Home Gym Owners - What motivated you?

marathonic

I currently pay just 13 euro per month for gym membership. Anyone reading recent posts of mine will know that I've recently switched from an isolation-machine based routine to a dumbbell/bodyweight based routine.

When using the isolation machines, I've always thought in terms of money when the idea of a home gym came into my head - as you didn't have to wait around for someone to finish on them, you'd just use a different one until they're finished.

A good power rack, weights set and bench would set me back close to 900 euro which, to my mind, was almost 6 years gym membership so I dismissed the idea.

However, having switched to dumbbell excercises, some of which require use of the bench (my gym doesn't have a power rack), I'm now starting to think in terms of time.

Being a mathematic nut, lets value my time at the under 18 minimum wage of €5.36 (I'm well over 18 but if I justify a home gym using this rate, it'll be worthwhile).

So lets say messing around waiting on the bench or dumbbells adds 10 minutes on average to my 3 workouts per week. In addition, the commute to and from the gym adds 20 minutes per workout. That's 90 minutes per week or 78 hours per year. At the €5.36 rate, this works out at €418 per year.

Add to that my €156 per year for the current gym membership (and the fact that the equipment will always hold some value) and suddenly a home gym becomes quite a good idea.

A complex way to think about it but anyway, the original question still stands.... what motivated you?

El Horseboxo

I began using the local Dublin city council gym and that was underequipped for what i wanted to do. Always appeared packed due to lack of benches and weights. So was delighted when Northwood opened and had a good first year there. But that began getting really busy too and was full of groups of muppets that would take up 10 minutes just doing one set each as they all took turns after one and other. Then one of the squat racks broke and they never replaced it. That was kinda the final straw for me as i found myself waiting upwards of 20 minutes at times to squat. Not to mention they didn't have any spare barbels. Only the ones on the benches that would always be in use. So i decided not to renew my membership.

Spent less than 350 on a power rack and found a barbell set in the buy and sell for 80 euro i think. A good 7ft 20kg bar that i've tested up as far as 300kgs. For that price i got 2 20kg plates and 2 15kg plates as well. Saved huge on that. I then picked up a cheap bench from vj fitness for around 50. I had already had some dumbells that i had bought years before. From those items i was able to bench, squat, deadlift, overhead press, curl, row, close grip bench, etc which basically accounts for 90% of my workouts. Over time i then added a punching bag, speed ball, pull up bar, second barbell, more plates, some kettlebells, treadmill and cross trainer. And i bought none of them brand new. I got all them for either well below the value i'd put on them even for second hand or i got them for free. Buy and sell, adverts.ie, herald, notice boards, calling into gyms, etc were all sources of me building the gym up. I also made stuff myself such as the bulgarian bag, drag sled, platform for plyometrics. Youtube provided good guides. I reckon if i was to add up everything it would probably hover around the 700 euro mark which is equivalent to around 3 years membership fees had i kept going to Northwood.

BadCharlie

I always wanted my home gym.
Been playing it for years so last year i did it, got my self bench, power rack weights ect... all ready had a rowing machine & treadmill + i do a bit on my bike.

Went back doing GAA this year which helps keep me motivated. But the best part of it is that i can train when i want when ever i want.

Hanley

Add fuel and maintenance costs in on top of that too if you're tryna convince yourself.

Plus there's the residual value of the equipment. If you get good gear you'll always be able to sell it, so even tho you might pay 900 for it now, you could get 400-500 down the road for it. So it's only REALLY costing ya 4-500 quid...

Remmy

To all the guys with home gyms do you miss the atmosphere of a good commercial gym?My gym membership is up now and I had the oppurtunity to train in a place that had a few proper lifters in it.Im not used to it from my old place and its great being in a place where guys are a step ahead of me and basically where I want to be in a few years time physique/strength wise and being able to pick their brains about lifting/nutrition.

john t

If you spend a few K on good equipment for home gym it is worth it, after few months you will not be calculating cost because you`l have a worth while at home too train..Motovation comes from within and if you invest in your passion you will make use of it....

podge57

The main reason I invested in a home gym is that none of the gyms near me had great equipment or a decent atmosphere. There are 4 gyms I cant think of that are only 5 mins from my house, but I tried them all and didn't like them.

