Should i get a weight set?

burrenguy

Hello. I am a 16 year old male, 5'8/5'9 and 50 kg roughly. I'm wondering is it worth investing in a weight set like this or this to supplement a mainly bodyweight based routine. I train at home. I'm after general strength and a bit more stamina. I know that these sets aren't very much, but they're a lot cheaper than buying a big 100kg or 140kg olympic set that i might not even use in 6 months time.
Thanks in advance!

thegreatiam

if you are increasing strength then you will quickly outgrow those sets in 6 months anyway. Especially at your age.

you can get good equipment from donedeal and adverts second hand bought by people who give up before 6 months and they will have a decent resale value

aaakev

He is 50kg so it will be a while before he outgrows 50kg of weights! You can add to it bit by bit too, tesco sell the weights loose in all weights.

Id second looking on adverts though because there will be good deals going

runawaybishop

Buy the iron ones if you buy new from argos - the vinyl ones will fill up the bar very fast. Do try to source them off the likes of done deal first as you'll get better value. You can buy extra plates off argos (or done deal etc) and build up to enough then to flog them all and buy a good olympic set.

burrenguy

thanks everyone. I have a 30kg pro power set with bench but it's a bit flimsy and I'd rather upgrade a bit. Will i be alright with just a barbell?
I was also considering budget equipment options e.g making an adjustable sandbag.

rubadub

If your current barbell is a light hollow bar then it will begin to bend at higher weights. I would go with the cast iron one you linked to, that's a good price for 50kg. I would not go near the vinyl sets.

burrenguy

rubadub wrote: »

If your current barbell is a light hollow bar then it will begin to bend at higher weights. I would go with the cast iron one you linked to, that's a good price for 50kg. I would not go near the vinyl sets.

okay, thanks for the reply!

rubadub

Also your hollow bar will not go to waste. Over time you can buy additional weights and have it loaded up lightly for certain exercises, it will probably begin to bend past 60kg or so.

I started with a 20kg dumbbell kit cast iron (everything below is cast iron plates..

Outgrew the 20kg and got 4x5kg plates for the dumbbells.

Got a hollow ezcurl & hollow tricep bar set.

Got 4x10kg plates, then 2x20kg and a solid straight bar. And later another 2x20kg

The 20kg discs are wide diameter so lift the bar up higher off the ground to aid doing deadlifts.

The dumbbells allow you work 1 arm at a time, so you can get away with less plates.

Cast iron holds value far better too, so if not using in 6months you will sell easily. If you buy second hand you could well make a profit in 6 months!. I could probably sell all my stuff for more than I paid as steel has gone up a lot, its pretty much like investing in gold or something.

burrenguy

rubadub wrote: »

Also your hollow bar will not go to waste. Over time you can buy additional weights and have it loaded up lightly for certain exercises, it will probably begin to bend past 60kg or so.

I started with a 20kg dumbbell kit cast iron (everything below is cast iron plates..

Outgrew the 20kg and got 4x5kg plates for the dumbbells.

Got a hollow ezcurl & hollow tricep bar set.

Got 4x10kg plates, then 2x20kg and a solid straight bar. And later another 2x20kg

The 20kg discs are wide diameter so lift the bar up higher off the ground to aid doing deadlifts.

The dumbbells allow you work 1 arm at a time, so you can get away with less plates.

Cast iron holds value far better too, so if not using in 6months you will sell easily. If you buy second hand you could well make a profit in 6 months!. I could probably sell all my stuff for more than I paid as steel has gone up a lot, its pretty much like investing in gold or something.

thanks for all the advice. Will i be okay with just the barbell or do i need to get a bench and squat rack? I'm trying to keep the price down as much as possible.

rubadub

I have the use of a cheapo rickety bench which I do not use. I also have no squat stands.

Both would be expensive enough, for ones worth getting.

To work the chest I do pushups and dips. I would recommend getting a chinup bar. I have gymnastic rings and do dips on them. There might be parks near you with dip stations, there is some discussion on parks in this forum http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=252

Some do them on chairs, I do them on railings in my area too. You can put a weight plate in a back pack for pushups.

For squats I am able to press a 52kg barbell onto my back and just do high reps with that, or do barbell lunges


Or you can do goblet squats (see below) which are good for beginners as it sort of forces you into good technique/form.


If all my stuff vanished overnight and I was stuck for cash I would get the 50kg set and this http://www.shamrockgym.ie/

burrenguy

rubadub wrote: »

I have the use of a cheapo rickety bench which I do not use. I also have no squat stands.

Both would be expensive enough, for ones worth getting.

