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thank you!! i’m so much happier. I never realized how hard it was on me (both physically AND mentally) to be overweight.
I bought this bike here.
my quick and honest review - it was easy to assemble, the seat is super comfy, and it’s quiet. i’m a little too short for it, so I had to put some pedal extenders on (I was doing a number on my knees by hyperextending them every rotation). also, the console died after like a week. they sent me a replacement one for free within a couple days but I never installed it as I track the workouts on my apple watch. oh, also, it’s light, folds up tiny, and is really easy to move around (and hide!)
I just bought a desk cycle via Amazon for $150. Essentially it's just resistant pedals that sit on the floor. Probably one of the smarter purchases I've made in a long time and perfect for a small space, keeping it out of the way.
Edit: For those asking, this is what I picked up ... https://www.amazon.com/DeskCycle-Exercise-Pedal-Exerciser-White/dp/B00B1VDNQA?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top
Here you go. Honestly its great bike
Fitness Reality 810XLT Super Max Power Cage with 800lbs Weight Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4I8FOY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_W4lbBb1MPY274
This rack is popular amongst the budget conscious here.
I have this and it's excellent: https://www.amazon.com/Stamina-50-1690-1690-Power-Tower/dp/B002Y2SUU4/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1531239760&sr=1-1&keywords=power+tower
Got it for $60 on craigslist. Check there just in case. Also woot.com sometimes has new exercise equipment at a generous discount.
True Minimum:
- Nothing
Weight Lifting Minimum:
- Cage / Rack
- Bench
- Free Weights
- Bar
Nice to Haves:
- Good flooring / platform
- Dumbbells
- EZ Bar
- Weight Tree
- Cable Machine
- Spin Bike
- Pullup Bar (if not included in cage)
Check out /r/homegym
You asked about a cage. There's good options out there like Rep Fitness and Rogue. Rogue gets pricy, but great quality.
A great budget one (that I actually have) is this one from Fitness Reality. It's cheap, good quality, decent strength. Big lifters in competitions or going for high numbers would out pace this cage, but for those of us not going for that this works well. There's some downsides, like it is a bit smaller of a lifting area and if you want to hang your weights for storage it isn't the best (though I still do). There's also no cable attachments directly to this cage like some others have (like Rogue). It's a simple cheap good quality cage.
A good weight and bar starting set is the Dicks Sporting Goods set. It isn't pretty, and you'll want to replace the bar after a year, but it's worth the price and I still use those weights.
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Upright Exercise Bike with 300 lbs Weight Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007595TKU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_fWCRCb20QDEYB
this is the one I use. I LOVE it. easy to assemble, came in two days on amazon, and the seat is super comfy. the console on mine died quickly and although I got a replacement (I switched out batteries three times in the first week so I think mine was defective) I never ended up putting the new one on. I use my apple watch to track my calories because I think it’s more accurate anyways!
I know you have plenty of advice already, but I bought this one in October last year, use it frequently and have no marks on my door. I had the same concerns you do, so I wrapped a few old shirts around it and it works perfectly!
You can see the shirts and what the frame looks like. I've used it pretty extensively since getting it.
At first I was skeptical since it was so inexpensive, but I'm glad I decided to buy it. It's worked great for me.
1a) These are just cheap pads from Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4IHXRU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yllPCbFGVY624
1b) I can do barbell work on them (rows, deadlifts, hip thrusts, etc.) and burpees but for burpees I have found shoes will wear the texture on them out. I do find them spongy for burpees but I figured it was adding resistance in a small way. Overall I do not recommend these puzzle tiles for a home gym largely because for the same price that I paid for the area I covered I could have done stall mats had I known about them before buying these. Stall mats and plywood to build a platform are my next purchase for the gym and I will use lag bolts to anchor the rack to the platform which leads to your next question.
