Setting up a home gym - where to get the bits?
Discussion
I have an area of around 4.5 meters sq to play with and i would like to put a power rack in there.
However, first i would like to get the floor sorted, so i'm going to need to put down a rubber floor, to build everything upon.
Can anyone recommend a place where i can buy the rubber floor?
Ideally i don't want to glue it down, as it will be laid on laminate flooring (which is laid upon an underlay and then on concrete). The gym will be in the conservatory.
Is 20mm the recommended depth for these rubber mats or do i need them thicker?
I'm not looking to drop a barbells on to the ground, but i may be dropping dumbbells from a bench height (think bench press to failure).
Once i have the floor in place, i will be looking at a power rack, bar, plates and dumbells.
Is there a one stop shop for all of this?
Look forward to your replies.
However, first i would like to get the floor sorted, so i'm going to need to put down a rubber floor, to build everything upon.
Can anyone recommend a place where i can buy the rubber floor?
Ideally i don't want to glue it down, as it will be laid on laminate flooring (which is laid upon an underlay and then on concrete). The gym will be in the conservatory.
Is 20mm the recommended depth for these rubber mats or do i need them thicker?
I'm not looking to drop a barbells on to the ground, but i may be dropping dumbbells from a bench height (think bench press to failure).
Once i have the floor in place, i will be looking at a power rack, bar, plates and dumbells.
Is there a one stop shop for all of this?
Look forward to your replies.
I have this on the floor, pretty good...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E0MF2RU/ref...
For everything else... https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/ are good if you're buying new.
However, you can save a fortune if you are patient and pick stuff up second hand. Check Facebook marketplace and Gumtree.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E0MF2RU/ref...
For everything else... https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/ are good if you're buying new.
However, you can save a fortune if you are patient and pick stuff up second hand. Check Facebook marketplace and Gumtree.
bunchofkeys said:
I have an area of around 4.5 meters sq to play with and i would like to put a power rack in there...
Once i have the floor in place, i will be looking at a power rack, bar, plates and dumbells.
Is there a one stop shop for all of this?
Look forward to your replies.
In short yes one-stop shops exist, but IMO it's worth taking the time to look around and decide what's going to work best for you. I couldn't find everything I wanted in one place. Once i have the floor in place, i will be looking at a power rack, bar, plates and dumbells.
Is there a one stop shop for all of this?
Look forward to your replies.
Power rack: it's not the cheapest, but we've had our Wolverson Fitness Black Series power rack for nearly 18 months, seeing use 2-5x per week. We're really happy with it. It has multi-pin plate storage at the back, and my partner and I find this massively helpful for racking weights between sets (she is slight, so benefits from being able to rack the heavier plates at the same height as the bar). The rack is 3mm thick steel, so is absolutely bomb-proof. The j-cups and safety bars are set with thermoplastic covers to minimise damage / wear to your bar.
Bar: definitely invest in a good bar, don't scrimp. We use a Buddy Capps Texas powerbar and are happy with it, but it's not the right choice if you wish to do a lot of front squatting or Olympic lifting. An all-rounder such as the Rogue Ohio bar is probably a good investment unless you have certain specific goals in mind.
Plates: Oly-style hi-temp bumpers will do you great as an all-round investment, along with iron 1.25 and 2.5kg pairs. Have a look at:
https://www.rogueeurope.eu/rogue-kg-bumper-plates-...
https://wolverson-fitness.co.uk/collections/plates...
You can of course buy rubber-coated and iron weights very cheap off ebay. I chose bumpers because they were future-proof if I wished to start Oly-style lifting, a little quieter for our neighbours when deadlifting, and perhaps a bit safer on toes etc.
Just taken the measurements for the conservatory. It's a U shape, with the base of the U being the exit to the rear garden; width is 2700mm, length is 2100mm. Was thinking of placing the rack facing inwards from the side, so that i look width ways when working.
The roof height extends up to 2600mm, the lowest point is 2100mm, so i may have to have the rack away from the glass window, but that suits me.
Just going to look at these links, thank you
The Bulldog kit is expensive, compared to Mirafit, is the latter a crap brand? Or is Bulldog over engineered?
The roof height extends up to 2600mm, the lowest point is 2100mm, so i may have to have the rack away from the glass window, but that suits me.
Just going to look at these links, thank you
The Bulldog kit is expensive, compared to Mirafit, is the latter a crap brand? Or is Bulldog over engineered?
Mirafit stuff would be fine. I have got a Hardcastle power cage - which is identical to Mirafit - and it is excellent. It gets used 4-5 times a week for everything from heavy squats, bench presses, dips, chins etc and it has proved very sturdy. I went for the 350kg heavy duty one and it was only £250 delivered. I can’t see the point is spending more unless you are going to be lifting seriously heavy.
I do agree with other posters who have recommended not scrimping on the bar - you really can tell the difference between a quality bar and a cheap one
I do agree with other posters who have recommended not scrimping on the bar - you really can tell the difference between a quality bar and a cheap one
Given the width i have to play with in the conservatory, i was looking at the 6 foot Olympic bar from Mira (£80), instead of the full size 7.2 foot one of £149; so 15kg instead of 20kg.
