How much would you spend on a basic home gym?

chocolatechips

Hey everyone!

I'm looking into making a small home gym in my garage but I have no clue how much I should spend on equipment. I'm just looking for the basics, a squat rack, bench, pull up bar, dumbbells and a barbell. What do you think would be reasonable prices for these items? I'm completed lost because I've never bought equipment like this before.

googled eyes

Roughly, how much can you afford to spend ?

chocolatechips

Was hoping for around $800 (will be buying this in Australia, so I think that's around €650) but am willing to go up to around $1000. Might not buy the squat rack for a while because I doubt it would fit in with that budget.

googled eyes

I would hope for $800 you should be able to pick up a bit of gear. I'd say there are posters here living in Australia who could let you know of prices.

Check out Gumtree or similar for second hand gear is the best advice I can give you.

runawaybishop

chocolatechips wrote: »

Was hoping for around $800 (will be buying this in Australia, so I think that's around €650) but am willing to go up to around $1000. Might not buy the squat rack for a while because I doubt it would fit in with that budget.

Buy second hand and you should be able to kit yourself out nicely for that price. Squat rack is handy, i wouldn't cut it myself. Are you starting out or already at a stage where your equipment needs to be more solid than argos stuff?

chocolatechips

runawaybishop wrote: »

Buy second hand and you should be able to kit yourself out nicely for that price. Squat rack is handy, i wouldn't cut it myself. Are you starting out or already at a stage where your equipment needs to be more solid than argos stuff?

I'm a 50kg girl with spaghetti arms. I think it will be quite some time before my stuff needs to be incredibly durable.

runawaybishop

Your budget is more than adequate for those items then, even new from the likes of argos you'd get kitted out for 200 euro in starter stuff.

nice_guy80

let's see

chin up bar
med ball - the throwable sort (€30)
dumbbells set - two bars and replaceable kg (maybe €50?)
swiss ball (€5 in Dunnes)

job done.

ok, maybe a bench would be handy, but not necessary - swiss ball can do the same job.

deadlybuzzman

The best thing about buying weights and the like is that unlike equipment used in other hobbies they don't really wear out so buying 2nd hand will get you some real bargains and alot more for your money

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Its 12 euro a month to join a gym with included classes, 1000's of kg of weights and 100's of cardio machines. Dont waste you time with a home gym, you will train better and be more disciplined away from the comforts of home. The majority of home fitness gear becomes cloths horses.

chocolatechips

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Its 12 euro a month to join a gym with included classes, 1000's of kg of weights and 100's of cardio machines. Dont waste you time with a home gym, you will train better and be more disciplined away from the comforts of home. The majority of home fitness gear becomes cloths horses.

Christ, I have never seen a gym membership go for that cheap! Also I don't see any issue with having home gear because there are no gyms in walking distance of where I'll be living.

But anyway I'm going to start off much smaller than I had planned, with just a bench and dumbbells, and buy myself other bits and pieces as I deem necessary.

Mellor

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Its 12 euro a month to join a gym with included classes, 1000's of kg of weights and 100's of cardio machines. Dont waste you time with a home gym, you will train better and be more disciplined away from the comforts of home. The majority of home fitness gear becomes cloths horses.

That's nonsense tbh.
There's no way the OP would get a gym for €12 a month.
And if people end up not using home gym equipment, that's down their motivation not the fact it's a home gym. For every home gym sitting idle, I'd say there's twice as many gym memberships not getting use.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Mellor wrote: »

That's nonsense tbh.
There's no way the OP would get a gym for €12 a month.
And if people end up not using home gym equipment, that's down their motivation not the fact it's a home gym. For every home gym sitting idle, I'd say there's twice as many gym memberships not getting use.

Ben Dunne gyms are 200 euro for 16 months at the moment that's 12 euro fifty cents a month. If your starting it makes more sense to try a gym for that money. Hell download p90x for free, or insanity

googled eyes

You can pick up weights and a bench second hand fairly cheap. If they don't get used you can shift them on and get back some of your money.

If you join a gym and lose interest after a month or two then your money is gone, gone, gone.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

googled eyes wrote: »

You can pick up weights and a bench second hand fairly cheap. If they don't get used you can shift them on and get back some of your money.

