Advice for buying bench and weights

Digi_Tilmitt

I'm looking to buy a bench and a set of weights for at home, I figure it will be more convenient and alot cheaper than getting a gym membership and I can do my running for free outside.

I found some interesting looking equipment on the argos website, but it seemed a little expensive. But more than that, I'm worried are there any pitfalls when buying such equipment? e.g. make sure you get a bench that has x... or whatnot. Are all the bars and weights standardised to work together?

Any tips or sightings of good deals on equipment would be most welcome.

Zamboni

For a start you need to take into account of what weight you are and weight you plan on lifting (in life!).

The average Argos bench has a maximum capacity of 120Kgs so if you weigh 100kgs and want to bench more than 20kgs, you're knackered from the outset. (Ftr it won't give maximum capacity on the site).

Do not waste your time buying a 50Kgs standard weight set as you have immediately limited your progress.
I would suggest buying a full 140Kgs Olympic plate set and a decent commercial bench.
You could either then buy Oly dumbbells or a standard 50Kgs set with dumbbells.
Do not buy anything made of plastic (typical gold Argos weights) as they are filled with sand and are **** for a variety of reasons.

The cheapest Olympic weights you will get are from Irish Lifting.

Bear in mind that Standard and Olympic dumbbells/barbells are different sizes and take different plates.

Digi_Tilmitt

I am quite light (around 59KG) and small (5 foot 7), do you think even I'd be limited by a 50KG set?

Zamboni

Well if you buy a cheapo bench and a 50Kgs set of weights, sure they might do you for a year or so but then what?
Buying the full shebang now is an investment for life.
You will only end up replacing the cheapo bench somewhere down the line anyway and it will end up on adverts.ie
Save yourself money down the road and make a good investment now

ronbyrne2005

In my experience good quality weights and benches hold a lot more of their value if you sell them on at a later date as they last a long time while the sh1te in argos is aimed at those individuals who buy every sort of faddish fitness equipment. Spend 500euro no on good equipemnt and you will get loads of use out of it and sell it for a few hundred in several years time if need be.

Magic Eight Ball

Your best bet is to speak to Mick from Irish Lifting. http://www.irish-lifting.com/.
Great quality equipment at a very decent price.

rubadub

Don't get a cheap bench, they are unstable and shoddy and it is not nice using them. I have the use of one my brother got and I no longer use it. To work my chest I do weighted pushups and dips.

Do not buy the vinyl/plastic weights as mentioned, they come with weak hollow bars, they are bulky and degrade over time, you can only fit so much on the bar, it will bend at higher weights anyway.

Are all the bars and weights standardised to work together?

No, there are "standard" and "olympic", the standard are 1" holes and olympic is 2". The olympic bars & dumbbells cost more. An olympic set will usually come with a 7ft bar, this is big and could be an issue in a small room. I have standard plates and a 6ft bar, in hindsight I should have got a 5ft bar.

The decent benches and racks etc are usually intended for 7ft bars, so it might be hard to get a decent bench that could take a 5ft bar.

Bookkeeper09

Try VJ's Home Fitness. They do some very good deals!!

Digi_Tilmitt

Thanks for all the info and advice, should be able to get something good now.