The only way that i'm going to be able to have the full size 2" Olympic bar, is if i move crap around the in the garage and make space for it all....might have a look at what i can do tomorrow in the garage.
I do like using the full size bar, when i was using the gym. The smaller one just felt a bit cramped.
The only way that i'm going to be able to have the full size 2" Olympic bar, is if i move crap around the in the garage and make space for it all....might have a look at what i can do tomorrow in the garage.
I do like using the full size bar, when i was using the gym. The smaller one just felt a bit cramped.
TNJ said:
If you are not using the full 7ft bar, you will need to be careful when choosing a power cage as most are designed to fit the 7ft bar. A shorter bar would not be usable with my cage for instance
You may find your choice very limited but I am sure there must be something suitable
Thanks for this, i was unaware!You may find your choice very limited but I am sure there must be something suitable
Will be moving things around in the garage today to see if i can have everything in there instead.
TNJ said:
If you are not using the full 7ft bar, you will need to be careful when choosing a power cage as most are designed to fit the 7ft bar. A shorter bar would not be usable with my cage for instance
You may find your choice very limited but I am sure there must be something suitable
This, definitely. There are exactly zero high-end short bars out there, from what I can see. You may find your choice very limited but I am sure there must be something suitable
That said! Re: Mirafit equipment. I bought a small (I think 5') 12kg Olympic-style bar from Mirafit for my partner to use for upper body, as for volume work her program often calls for weights smaller than 20kg. Overall it's fantastic value. It has a matt zinc finish to the shaft, positive machined knurling (as opposed to stamped), and the sleeves have reasonably smooth spin. It has a circlip sleeve retaining system rather than a bolt - usually only seen on higher-end bars.
The only issue was that one of the 2" sleeves had been over-machined, and my fancy aluminium Rogue collars would slip off. Common spring-type collars still worked well however. I could have sent it back, but we didn't feel it was enough of an issue to justify doing so. This bar doesn't rack due to its width, so I am both spotter and rack when she's using it. The safeties will catch it, but only on the sleeves.
Looking on their site, they sell this bar:
https://www.mirafit.co.uk/mirafit-m3-7ft-20kg-olym...
If you really want to save some pennies this could be a good choice, as it seems to be made to a good specification. Just be aware that resale value will be very low, unlike that of say a Capps, Eleiko or similar. And bear in mind to inspect it thoroughly when it arrives. Ultimately though you get what you pay for in general.
Hey dudes, I have a home gym in my 5metre by 3 metre log cabin, i currenlty have a squat rack and cross trainer, as well as a couple other bits lke a yoga ball and punch bag etc.
I want to get a cable fly but not really sure what to get. Is there a good home solution that is reasonably cheap and compact? I want a proper one. Budget is about 5 to 600 pounds
I want to get a cable fly but not really sure what to get. Is there a good home solution that is reasonably cheap and compact? I want a proper one. Budget is about 5 to 600 pounds
Horse Matts are thick and do the job... much cheaper
Small footprint cable machine here https://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/bodycraft-wal...
I would recommend powerhouse-fitness, - I would avoid Fitness Superstore - awful customer service.
Dumbells, I would recommend PowerBlocks - nice to use and built to last
How to build a weightlifting platform
Pullum do some nice garage specific kit, not cheap though. I'd echo reservations about using a short bar, get a proper bar and you won't have to worry what plates and equipment are compatible.
Pullum do some nice garage specific kit, not cheap though. I'd echo reservations about using a short bar, get a proper bar and you won't have to worry what plates and equipment are compatible.
FWIW, a year or so ago I bought:
- Mirafit M2 360
- 160kg weight set with 7ft bar
- Fractional plates
- 10mm floor mats 3x 200x60cm
- Quick release clamps
The 10mm mats suit me fine, not sure if having the rubber plates helps with that.
I think that covers it. Quick release clamps were an afterthought, but probably the bit I was most pleased with.
- Mirafit M2 360
- 160kg weight set with 7ft bar
- Fractional plates
- 10mm floor mats 3x 200x60cm
- Quick release clamps
The 10mm mats suit me fine, not sure if having the rubber plates helps with that.
I think that covers it. Quick release clamps were an afterthought, but probably the bit I was most pleased with.
pterodroma said:
I have this on the floor, pretty good...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E0MF2RU/ref...
For everything else... https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/ are good if you're buying new.
However, you can save a fortune if you are patient and pick stuff up second hand. Check Facebook marketplace and Gumtree.
Bought the floor mats direct from the company and they have now been installed in the garage. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E0MF2RU/ref...
For everything else... https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/ are good if you're buying new.
However, you can save a fortune if you are patient and pick stuff up second hand. Check Facebook marketplace and Gumtree.
Did you find that there was a strong chemical smell once laid, does it go after a while?
Mira cage, bench, Olympic bar and collars will be on order though Quidco, so i save about 7% on the total amount, which is a win!
I'll have a scout around for 2nd hand plates.
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