2) Your eagle eyes are correct, no bolts here currently. I'm 220lbs and I can do dips, pull-ups, hanging ab work, etc without any wobble at all on this rack. Part of that is because I have almost 500lbs of weight stored on the sides and that this EliteFTS rack is really heavy itself since it is made of 3x3 11 gauge steel. I got away with dips and pullups on my 2x2 Valor rack without bolting it to the floor either but that rack did get pretty wobbly. But for safety purposes I will be using bolts to anchor this to the platform I'll be building later this month. Many years down the road when it's time to move I'll probably just patch over the holes I make for anchoring this down anyways.
Everything is sold out so you aren’t going to find something readily available. I’d second buying a quality bar from Rogue or another premium brand depending on what you need.
Sign up for in-stock alerts for Walmart’s bumper plate set. I’m assuming you aren’t training for Oly so these are fine. I’ve also really liked the equipment from Fringe Sport. They have anticipated in-stock dates for next month, and their bumpers have been great even dropping from overhead. Metal plates are metal plates. If you don’t need calibrated, buy whatever you can find.
Adjustable benches are crazy expensive. Maybe start with a flat bench and prop it on plates to start. I’ve never been able to justify the cost of having one at home.
If you can find a rack or cage in stock, keep in mind that ones like this can often be assembled with the pull-up bar facing down to save on height. I’ve used that in a garage with a lower ceiling, and it’s fantastic for $200 if pandemic pricing and availability ever subsides.
I have been very happy with the Stamina Power tower. I do levers, dips, hang rings from it, no problems yet (had it for over a year and use it like 3-4 times a week). I think price fluctuates a bit on Amazon but I would say it's a good deal at anything under $100.
r/homegym will give you some ideas. This set is pretty cheap and will get you thru the first few months of StrongLifts. I used it and didn’t bother spending on a quality bar until after 7 months when my deadlift went over 350 and started bending my starter bar pretty badly. You’ll also need a squat rack or st the very least a half rack. I got mine from Amazon. That’s all you’d need for the main lifts and should serve you well for 6-12 months.
I've had this one for a couple years. I think Wal-Mart carries it too.
Check out https://titan.fitness as well.
Personally, I always feel like the dip bars on power towers are too wide. I've tried a few of them out in Dick's Sporting Goods and it doesn't feel like a good position to sustain for multiple dips. So, that might be something to consider if you purchase one of these. I just did a quick search for more detailed dimensions of that particular model but I didn't have any luck. Maybe, get a power tower with less "features" like this Cap Barbell Power Rack from Amazon and then you can get some rings and throw them over the bar? The price fluctuates quite a bit; at the end of April it was down to $50.59 and occasionally gets down into the $65 price range.
I would recommend the cap OB-86
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001K4OPY2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_wxinAb8DEYXR6
It’s 120$ right now on amazon. In a year or whatever you can upgrade to a Ohio power bar abd use this as a guest/landline bar. I don’t live in a corrosive environment but it has been a great bar. For the price it’s excellent. IMHO the rouge Ohio is a better bar. But it is quite a bit more $$. When I have acquired all the other equipment I want I upgrade the bar.
The knurling isn’t cheese grader but I’m happy with it.
Cap barbell <strong>OB-86B</strong> $140 on amazon. I think you can get it slighter cheaper on ebay with the 15% off coupon they're running today PERFECTDAY.
The best value for money seems to be the Pathfinder Flip-Mat for about $13 on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Paizo-Inc-PZOSQW30024-Pathfinder-Flip-Mat/dp/1601255381
One of my fellow players owns the Hexers Roleplaying Game Board. It's about the size of a Trivial Pursuit board, of the same chipboard and with the same cut and fold pattern, but with square and hex grids on the two sides. It works pretty well and the firm material is great over a table cloth. ($23 on Amazon)
https://www.amazon.com/Hexers-role-playing-game-board/dp/B06XFN6ZGD
Semi related to the Expanded Universe: I think the bike Noelle has is on sale on Amazon. Kindaaa want to buy it because I have been a couch potato during Quarantine and I live in the Northeast where being outside is going to be not fun soon. Anyone have one? I wish I had Peleton money tbh
just up it to 4 or 5 times a week and hit some calisthenics. you don't have to do anything insane but try some pushups, pullups if you can get a bar to mount in your door(something like this) and bodyweight squats. if you want to incorporate some weight at home without setting up a home gym look into kettlebells(link here to show you what you're looking for). you can probably find some kettlebells useful to you for pretty cheap.
