Home gym advice

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

We are currently going through a house refurbishment and have an ideal area which has been designated for a home gym. However, as always, these things are taking longer than expected, and this will be one of the last rooms to be completed, as it is currently being used to store 'junk' from the rest of the house while other changes are being made.

I can't see this being ready for another 6-9 months, but have decided that I can't wait that long to start increasing my training, so I'm planning to create an area where I can fit a treadmill in the interim, which my wife and I can both use.

When complete, I'm hoping that the gym will have:
- Treadmill
- Rowing machine
- Weights bench / Smith Machine
- Punch bag for boxing/karate training
- Turbo trainer (I already have this)
- area for free weights / stretching etc

Ideally the rowing machine and treadmill will be able to be folded to maximise space when one or both are not being used.

Budget is around £5-£6k and I've been looking at some Norditrack stuff https://www.nordictrack.co.uk/specials which would fit the bill. I am a little unsure about the importance of the ongoing iFit memberships or whether these machines have sufficient built-in programs etc that can provide some structured training - interval programs etc - without the significant ongoing expense of a membership?

So at a guess, £2.5k on the treadmill and rowing machine, £2k on a smith machine and weights, with £500 for the heavy bag / banana bag leaving £1k for flooring and accessories. Does that sound viable?

I'm wondering if there will be some decent Black Friday deals next month...

Any advice on the proposed set-up or particular brands / models to look out for? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Edited by Sport_Turismo_GTS on Sunday 22 October 12:26

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Maxf said:

I decided against Nordic trac for our gym purely because of various reports of problems and broken kit not being sorted in any sort of acceptable timeframe. I know most people go online to moan but it did seem like there were a few reports of the same issues which was enough to put me off, given the cost.

They seem to have a decent warranty, which was one of the reasons for choosing the brand, but a warranty is no good if they don’t honour it appropriately. Thanks for the warning.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Brainpox said:

Don’t get a smith machine. As above it’ll take more space and give you fewer options. Get a half rack with Olympic bar and safeties. You’ll save a fortune

The reason for a Smith machine was to be able to exercise safely and with more controlled movements. However, if the safety aspect can be achieved on a half rack with more flexibility then I will look at that.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

bangerhoarder said:

Do you need a Smith machine? Bulky, expensive and not as useful, IMO, as a good foldable squat rack. Not as versatile either. It’d certainly be the first thing I’d drop.

Concept2 rowers always impress me. They tolerate commercial gyms well.

Yes, I think I will look out for a second hand Concept 2 - it won’t have the functionality of the new fancy rowers with colour screen etc, but I probably won’t use most of it and as you say, they are popular with gyms up and down the country, so must be pretty reliable.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

While the responses above have been really helpful for the future, the original question was about ‘which treadmill’ I should buy, so any thoughts on that would be much appreciated!

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Thank you!

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

wong said:

I know it's not what you asked, but do you know about Parkrun? A regular 5Km run every Saterday at 9am. If there's one near you, you and your wife could try it.

I would second free weights as well.

Yes, I hope we will be doing some Parkruns next year but my wife is a long way off 5km at the moment!

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

bunchofkeys said:

A Curve running machine or something like it. It's a bit more expensive though.
I have one, it was used with couch to 5k, but I also have the frame work to use it as a push slegh.

https://www.ukgymequipment.com/cardio-machines-c11...

This is the frame I have, but bought this at half the price before COVID. I'm sure you can get them cheaper on eBay, but you'll need a proper team to collect and deliver. They're proper heavy.

Thanks but the budget for the whole room is c. £5k, given what we’ve spent elsewhere!

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Paul_M3 said:

That's funny, I was also about to post recommending the JTX Fitness treadmills. I've got a Sprint-7 and have been very happy with it. The deck size is good for it's price and it has enough speed and incline for what most people would want.

https://www.jtxfitness.com/jtx-sprint7-motorised-h...

