years ago. I tend to go the gym instead of using them, can never motivate myself at home. If you get dumbells try your best not to get spinlock, they tend to loosen themselves as you use them.

wadgebeast

3,856 posts

233 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Second hand ads - lots of people who can't be bothered to go to the gym buy weights that they can't be bothered to use at home either.... don't spend lots of money in case you're one of those people!

ALawson

8,011 posts

273 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Or just use your own body weight, no excuses then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyweight_exercise


SoapyShowerBoy

1,775 posts

217 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
get it delivered

http://www.gymworld.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=7580

I know people who have used these people, extra £20 to deliver on saturday though

Mattygooner

5,302 posts

226 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Got my full set from the tip, it is quite a common thing for people to throw out as they ask for a set, it sits under the stairs for a year and they chuck it away.

Gave the "do as" a fiver for them!

maxrider

2,481 posts

258 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
I really wouldn't bother, look at why you can't be arsed to get to the gym instead.

If you can't be motivated to use the gym then you will quickly get bored of doing it at home.
Bench and weights take up a lot of space and you need somewhere with a solid floor. You'll find a decent set of equipment will pretty much take up an entire spare room.
As you get stronger you soon realise you haven't got enough weights to progress whereas a gym will.
Your exercise choices are a bit limited and boredom sets in i.e. no squat rack, leg press, rowing machine etc.
There is no-one to spot you on heavier lifts unless you can rope the missus/mate in.
Going to a gym gets you more in the mood as you are there for a purpose and for a certain length of time with no distractions. (unless you are lucky enough to find one with fit women)

Not being defeatist but if you do get some I'd put money on them being on Ebay after 6 months smile

ps: Speaking from experience, I bought some myself and got rid, have now been going local gym 4x week for more years than I'd care to admit.

FoolOnTheHill

1,018 posts

233 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
andthensome said:
After much debate , well some , it is pointless of me being member at the gym anymore as i hardly touch the place!

Now ive done more exercise this past week by cycling to work than i have done in the last 2 months of being at the gym!

So with that i think i might get a bunch of weights, couple of bells, couple of bars and a bench

Really what a need is a decent website or a decent outlet in the midlands somewhere that i can get my hands on some stuff thumbup

Cheers!
Try the York outlet in Daventry, you'll get cheap prices and they often knock a bit off if you're buying a lot. And they get recon stuff too. Also you can buy exactly what you want instead of a standard set that might have stuff you don't need in.

http://www.yorkfitness.com/store/IIT_BuyNow.asp

dtmpower

3,972 posts

267 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Powerhouse Fitness - good selection and deliver

dfen5

2,398 posts

234 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
York have a factory outlet in Daventry. Don't have the number to hand.

edit. bit slow there.



Edited by dfen5 on Wednesday 17th June 11:59

FoolOnTheHill

1,018 posts

233 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
About the gym comments. I prefer my own weights in my garage cos frankly I'm an antisocial and I like to be able to do what I want, when I want.

A bit of thought and you don't need a spotter.

I have my benchpress bar suspended from the ceiling at the right height on strong metal chains, so I can load as much as I want on it and not worry about needing a spotter.

Haven't got a lat pulldown machine so I have a bar suspended from the ceiling that I do pullups on. If I want more than my bodyweight I can stick weights in a rucksack.

If you research correctly and choose your exercise you can train all your muscle groups if you think around the problem.

JakeR

3,944 posts

291 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
dtmpower said:
Powerhouse Fitness - good selection and deliver
seconded... very happy with them when I used them. Good price, good service, good kit.

anonymous-user

76 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
JakeR said:
dtmpower said:
Powerhouse Fitness - good selection and deliver
seconded... very happy with them when I used them. Good price, good service, good kit.
3rd'd

www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/

On the other hand i have got a lot of weights that i dont use anymore as i go up the gym.

All these were purchased from the above!

andthensome

Original Poster:

3,296 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
maxrider said:
I really wouldn't bother, look at why you can't be arsed to get to the gym instead.

If you can't be motivated to use the gym then you will quickly get bored of doing it at home.
Bench and weights take up a lot of space and you need somewhere with a solid floor. You'll find a decent set of equipment will pretty much take up an entire spare room.
As you get stronger you soon realise you haven't got enough weights to progress whereas a gym will.
Your exercise choices are a bit limited and boredom sets in i.e. no squat rack, leg press, rowing machine etc.
There is no-one to spot you on heavier lifts unless you can rope the missus/mate in.
Going to a gym gets you more in the mood as you are there for a purpose and for a certain length of time with no distractions. (unless you are lucky enough to find one with fit women)

Not being defeatist but if you do get some I'd put money on them being on Ebay after 6 months smile

ps: Speaking from experience, I bought some myself and got rid, have now been going local gym 4x week for more years than I'd care to admit.
when i do actually go i do spend about 45min doing various weight exercises and about 30 or so min doing aerobic workouts. It would just be easier for me as ive warmed up by cycling home i can get straight in the garage and hit the weights for how ever long i want depending on what i do. i used to be very athletic up until a few years ago when it was a decision to do more training and get better which would in turn mean i wouldnt make it to work ontime in the morning . so i cut it basically, as after doing it for a fair few years it just wasnt the same anymore.

