Setting Up A Simple Home Gym

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Building Your Home Gym

So you decided to set up your own home gym and are wondering where to start. Usually when I begin a new task I like to live by the K.I.S.S. acronym: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Now this may seem harsh but it helps ground me and make me realize that, at this point of time in the task, I don't know much so there's really no need to overcomplicate anything. So, when it comes to building a home gym, I'll keep it simple and let you know the basics for what you need for your home gym.

Workout Bench

Perhaps the staple of the gym and easily one of the most versatile pieces of equipment, the workout bench is a must have. That said, if you go looking for one of these online you will see that there are hundreds of different variations of the workout bench. The type of bench you get will vary in size so make sure you know how much room you have for a bench. If you get overwhelmed looking at all the choices, remember the K.I.S.S. acronym and keep it simple. A simple adjustable bench with no bells or whistles will do just fine. Below are some workout benches you can get from Amazon:

1. YOLEO adjustable workout bench.

2. NICEPEOPLE adjustable workout bench.

or if you're looking for something a little more fancy:

3. KEPPI FITNESS workout bench press with leg extension and preacher pad

Dumbbells

Dumbbells are a necessity for any gym. If you start searching for dumbbells you will notice that there are mostly iron, rubber, and adjustable dumbbells. Let's go over some pros and cons of each.

Iron dumbbells

Iron dumbbells give that classic gym vibe and can make you feel like you'll be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger. At least, we can always dream, but I digress. Iron dumbbells are typically cheaper per pound than alternatives and, if you take care of them, can last forever. That said, there are some cons as well. If you drop an iron dumbbell it is very loud and can easily damage the floor. They also do require care if you don't want them to rust. Below are some iron dumbbells from Amazon:

1. CAP Barbell cast iron hex dumbbell.

Rubber dumbbells

Rubber dumbbells are typically what you'll find at most gyms. They are much quieter when dropped and do less damage to flooring if they are dropped. Rubber dumbbells are also easier to take care of and less likely to rust as long as they are kept out of humid or wet conditions. Some cons to be aware of with rubber dumbbells is that they are typically a little more expensive than iron dumbbells and, depending on the quality of the rubber, they can sometimes smell pretty intensely of rubber. Below are some Rubber dumbbells you can get from Amazon:

1. Rubber hex dumbbell.

Adjustable dumbbells

Adjustable dumbbells are, well, adjustable! Instead of buying a pair of 5lb dumbbells, a pair of 10lb dumbbells, and so on, you can just buy a set of adjustable dumbbells that can adjust from 5lbs all the way to 50lbs or more depending on which set you get. They also take up a lot less space than traditional iron or rubber dumbbells. If you don't have a ton of space, adjustable dumbbells are well worth getting. That said, adjustable dumbbells do have a high up-front cost, however, in the long-term, do end up being cheaper than buying each incremented weight set of dumbbells. Below are some adjustable dumbbells you can get from Amazon:

1. Life Pro adjustable dumbbells; 5-25lbs.

2. CAP Barbell ADJUSTABELL adjustable dumbbells; 10-55lbs.

3. POWERBLOCK adjustable dumbbells; 5-100lbs.

Pullup Bar

Pull up bars are great to have for a home gym. They don't take up much space and they are awesome for functional training and working out your back. When looking for a pullup bar, you can either get one that just hangs from the doorframe, or get a tower which is a little more expensive, but, in my opinion, is a great value as it offers more training options. Below are some pullup bars you can get from Amazon:

1. Ally Peaks pullup bar for doorway.

2. Sports Royals power tower pullup bar station.

Treadmill

Treadmills are great for cardio. If you live in a really hot area or a really cold area, it can be tough to motivate yourself to go on a walk or run in the elements of the outdoors. This makes a treadmill a fantastic piece of equipment to have. You can walk or run in the comfort of your own home. Something to keep in mind when getting a treadmill is that they do take up a lot of space so make sure you have enough space for one before buying. Below are some Treadmills you can get from Amazon:

1. LONTEK incline treadmill.

2. Nordic Track T series.

Squat Rack

This last piece of equipment, the squat rack, is an awesome piece of equipment to have for a home gym, but it does take up a lot of space and can be quite expensive. If you have the money and space for a squat rack, you absolutely should invest in one. A lot of squat racks can also be more of a multi-functional piece of equipment depending on how much you want to spend. The smaller, simpler ones are actually quite affordable and, depending on the one you get, could take up less space. Something else to keep in mind for the squat rack is that you will also have to buy a barbell and plates along with it, which can add an additional cost. Below are a few squat racks you can get from Amazon:

1. CAP Barbell power rack.

2. Fitness Reality power cage squat rack.

3. ULTRA FUEGO power cage multi-functional squat rack.

Get Started

Hopefully I've been able to simplify the home gym for you and you now have a place to start. As you progress in your fitness journey, you'll become more familiar with different exercises and even your own personal goals. Once you find yourself wanting to add more equipment to your home gym, remember to keep it simple if you find yourself getting overwhelmed by all the choices.