Mini home gym

[Munki]

Hey guys

Have been given the green light to get a couple of bits of equipment for the spare room.

I'm wanting to be able to cover the basics exercises quite easily, so bench (+ decline/incline), squat, dumbbell exercises, dips, chip ups etc so from what I can see I have two options, maybe three options.

Option 1
A two piece set up of something along the lines of:
Bodymax Squat and Dip Rack With Spotter Catchers
along with
Bodymax Utility Bench with Leg Developer and Preacher

and then a few other toys such as a chin up bar for door etc.

Option 2
Bodymax Compact Folding Bench with Preacher and Butterfly Attachments

The easy option, would take up less room, keep the misses happy.

Option 3
Bodymax CF375 Power Rack
along with
Bodymax Utility Bench with Leg Developer and Preacher

With the power rack, would that be suitable to bench in? and I can't find one but does anyone know where I could get a dip attachment for the rack? I have seen other Bodymax attachments but don't know if it would work in this rack. I know the weight limits aren't huge, but I don't intend on power lifting yet, so I can see me getting 5 years out of the rack. I'm only just benching 70kg, haven't squatted for a fair while, but I never even passed 100kg at that

I'm pretty set on the bench, the preacher seems like a real good attachment to have.

I think ultimately the choice is going to be the girlfriends seen as she is being awesome about me getting anything at all.

Any input into it would be great, cheers.

[allan5790]

Option 3. I'll post up more info later on when I have some time.

[Was_once_fat_dave]

whats your budget munki?

do you allready have plates and a bar?

[Munki]

I have some standard plates, about 60kg worth, so I could add to that, but I would prefer to do to Olympic at some point.

The budget is about £300-400.

It's more the space that's an issue, I probably only have about 8ft by 6ft to play with, unless I throw the bed away, and then I have to buy a sofa bed...

[Was_once_fat_dave]

then I'd seriously look at this Deluxe Strength Package it'll cover all your base's, squat, chins, bench, rows, cable curls (as opposed to preachers), tri push downs ( and at a later date you can pick up dip attachments for it)

dont order off the web from them, speak to them over the phone and you'll be able to either barter a discount or get extras like more plates thrown in.

A squat rack is an investment, it's allways worth paying that bit more for it. everthing you've linked tops out at 180kgs max capacity, If your serious am sure you plan on squatting more than that with in a yerar or two

[Munki]

Right, I've had the masking tape out on the floor to map out the size of the cage, not a chance it's going to fit. I'm gutted. I really want a cage now I know I probably can't have one! That's going to have to wait till I have a garage I think.


Out of the other two options I put on my original post, which looks the most sensible?

[bishbosh12]

Hi All,

Just spotted this thread, which has remarkably similar kit listed, so thought I'd ask here, I'll start a new thread if needed though....

I'm looking to buy some kit for home and then leave the 'gym' I currently go to, the main reason is that I want to do my exercises using free weights. I'm currently using the barbell and machines at the gym to do the following exercises:

Barbell:
--------
squat
deadlift
bent over row
military press

On the first three of these there's not enough weight for me now.

Machines:
---------
flat benchpress
lat pulldown - wide overhand + narrow underhand
seat cable rows
pec deck

leg press - just added due to lack of weight for squats

So at the moment mainly compound exercises, I've recently started doing heavy (for me) 3x4-6 a la Max-OT and have been really pleased with the results, not so much size, but weights have gone up. The problem where I go at the moment is that there isn't a rack to start the squats with, and even if there was there's not enough weight(s) to go on the bar, the max is 30.5kg

So I'm thinking of getting the following:

Bodymax CF375 Power Rack £140
Bodymax 100KG Olympic Cast Barbell Kit £160
Bodymax CF324 Multi-Purpose Flat/Incline/Decline Utility Bench £63

Total = £363

Which doesn't seem too pricey.

So my question is; with the above kit will I be able to build muscle\strength effectively? As I progress I want to add more exercises, will the above b etoo limiting? I'll probably add dumbdells in the future.

I suppose my main concern is replacing the lat pulldowns, seated cable and pec deck.

Cheers,
Tony

[Munki]

From what I have seen today Tony I think you should have a look at Deluxe Strength Package

Then you can still look at doing your pull downs as I believe the kit has the pulley included.

With when it comes to the pec deck, add some dumbbells in and do flys.

[comanight2]

watch out, the weight capacity on option 3's power rack is 180kg - could be a problem if you get real into it

[Munki]

The more I look at is the less likely the rack/cage is, no chance on fitting it in properly