When i do end up going out on my bike or running i tend to do much more than when i am in the gym, i find after about 10min on anything its just so boring as you have nothing to sort of concentrate on. At least when im out and about it gives you a better atmosphere to see things and be like "yeah ill cycle to there or run there , then see whats after that" sort or thing. And with weights etc its not exercises where i need to build muscle but more or defining them and being at a better level of fitness , i.e do more reps with a lighter weight than doing smaller amounts of revs with a heavier weight.

that is all smile

FoolOnTheHill

1,018 posts

233 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
quotequote all
I agree mate, I can happily run outside for an hour, but I'm bored beyond belief after 10 minutes on a gym running machine.

bazking69

8,620 posts

212 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
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Honest advice. Trawl the free ads, gumtree and ebay for secondhand kit.
Kit yourself out on a budget to start with.
IF you do use the home gym you assemble then you can treat yourself to nicer or new kit at a later point.
I've seen so many people plunder hundreds of pounds into flash kit for a 'home gym' that never gets used once the novelty and motivation wears off.

ian_uk1975

1,192 posts

224 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
quotequote all
yammyfan said:
JakeR said:
dtmpower said:
Powerhouse Fitness - good selection and deliver
seconded... very happy with them when I used them. Good price, good service, good kit.
3rd'd

www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/

On the other hand i have got a lot of weights that i dont use anymore as i go up the gym.

All these were purchased from the above!
Err, 4th'd(?)

I bought a load of stuff from Powerhouse... they made a few cock-ups (delivered gloves instead of a belt, sent me a standard 20kg plate with an Olympic 20kg plate, couple of plastic pulleys arrived broken), but they sorted it all out pretty quickly and never asked for the gloves or the standard 20kg plate back. Depending on who you talk to, their customer service can be found wanting at times, but they're cheaper than just about anywhere else (esp. when a sale's on). Read about my experiences with them here...

http://www.uk-muscle.co.uk/general-conversation/53...


For higher-quality kit and top-notch customer service, try:

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/

Their head office and showroom are local to me and they're a very impressive outfit. You pay for it (compared to Powerhouse Fitness) though.


Regarding spotters, you don't need a spotter for benching or squats if you use a power rack (which is what I've got) or a squat/gun rack.

If you're going to be doing any kind of regular lifting, steer clear of the stuff in Argos. The only really decent thing they sell is the York Powerlifting Rack (which I almost bought from the York Fitness outlet).

York Fitness Outlet is worth a visit... they're somewhat reluctant to give you outlet prices for refurb'd stuff over the phone, but they do have some very tasty discounts if you go and visit. Customer service at the York Fitness Outlet is NON-EXISTENT and I ended-up getting so irritated with them, I took my business elsewhere.

FoolOnTheHill

1,018 posts

233 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
quotequote all
ian_uk1975 said:
Customer service at the York Fitness Outlet is NON-EXISTENT and I ended-up getting so irritated with them, I took my business elsewhere.
Interesting you should say that. Do you mean the Chaventry one?

Last time I was there the bloke knocked a tenner off my bill cos I wanted 16inch spinlocks and he only had 14s in.

ian_uk1975

1,192 posts

224 months

Thursday 18th June 2009
quotequote all
FoolOnTheHill said:
ian_uk1975 said:
Customer service at the York Fitness Outlet is NON-EXISTENT and I ended-up getting so irritated with them, I took my business elsewhere.
Interesting you should say that. Do you mean the Chaventry one?

Last time I was there the bloke knocked a tenner off my bill cos I wanted 16inch spinlocks and he only had 14s in.
Yep.

I wouln't call that customer service... more sales! I had questions about the Powerlifting Rack I was looking at when I got home (the boss, who apparently knew most about it, wan't in when I was on-site). I was promised numerous calls back which never materialised. At one point, I couldn't even get through on the phone and got a message implying the outlet was closed (out of business hours) which it clearly wasn't! Had to then phone the offices and, again, was promised a call back... never happened. Staff aren't very professional at all... very 'alright mate'. So, good prices, but that's about it (in my experience).