If you join a gym and lose interest after a month or two then your money is gone, gone, gone.

Sell on your membership, adverts are full of them.

chocolatechips

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Sell on your membership, adverts are full of them.

Well I've already said that I'm just curious on the prices of equipment, not gym memberships, and that in the area I'll be living in I do not have access to any gyms nor could I afford them even if I did have a car (already checked out some in the city, not worth it with the money I'd have to spend on travel as well).

Also I personally like the privacy of training at home, it means that I don't have to wait over 40 minutes for a piece of equipment because a group lads are hanging onto it for each other.

Now back on topic, thanks everyone, didn't know I could get equipment that cheaply.

onlyup

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Its 12 euro a month to join a gym with included classes, 1000's of kg of weights and 100's of cardio machines. Dont waste you time with a home gym, you will train better and be more disciplined away from the comforts of home. The majority of home fitness gear becomes cloths horses.

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Ben Dunne gyms are 200 euro for 16 months at the moment that's 12 euro fifty cents a month. If your starting it makes more sense to try a gym for that money. Hell download p90x for free, or insanity

That's Ben Dunne Jervis street. In my situation it would be 200 for 16 months and around 860 for transport costs (bus in, 3 days a week for 14 months (that's 2 months of not going! holidays, rest, recovery, etc)).... plus I'd have to get a bus which would suck and take time.

Also it sounds like OP wants to do weight training so p90x/insanity is useless. How many squat racks does Jervis street have? I've heard it is busy at peak times.

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Sell on your membership, adverts are full of them.

I only see two: http://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/q_gym+membership/. One in cork and one in Galway..

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Right so, you will spend about €1100 to €2000 buying a squat rack (generally have chin and pull up attachments), dumbells, adjustable bench, bars and plates/collars, to have any decent amount of weight expect to pay more. Check out irish lifting for prices. Buying york non olly stuff in argos is a waste of time.

http://www.irish-lifting.com/power-rack-pe-197.html (400)
http://www.irish-lifting.com/140kg-olympic-set-pe-259.html (300)
http://www.irish-lifting.com/flat-incline-rack-bench-pe-165.html (200)
http://www.irish-lifting.com/iron-hex-dumbbells-pe-313.html (say 100kg = 230 euro)

Personally I would get a heavier power rack for safety at home. Depends on what your goals are really. You going to want some padded flooring. As a total beginer, without a gym membership or previous equipment, I think you might be aiming a bit high here. Buy a 20kg set og dumbells with removable plates and a basic weight training book. After that see if you stick with it. I have a 1000 euro bike gathering dust in my garage I will swap if you find its not for you.

keyboard_cat

If you want olympic weights then go with this you can safely do squats on this (just pull the bench out)
http://www.elverys.ie/Product/Weider-Pro-490-DC-Olympic-Weights-Bench/213608/0000000830


and something like this for a 1 inch bar
http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9063024/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CSports+and+leisure%7C14419152/c_2/3%7C15701400%7CWeights+and+strength+training%7C29022084/c_3/4%7Ccat_29022084%7CWeight+lifting+and+exercise+benches%7C14419306.htm

would suggest something like this for your weights
http://www.amazon.co.uk/40kg-standard-weight-plates-set/dp/B006OZ52S0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1368990374&sr=8-3&keywords=tri+grip+weights

then get a 20kg dumbbell set so you have some smaller weights intervals then 10kg

Mellor

chocolatechips wrote: »

Was hoping for around $800 (will be buying this in Australia,

The OP is in Oz so these suggestions of Ben Dunne, and Irishlifting aren't that helpful. A shopping list of essential items if prob more useful.

OP, what city/area are you in?

simon0brien

nice_guy80 wrote: »

let's see

chin up bar
med ball - the throwable sort (€30)
dumbbells set - two bars and replaceable kg (maybe €50?)
swiss ball (€5 in Dunnes)

job done.

ok, maybe a bench would be handy, but not necessary - swiss ball can do the same job.

I got my dumbell set with 7.5 Kg removable weights for each at Lidl or Aldi for 15 Euro

nice_guy80

simon0brien wrote: »

I got my dumbell set with 7.5 Kg removable weights for each at Lidl or Aldi for 15 Euro

right.
but you'd need to go up to at least 25kg on both dumbbells if you really get stuck into the training.
just saying.

simon0brien

nice_guy80 wrote: »

right.
but you'd need to go up to at least 25kg on both dumbbells if you really get stuck into the training.
just saying.