If I had been in a gym with good equipment and a decent atmosphere, I mightnt have gone with the home gym, but I definitely don't regret it now. I love training at home, and whenever I get my own house I plan on making room for a good home gym

jive

Pros of home gym in comparison to membership
1) resale value
2) not confined to opening/close times
3) no travel costs
4) no waiting for equipment
5) no annoying people or music
6) the equipment is solely for your training so for the most part you will have what you need if you are willing to buy it
7) never crowded and doesn't get too hot as a result
8) you can use chalk or whatever you want (some gyms don't allow chalk)
9) after you buy the equipment you don't have to worry about spending money
10) the ability to work out naked

cons
1) no socialising unless you invite people over

newby.204

El Horseboxo wrote: »

I began using the local Dublin city council gym and that was underequipped for what i wanted to do. Always appeared packed due to lack of benches and weights. So was delighted when Northwood opened and had a good first year there. But that began getting really busy too and was full of groups of muppets that would take up 10 minutes just doing one set each as they all took turns after one and other. Then one of the squat racks broke and they never replaced it. That was kinda the final straw for me as i found myself waiting upwards of 20 minutes at times to squat. Not to mention they didn't have any spare barbels. Only the ones on the benches that would always be in use. So i decided not to renew my membership.

Spent less than 350 on a power rack and found a barbell set in the buy and sell for 80 euro i think. A good 7ft 20kg bar that i've tested up as far as 300kgs. For that price i got 2 20kg plates and 2 15kg plates as well. Saved huge on that. I then picked up a cheap bench from vj fitness for around 50. I had already had some dumbells that i had bought years before. From those items i was able to bench, squat, deadlift, overhead press, curl, row, close grip bench, etc which basically accounts for 90% of my workouts. Over time i then added a punching bag, speed ball, pull up bar, second barbell, more plates, some kettlebells, treadmill and cross trainer. And i bought none of them brand new. I got all them for either well below the value i'd put on them even for second hand or i got them for free. Buy and sell, adverts.ie, herald, notice boards, calling into gyms, etc were all sources of me building the gym up. I also made stuff myself such as the bulgarian bag, drag sled, platform for plyometrics. Youtube provided good guides. I reckon if i was to add up everything it would probably hover around the 700 euro mark which is equivalent to around 3 years membership fees had i kept going to Northwood.

I have to ask what you got from calling into a gym? I just couldn't imagine too many gyms giving away anything, even if they were about o fook it out!!

rubadub

Hanley wrote: »

If you get good gear you'll always be able to sell it, so even tho you might pay 900 for it now, you could get 400-500 down the road for it. So it's only REALLY costing ya 4-500 quid...

And if you got second hand stuff now at a good price it should hold its value, or could go up. When I got my plates new they were all about €1 per kilo, now they are about €2 per kilo so I might get more for mine than what I paid new.

Tigger

same as rubadub my home gym is worth more now than i paid for it + i can have my music on or i can watch instructional / motivational vids and vid my self and see how i'm going, i think soon the kinnect will be able to monitor form for things like this which would be cool

also i work out barefoot and often shirtless which isn't allowed in many gyms

i went to a commercial gym at the start and i didn't find anything social about itand i hated when i had people waiting on me also back then no gym near me had a power cage it was all that up and down machine with the hooks which wasn't where i was going

El Horseboxo

newby.204 wrote: »

I have to ask what you got from calling into a gym? I just couldn't imagine too many gyms giving away anything, even if they were about o fook it out!!