At that price, you could afford to buy it, and a brand new Concept 2 rowing machine for under £2000.

That's what I've done, plus an exercise bike I had. TV to keep me entertained whilst running, and a couple of fans to keep cool(er).

Perfect, thanks!

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Still Mulling said:

It’s worth checking Facebook Marketplace, eBay, second hand ex-gym equipment sites. I got my power rack for £90 from FB; Origin Fitness supplied my bar, weights, and dumbbells + rack at a large discount (~-40% from prices at the time, during COVID lockdowns). JTX Cyclo 6 bikes from £250 on eBay/FB.

I’m certainly going to be looking for used racks, weights etc - I sold my previous set up during COVID ahead of a house move - so realise you can get some good stuff at decent prices.

For a treadmill / rower I am more nervous about second hand given potential warranty issues and reliance on people having maintained the equipment properly.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

drd63 said:

I looked at Smith machine and squat racks but went for a LifeFitness G7 cable machine and bench, it’s been fantastic. So many ranges of motion. Water Rower, easy to stand on end for space saving, Nordic Track treadmill, deck folds up, ditto, LifeFitness elliptical trainer and Saris smart trainer.

A quick google showed up some equipment but no price, which normally means ‘if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it”!

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Just reviewing this thread, as plans for the gym area have advanced a little!

Coincidentally (looking at the most recent post) I’m going to go for a Mirafit cage with cable attachment - probably the M2 range with a barbell & weights package. Also a set of dumbbells and a bench. Any thoughts on a heavy rope and a jump box?

I’ve purchased a Norditrack 1250 treadmill (still to be unpacked, pending installation of the garage floor), and will be using my road bike on a Tacx turbo trainer for alternative cardio. There will also be a long punch bag for karate practice.
Given the space available I don’t want to cram too much in, so won’t be having a separate rowing machine, but the cable attachment on the rack will allow some rowing-like exercises.

Any recommendations for a good gym floor solution - probably rubber tiles with an additional mat for exercises.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Well, I went a bit OTT, broke the budget and now have a garage full of dumbbells, weight plates, M3 cage and cable attachment plus misc other pieces from Mirafit.
Rubber floor is being fitted next week and then the equipment can be installed on top.
According to the website the M3 cage needs to be fixed to the floor - I think this probably due to the potential weight capacity of the rack, which isn’t something I’m likely to get anywhere near to.
I’m debating whether to:
a) fix the rack to the floor then install the flooring (20mm rubber mats) around it, cutting as needed
b) install the rubber floor then cut out places for the feet of the rack
c) install the rack on top of the rubber floor and drill through into the ground below.

Any advice?

Edited by Sport_Turismo_GTS on Saturday 13th April 08:52

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

d_a_n1979 said:

FWIW I've got the M100 powercube and lat pull down attachment...

Before my body started to try and kill me back in 2021 (and it's still at it now) I was regularly squatting 200-250kg with zero issues and it's not bolted down

I've had the lat pull down fairly loaded as well regularly with 60kg to 100kg and again no issues

If you're not going anywhere near it's capacity; I personally wouldn't bolt it down. But that's your call

Thanks for this. I went with the M3 Power Rack, mainly due to the fact that the cable pulley attachment can be located on the side, rather than the back, which worked out much better in my room. Plus there are a few more attachment options.
I’m not going to be getting up to the weights you’ve mentioned for quite some time, so might take your advice about not bolting it down for now.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

biggbn said:

Used to squat heavy for reps every week from a rack/cage, they were never bolted down in any of the gyms I used. The one in the gym I use now is not bolted either and although I've only been up to @180kg on it, I'd have no hesitancy using more weight. I'd save yourself the trouble just now and give yourself some wriggle room for layout in the future.

I’ve set up my bench, barbell rack and cable machine, ready to be attached to the cage that I’m planning to set up tomorrow. That will just leave the turbo trainer and treadmill to be sorted out on Sunday - in theory!

I’ll post some pictures when it’s finished.