home gyms are they worth it?
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home gyms are they worth it? - 2/4/2006 9:25:26 AM
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Jed
Posts: 34
Joined: 1/30/2006
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since I'm now geting it to my routine I'm trying deicid if I want to join a gym or buy more equipment
like a good home gym so questions I have what should I look for in a "home gym" I know a bit about this
like I would love a squat rack and a pull down bar and a vertical bench seting for the mil press and a
better leg extension set the nI one I have now.
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/4/2006 10:48:53 AM
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veggeep
Posts: 3042
Joined: 10/10/2005
From: Reston, VA
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I own Body Solid's Powerline Smith Home Gym, and it was the best home gym investment I've ever made. I opted for the Smith over a standard power cage, because I workout alone, and it's nice not having to worry about dropping a loaded barbell on my neck -or worse, through the floor of my apartment 
I traded up from an early Wieder brand piece of selectorized garbage that was all cables and really piss-poor linkage and hinging. I swear, you blew almost half of the range of motion on any exercise just taking the slack out of the cables.
That said, the only advice I can tender is to steer clear of consumer-grade cable-based systems. The Body Solid unit I mentioned above is probably the closest thing to professional-grade gym equipment you can buy before you break the $2,000 barrier, and it's worth every penny. Simple high & low cables with about 5' of pull each, and optional pec-deck (I haven't gone for that yet -it's tought to find one that isn't all sloppy and can be adjusted for the length of your arms).
_____________________________
Yes, that's me in my avatar, and NO, I don't look like that today. That was taken back in Jan '07, and I lost most of that progress when I slacked off last year. I'm on my way back, tho, and I'm using that photo for inspiration.
(in reply to Jed)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/4/2006 12:37:08 PM
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Jed
Posts: 34
Joined: 1/30/2006
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I've got one of Wieder's chep bench's with the narrow up rights but it was free so I'm not complaining(much), I need to kind of do this on the chep
I'm shipping(army) out in a few months so spending alot of money a bit of a waste and I dont have much space to put the thing where I have my bench now the barbell has about 3" on
each side before it hit's something.
< Message edited by Jed -- 2/4/2006 12:39:45 PM >
(in reply to veggeep)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/7/2006 5:39:53 PM
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Reznor44
Posts: 363
Joined: 2/5/2006
From: Vancouver, British Columbia
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Ive have looked into home gyms but for the price of the quality equipment I could have a gym membership at Golds for 5 years, and I would still not have the equipment to do half of my workouts
(in reply to Jed)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/10/2006 3:00:21 AM
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dimyd
Posts: 159
Joined: 1/7/2006
From: Australia
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I've used home gyms for about 2 years on and off, and here's a list of pros and cons I came up with..
Pros:
1.time convienient.
2.you don't have to pay ongoing gym membership fees. Pay once and its yours for life.
3.you can do it in the comfort of your own home
4.more hygienic
5.no restrictions on what times you can workout. you can train any time any day you want. (don't have to worry about public holidays, etc)
6.don't have to wait for someone to finish using equipment/machine
7. ideal if you're just wanting to get cut or using it for maintainance
8.no interuptions which means less delays = less time messing around, more quality time training
9.you can train however you like - noone can tell you off! freedom!
10.you can wear whatever you want (train in your pj's or just go naked, whatever! lol)
Cons:
1.limited exercises/machines you can do/use. That can mean in less- productive/limited routines.
2.weight restrictions.
3.you don't have that social scene so it can often get quite lonely
4.noone to correct you if you aren't doing the exercise properly. poor form goes unnoticed. (which could also mean it's unsafe for you to do)
5.can start to get repetitive and boring
6.noone can give you advive - you're on your own
7.if an injury occurs, you may not be able to get help.
8.if you find yourself needing assistance (eg. those "unsuccessful benchpress" incidents where you are unable to lift the bar onto the rack holder and so then you are stuck with a huge weight on your chest! (that means of alot of trouble and pain! lol)
9.if you are trying to bulk, the weight you're using may not be sufficient/heavy enough for you to do so.
10.can be very expensive if you're wanting add-ons (equipement, weight plates etc). the cost of weight plates alone can almost make you go broke. they are NOT cheap!)
11.not having other people around you, as you would at a public gym, you may be less motivated to train.
12.there is no showing off... You don't have women to use as motivation (though if you're desperate - try your mom)
13.perving sessions are non-exisitant. (This part is damn hard to live with!)
14.the inconvienience of having to change the weights. (eg having to always unscrew the spinlocks). (this is in relation to dumbell and barbell exercises)
< Message edited by dimyd -- 2/10/2006 3:29:58 AM >
_____________________________
There is a great man, who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.