So for a squat rack, you probably want this. It's way better than a $300 power cage has any right to be.
Benches are pretty basic if you just want a flat one and aren't benching super heavy. I'd recommend the AmazonBasics if you can find it, it's not listed for some reason. But otherwise I'd grab a $50 starter bench and not worry about it, by the time you need something nicer you'll know more about your particular needs like a wide bench, adjustable, fat pad, etc.
For a barbell and plates, you're honestly probably best off hitting up Dick's Sporting Goods for one of their $300 starter kits. Ordering is really just going to kill you on shipping.
Like a stand alone one? I happen to have one I've been trying to get rid of.
This is the one I have: Amazon Link
It is missing a single washer. It was missing that washer when I got it originally. Still works fine. I don't use it and I took it apart to save space, but still got all the pieces (aside from that 1 washer). And the instruction manual in pdf form somewhere I could print out for you.
You can have it for $50. I live in Waipahu.
edit: Proof
edit2: Whoops wrong piece of equipment. Apologies. Good luck on your search and I'll leave this up for anyone else who might be interested.
$400? for $200 you can get a full sized squat rack on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N4I8FOY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used to have one of those benches in the CL ad and on the highest setting I'd still have to do a 1/2" squat to get started with squats, plus there's no safety bars to catch if you fail and that goes for bench press too on the lack of safety.
Another hundred bucks and you've got a good quality bench: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OHQALU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Spend the rest on weights (admittedly you'll be just above the $400 price point but you won't be needing to spend more money on the same equipment a few years down the road) and whey and you'll be good to go.
At that weight basically anything you get will be ok, that said, safeties are still nice to have, so consider the value of a full rack or a half rack instead of just a squat stand. As always, Craigslist or your local alternative can be a lot better deals (and your realism about weights may mean that some of the less popular cheaper stuff will be great for you while everyone else is chasing expensive Rogue gear).
If you do want to go new, Slickdeals just pointed me towards this $250 prime shipping rack on Amazon that looks like one of the cheapest options at the moment: https://www.amazon.com/Fitness-Reality-810XLT-800lbs-Capacity/dp/B01N4I8FOY/ CamelCamelCamel is amazingly reporting it sold for < $150 a few times this year (though I dunno if that included shipping)
You can get these neat under the desk "bicycles" like this one.
This could get your heart rate up and burn some energy discreetly.
I hit up Amazon for a stamina 1690 bar. It works pretty well, not much wobble and it seems sturdy enough. I'm 6'0 and 195 lbs. If there's a discount sports equipment store around, go hang off a few things and see what you like. Be sure to measure the height of your ceiling before you buy.
https://www.amazon.ca/Stamina-50-1690-1690-Power-Tower/dp/B002Y2SUU4
Another option is a door frame bar. It will probably mark up the door frame. I've done the RR off of both without a problem.
This was in stock earlier this week and will do its job. The ProGear and Fitness Reality are made by the same company, but the ProGear has upgraded j-hooks; it's one of the most recommended budget racks on here.
Cheap easy indoor solution. I use one myself.
Not at home so i can't post a pic but it's quite simple, i have an Exerpeutic stationary bike that i place in front of my 46" TV and i added these pieces that i got from Amazon on the top end of the sticks.
It's not optimal but it works. Ideally they would be lower and closer to me but that's the best i could do, though i could probably find a better fit if i took the time.
I think the best bike suited for this kind of situation would be the ones where you are laid back.