Prob but I'm very skinny so wouldn't have any use for 25Kgs.. More like bench 25Kg

mdwexford

2nd hand is the way to go for commercial equipment.

I've been slowly putting together mine over the past year.

I've spent about 1600 and I have about 3500 worth of gear.

Bought the heavy Irish Lifting rack, Ironmaster Superbench, Water Rower and 255kg of Prostyle Dumbbells all second hand.

Bought my 140kg Olympic Coloured Rubber set new because they never come up on adverts or donedeal.

runawaybishop

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

Right so, you will spend about €1100 to €2000 buying a squat rack (generally have chin and pull up attachments), dumbells, adjustable bench, bars and plates/collars, to have any decent amount of weight expect to pay more. Check out irish lifting for prices. Buying york non olly stuff in argos is a waste of time.

http://www.irish-lifting.com/power-rack-pe-197.html (400)
http://www.irish-lifting.com/140kg-olympic-set-pe-259.html (300)
http://www.irish-lifting.com/flat-incline-rack-bench-pe-165.html (200)
http://www.irish-lifting.com/iron-hex-dumbbells-pe-313.html (say 100kg = 230 euro)

Personally I would get a heavier power rack for safety at home. Depends on what your goals are really. You going to want some padded flooring. As a total beginer, without a gym membership or previous equipment, I think you might be aiming a bit high here. Buy a 20kg set og dumbells with removable plates and a basic weight training book. After that see if you stick with it. I have a 1000 euro bike gathering dust in my garage I will swap if you find its not for you.

You did what with the who now? 100 euro for a squat stand/rack is all the op needs to spend.

Advising a beginner that a home gym is useless or that they need to fork out over a grand is just wrong.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

runawaybishop wrote: »

You did what with the who now? 100 euro for a squat stand/rack is all the op needs to spend.

Advising a beginner that a home gym is useless or that they need to fork out over a grand is just wrong.

? Did you read all my post, I was eaten alive for suggesting that a beginner doesnt need to invest in his own equipment, and this is what the OP asked for. A 100 euro stand is pretty unsafe TBH and rack is much better from a safety POV. If the OP doesnt need large weights, there is nothing he cannot do with BW exercises, convict conditioning etc or a couple of heavy (24kg and a 12 kg) kettlebells.

runawaybishop

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

? Did you read all my post, I was eaten alive for suggesting that a beginner doesnt need to invest in his own equipment, and this is what the OP asked for. A 100 euro stand is pretty unsafe TBH and rack is much better from a safety POV. If the OP doesnt need large weights, there is nothing he cannot do with BW exercises, convict conditioning etc or a couple of heavy (24kg and a 12 kg) kettlebells.

OP isn't looking for advice such as "go to a gym instead" though, they asked about equipment for a home gym - turns out a gym isn't an option anyway.

OP mentions they wont be needing heavy duty equipment any time soon, you can pick up a new squat stand for 80 euro in argos - sure, its not a beast by any means but it will manage 3 times the OPS body weight without issue.

JJayoo

Just don't squat, will save you a fortune

btkm8unsl0w5r4

runawaybishop wrote: »

OP isn't looking for advice such as "go to a gym instead" though, they asked about equipment for a home gym - turns out a gym isn't an option anyway.

OP mentions they wont be needing heavy duty equipment any time soon, you can pick up a new squat stand for 80 euro in argos - sure, its not a beast by any means but it will manage 3 times the OPS body weight without issue.

The OP would be much better off working on dumbell squats, goblet squats, Bodyweight squats, lunges, DB split squats etc I doubt he has the range of motion to safely carry out a back squats and walking directly into a back squat without proper hip flexability can lead to injury. All of these require only a dumbbell or kettle bell, which are much more utility than a 80 euro POS argos set.

Col_Loki

? Did you read all my post, I was eaten alive for suggesting that a beginner doesnt need to invest in his own equipment, and this is what the OP asked for. A 100 euro stand is pretty unsafe TBH and rack is much better from a safety POV. If the OP doesnt need large weights, there is nothing he cannot do with BW exercises, convict conditioning etc or a couple of heavy (24kg and a 12 kg) kettlebells.