(in reply to Reznor44)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/10/2006 5:55:20 AM
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veggeep
Posts: 3042
Joined: 10/10/2005
From: Reston, VA
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I agree with most of what Dimyd says here. But, since I blew my college tuition on a olympic freeweight system with more weight than I'll likely use in the near future, the only thing I'm really missing is the spotter. As for exercise options, I have so many to choose from with this setup that the hard part is keeping my wrokouts brief. Like I've said before, a Smith system is nice if you want to go to failure without a spotter and you don't want to drop a barbell on yourself, but it would be nice once in a while to have someone push me past failure.
Beyond that, I love working out at home -I can crank my music as loud as I want (and get to pick which music is actually playing, he he he), and my kitchen is only a couple of yards away... Then there's all the other stuff, not the least of which is sanitation and never having to wait for a piece of equipment. I wouldn't trade it for a thousand gym memberships 
As for ogling the lycra-clad ladies, I do miss that... hmmmm... I guess I'll have to invite some over, LOL
_____________________________
Yes, that's me in my avatar, and NO, I don't look like that today. That was taken back in Jan '07, and I lost most of that progress when I slacked off last year. I'm on my way back, tho, and I'm using that photo for inspiration.
(in reply to dimyd)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/10/2006 8:02:35 AM
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Jed
Posts: 34
Joined: 1/30/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: veggeep
I agree with most of what Dimyd says here. But, since I blew my college tuition on a olympic freeweight system with more weight than I'll likely use in the near future, the only thing I'm really missing is the spotter. As for exercise options, I have so many to choose from with this setup that the hard part is keeping my wrokouts brief. Like I've said before, a Smith system is nice if you want to go to failure without a spotter and you don't want to drop a barbell on yourself, but it would be nice once in a while to have someone push me past failure.
Beyond that, I love working out at home -I can crank my music as loud as I want (and get to pick which music is actually playing, he he he), and my kitchen is only a couple of yards away... Then there's all the other stuff, not the least of which is sanitation and never having to wait for a piece of equipment. I wouldn't trade it for a thousand gym memberships
As for ogling the lycra-clad ladies, I do miss that... hmmmm... I guess I'll have to invite some over, LOL
this say's it all.
(in reply to veggeep)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/10/2006 2:10:18 PM
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dimyd
Posts: 159
Joined: 1/7/2006
From: Australia
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quote:
I love working out at home -I can crank my music as loud as I want (and get to pick which music is actually playing, he he he
LOL!..The best part!
_____________________________
There is a great man, who makes every man feel small. But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great.
(in reply to veggeep)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/13/2006 2:29:12 PM
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ChazRaz18
Posts: 70
Joined: 7/2/2005
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If I was going to have a home gym...It would go a little something like this:
--dumbells ranging from 10 kgs to 50kgs in intervals of 5kgs (10, 10.5, 11 etc..)
--A bench
--An olympic bar
--weight plates for every combination I would personally need
--A mat for dead lifts, and a rack for squats
--treadmill, bike, and rower.
That would be my perfect home gym, and I will have it some day! lol No seriously I will.
_____________________________
--Nitro Tech, Cell Tech, Nitrix, Tribulus Terrestris--
"Lift heavy or go home!"
"OBSESSED is a word used by the lazy to describe the DISCIPLINED"
Weight: 266lbs. 19 Stone 119-120kilograms
Height: 6'2"
(in reply to dimyd)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/14/2006 10:14:13 AM
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ironraider52
Posts: 1353
Joined: 11/9/2005
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If I could get about 200,000 bucks and someone to build it for me I would like my gmy to look like this.
70 by 40.
Mats all over the floor.
Dumbells and rack to hold them up to 150
2 squat racks
2 bench racks
3000 lbs of weight
5+ bars
pully extsion system
Lat pull down and row machine
stair master and treadmill.
I wouldnt want this unless I had 2 or more other people that I could count on to lift with me every day i lift.
(in reply to ironraider52)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/16/2006 12:21:50 PM
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ChazRaz18
Posts: 70
Joined: 7/2/2005
Status: offline
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I think you and I should run this powerlifting gym together, and not only fulfill our dreams but help others fulfill theirs!!! lol
_____________________________
--Nitro Tech, Cell Tech, Nitrix, Tribulus Terrestris--
"Lift heavy or go home!"
"OBSESSED is a word used by the lazy to describe the DISCIPLINED"
Weight: 266lbs. 19 Stone 119-120kilograms
Height: 6'2"
(in reply to ironraider52)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 10/29/2006 8:41:51 AM
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richard82
Posts: 109
Joined: 10/25/2006
Status: offline
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thats a very useful post i think and really sums it up.
all you got to do is weigh up the pros and cons compared to your personal situation and go from there
quote:
ORIGINAL: dimyd
I've used home gyms for about 2 years on and off, and here's a list of pros and cons I came up with..
Pros:
1.time convienient.
2.you don't have to pay ongoing gym membership fees. Pay once and its yours for life.
3.you can do it in the comfort of your own home
4.more hygienic
5.no restrictions on what times you can workout. you can train any time any day you want. (don't have to worry about public holidays, etc)
6.don't have to wait for someone to finish using equipment/machine
7. ideal if you're just wanting to get cut or using it for maintainance
8.no interuptions which means less delays = less time messing around, more quality time training
9.you can train however you like - noone can tell you off! freedom!