To work the chest I do pushups and dips. I would recommend getting a chinup bar. I have gymnastic rings and do dips on them. There might be parks near you with dip stations, there is some discussion on parks in this forum http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=252

Some do them on chairs, I do them on railings in my area too. You can put a weight plate in a back pack for pushups.

For squats I am able to press a 52kg barbell onto my back and just do high reps with that, or do barbell lunges


Or you can do goblet squats (see below) which are good for beginners as it sort of forces you into good technique/form.


If all my stuff vanished overnight and I was stuck for cash I would get the 50kg set and this http://www.shamrockgym.ie/

Brilliant, thanks for the ideas. I have a door way pull up bar, push up handles, and a medicine ball.
Last question: What would you think of making a sandbag? I can get an 80l duffle bag for 15 euro at the army surplus store, and 25kg of sand is only 5 euro in woodys.

rubadub

I had a large burlap sack I filled with sand, went down the beach with it, the plan was to leave it hidden there and just fill each time. I didn't find it much use. I was mainly doing squats with it and found it too bulky and not heavy enough. You might have used one already though and like it.

If you have the chinup bar I would highly recommend getting or making gymnastic rings before a bag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjyRdlhc2bo

burrenguy

rubadub wrote: »

I had a large burlap sack I filled with sand, went down the beach with it, the plan was to leave it hidden there and just fill each time. I didn't find it much use. I was mainly doing squats with it and found it too bulky and not heavy enough. You might have used one already though and like it.

If you have the chinup bar I would highly recommend getting or making gymnastic rings before a bag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjyRdlhc2bo

right. I was thinking of making rings like this: get rope/chain, loop them around rafters outside in a shed and make handles using a bit of flexible pipe probably. Would that be alright?

rubadub

burrenguy wrote: »

I was thinking of making rings like this: get rope/chain, loop them around rafters outside in a shed and make handles using a bit of flexible pipe probably. Would that be alright?

There are many sites with how to make rings, or suspension trainers like TRX. Most find dips much better with rings, there is no need to make a full ring, just a bit of a curve is more comfortable.

Here is one old threads
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055458383

burrenguy

rubadub wrote: »

There are many sites with how to make rings, or suspension trainers like TRX. Most find dips much better with rings, there is no need to make a full ring, just a bit of a curve is more comfortable.

Here is one old threads
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055458383

right, thanks again, you've been a great help.

brownej

rubadub wrote: »

I had a large burlap sack I filled with sand, went down the beach with it, the plan was to leave it hidden there and just fill each time. I didn't find it much use. I was mainly doing squats with it and found it too bulky and not heavy enough. You might have used one already though and like it.

If you have the chinup bar I would highly recommend getting or making gymnastic rings before a bag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjyRdlhc2bo

Rubadub,
In the video you posted the guy is doing ring dips with the rings and his thumbs pointed in. I have just started reading Supple Leopard (great book) and the recommendation there is to do the ring dips with the thumbs pointed out in order to maintain correct shoulder position.
I have tried this with my newly acquired rings and it is way more difficult to do the dips maintaining the thumbs pointed out. I think it is unavoidable to stop the rings turning inwards at the bottom of the movement but a parallel position is still possible.
I was wondering what your experience of this is? I am new to rings (not to training in general) so I'm hoping to start off with good habits.

rubadub

brownej wrote: »

I was wondering what your experience of this is? I am new to rings (not to training in general) so I'm hoping to start off with good habits.

I am not expert and would like to hear what other people think of it too. I do mine with them turned in slightly, it is easier this way, in saying that I think I got a shoulder injury due to doing weighted ring dips with hands turned slightly in! A personal trainer posts here called Transform, and I have seen he has them turned in his videos.

I see most causal people doing them this way in videos, while gymnasts tend to stress the need for RTO (ring turned out) dips.

It is my understanding that it is a good habit for future gymnastic competition, where I think you are not supposed to have straps touching your arms at all. This is a quote from a gymnastics site.

you need to get the straps off the arms for further ring skill develop of planche and handstand, etc

https://www.gymnasticbodies.com/forum/topic/1323-basic-ring-strength-development/

burrenguy

bump. Has anyone ever made something like this?
http://homemadestrength.blogspot.ie/2011/04/more-than-just-squat-stands.html

Would that be difficult/expensive?

googled eyes

burrenguy wrote: »

bump. Has anyone ever made something like this?
http://homemadestrength.blogspot.ie/2011/04/more-than-just-squat-stands.html

Would that be difficult/expensive?

I made a similar squat rack. I used fence posts for the uprights. Not difficult or over expensive. You should be able to make it handily.

