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The best of Strength Training Equipment by number of unique Reddit comments:
Top Reddit reviews mentioning Strength Training Equipment:
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.
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.
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.
Powerblock Large Compact Stand — holds up to 90 lbs per hand PB DBs
EDIT #2: OOS
Via Amazon Warehouse — $60.98 + Free shipping with Prime (usually $69.00)
EDIT: Amazon Warehouse notes - Used but in “Very Good” condition.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A9981M0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Zk8eFbR9AE6AF
PS - I didn’t tag anyone on the Powerblock list because (1) most on the list don’t have PBs yet and (2) I don’t know who needs a stand.
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.
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)
DEAD
Usually $90 at Walmart, so not the best price. But if you need something sooner, this bench has received decent reviews in past threads ex https://www.reddit.com/r/homegym/comments/a6s1h6/anyone_have_experience_with_fitness_reality_1000/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Fitness Reality 1000 Super Max Weight Bench with Upgraded Wider Backrest/Seat (2019 Version), 800 lb (2804) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01CR4XFIK/
I want to get some dumbbells and an exercise bike for my apartment.
Anyone have experience with these ones, how easy is it to change weight: https://www.amazon.com/Bowflex-SelectTech-Adjustable-Dumbbells-Pair/dp/B001ARYU58/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=dumbbells&qid=1615142586&sr=8-13&th=1
I once bought adjustable dumbbell set (amazon) for $100 off Kijiji, and the dude selling was an obvious crackhead... I was impressed, actually, because these things are heavy af and this dude somehow managed to steal two of em
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.
Genetics determine where your body stores fat! The only thing you can really do is continue shedding fat and gaining muscle. You can gain muscle with just dumbbells and bodyweight. Push-ups and pull-ups are particularly effective for arms and shoulders and they can be quite a challenge. If your dumbbells are really lightweight and too easy to curl, you can even do bicep curls with household objects like water jugs.
That was my thought too. With the pandemic the prices are somewhat inflated in the home gym world. But I picked this guy up for $240 around a year ago, I haven’t been tracking closely recently but it used to go on sale fairly regularly.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4I8FOY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_86H7KRS1K4PQQV8MB0HP
If you’re concerned about quality Coop did a pretty thorough review on it, and it fared pretty well. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvFeJZCaALU
"Reasonably priced" is..well..relative. I love Rogue products and I respect their American-made ethos greatly and I love how flexible all of their systems are, but you are paying for all of that. You can't get a squat rack under $345 from them (S-1). And, per context of this conversation, that doesn't have the pullup bar; you have to go to the S-2 at $425. Don't get me wrong, that rack is fucking tough, but the price is too. If you pay less you will get less, but you might not need something as bomb-proof as Rogue.
Here is an off brand on Amazon at $89 dollars. It's all relative...
Cap Barbell Power Rack Exercise Stand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HYQP72O/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_SgBNwbQKHXGZS
This looks exactly like the stamina 1690 power tower, there are over 1000 reviews for it on amazon.
I don't see any major problems with it, particularly when comparing it to other power towers you can buy. I also can't see that it would be cheaper to buy all the pipe than just a standard power tower - $90 on Amazon