10.you can wear whatever you want (train in your pj's or just go naked, whatever! lol)
Cons:
1.limited exercises/machines you can do/use. That can mean in less- productive/limited routines.
2.weight restrictions.
3.you don't have that social scene so it can often get quite lonely
4.noone to correct you if you aren't doing the exercise properly. poor form goes unnoticed. (which could also mean it's unsafe for you to do)
5.can start to get repetitive and boring
6.noone can give you advive - you're on your own
7.if an injury occurs, you may not be able to get help.
8.if you find yourself needing assistance (eg. those "unsuccessful benchpress" incidents where you are unable to lift the bar onto the rack holder and so then you are stuck with a huge weight on your chest! (that means of alot of trouble and pain! lol)
9.if you are trying to bulk, the weight you're using may not be sufficient/heavy enough for you to do so.
10.can be very expensive if you're wanting add-ons (equipement, weight plates etc). the cost of weight plates alone can almost make you go broke. they are NOT cheap!)
11.not having other people around you, as you would at a public gym, you may be less motivated to train.
12.there is no showing off... You don't have women to use as motivation (though if you're desperate - try your mom)
13.perving sessions are non-exisitant. (This part is damn hard to live with!)
14.the inconvienience of having to change the weights. (eg having to always unscrew the spinlocks). (this is in relation to dumbell and barbell exercises)
_____________________________
Construct a home gym within 7 days that produces real results at www.basementbodybuilding.com
(in reply to dimyd)
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[Deleted] - 10/31/2006 10:04:38 AM
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Deleted User
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[Deleted by Admins]
(in reply to richard82)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 11/3/2006 7:08:16 AM
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richard82
Posts: 109
Joined: 10/25/2006
Status: offline
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that is a good approach to consider.
train at the gym when you can, and on the days you cant get there, use your home gym.
Alternatively, you could train most body parts from your home gym, then train your legs at the local gym where it is likely they have a wider range of equipment specifically for this.
_____________________________
Construct a home gym within 7 days that produces real results at www.basementbodybuilding.com
(in reply to jeremy)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 1/23/2007 11:05:22 AM
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woodmeister
Posts: 87
Joined: 1/12/2006
Status: offline
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Personally, i think home gyms are brilliant i popped up the courage to spend about £1600's about three years ago on equiptment and can honestly say its the best investment i evermade!!!
plus cos theres only me using it, not some badass throwing stuff about, it all looks pretty new!
bonus, however if you are serious about training but cant afford to get most of the following, your probly better off just hittin your local gym.
heres my setup;
powetec olympic bench (decline-upright)
marcy bench flat- incline.
life fitness smiths machine, with low/high pulley attachment and all different attachments (lat pulldown, triceps, v-bar, row etc.(brilliant piece of equipment)
cast iron dumbells (5 -50 kg)
240kg of olympic weights
powetec free squat rack, with deadlift rails.
_____________________________
woodmeister
age: 24 as of 02/07
weight: 170
bench max: 8 @ 270
leg press: 8 @ 450
Squat: 5 @ 315
(in reply to richard82)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/6/2007 3:42:24 AM
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leeman
Posts: 24
Joined: 11/29/2006
Status: offline
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i have a gym in my garage. i have a smith which has a weight maximum of 700lbs, plenty of olympic weights, an olympic barbell, and dumbells. im gonna buy some of those dumbells where you click to the weight you want and lift it off the pallet when i have enough money for them. i also have a total body worker which uses my own body weight as resistance, and an exercise bike.
i love it, its convenient, i can do it in my own time, whenever i want, and listen to what i want (most gyms dont play jeff buckley or radiohead!!)
i dont get distracted by other people, i purely concentrate on my next lift, and when im done, i go take a shower and settle down in front of the tv with a banana and a glass of milk!
(in reply to woodmeister)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/14/2007 5:09:21 AM
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mickeybue37
Posts: 258
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline
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the post about pro's and cons was good but you gotta look at some things. if you can get a friend like i have to workout out with you that solves yoour spotter/max weigth problem, and also i looked in the paper and found a nearly new squat rack for about 50 bucks with a bar and olympic weights, and then my weights and bench and 2 extra bars came to a total of about 200 bucks. honestly a gym memebrship here in canada to a descent gym is about 600 bucks a year so for me it was alright, and i've made some huge strength gains.
_____________________________
you have to sweat to achieve your goals.
(in reply to leeman)
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RE: home gyms are they worth it? - 2/16/2007 7:13:55 AM
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nicksingh
Posts: 1
Joined: 2/16/2007
Status: offline
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I would say they are definately worth it. Just consider the amount of money you will shell out on gym fees, and time spent going back and forth.
Save time and money (if you have the space to) and get weight training equipment
I researched york and got mines from the factory outlet which is cheaper than argos.
(in reply to mickeybue37)
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