But if you check out adverts.ie you can find squat racks and benchs cheap enough.

burrenguy

googled eyes wrote: »

I made a similar squat rack. I used fence posts for the uprights. Not difficult or over expensive. You should be able to make it handily.

But if you check out adverts.ie you can find squat racks and benchs cheap enough.

how did yours turn out? Can they handle a decent amount of weight?
I've been looking for 2-3 months now and nothing much has come up in my area yet.

googled eyes

I'm very happy with it. At the minute I'm squatting 85kg and benching 65kg. I fixed a 2x4 to the wall and have it wood coming from that the the uprights. I've loaded the squat with 100 kg and it didn't move.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81608130&postcount=29

There is an attachement in this post showing were it used to be in my shed. I've since moved it to the opposite wall. Doesn't budge. The bolts at squat and bench hieghts are m20( I think thats what i picked up?) x 120 mm bolts

googled eyes

The one you put up with the bunch of 2x4's would cost more to build than mine, prob up around €100 depending on what you have around your house but I'd say it can handle serious weight

burrenguy

googled eyes wrote: »

I'm very happy with it. At the minute I'm squatting 85kg and benching 65kg. I fixed a 2x4 to the wall and have it wood coming from that the the uprights. I've loaded the squat with 100 kg and it didn't move.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81608130&postcount=29

There is an attachement in this post showing were it used to be in my shed. I've since moved it to the opposite wall. Doesn't budge. The bolts at squat and bench hieghts are m20( I think thats what i picked up?) x 120 mm bolts

thanks very much. Looks good? How much do the car tires weigh? :P

burrenguy

googled eyes wrote: »

The one you put up with the bunch of 2x4's would cost more to build than mine, prob up around €100 depending on what you have around your house but I'd say it can handle serious weight

yep, yours looks much cheaper.. thanks for posting.
Did you pick up your weights used or new?

googled eyes

Car tyres weigh 16 kg each plusa 2.5 kg plate to attach it to the bar.
I'd sold off most of my standard weights and invested in an olympic set but I upgraded my wheels to fit the Oly bar. I have some old countertop to make up for the added height on the bar as he wheels are a few inchs larger diameter than my 20kg plates.


Built up a collection of 2nd hand weights over a while but had been saving for the olympic set. So selling the standard stuff i had and my punchbag to helped me to buy a new Oly set.

googled eyes

burrenguy wrote: »

yep, yours looks much cheaper..

:eek:

burrenguy

googled eyes wrote: »

Car tyres weigh 16 kg each plusa 2.5 kg plate to attach it to the bar.
I'd sold off most of my standard weights and invested in an olympic set but I upgraded my wheels to fit the Oly bar. I have some old countertop to make up for the added height on the bar as he wheels are a few inchs larger diameter than my 20kg plates.


Built up a collection of 2nd hand weights over a while but had been saving for the olympic set. So selling the standard stuff i had and my punchbag to helped me to buy a new Oly set.

right, thanks, thats interesting to know.

googled eyes wrote: »

:eek:

Cheaper to make, it looks cheaper to make :P

rubadub

burrenguy wrote: »

Would that be difficult/expensive?

Buying bits new here costs a lot, I am sick of reading US sites with guys going on about all their stuff only costing "a few bucks".

Scrap yards would be good for any metal stuff you need. If buying everything it often works out cheaper just to buy it, esp. if you are doubtful of your ability and have to scrap something.

I would like to integrate a squat stand into something, like if building a shed I would build it into the walls, and stick a chinup or dip station into the same design/structure. Similar to googled eyes saying it attaches to the wall you make use of what stable things you already have.

Amazon often have squat stands at a reasonable price, post is free above £25
http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-Heavy-Duty-Squat-Stands/dp/B000N3T0SW/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1375779066&sr=1-1&keywords=squat+stand

burrenguy

rubadub wrote: »

Buying bits new here costs a lot, I am sick of reading US sites with guys going on about all their stuff only costing "a few bucks".

Scrap yards would be good for any metal stuff you need. If buying everything it often works out cheaper just to buy it, esp. if you are doubtful of your ability and have to scrap something.

I would like to integrate a squat stand into something, like if building a shed I would build it into the walls, and stick a chinup or dip station into the same design/structure. Similar to googled eyes saying it attaches to the wall you make use of what stable things you already have.

Amazon often have squat stands at a reasonable price, post is free above £25
http://www.amazon.co.uk/York-Heavy-Duty-Squat-Stands/dp/B000N3T0SW/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1375779066&sr=1-1&keywords=squat+stand

Ya i feel the same about the american sites... it seems everything is super cheap over there compared to here.

and cool, thanks for the advice!