Olympic or standard?
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Olympic or standard? - 3/24/2007 3:14:48 PM
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jheft
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I'm getting to the point where I need to get some more home equipment, and continuing to get successively larger and larger hex dumbbells isn't going to make sense. I was looking at dumbbell handles and plates at my local sporting goods store, when I realized I have no idea what kind I should be getting.
So, are there strong reason to go with one or the other when it comes to Olympic vs. standard? There seem to be several kinds of dumbbell handles and barbells, what is the most practical for home use? Do you basically just use the same kinds of plates for both barbells and dumbbells? How many plates fit on a dumbbell handle, and what are the biggest plates that can practically be used on dumbbells (i.e. am I going to need several 10 pound plates)?
Right now, I just have an inexpensive flat bench and dumbbells, but I'm saving up to eventually get some kind of fancier home gym setup, so I want to keep that in mind. In that vein, what are the pros/cons for a workbench type system, vs. a power rack, vs. smith? I'm a little in the dark and don't know what to look for.
< Message edited by jheft -- 3/24/2007 3:27:23 PM >
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Journal: Jheft's Heftorium, Progress Photos (new as of 2008-03-08), My Stack
Current stats: 5'11", 196.0 lbs - starting cut
2008 Results: +22.8 lbs, 2nd Place Discussbodybuilding.com Transformation Contest
"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world."
-- Kaiser Wilhelm II
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RE: Olympic or standard? - 3/25/2007 1:50:33 PM
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jheft
Posts: 3021
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Bump.
No opinions on Olympic vs. standard?
_____________________________
Journal: Jheft's Heftorium, Progress Photos (new as of 2008-03-08), My Stack
Current stats: 5'11", 196.0 lbs - starting cut
2008 Results: +22.8 lbs, 2nd Place Discussbodybuilding.com Transformation Contest
"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world."
-- Kaiser Wilhelm II
(in reply to jheft)
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RE: Olympic or standard? - 3/26/2007 10:22:29 AM
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woodmeister
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In my opinion go for olympic if you can, they are more expensive, but you will get to the point when you cannot fit enough weight on the standard bars for dumbells presses and shrugs, stuff like that.
With regard to what type of equipment to get for your home, it really depends on your budget, but if you already have dumbells and a bench, the best way to spend your money would be a power rack, with an olympic barbells and discs. This will give you all the equipment you need for a full body workout at home.
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woodmeister
age: 24 as of 02/07
weight: 170
bench max: 8 @ 270
leg press: 8 @ 450
Squat: 5 @ 315
(in reply to jheft)
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RE: Olympic or standard? - 3/26/2007 10:47:44 AM
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jheft
Posts: 3021
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Thanks for your response.
Hmm, it sounds like Olympic is the long term solution. The olympic dumbbell handles I saw were pretty huge and seem like they would be awkward because of their length. But I don't want to have two sets of weights when I need an Olympic barbell down the road.
Are 25 pound plates too big to use comfortably on dumbbells? I'm trying to figure out exactly how many 10 pound plates I'll need.
My bench is just the rudiments. It's actually really nicely constructed considering it was only 40 bucks, but it's still just a fixed flat bench with no frills or attachments. Eventually I do want to get a bench that can incline and have attachments for stuff like leg curls. So when I do get a home gym I don't really hold out hopes of continuing to use my existing bench. I am leaning toward a power rack, but space is a factor and I have no idea what kind of space different types of systems take up. I suppose I need to get a tape measure out and start doing some math.
< Message edited by jheft -- 3/26/2007 10:49:31 AM >
_____________________________
Journal: Jheft's Heftorium, Progress Photos (new as of 2008-03-08), My Stack
Current stats: 5'11", 196.0 lbs - starting cut
2008 Results: +22.8 lbs, 2nd Place Discussbodybuilding.com Transformation Contest
"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world."
-- Kaiser Wilhelm II
(in reply to woodmeister)
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RE: Olympic or standard? - 3/27/2007 8:19:27 AM
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woodmeister
Posts: 87
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Here in the uk obviously we use kilo's, but i think these are the olympic dumbells you talk of;
http://www.powerhouse-fitness.co.uk/store/product.asp?dept%5Fid=50&pf%5Fid=Powerhouse%5FChrome%5FDumbbell%5FBar
Secondly dont worry about them being too long, if you do decide to buy them you will be glad of the extra length as it allows more weight to be added than a conventional standard bar.
As for the 25lb plate question, personally i would say that they would be too big and may restrict your ROM in exercises like chest press and shoulder press. I would stick to lots of 5kg plates(your 15lbs i think?) this is what all proffessional dumbells use in their combinations, if you wanted to you could get six 5kgs on each side giving you a 60kg dumbell (135lbs).
Finally, do your research before you pop for some expensive equipment, i made the mistake in the past of buying the first thing that took my fancy, before realising later that their was something better and cheaper out there. Measure up, i would approximate that for a functioning power rack you would need a space no smaller than 9 feet wide to accomodate the seven foot olympic bar and 1ft either way to load the weight on it, by about 6 feet long, just big enough to fit your bench in.
all the best, let me know how you get on.
wood
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woodmeister
age: 24 as of 02/07
weight: 170
bench max: 8 @ 270
leg press: 8 @ 450
Squat: 5 @ 315
(in reply to jheft)
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RE: Olympic or standard? - 3/27/2007 8:24:37 AM
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woodmeister
Posts: 87
Joined: 1/12/2006
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Sorry forgot to mention, if your bench is as you say well made, for a quick fix buy a bag of soft sand, i presume you get them in the states, you know the sealed type, probably weight about 50kg and cost about £3, and shove it under the end of your bench for a incline, or decline. This is what i did whilst i was saving for my equipment, not ideal but sturdy, cheap and did the job.
good luck:)
_____________________________
woodmeister
age: 24 as of 02/07
weight: 170
bench max: 8 @ 270
leg press: 8 @ 450
Squat: 5 @ 315
(in reply to woodmeister)
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RE: Olympic or standard? - 3/27/2007 8:49:49 AM
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jheft
Posts: 3021
Joined: 1/3/2007
Status: online
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The most common plate sizes are, I believe, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 35 and 45 lbs, which correspond to roughly 1.1, 2.3, 4.5, 11.2, 15.9 and 20.4 kg. So probably I'm gonna need to stick to 10 lb plates and smaller for dumbbells. I guess there are 15 and 20 pound plates out there too, but I didn't see them when I was at the store the other day.
That sandbag idea is a good one. I'd tried propping it up on various things, but it was too unstable, but a sandbag should work better.
_____________________________
Journal: Jheft's Heftorium, Progress Photos (new as of 2008-03-08), My Stack
Current stats: 5'11", 196.0 lbs - starting cut
2008 Results: +22.8 lbs, 2nd Place Discussbodybuilding.com Transformation Contest
"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world."
-- Kaiser Wilhelm II
(in reply to woodmeister)
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