She not he. And I quote "I'm a 50kg girl with spaghetti arms".

All she is looking for is a pretty basic gym to start with, no need for anything fancy or overly heavy duty (and expensive).

Kettlebells are a great idea though, OP have you ever considered them? You could put a small TV/Laptop out in the Gym and follow a Kettlebell instructional DVD? (where the person is working out with you)

runawaybishop

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

The OP would be much better off working on dumbell squats, goblet squats, Bodyweight squats, lunges, DB split squats etc I doubt he has the range of motion to safely carry out a back squats and walking directly into a back squat without proper hip flexability can lead to injury. All of these require only a dumbbell or kettle bell, which are much more utility than a 80 euro POS argos set.

She, not he Back squats are good, i don't know why you'd discourage them. There's no reason the op cant do them at home and there is extensive material online for guidance. Most people that want to start lifting at home are advised to do the 4 big compound movements - whats different here?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Col_Loki wrote: »

She not he. And I quote "I'm a 50kg girl with spaghetti arms".

So...what impact does the OP gender have on the thread? Except that she might need help putting the squat rack together

Back squats are great, but you need basic muscle coordination, some core strength and a feeling for heavy before you do them. I can see a beginner damaging herself dumping a bar forward after getting stuck. If she is not squatting heavy enough for that to be an issue then a goblet squat with a kettle bell will be as effective and can also be dead lifted, pressed, cleaned, swung, rowed and farmered waked is a better option. A 24 kg kettlebell is a serious piece of equipment, a 80 euro squat rack is toy.

kingshankly

Bought a trx and have to say getting great value out of it cost £150 but you can get cheaper generic ones

Transform

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

So...what impact does the OP gender have on the thread? Except that she might need help putting the squat rack together

Back squats are great, but you need basic muscle coordination, some core strength and a feeling for heavy before you do them. I can see a beginner damaging herself dumping a bar forward after getting stuck. If she is not squatting heavy enough for that to be an issue then a goblet squat with a kettle bell will be as effective and can also be dead lifted, pressed, cleaned, swung, rowed and farmered waked is a better option. A 24 kg kettlebell is a serious piece of equipment, a 80 euro squat rack is toy.

this ^^^^

12 and 16kg kettlebell for a girl, yoga mat, pull up bar with rings or trx, foam roll, some bands and good to go.

Get a trainer to program for you once every 4-6 weeks and you have a gym for life

chocolatechips

Mellor wrote: »

The OP is in Oz so these suggestions of Ben Dunne, and Irishlifting aren't that helpful. A shopping list of essential items if prob more useful.

OP, what city/area are you in?

I'll be in Adelaide.

Kace Straight Pilgrim wrote: »

The OP would be much better off working on dumbell squats, goblet squats, Bodyweight squats, lunges, DB split squats etc I doubt he has the range of motion to safely carry out a back squats and walking directly into a back squat without proper hip flexability can lead to injury. All of these require only a dumbbell or kettle bell, which are much more utility than a 80 euro POS argos set.

Last time I was with a PT I was told that my back squats are fine, but generally use two 15kg dumbbells anyway as that is all I have at the moment. Completely agree with the point on the €80 Argos set though. The main reason I was considering getting a squat rack was for when I can finally squat heavier than 30kg and also I reckon my father will also be using this home gym.

Col_Loki wrote: »

Kettlebells are a great idea though, OP have you ever considered them? You could put a small TV/Laptop out in the Gym and follow a Kettlebell instructional DVD? (where the person is working out with you)

Definitely something I'd look into, cheers!

ferike1

A set of paralettes and you are sorted!

Your body is the best home gym

imurdaddy

Col_Loki wrote: »

She not he. And I quote "I'm a 50kg girl with spaghetti arms".

All she is looking for is a pretty basic gym to start with, no need for anything fancy or overly heavy duty (and expensive).

Kettlebells are a great idea though, OP have you ever considered them? You could put a small TV/Laptop out in the Gym and follow a Kettlebell instructional DVD? (where the person is working out with you)

+1 on kettlebells add in set of bands/rings and you have a great setup!

maryishere

spent 700 last year