Went to Dublin city council gyms and just some small ones like colaiste ide. I managed to get 4 20kg plates from one that were changing to rubber plates when they had work done to their floor. Didn't get them for free but got them for a fraction of what i should of paid for them. Also a small boxing gym in an industrial estate beside me that was closing down let me buy their treadmill and some kettle bells. Again at a fraction of the price. The LCD was fooked on their treadmill but works fine otherwise. I doubt any place would just give them away. As you said, even if they were closing.

Transform

the rise in the home gym is going to grow and grow in the coming months as more people realise that many commercial gyms offer very little in the way of decent equipment and I am getting more clients that want to train from home coming to me for their programming. This tells me that what they are being offered in the way of instruction in their gym is not up their expectations

here are a few crossfitters going through some really decent home gyms -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Laht083M4LQ

Rovi

Transform wrote: »

here are a few crossfitters going through some really decent home gyms -
<snip>

That's fantastic; I LOVE the cross-corner pull-up bar!
Wonderful simplicity

TheZ

the main issue I find with home workouts is that it is easy to cut them short or go and do something else or never get around to starting it as there is always stuff to be done at home, kids to be minded whereas when you are in a gym you have committed to getting there, you are gone and so will more than likely do an X minute session as planned

Turbo_diesel

Out of interest those with a home gym what kind of space do you have for it? How many sq meters etc? Are they set up in your garage or spare room?

Not much required for a good set up all right. Squat Rack with front bars to do pull-ups & chins,dip attachment,Olympic or power bar,Bench & a Sh1t of weight should see you set. Throw in a few KB's & your laughin.

Drawbacks... Ruining your floors & maybe not having access to spotters!

TommyKnocker

I have a home gym in the garage (Fairly large) and workout from there.

I have the following

Power Rack (with dip attachments and pull-up/chin-up bar
Heavy duty FID Bench
240kg+ Oly weights + a set of fractionals
2 Oly bars
1 Oly Training bar (8kg)
Oly Ezi Curl bar
Oly Tricep bar
2 Oly Dumbbell handles
6 standard size dumbbell handles
60kg of standard weights (.5kg-5kg) for making dumbbells
2 x 8kg, 10kg, 12kg, 16kg, 20kg & 24kg Kettlebells
2 x 4kg, 6kg, 12kg, 16kg Clubbells
Olympic Rings
TRX Suspension Trainer
Resistance Bands
Skipping Rope
6kg & 8kg Medicine ball

Hoping to receive a set of bumper plates in the not too distant future and my wish list is comprised of a Concept II rowing machine and a GHR bench.

I also live beside a park which is 1.3 miles in diameter so I can run or do sprints here.

So pretty much sorted. When I receive the bumpers I will DIY a lifting platform

As for your stated drawbacks, Couldn't care less about the floor in my garage and power rack has spotter bars so nobody touches the bar before I want them to

El Horseboxo

Turbo_diesel wrote: »

Out of interest those with a home gym what kind of space do you have for it? How many sq meters etc? Are they set up in your garage or spare room?

Not much required for a good set up all right. Squat Rack with front bars to do pull-ups & chins,dip attachment,Olympic or power bar,Bench & a Sh1t of weight should see you set. Throw in a few KB's & your laughin.

Drawbacks... Ruining your floors & maybe not having access to spotters!

Mine is around the 400 sq feet mark i think. It's a concrete shed that takes up the width of my backyard. I got mats down down for where i'd deadlift so the floor is grand. Mine is very spacious and wasn't built with a gym in mind. I have a side with a tv, bar and a couch which was the original idea. I could easily fit all the gym equipment a small section of the shed. A standard size wooden shed would probably suffice if i was to operate out of one of them. Squat/power racks don't take up much space and you can bench, press, row, squat and deadlift in or just in front of them. The drawback is spotters but i let mates use the equipment so if i want to go heavy on the squats or bench i'll just wait for one of them to come up.